The sky was soft with golden clouds that evening, and the campus seemed to breathe slower after a long day.
Aanya wandered down the library corridor, looking for Meher to return her pen drive. Her footsteps slowed as she neared the corner—Meher's voice was faintly audible.
But it was Vedant who spoke next.
> "I don't know how it happened," he said quietly.
"Maybe it was the way she talks about music… or how her eyes go quiet sometimes like she's carrying something the rest of us can't see. But I'm sure of it now."
"I have feelings for Aanya."
Aanya froze.
The sentence hit her like a soft, unexpected wave.
Not painful—just deep.
She stepped back silently, heart heavy. She never wanted to hurt him. He had been her comfort, her friend, her anchor.
But now she knew what she had to do.
That Evening
She found Vedant near the college gate, sitting on a low wall, lost in his phone.
"Hey," she said softly.
He looked up, startled. "Aanya—hey."
"I heard what you said. To Meher," she added gently.
He blinked, slightly pale. "I… Aanya, I didn't mean for you to—"
She shook her head. "It's okay. Really."
A pause.
"You're amazing, Vedant. You're someone who listens without interrupting, who sees without judging. You've been there when I didn't even know I needed someone."
He looked at her, eyes full of hope and fear. "Then why does it sound like goodbye?"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"Because I'd be lying if I said I could love you the way you deserve. The truth is… my heart—it already belongs to someone."
Vedant was quiet.
"I don't know who he is," she continued softly. "I haven't even met him yet. But I feel him. Like he's a part of me I've been missing my whole life."
He looked down, pain flickering across his face. But not anger. Just sadness.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "But please know this—our friendship will never change. I'll always be here. And one day, you'll meet someone who sees you with all the love you deserve. Someone much better than me."
Vedant smiled, small and bittersweet.
"You say that like you're not someone unforgettable."
She didn't reply. She just sat beside him for a while—quietly. Just as friends.
🌙 That Night – The Dream
The ocean was still. The moonlight poured silver across the waves.
And there he was again.
The boy with the quiet soul.
This time, he stepped closer, no blur between them. His eyes met hers, full of softness, and something achingly familiar.
> "I'm coming," he said.
"I know I made you wait. I know I made you hurt. But I never stopped feeling you."
"You were never alone."
Tears ran silently down her cheeks as he held her hand.
> "I've loved you across lifetimes," he whispered
She opened her mouth to speak—but the dream began to fade.
Morning
Aanya woke up with damp lashes, her heart beating softly beneath her ribs.
For the first time in a long while…
she didn't feel lost.
She felt like something was finally on its way.