Feeling bored in the storeroom, Ayaan pulled out his phone and dialed Varun's number.
Tring-tring… tring-tring… The phone kept ringing, but no one picked up.
He hung up in frustration. "Why isn't Varun answering? Did something happen in the department?"
His heartbeat quickened. "If the manager finds out, this could turn into a big problem. I need to get back—now."
He hurried toward the storeroom door, his footsteps echoing in the narrow space. But just then…
A faint noise—footsteps, maybe—reached his ears. He froze. The storeroom was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the racks and boxes. Someone was definitely approaching.
Ayaan didn't pay much attention at first, but as the person passed by him, a sweet fragrance lingered in the air.
This scent… it's hers…
Without thinking, Ayaan turned around.
"Ayaan, you're here?"
For a moment, time stood still. His heart skipped a beat, and his breath caught in his throat.
Her flowing black hair, deep brown eyes, and a glow that could shame the moon—Priyanshi stood there, effortlessly perfect. Just like always.
Ayaan stood frozen, lost in her eyes.
"Were you looking for something?" she asked gently.
Ayaan, slightly hesitant, replied, "Yeah… a technician was asking for a medium-sized lab coat. I was looking for one but couldn't find it."
Priyanshi smiled. "Oh, is that so? Come on, I'll help you look for it."
Ayaan's heart skipped again. 'She wants to help me? Does that mean… maybe…'
They both began searching different shelves—Ayaan crouched down to check the lower racks while Priyanshi stretched to reach the higher ones.
But Ayaan's focus was nowhere near the shelves.
'How do I tell her? Is this even the right moment?'
Every glance at her only made it harder. She looked beautiful—effortlessly so. Her presence made his chest tighten, his breath falter.
'If I don't say it now... I might never get the chance again.'
He inhaled deeply, heart pounding. "Umm, ma'am…"
Priyanshi turned slightly, smiling gently. "You called me?"
Caught off guard, Ayaan's breath caught. His nerves betrayed him.
"Uh… umm… you look really beautiful today." His voice cracked at the end, and he quickly lowered his gaze, his face burning with embarrassment.
Priyanshi chuckled softly. "Aww, thank you. It's my last day here, so I thought I'd dress up a little."
'Last day.'
The words hit Ayaan like a punch to the chest. He forced a smile onto his face, masking the growing ache inside.
"Yeah, I heard you're leaving… Everyone's going to miss you."
She let out a soft laugh, but it carried a note of melancholy. "I'll miss you guys too. But for my career… I have to keep moving forward, Ayaan."
He nodded, though his throat felt tight. "Where's the new job?"
"I went to Gurgaon for the interview. Since then, I've been doing online training from home. Once it's over, I'll be called to the office, but they haven't finalized the location yet."
So far away... The thought echoed through Ayaan's mind. It felt like she was already drifting out of reach.
Priyanshi turned back to the shelf and pulled something free. "Here it is. Found it!"
Ayaan blinked in surprise. "Wow, ma'am! You're amazing! I searched so long and still couldn't find it."
She smiled and handed him the coat. "I'm not that special," she said with a soft shrug. For a moment, her fingers lingered just slightly longer than necessary.
Then she stepped back, ready to leave.
But something inside Ayaan twisted.
'Say it now. Say something real.'
He clenched his fists and spoke before he could stop himself.
"Ma'am, wait…"
She paused, turning back to him with a gentle, curious look. "Hmm?"
His chest felt like it was closing in. His heart thundered. Every word he wanted to say lined up behind his tongue—but none of them came out the way he imagined.
"I... I'll miss you."
It was barely above a whisper.
The silence that followed was heavy—thick with everything unsaid. Priyanshi stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she smiled. It was soft, sincere… and just a little sad.
She reached forward and lightly tapped his forehead.
"Silly Ayaan," she said quietly. "You always hold back too much."
Ayaan's breath caught. He looked up, meeting her eyes—but she had already turned away.
"If fate allows," she said, pausing at the door, "we'll meet again."
She didn't look back.
Ayaan stood frozen. The lab coat slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a dull thud. But he didn't move. Couldn't.
