College life was going smoothly, but one afternoon, Arjun noticed something different.
During lunch, he saw Ananya laughing with another boy from their class. Arjun felt a small twist in his chest—he wasn't sure why, but a little jealousy had appeared.
He tried to hide it and sat quietly at their usual table. Ananya noticed him looking distant.
"Arjun, are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"I'm fine," he replied, forcing a smile.
Ananya looked at him carefully and said, "You seem a little upset today. Did something happen?"
Arjun shook his head. "No… nothing."
Even though he didn't admit it, he realized that he cared about her more than just as a friend. That tiny feeling of jealousy made him understand how important Ananya had become in his life.
Later that day, when they walked back to class, Arjun gathered courage.
"Ananya… I just want you to know that I really like spending time with you," he said quietly.
Ananya blushed slightly and smiled. "I feel the same, Arjun. You're special to me too."
That moment changed everything. Their friendship was slowly turning into something more, a bond that neither of them could ignore.
And somewhere deep inside, both knew that this was only the beginning.