Abhik and Sayantani had been best friends since they could remember. They lived in the same colony, shared lunch at school, and spent hours chatting about everything under the sun. Their bond was so strong that their classmates often joked about how they were practically siblings.
But as time went on, Abhik started drifting. He became careless about the things that mattered to Sayantani. He would cancel plans at the last minute, forget important assignments, and even skip group projects they had agreed to work on together. Sayantani, who was always organized and dependable, found it difficult to understand why Abhik was being so irresponsible.
The final blow came during their annual science project. Both had promised their teacher that they’d present something truly unique. Sayantani worked hard, researching every little detail, staying up late to make sure everything was perfect. But Abhik? He barely contributed. The night before the presentation, he messaged her saying he wouldn’t be able to come the next day due to some family function. Sayantani was furious but didn’t respond. The next day, she stood alone in front of the class, presenting their project, humiliated by Abhik’s absence.
That night, Sayantani decided she’d had enough. She stopped calling him, stopped waiting for him after school, and began sitting with other friends. Abhik noticed the growing gap but didn’t know how to fix things. He felt guilty but was too proud and nervous to confront her. His carefree attitude had cost him the friendship he valued most, and it stung.
Weeks passed, and the distance between them grew. Sayantani, busy with her studies and her new friends, seemed to have moved on. But Abhik couldn’t shake the feeling of regret. One day, after school, he saw Sayantani struggling with her math homework. It was their old routine to help each other out with math, as Sayantani always found it tricky. Watching her struggle alone made Abhik realize how much he had taken their friendship for granted.
Determined to make things right, Abhik slowly started to change. He became more reliable—completing his homework, participating in group projects, and attending school events on time. But Sayantani wasn’t ready to forgive him so easily. She kept her distance, not wanting to get hurt again.
A few weeks later, during their school’s annual sports day, Sayantani twisted her ankle while running the relay race. Before anyone could react, Abhik rushed to her side. Without a word, he helped her up and escorted her to the first-aid tent. For the first time in weeks, Sayantani looked at him, and in that moment, her hardened expression softened.
“Thanks,” she said quietly, wincing from the pain.
Abhik nodded, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m really sorry, Sayantani. For everything. I didn’t realize how much I was letting you down. I get it if you don’t want to trust me, but I’m trying to be better.”
Sayantani stayed silent for a moment, then sighed. “I’ve noticed. It’ll take time, but maybe we can work things out.”
Abhik smiled slightly, grateful for the small chance she was offering. From that day on, things began to change between them. It wasn’t like before, but it was a start. Abhik kept his promise, showing up when it mattered, and Sayantani, slowly but surely, began to trust him again.
Their friendship was different now, built on mutual respect
and understanding, and this time, Abhik wasn’t going to let Sayantani down.