The days after their talk felt lighter — as if the walls between Aarav and Meera had quietly begun to fall.
They started spending time together — not because they had to, but because they wanted to.
Late library sessions, quiet coffee breaks, random conversations about music, books, and life — everything that used to feel ordinary now carried a gentle spark.
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One afternoon, while working on their project, Meera laughed at something silly Aarav said.
Meera: "You actually made a joke! I didn't think you knew how to."
Aarav (smirking): "Don't get used to it."
Meera: "Too late."
She stuck her tongue out playfully, and Aarav couldn't help but smile — a real, unguarded one that reached his eyes.
For a second, Meera just stared. She'd seen him serious, angry, silent — but never like this.
Aarav: "What?"
Meera (softly): "Nothing… you just smiled. It suits you."Aarav looked away quickly, hiding the faint blush that touched his cheeks.
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Meanwhile, someone else noticed their closeness — Kabir.
From across the canteen, he watched as Meera and Aarav shared quiet laughter over coffee. His chest tightened.
Kabir had liked Meera since the first day of college, but he'd never confessed — waiting for the "right time" that never came.
Now, seeing her happy with someone else hurt more than he expected.
Later that day, he approached Meera after class.
Kabir: "You've been spending a lot of time with Aarav lately."
Meera (smiling): "Yeah, we're working on the project together."
Kabir: "That's all?"
She frowned slightly. "What are you trying to say?"
Kabir: "Just be careful, Meera. He's… not who you think."
The words stung, not because she believed them — but because they came from a friend she trusted.That evening, Meera couldn't shake Kabir's words. When she saw Aarav waiting near the gate to walk her home, she hesitated.
Aarav (noticing): "Something wrong?"
Meera: "No… it's just—people talk."
Aarav (quietly): "They always do."
He looked at her, his gaze calm but wounded. "Do you?"
Meera (shaking her head): "No. I trust you."
Aarav's expression softened. "Then that's enough."
He walked beside her in silence, the evening breeze wrapping around them. The city lights shimmered like stars reflected on the road.
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
But behind them, in the shadows, Kabir watched — hurt, jealous, and uncertain of what he was about to do next.
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