Aanya was discharged the next day. Though she was excited to return to class, Aditi had other plans. She strictly instructed her to rest at home and rejoin college the next day.
There was no point arguing—Aditi always got her way. So, Aanya nodded and gave in.
While Aditi went to complete the discharge formalities, Aanya followed her orders, albeit reluctantly.
Somewhere else, someone who was supposed to be in class by 9 AM was still in front of the mirror—debating which shirt looked less disastrous on him.
What if she comes today? What if she thinks I have zero dressing sense?
Well, that wouldn't be a lie—he really was bad at fashion.
He groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration. He was already late. One last glance at the mirror, he grabbed his car keys and left.
It was 8:59 AM, and he was only halfway to college.
He drove as fast as he could and reached by 9:15 AM. Too late. No entry allowed. So instead, he began wandering aimlessly around the campus. As he passed by the hospital wing, a familiar figure stepped out.
Aanya.
She took a deep breath. He immediately tried to turn and leave—he felt strangely out of place, confused about what exactly he was feeling. One thing he knew for certain: he wasn't ready to accept that he might be falling for the girl he once rejected.
But his legs had other plans.
They wouldn't move. He stood there, frozen, his feet glued to the concrete.
Aanya turned her face towards the sun, letting it wash over her. That's when something inside him shifted. Watching her fix her hair in a messy bun, with a few strands falling over her face—it was too much.
She should be banned from doing that, he thought, helplessly.
The sunlight lit up her hazel eyes, casting a warm glow across her face. She looked... perfect.
He didn't even realize how intensely he was staring until she turned and gave him a weak smile. He smiled back—brighter this time.
She walked toward him. His heart thundered in his chest. He tried to look away, to lessen the intensity of his gaze, but it didn't work. As she stopped a few steps away, still holding his eyes, she took one slow step closer.
That was enough.
He closed the remaining distance between them in two strides. No barriers remained.
Without breaking the eye contact, he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, letting his hand rest lightly on her shoulder. Aanya forgot how to breathe.
She gasped quietly, but he didn't pull back. Instead, he gently grasped her wrist and pulled her even closer than the last time.
They both silently wished this moment wouldn't get interrupted.
And it didn't—not immediately.
Aditi, done with the formalities, had come out and seen them from afar. She didn't feel anything—not annoyance, not joy. Just uncertainty. But she didn't interrupt. If they were truly choosing each other, she had no right to stop Aanya.
Aanya, whose hand rested on his chest now, could feel his heartbeat—real and rapid. This wasn't a dream.
She finally whispered, "What's with you?"
A pause.
"What do you feel now?"
He sighed. "I don't know. I don't know what I'm feeling. I don't know how to say it… or what to do about it."
Aanya wasn't sure what to feel—should she be happy? Should she hurt him, like he once did her?
She simply smiled. A small, toothy smile.
And that was enough.
He smiled too. But when she stepped back, his hand slowly let go of hers. A subtle warmth lingered on his palm.
She turned and walked toward Aditi, who was waiting in the distance. Her laughter soon echoed as they walked away, leaving him with a heart full of something he couldn't name.
He stood there a moment longer, watching her disappear from sight.
Then, still dazed, he made his way to the cafeteria. His hunger had vanished, but he walked in anyway.
Even his stomach had gone silent now.