By the final term, Aarav's classmates knew him for more than the transfer.

Girls brought notebooks to his desk when they needed help with maths, geography, or project work.

"Why did the sign change here?"

"Can you check the spelling of plateau?"

"Show me the map once before the test."

Aarav liked being asked. He could open a notebook, explain one step, and see someone understand. He no longer felt that every person approaching his desk was coming to embarrass him.

During geography, the teacher asked him to draw an outline map on the board. His hand shook when he stood up because everyone was looking.

Then he remembered that the class was waiting for the coastline and labels, not for him to fail.

He drew the map carefully.

"See the spacing," the teacher said when he finished. "Neat work helps marks."

Several girls compared their maps with his after the lesson.

As the final exam approached, Aarav made revision lists for the group. Anaya helped him remember long history answers. Kavya stopped him from wasting too much time making every heading perfect.

At home, Riya checked his essays.

"A beautiful map cannot rescue a weak answer," she reminded him.

This time, the nervousness before the exam was different. Aarav worried about questions and marks, not about what someone might do to him when the teacher looked away.

On the first exam day, he used the dark-blue hairband because he would be bent over the paper for several hours. It kept the front hair away from his eyes.

When the paper arrived, his hands were cold.

But he could read the first question, think, and write.

After the last paper, Mother met him near the gate.

"How was it?"

Aarav considered the question.

"I could think," he said.

Mother understood exactly what he meant.

Two days later, both principals met Mother and Aarav for the end-of-year review. The results were not available yet, but the temporary arrangement had reached its planned end.

"You do not have to decide today," Mrs. Patwardhan said. "Take the vacation and think properly. Before school reopens, we will discuss next year."

For the first time, summer did not feel like only a break from school.

It was where Aarav would have to decide what he wanted next.