Aanya never believed time could slip away this quietly—without a loud bang or dramatic shift. But with Aarav, things changed like seasons. Gradually. Naturally. Beautifully.
They weren't rushing. There were no big declarations. But the air around them had changed. She could feel it.
Aanya's POV
We sat across from each other at the small café near campus. Aarav was scrolling through the menu, his eyes narrowed like it was a science project.
"You take longer to order coffee than I do to finish an assignment," I teased.
He looked up and smirked. "That's because good coffee deserves respect."
The waiter placed a slice of chocolate cake between us. Aarav picked up the fork and offered me the first bite. I leaned in—but a spot of cream stayed on my lip.
Before I could reach for a tissue, his thumb brushed gently against my lower lip, wiping it away.
I froze.
The world didn't stop. But my heart did—for a second.
His fingers lingered for just a beat longer, and his eyes met mine. Not teasing this time. Just quiet… warm.
"You had cream," he said softly.
I managed a small nod, unable to look away. And suddenly, I wasn't thinking of dreams anymore. I wasn't comparing him to a boy in my past or my sleep.
I was here. With Aarav. And it felt like enough.
Later that week, we found ourselves in the college library, flipping through a shared textbook.
He leaned closer to explain something on the page. Our arms touched. He didn't move. Neither did I.
I should've been distracted by the proximity, but instead, I was calm.
I could hear his voice explaining some concept I had no interest in—but I liked the way he said my name in between sentences. Like it belonged to him in some quiet way.
That night, we walked back together from college, the streets calm under a dusky sky.
"You ever feel like you're carrying the whole world sometimes?" Aarav asked, stuffing his hands into his jacket.
I looked at him. "Yeah. I do."
He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I've been carrying my siblings since I was fifteen. Sometimes, I forget how to be anything other than responsible."
I didn't say anything. I just reached out and held his hand. Softly. Naturally.
His fingers tightened around mine.
"You're not alone," I whispered.
He stopped walking. Looked down at our joined hands, then back at me. His voice was low. Honest.
"I know. Not anymore."
Aanya's POV
It's not the same anymore. Not like before.
I used to feel confused. Torn. Like my heart didn't belong in this world. But now… it beats softer.
He doesn't make me feel like I'm floating. He makes me feel grounded.
And somehow, that feels even more magical.