Chapter 5 – The Beginning of Something Real
Mehar woke up the next morning to the soft hum of the world outside her window. The sun had barely risen, casting a gentle glow across the room. She stretched, but the reality of the previous day weighed heavily on her mind. Aarav's words, his confession—they weren't a dream. It had really happened.
She didn't know what she expected, but she wasn't prepared for the way it made her feel—like her heart was both lighter and fuller at the same time. There was a strange thrill mixed with fear, the fear of stepping into unknown territory.
As the day progressed, everything around her seemed both the same and different. She couldn't help but glance over her shoulder whenever Aarav was near, but each time their eyes met, a small smile tugged at her lips. He had been true to his word, keeping his distance, not forcing anything. But Mehar could feel the change—the subtle shift between them.
She saw him in the hallway during lunch, talking to his friends, laughing with them in that effortless way he always did. He didn't notice her at first, but when he did, their eyes locked for a moment. His gaze softened, and Mehar's heart skipped a beat.
Later, after class, Aarav texted her.
Aarav: Can we talk after school?
Her heart raced as she read the message. Was he going to make it official? Was this where it all began?
She quickly typed her response.
Mehar: Sure.
After the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Mehar found herself walking towards the campus courtyard. Aarav was waiting by the fountain, leaning casually against the stone ledge. The moment he saw her, he straightened up, his expression calm but with a hint of something she couldn't quite place.
"Hey," he greeted, his smile a little nervous.
"Hey," Mehar replied, suddenly aware of the distance between them. It wasn't physical; it was emotional. They were both standing on the edge of something big, and neither of them knew how to cross it.
Aarav took a step closer. "I've been thinking… about us."
Mehar's heart raced. "What do you mean?"
"I don't want to rush anything," he said quickly. "But I also don't want to pretend like nothing happened yesterday."
Mehar nodded. "I get that. I don't want to rush either. But this feels different, Aarav. I'm not used to this."
"I'm not either," he admitted. "But I want to try. I don't want to let this go."
Mehar smiled softly. "Me neither."
He stepped closer, his hand hesitating for a moment before resting gently on hers. The touch was brief but meaningful. It wasn't a grand gesture. It wasn't dramatic. It was simple. Honest. Real.
They stood there for a few seconds, just soaking in the moment.
"I guess this is the start, then," Mehar said, her voice quiet but filled with certainty.
"Yeah," Aarav replied. "The start of something real."
For the first time in a long while, Mehar felt like everything was falling into place. No more pretending. No more hiding. Just the two of them, figuring it out together.