'Why didn't I say it? Why didn't I just tell her...?'
The ache inside him grew heavier with each step she took away from him.
Far down the hallway, Priyanshi's pace slowed. She didn't stop, but her fingers briefly clenched by her side.
'I thought he would say it…
I thought… maybe he felt the same.'
She sighed, just softly enough that no one heard.
Back in the storeroom, Ayaan cursed under his breath, barely able to stand the weight of his silence.
All he could do now was let her walk away—and carry the words he couldn't say.
The party was in full swing—laughter echoing from every corner, music blaring through the speakers, joy spilling into every space like light through a broken window. My friends sat beside me, chatting freely with Priyanshi. Their voices danced between jokes and stories, carried by easy laughter.
I just sat there quietly, staring into my glass like it held all the words I couldn't say. The ice had melted, just like the moment I missed.
With every passing minute, a new question stirred inside me—rising, lingering… then fading away. As if someone had muted me in the middle of my own story.
Eventually, the party began to fade. The music softened, the crowd thinned. Priyanshi stepped outside with a few others—everyone gathered to say their goodbyes.
I didn't follow.
I stayed behind, near the window, letting the night air graze my skin. I watched her through the glass. She was smiling as always, hugging her colleagues one by one, leaving behind a warmth in their expressions that I could never hold on to.
Then, for a brief second, she paused.
Her eyes scanned the entrance… and the hallway… and the steps near the garden.
My heart jumped. Was she looking for me?
But then—no.
She simply turned, hailed a cab, opened the door, and left. No glance back. No second thought. The headlights flickered across my face, then vanished into the dark. And by the time the silence returned…
She was gone.
My fingers curled tightly around the railing. A dull, aching pressure built in my chest—quiet but suffocating. All it would've taken was one moment… one breath of courage. But I hadn't spoken.
And now, it was over.
As I left the hospital and stepped into the streetlight's shadow, one thought echoed through my mind:
"Why am I like this?"
"Why do I always hold back… until it's too late?"
I didn't tell my friends. Not about the storeroom. Not about what I wanted to say. And I knew—
I knew they'd be disappointed in me.
But no one could be more disappointed than I was.
As soon as Ayaan reached home, he got straight to work. He cleaned the house, took a quick shower, and began preparing dinner. Now he stood at the kitchen counter, silently chopping vegetables. With each slice of the knife, it felt like he was trying to cut through the regret lodged deep inside his chest.
Behind him, the soft sound of footsteps echoed. Anya entered the kitchen, quietly watching him for a moment. Then, with a small smile, she asked, "So… how was your day today?"
Ayaan glanced at her, then returned to the cutting board. "It was… just okay," he said quietly.
"Just okay?" she teased. "Doesn't look like it from your face."
He set the knife down, his fingers resting on the edge of the counter. After a pause, he spoke—his voice low, like he was admitting something to himself.
"I wanted to tell Priyanshi… that I love her."
He sighed. "But I couldn't say it. I was right there, but… the words wouldn't come out."
A silence settled between them, broken only by the hum of the ceiling fan.
"I waited too long," he said finally, "and now I'm just left with this… regret."
Anya stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Her voice was soft, but her words carried quiet strength.
"Bhaiya… feelings like that don't disappear overnight. Maybe today wasn't the right moment—but that doesn't mean it's the end. If not today, then maybe tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then one day. Maybe God is just waiting for the right time."
Ayaan looked at her. Something in her voice—so calm and certain—eased the heaviness in his chest. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"And anyway," Anya added with a wink, "if not her, then someone else. You're pretty smart, Bhaiya. You'll impress someone eventually, right?"
Ayaan blinked, then suddenly burst out laughing. He reached over, pulled her into a hug, and squeezed her tightly.
"Yeah, yeah, you little devil!"
"Hey! Bhaiya!" Anya squirmed, laughing. "Let me go! Don't hug me so tight, you crazy brother!"
He let her go, still chuckling.
For a moment, the house felt lighter. The ache hadn't disappeared—but it had softened, wrapped in warmth only a sister could give.
There were days when things felt heavy… but moments like this reminded him:
as long as she was by his side, nothing was completely lost.