Aanya's POV
They talked.
About simple things at first—music, classes, random college stories. Aarav carried the conversation easily, never rushing her, never pressuring her to say more than she wanted.
And slowly…
Aanya found herself smiling more.
Laughing.
Answering.
Bit by bit, something inside her started to relax around him. Like her heart was remembering how to breathe without fear.
She stirred the last bit of ice in her glass and looked at him, curiosity slipping through her calm exterior.
"Can I ask you something?" she said softly.
"Of course," he leaned forward, resting his elbows gently on the table.
She looked at him carefully.
"You come from a really well-off family, right? I mean… you could've gone abroad for studies. Why here? Why stay in India?"
For a moment, Aarav didn't reply.
Then—he leaned in, just slightly closer.
His voice was low, steady.
"I could've left."
His eyes found hers.
"But I wasn't meant to be without this. Without you."
Aanya's breath caught.
"My fate and destiny…" he said, gaze unwavering,
"…brought me here. Right to this moment. With you."
And in that second—everything around her faded.
The breeze.
The noise of the café.
The sound of water nearby.
All she could hear was the quiet thunder of her own heartbeat.
No one had ever looked at her like that before.
Like she wasn't just a girl sitting at a table.
But something more.
Something meant.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Aarav smiled softly. "Too much for a first outing?"
She shook her head slowly, still dazed. "No. Just… unexpected."
He chuckled. "That's kind of my thing."
They sat for a while longer.
No rush. No pretenses.
Just the comfort of two souls slowly remembering each other.
And as they left the café and walked along the lakeside path, Aanya knew—
This wasn't a random meeting.
This was written.
Somewhere between the stars and the dreams.
Aanya's POV
They left the café and walked along the quiet lakeside path, shoes gently tapping against stone, silence resting between them — but not awkwardly.
Aarav walked beside her, hands in his pockets, head tilted slightly toward her.
She could feel his presence… not heavy, not forceful. Just there.
Like the wind.
Like her heartbeat.
"You always this quiet?" he asked, glancing at her from the side.
Aanya gave a shy laugh. "Only when I don't know what to say."
"That's okay," he replied. "I talk enough for both of us."
She smiled, looking out at the ripples in the water. The sunlight glinted on its surface, almost like stars had fallen and scattered into the lake.
And maybe… that's what this moment was.
A fallen star between two people.
They sat on a bench beneath a tree that leaned toward the lake. The leaves rustled gently above them.
Aanya broke the silence this time.
"You really believe in fate?"
Aarav nodded. "I believe in connections that don't need logic."
He turned toward her slowly.
"And you?"
She hesitated.
Then: "I used to dream about someone for years. Not his face, not his name. Just… a presence. A warmth. Like someone out there was waiting for me too."
He didn't blink. He just listened.
"When I met you," she continued, her voice barely a whisper, "that feeling came back. Like I wasn't lost anymore."
Aarav didn't speak for a second.
Then he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, looking down at his hands.
"Sometimes," he said, "I wake up feeling like I'm missing someone… even if everyone I know is still around."
His voice was quiet, thoughtful.
"Maybe it was you."
Aanya's breath hitched.
Their eyes met.
And something unspoken passed between them.
Not love—not yet.
But something older than love.
Something that felt like…
Recognition.
They sat like that for a while. Quiet. Soft. Safe.
Then Aarav smiled suddenly. "So… since I'm already charming and mysterious, tell me at least one thing about you I don't know."
Aanya rolled her eyes playfully. "I have a habit of counting stars before I fall asleep."
He grinned. "That's adorable."
She tilted her head. "Your turn."
"Hmm…" He pretended to think. "I write lyrics when I can't sleep. Sad ones. Sappy ones. Weird ones."
She laughed. "I want to read them someday."
He looked at her like she'd just offered him a universe.
"You will."
As they walked back to the main road, neither wanted the moment to end.
But both knew something had just started.
Not a relationship.
Not yet.
But a story.
And both of them were finally ready to turn the first page.