Falguni's POV:
I woke up to sunlight slipping stubbornly through the curtains, heating the side of my face. Coco had curled himself into a tiny ball against my arm, as if he had spent the whole night fighting battles in his dreams. Lucky him. My battles had been wide awake.
The first thing I did before even stretching, before moving Coco aside was reach for my phone.
One new message.
Aarush:
"Good morning, almost not-so-stranger."
I stared at it for a long time, my thumb hovering. A part of me wanted to reply immediately, to keep the ease of last night flowing into today. Another part reminded me: Engagement in two days, remember?
Still, I smiled. A quiet, involuntary smile that belonged to no one else.
I finally tore my gaze away from the screen and tossed my phone onto the bed. Coco lay tucked against my arm, his little button eyes staring blankly. Somehow, just seeing him there made me realize how tangled my thoughts had become.
But that one message kept replaying in my mind. Should I reply? What would he think if I didn't? Would he feel ignored, or worse, offended? My thumb twitched, hovering over the screen, torn between keeping the ease of last night alive and remembering...Engagement in two days.
Showering felt like a small reset. Steam and warm water washing over me didn't erase everything, but it helped me breathe again. Breakfast was a blur, a few bites of toast and coffee, my thoughts bouncing between my conscience and that single message.
(She glanced at her phone screen.)
(An Unread message)
Aarush:
"Good morning, almost-not-so-stranger "
(Falguni stares at the screen, thumb hovering. A reply almost slips out "Good morning", simple, harmless. But instead, she locks her phone and stuffs it into her bag.)
Not now. Not when my mind is already running in circles from last night. If I reply right away, what does that even mean? That I'm waiting for him? That I want this?
(Her chest feels tight. She doesn't delete the message though. She rereads it. Twice. Then heads off to college.)
By the time I reached college, I had managed to push the guilt into a corner, but it still lingered, nibbling at me whenever my phone buzzed. I found myself stealing glances at it, imagining what he might be thinking. Ignoring a message after last night, it felt wrong. Yet, I reminded myself, two days. Engagement in two days.
Still, no matter how hard I tried, that quiet, guilty smile refused to fade.
(In College between lectures, she sneaks her phone out after the professor leaves, she finally decides to reply.)
Falguni:
"Good morning. Sorry for the late reply."
(The reply comes fast, as if he's been waiting.)
Aarush:
"Late? More like an entire semester. Thought you forgot me already 😏"
(She bites her lip, fighting a smile.)
Falguni:
"Some of us actually attend lectures, you know."
Aarush:
"Some of us actually wait for replies, you know."
(Her laugh escapes before she can stop it. The girl sitting beside her raises an eyebrow, but Falguni just shakes her head and goes back to typing.)
Falguni:
"You're dramatic for an agriculture student."
Aarush:
"And you're cruel for a girl who kept me staring at my phone all morning."
Cruel? If only he knew. I wanted to reply the second I saw his text. I wanted to say good morning back, maybe even add a smiley. But that would have made it too real. And real is dangerous. Real means admitting I want this connection more than I should.
Aarush:
"I guess silence is an answer too."
Falguni (thinking):
I stare at the message. My fingers hover over the keyboard. This shouldn't feel this hard."
Falguni replies:
"Sorry... just got busy."
(Lie. But what else could I say?)
Aarush:
"It's okay. Just wanted to know if you're okay."
Falguni:
"I'm fine. Just a lot going on."
Aarush:
"I get it. Just... don't vanish on me, okay?"
(That one hits harder than it should.)
Falguni (thinking):
Why did that feel like something only someone close would say?
And why did I like hearing it?
Falguni:
"I'm not vanishing. Just... trying to stay in control."
Aarush:
"Control of what?"
Falguni:
"Everything."
(She types it, then adds...)
"Of how much space I let people take in my life."
Aarush:
"And I'm people?"
Falguni:
"You're... a little more than that. And that's the problem."
(Pause. Three dots show he's typing. Then it disappears. Then again.)
Aarush:
"I don't want to be a problem."
Falguni:
"You're not. That's the scary part."
(After a little pause)
Aarush:
"Hey, I don't want to distract you. Just wanted to check in."
Falguni:
"You're not a distraction. Just... trying to stay focused."
Aarush:
"Understandable. College, life, expectations... it's a lot."
Falguni:
"Exactly. Some days I feel like I'm carrying too much."
Aarush:
"I get that. But don't carry it all alone, okay?"
Falguni:
"I'm used to it."
Aarush:
"Maybe you shouldn't have to be."
(Pause.)
Falguni:
"I should go... three lectures left and zero energy."
Aarush:
"Go conquer them. I'll be here when you're done."
Falguni:
"Thank you. That means more than you think."
Aarush:
"Then I'll keep saying it. Take care, Falguni."
Falguni:
"You too, Aarush."
I tucked my phone into my bag, but my thoughts stayed with the message.
"Then I'll keep saying it."
Why did that line linger in my mind like a song I couldn't stop humming?
I made it through the next three lectures, though I couldn't recall a single word. My notebook stayed mostly blank. My hand moved, but my thoughts wandered...to him. Aarush. His patience. His warmth. The way he made it feel okay to be uncertain.
By the time the final bell rang, the classroom emptied quickly. I walked out slower than usual, the late afternoon sun brushing against my face. It should've felt peaceful, but inside, everything was loud.
Home. Expectations. Devansh.
And now... Aarush.
--------
I stepped into the house, greeted by the aroma of fried snacks and the sound of my mother's voice echoing from the kitchen.
The living room was already buzzing with chatter. My bua, chachi, and a few cousins were seated comfortably, plates of snacks already in hand, their voices overlapping in excited tones.
"Falguni, come here! We were just talking about your engagement!" one cousin called, patting the seat beside her.
I smiled-automatic, polite-and sat down, my hands folded neatly in my lap.
"Have you picked what you'll wear for the function?"
"Will it be a saree or lehenga?"
"Your ring looked simple-was it Devansh's choice?"
I wanted to disappear. Not because they weren't kind-they were. But their excitement felt like it belonged to someone else.
I glanced toward the window for a moment, wishing I could step outside-breathe. My phone buzzed quietly in my lap.
Aarush:
"Still surviving those lectures?"
I looked at the screen and smiled-genuinely this time.
Falguni (typing):
"Worse. Relatives talking about dresses and jewellery like I've already agreed to everything."
Aarush:
"Oof. That's heavier than lectures."
"Want me to fake call you with a made-up emergency?"
I bit back a laugh and tucked the phone away quickly as my chachi turned to me again.
"So, Falguni beta, are you excited? Devansh is such a good boy. You're lucky!"
Lucky.
Yes. That's what they all said.
I looked down at my phone
Aarush:
"Still trapped?"
I smiled softly, thumb hovering over the keyboard.
Falguni:
"Yes. Currently sitting in a jewellery-and-dress tornado."
Aarush:
"Brace yourself. Aunties love engagement hype."
His message feels heavier than it should. This message is giving way to my inner battles to rise.
My aunt turned toward me, holding up gold jhumkas.
"These would look so elegant on your engagement day!"
"Your mom said the color theme is grey and silver-very graceful,"another added.
Grey and silver...
Wasn't even my idea. But what did that matter.
I stood up.
"Ma, I'm going to change. This kurti's getting uncomfortable."
"Okay, beta. Come back soon, we're picking out your clutch next!"
I smiled and nodded, then turned and walked straight to my room.
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