the cool air of the late morning wrapped around them as the campus bustled on in the background. Neither of them said much as they moved, the space between their thoughts filled with the quiet hum of unspoken words. It was strange—this feeling of not needing to fill the air with anything. They were simply there, together.
Aanya brushed a strand of hair from her face and glanced over at him. "So... what now?"
He looked over, his eyes meeting hers briefly, before his gaze drifted ahead. "Don't know. Library? Mess? I'm actually starving."
She laughed softly, the sound light, just the right amount of ease between them. "Same here. I didn't even realize I skipped breakfast until now."
He chuckled under his breath. "Yeah, me neither. We're a disaster."
Aanya bumped his shoulder playfully with hers. "Sure." She said smiling cheekily.
They both smiled, a quiet understanding settling between them. It wasn't about the words they said, but about the way they felt, here, together, in this small moment where things weren't complicated.
"I don't know…" he trailed off, as they reached a quieter area of campus, one less populated by other students. "Maybe somewhere a little quieter. We could just… sit. No need for food yet, right?"
Aanya turned toward him, considering the suggestion. The late morning sun bathed the path ahead in a soft golden glow. The campus was quieter here, away from the usual crowds. She looked back at him, her face thoughtful, the decision feeling easier than she'd expected.
"Yeah, let's do that," she said with a small nod.
They walked for a few more minutes, settling under the shade of a large tree near the back of the campus, where a few scattered benches sat, half-hidden from the usual hustle. The area was still. Peaceful. For a second, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. The noise of the campus faded, and it was just them.
Aanya set her bag down and sat on the bench, stretching her legs out in front of her. She glanced at him, still standing, his hands in his pockets. "This alright?"
He nodded, sitting beside her. "Perfect."
They fell into an easy silence. No rush to say anything, no pressure to be anything. The air around them seemed to settle, as if time was content to stretch out here for a moment.
Aanya leaned back slightly, staring at the leaves above them, her fingers absently tracing the edge of her notebook. "It's kind of nice, isn't it?" she mused, her voice soft, as though she was speaking to the wind.
"Yeah," he agreed, his eyes fixed on the ground, feeling the weight of something undefined. "It's... calm. Peaceful."
Neither of them felt the need to say more. There was comfort in the shared silence. It wasn't uncomfortable or awkward, just familiar. Something in the quiet seemed to settle between them, like a mutual understanding that needed no explanation.
Aanya, glancing at him sideways, added lightly, "It's like a moment between moments, you know?"
He looked at her then, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. I think I do."
They didn't speak again for a while. Each lost in their thoughts, yet not feeling alone. And for just a second, the world around them seemed a little slower, a little softer. As if it were letting them breathe, together, before it hurried them back into the rush of the day.