The Exhibition Day - With Author's POV

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The exhibition day arrived.

Students dressed in uniforms, school decorated with charts, models, and science posters.

Parents were visiting, cameras were flashing, and the excitement was thick in the air.

Anvi stood by her model - a delicate display of optical refraction and light simulation. She had worked on it for weeks. Every wire, every paper piece, was done by hand.

But she wasn't proud.

Because the only person whose validation she had once craved... wasn't even looking at her.

(Author POV)

> Kabhi kabhi, insaan apni sabse badi jeet tab haarta hai, jab woh jeet kisi khaas ke bina adhuri lagti hai. Anvi ne apne model mein physics ke saare laws sahi lagaye the... par dil ke equation mein ab bhi kuch missing tha.

Professor Aarav walked past her setup several times that day. Each time, he stopped at the table across, or the one before hers, but never... hers.

He avoided her eyes like they held fire.

And she pretended it didn't burn.

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But fate - it has its own plans.

One of the chief guests, a young physics professor from IIT, stopped at Anvi's table and looked impressed.

"Who made this?" he asked.

She smiled lightly. "I did, sir."

"Fantastic. The logic is accurate. Did someone guide you?"

Anvi hesitated.

And for the first time that day, her eyes darted toward Professor Aarav - who stood across the room, observing.

The IIT professor followed her gaze.

"Oh - your mentor?"

She nodded slowly.

"He's lucky to have a student like you," the man said kindly.

She gave a sad smile.

Lucky?

She had given him everything.

He just... didn't want it.

(Author POV)

> Kuch rishton mein sab kuch ek taraf se diya jaata hai... bina kisi umeed ke. Par kabhi kabhi... woh umeed bhi bikh jaati hai, jab saamne waala aankhon mein jhankhne se bhi katraata hai.

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When the results were announced, her model won first prize.

The auditorium clapped.

Principal ma'am called her on stage.

Aarav stood near the edge, his arms folded - watching her walk up.

"Anvi Verma, 12-C - Best Physics Model Award," announced the host.

As she accepted the trophy, flashbulbs popped, people clapped, and her friends cheered.

But in her head, there was just one voice.

> "Main tumhara teacher hoon... aur main chahta hoon ki tum life mein aage badho... bina kisi aise emotion ke jo tumhe confuse kare."

She looked at her trophy.

Then at him.

He was clapping.

But not smiling.

And her heart whispered -

> "Mujhe jeet nahi chahiye thi... mujhe toh bas woh chhoti si muskurahat chahiye thi, jo sirf mere liye hoti."

(Author POV)

> Log samajhte hain jeet sabse badi khushi hoti hai. Par kuch jeet sirf tambe ki trophy hoti hai... jab dil ka sabse gehra khwab kisi aur ki tasveer ban ke reh jaata hai.

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After the program ended, the crowd thinned.

She stood in the empty corridor, holding the trophy.

He walked toward her, slowly.

"Congratulations," he said.

"Thanks," she replied, without looking up.

He hesitated.

"Anvi... main tumse kuch kehna chahta hoon."

She finally looked at him.

But her eyes were blank now.

"Sir, ab kuch kehne ki zarurat nahi. Maine sab sun liya tha... us din."

"No," he said, his voice a little broken, "Us din maine sirf apne dar ki baat ki thi. Aaj main apne dil ki baat karna chahta hoon."

She blinked.

He stepped closer.

"Mujhe darr lagta tha... ki agar main tumhare kareeb aaya, toh main woh line cross kar doonga jise teacher aur student ke beech khinchna chahiye. Par ab..."

"Ab kya?" she asked.

"Ab tum sirf meri student nahi rahi ho."

Silence.

Her breath hitched.

But before she could speak...

Someone called from behind - "Aarav, chalo! Staff photo lena hai!"

He looked back... then at her again.

"Main tumse baad mein milta hoon," he said softly.

But when he left...

She whispered to herself -

> "Baad mein kaun milta hai, Sir? Zindagi toh hamesha wahi log le jaati hai, jo waqt pe laut ke nahi aate..."

(Author POV)

> Kabhi kabhi, kuch lamhe bas lamhe nahi hote... woh poori zindagi ki kahaani ban jaate hain. Aarav chala gaya, ek aur waada karke - "baad mein."

Par Anvi jaanti thi... kuch "baad mein" kabhi nahi aate.

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To Be Continued...