The college building buzzed with its usual morning chaos—slamming lockers, the shuffle of books, shrieks of laughter from juniors, and a chorus of "Did you do the assignment?" echoing down the corridors. It was alive again, a weekday rhythm Shruti had grown used to. But today, it felt different. Softer, warmer—like the world itself had taken a deep breath and exhaled calm into her chest.
She had just stepped into the department hallway when her friends spotted her.
"There she is!" Meera called dramatically, rising from a bench like she was greeting royalty. "The woman of the hour."
Shruti raised an eyebrow, confused. "What now?"
Pragathi grinned from beside the water cooler. "You're glowing. Like full-on radiant."
Shruti's eyes widened in mock protest. "Stop it. I just washed my face."
"Yeah, yeah," Meera said, looping her arm through Shruti's and walking beside her. "You washed your face. But not the blush off your cheeks."
Shruti groaned, already anticipating the teasing. "It's the weather," she said, trying to sound bored. "Nice breeze. Good for the skin."
Meera squinted at her suspiciously. "The weather is making your eyes sparkle like that? Hmm. Should we all go stand under the sun then?"
Pragathi leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Or maybe it's not the sun. Maybe it's the moonlight last night? Or… beach breeze, perhaps?"
Shruti froze half a second. Just half. But that was enough for Meera to gasp. "Wait— were you two somewhere last night?"
Shruti immediately rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "I'm not doing this with you guys."
"So it's a yes," Pragathi clapped. "Confirmed. Operation 'Sneaky Lovebirds' is real."
Shruti playfully shoved her as they entered the classroom. "I said nothing."
"You said everything with that smile," Meera whispered as they walked past rows of students.
They reached their usual bench. Shruti slid into her seat by the window, the familiar creak of wood grounding her a little. But even as she opened her notebook and uncapped her pen, her mind wasn't fully in the room.
The professor's voice filtered through the noise of rustling pages and the clack of pens hitting desks. Shruti tried to focus—jotted down the first two points on the board—but her hand stilled soon after.
Her eyes drifted to the window, watching a dry leaf swirl across the courtyard like it had no destination. Her thoughts swirled just the same. Around him.
Arjun's words echoed again.
"I love you, Shruti."
The memory made her heart skip—not like the dramatic skips in movies, but that warm, expanding kind. The kind that filled every inch of her chest until it was hard to breathe. And that kiss…
A small smile tugged at her lips before she could stop it.
"Busted," Meera whispered from beside her, leaning over her notebook. "You're not paying attention."
Shruti blinked, caught. "I was… I just spaced out."
Pragathi poked her from behind. "You were smiling at nothing. It was kind of romantic. Kind of creepy."
"Seriously," Meera added. "Did something happen last night? You look like someone handed you a love letter and a cupcake."
Shruti pressed her lips together. "We just… talked. That's all."
Meera and Pragathi exchanged glances like they were speaking telepathically.
"You talked?" Meera repeated. "With Arjun?"
Pragathi leaned in dramatically. "Was it a long talk?"
Shruti sighed. "Can you two at least pretend to care about Industrial Psychology?"
"Please," Meera scoffed. "We care deeply about your psychology right now."
Shruti laughed softly, a quiet joy vibrating in her chest. "You both are ridiculous."
"But you like it," Pragathi smirked. "Because you're finally acting like someone in love."
Shruti didn't respond to that. But she didn't deny it either.
Her pen tapped softly against her notebook. Her thoughts drifted again—to the way Arjun had held her, to the way he'd whispered, "You don't have to be scared alone."
She wasn't sure what this was turning into. She wasn't ready to label it love—not out loud. But the way her fingers still felt the echo of his touch… it was something.
Something real.
And for now, that was enough.
To be continued...