By the fourth Saturday, Detention Room 17 had quietly changed.

No one chose the same seat every week, yet somehow they always ended up in a circle.

Ayaan no longer had to force conversations.

They happened naturally.

Vihaan would bring stories from basketball practice. Aashi shared funny incidents from her old school. Akruti spent more time listening than drawing now, though her sketchbook never left her side. Even Yash had started speaking in complete sentences.

"Look who's becoming social," Ayaan teased.

Yash rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to it."

The room burst into laughter.

Mrs. Sharma looked up from her book and shook her head.

"I've never seen students enjoy detention this much."

"It's because this room has terrible food but excellent company," Ayaan replied.

"Very funny."

As the laughter settled, Akruti quietly tore a page from her sketchbook and slid it across the table.

It was a sketch of all seven of them sitting exactly as they were.

No faces.

Just silhouettes.

Yet somehow, everyone recognized themselves.

No one spoke for a moment.

Then Vihaan smiled.

"You know..."

He looked around the room.

"I don't think we're here because we're being punished anymore."

No one disagreed.

Without realizing it, they had created their own little world inside four old walls.

A place with no expectations.

No labels.

Just seven students who were slowly becoming something they had never expected.

Friends.