The evening was calm, filled with golden shadows as the sun slowly dipped behind the college rooftops. Aanya and Aarav sat on the low campus wall near the sports field, sipping cold coffee and letting silence settle in comfortably between them.
There was no rush to speak. That was the thing with Aarav. Even silence felt like conversation.
Aarav broke it first.
"So… your turn now. Tell me about your family."
Aanya smiled. "Pretty simple, honestly. Middle-class chaos. Papa works in a government office. mom takes care of everything else. My younger brother is a total pain but I miss him every time I open my tiffin and don't hear him asking for the biggest bite."
Aarav chuckled. "Sounds warm. Loud, but warm."
Aanya tilted her head. "What about you?"
His smile softened. "My dad's into real estate. Big business, bigger ego. He's always busy, and now my elder sister, Rhea, is taking over a lot of it. She's sharp. Like... she doesn't even need to raise her voice to get her way."
"And your mom?" Aanya asked curiously.
He leaned back slightly, looking up at the darkening sky.
"She's a businesswoman too. Runs her own company. Cold coffee in the morning, sharp schedules, sharper words."
He looked at her. "But she has a soft corner for family. Just doesn't show it easily."
Aanya was quiet for a moment. "So… they all want you to join the family business?"
Aarav let out a short laugh. "Oh, absolutely. That's been the plan since I learned to spell 'deal.' But… I'm not interested."
Her brows rose. "What do you want to do, then?"
He looked at her, eyes brighter now. "Music. I want to be a musician. Create songs that make people feel things they didn't even know they carried inside. I don't want to live someone else's version of success."
Aanya blinked, quietly impressed. "That's… brave."
Aarav's gaze lingered on her. "What about you? What do you want?"
She looked down at her cup, turning it slowly in her hands.
"I love music too. Always have. Singing… writing lyrics. But it's just a hobby for me. Right now, I'm studying business."
Aarav frowned slightly. "Even though it's not your dream?"
Aanya nodded. "Yeah. Because dreams don't pay bills. At least not right away. I want to be self-independent… for myself, and for my parents. They've done enough. It's my turn now."
Aarav didn't reply immediately. But when he did, his voice was softer than before.
"You're stronger than you think, Aanya."
She looked up, their eyes meeting in the quiet.
"You too," she said. "For choosing your heart."
Aanya's POV
I always thought soulmates were made of fire and thunder. Explosive passion. But maybe… they're just people who see you—truly see you—and still stay. Maybe they're the ones who listen quietly and say,
"I get it. You're not alone."
With Aarav… it was starting to feel like that.
Next Day in college
The music room was nearly empty, except for the sunlight spilling in through the windows and the soft strumming of Aarav's guitar. Aanya sat on the edge of the platform, eyes closed, quietly humming the melody he was playing.
No one else was there. Just them—and the silence that music gently filled.
Aarav's voice broke through, low and mellow.
"Try singing those lyrics again—the ones you wrote in your journal."
Aanya hesitated for a second, then nodded. She began softly:
"Maybe we're not meant to burn like fire...
Maybe we're just meant to feel... quietly."
The moment she sang, her voice settled into the air like it belonged there. She got lost—completely. Her eyes shut, hands resting on her lap, her heart poured into every line.
She didn't notice Aarav watching her. Not just her singing—but her. The way her lips moved, the way her fingers trembled ever so slightly with emotion, the way she let herself be completely vulnerable in that moment.
When she finally opened her eyes, she saw him grinning.
"What?" she asked, blinking back to reality.
Aarav raised a brow, smirking. "I think someone's falling for me."
Her eyes widened, heat rising in her cheeks instantly.
"W-What?! Aarav—" she stammered, standing up quickly.
He laughed, eyes twinkling. "Don't run now, Miss Singer. You'll make me think I'm right."
"I'm not falling for you!" she squeaked and turned away, cheeks burning.
She didn't see him still watching her, his smile turning softer.
Aarav's POV
She's so cute when she's shy.
And when she smiles like that… it's impossible not to smile too.
What are you doing to me, Aanya?
A little while later, Aanya walked through the college corridor, trying to cool her blushing cheeks and calm her racing heart. That's when she heard a familiar voice.
"Finally decided to come back to earth?"
She turned. Vedant.
"Hey," she smiled.
He raised an eyebrow. "Long time no conversation, Aanya. I thought maybe you and Meher had forgotten about me."
She blinked. "Vedant, no. It's not like that. I didn't forget about you or Meher—"
He cut her off. His voice wasn't angry, but it held something else.
"I'm not talking about Meher. I'm talking about me."
Aanya paused, unsure what to say. Vedant held her gaze for a moment longer, then looked away.
"You've changed lately."
Her voice was quiet. "I didn't mean to."
He gave her a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Maybe not. But feelings… they don't always wait for permission."
Aanya's POV
The wind felt heavier than usual.
I didn't know what was happening anymore. Aarav made my heart skip, made me feel like myself… free. But Vedant—he had always been there in the background, quiet, kind.
Now I was caught between two truths:
The one that made me smile in the moment...
And the one that still lingered in silence.