The autumn leaves swirled as Maya waited for two of her best friends to see her – Aveed and Aryan
Maya sat on the couch in the living room, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her sleeve. The soft hum of her parents' conversation with Aveed's and Aryan's parents filled the room. It was just a casual get-together, but Maya's heart raced—she was about to see Aveed, and maybe, unknowingly, something would change.
Aveed and Aryan were family friends, brought together again by the doctor parents gathering. Maya liked Aveed—quiet, serious, a little untouchable—but he only ever treated her like a friend. Aryan, on the other hand, was the fun one, always cracking jokes and lighting up the room, making her laugh even in awkward moments.
"Here they come!" Maya whispered to herself, glancing at the doorway.
Aryan burst in first, grinning widely. "Maya! You haven't changed a bit!" he said, hugging her lightly before his eyes darted to her parents, nodding politely.
Aveed followed shortly after, walking calmly, hands in his pockets. He paused near the doorway, nodding to Maya's parents before his gaze met hers. There was a quiet intensity in his eyes, the kind that made her stomach flutter.
"Hi," Aveed said simply, his voice low.
"Hi," Maya replied, her throat dry.
Aryan plopped himself down beside her, stretching his arms across the back of the couch. "So, Maya, still the quiet one? Or did teenage finally make you cool?"
Maya rolled her eyes, but smiled despite herself. "I wasn't quiet. I just don't talk nonsense like you."
The parents laughed from the dining table. "Some things never change," Aryan's father said warmly.
Aveed sat on the other side of Maya, straight-backed, his eyes scanning the room as though memorizing every detail. He glanced at her. "How's your life going?"
"It's… good," she said quickly, caught off guard by his directness. Aryan chuckled. "Wow, Aveed, you actually asked a normal question. Progress!"
"Unlike you, I prefer meaningful conversations," Aveed replied smoothly, not even looking at him.
Maya shook her head at their banter, a small smile tugging at her lips. The playful afternoon continued, light hearted on the surface—but carrying undercurrents
As the three friends settled near the sofa, Maya tried to focus on the chatter of their parents—but her mind kept drifting to Aveed, and the small, unspoken tension between them.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the room as the house help placed three steaming mugs on the table. Maya thanked her quietly, then slid a cup toward Aryan, who was already lounging back on the sofa like it was his own living room.
Aryan took a deep sip and sighed dramatically. "God, this is perfection. Maya, your house help makes better coffee than any overpriced cafe in the city."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "You only come here for the coffee, then?"
"Well the coffee and maybe the company," Aryan teased with a grin.
She gave him the faintest smile, but her hands lingered on the tray as she passed the last cup to Aveed. His fingers brushed against hers for half a second, warm and steady. He didn't flinch, didn't even look at her, just gave a small nod of thanks before settling back in the armchair, as though the contact hadn't happened at all.
Aryan, oblivious, continued, "You know, Aveed could drink this every day and still say nothing. Look at him—man of zero words."
Aveed looked up briefly, his dark eyes unreadable. "I said thank you," he muttered, then sipped his coffee.
"That doesn't count," Aryan shot back. "You need a whole sentence. Try harder."
Maya's lips curved despite herself. "You never give him a break."
"I can't. Someone's got to keep this room alive. Between you staring at your cup and him staring at the wall, I feel like a circus clown."
Her laugh slipped out before she could stop it—soft, not playful, but enough to draw Aveed's gaze. For a moment, their eyes locked. He looked at her with the same stillness he always carried, yet she felt something unspoken flicker there. It lasted barely a breath before he turned away, but her chest tightened anyway.
Aryan caught the sound of her laugh and leaned closer. "What's so funny?" His voice was light, but his eyes lingered on her a second too long.
"Nothing," Maya said quickly, lowering her gaze, her fingers tightening around her mug.
The silence stretched, heavy enough that even Aryan felt it. He tapped his cup against the table and forced a laugh. "See? I'm the only entertainer here. One day I'll start charging you both for my services."
Maya shook her head, but she didn't answer. Aveed didn't either. The only sound was the clink of cups and the faint hum of the ceiling fan.
Aryan leaned back, pretending not to notice the way Maya's eyes kept drifting toward Aveed. But he did notice. And though he couldn't explain it, the thought unsettled him more than he liked.
The clatter of dishes from the kitchen faded as their parents walked into the living room, slipping into their coats and shoes. Familiar warmth lingered in the air — families who had known each other for years, bound by hospital corridors and long shifts.
"It's getting late," Aryan's mother said, adjusting her scarf. "Thank you for the coffee, Maya."
Maya's mother smiled. "Always a pleasure. We should do this more often."
The adults exchanged quick goodbyes at the door. Then it was the turn of the three. Aryan slung his backpack over his shoulder, grinning at Maya. "Don't forget, you owe me for entertaining you both tonight."
Maya shook her head. "You entertained yourself more than us."
"That too," he admitted with a laugh..
"Thanks for the coffee, Maya. Tell your house help I'm her biggest fan," he teased. "You? You're just a bonus."
Maya sighed. "Goodbye, Aryan."
As Aryan moved toward the door, Aveed lingered a step behind. Then, without warning, he extended his hand toward her.
Maya froze, her breath catching in her chest. For a second she simply stared, wide-eyed, unable to believe he was the one offering first. Slowly, almost nervously, she slid her hand into his.
His grip was warm, steady — and this time, when his eyes met hers, something shifted. The corner of his lips curved upward in the faintest, rarest smile.
Maya's cheeks flamed instantly. She dropped her gaze, her lips trembling into a shy smile she couldn't hold back. "Bye, Aveed," she whispered.
"Bye," he said softly, still holding her eyes for a heartbeat longer before letting go.
Aryan, standing at the threshold, blinked at the scene. "Okay… now I've seen everything. Aveed actually smiled." He laughed, trying to brush it off, but the sound rang a little hollow.
Maya turned away quickly, clutching her hand to herself as though it still carried his warmth. Her blush lingered long after the door closed, and Aveed's faint smile stayed etched in her mind.
She wondered, almost against her better judgment, if this afternoon might shift the delicate balance of their friendship forever.