Saturday detention became a routine.

None of them admitted it, but they had started expecting those afternoons.

One rainy day, Mrs. Sharma walked into Room 17 carrying a stack of answer sheets.

"Since you're all here, you might as well use your time wisely," she said, placing the papers on the desk.

One by one, she returned them.

Vihaan grinned at his marks.

Ayaan dramatically kissed his passing score.

Akruti quietly slipped hers into her bag without looking.

When Reyansh received his paper, the room instinctively turned towards him.

"How much?" Ayaan asked.

Reyansh hesitated.

"...Ninety-eight."

"Only?" Vihaan laughed. "That's amazing!"

Reyansh didn't smile.

Mrs. Sharma noticed the change in his expression but said nothing.

After school ended, everyone packed their bags.

As the others stepped out, Reyansh remained seated, staring at the red ink on his answer sheet.

Two marks.

Just two.

To everyone else, they meant nothing.

To him, they felt like proof that he was slipping.

He folded the paper carefully and slid it into his bag.

Outside the room, his phone vibrated.

Dad: How much did you score?

He typed:

98.

The reply came almost instantly.

Where did the other 2 marks go?

Reyansh read the message again.

Then again.

Without replying, he locked his phone and slipped it back into his pocket.

Ayaan, who had forgotten his water bottle inside the room, walked back just in time to see Reyansh standing silently by the window.

"You okay?" he asked.

Reyansh forced a smile.

"Yeah."

It was only one word.

But for the first time...

Someone knew it wasn't true.