Aryan's POV
I was halfway through my second samosa when Meher stole it.
"Emergency," she said, mouth full. "Come with us."
I blinked. "What kind of emergency involves stealing breakfast?"
Arohi rolled her eyes. "The emotional kind."
Riya tugged my sleeve. "Just shut up and walk."
They led me to the back courtyard, behind the library.
It smelled like wet leaves and secrets.
I looked at them. "Okay. What did I do?"
Meher grinned. "Nothing. Yet."
Arohi crossed her arms. "But you need to do something."
Riya leaned against the wall. "It's about Isha."
I froze.
"She's been quiet lately," Meher said. "Not her usual chaos."
"She's thinking about you," Arohi added. "More than she wants to admit."
Riya stepped forward. "And last night, she did admit it. To us."
I stared at them.
Then laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because I didn't know what else to do.
"She likes me?" I asked.
Meher nodded. "She loves you."
I blinked.
Hard.
"She said you stayed," Riya whispered. "When she needed someone. And you listened."
I looked down at my shoes.
Scuffed. Muddy.
I hadn't meant to be anything.
I'd just… stayed.
"She thinks you don't see her," Arohi said. "But you do. Don't you?"
I nodded.
Slowly.
"Yeah. I do."
They smiled.
Not the teasing kind.
The kind that says, We knew you'd get there.
Meher handed me back the samosa. "Go find her."
Riya added, "And say something real."
Arohi didn't speak.
She just looked at me like she was giving me permission.
And I thought,
This is what friendship looks like.
Not just jokes and group chats.
But people who push you toward the truth.
I walked away, samosa in hand, heart louder than my footsteps.
Because I didn't know what I was going to say to Isha.
But I knew it wouldn't be rehearsed.
It would be real.