Morning: The Group Chat
Shant woke up to his phone buzzing.
Multiple messages in the group chat.
WhatsApp Group: "The Four Musketeers"
10:23 AM, September 10
Ananya: Hey! We should do something today. It's Saturday and I'm bored.
Rishi: I'm down. What are we thinking?
Ananya: Idk. Maybe a double date? 😏
Aradhya: It's not a double date if we're not dating.
Ananya: YET.
Shant: What did you have in mind?
Ananya: Idk, maybe India Gate? Or Hauz Khas?
Rishi: Hauz Khas is too crowded on weekends.
Ananya: True. What about Lodhi Garden?
Shant read the messages.
Waited.
Then Aradhya's message came through.
Aradhya: Can we go to Sunder Nursery?
Shant's heart stopped.
Sunder Nursery.
The place from the breakup dream.
The place where it all ended.
Ananya: Ooh yes! I've been wanting to go there.
Rishi: What's at Sunder Nursery?
Aradhya: It's a heritage park. Lots of plants, gardens, Mughal monuments. UNESCO site. It's supposed to be really beautiful.
Ananya: That sounds perfect! Shant?
Shant stared at his phone.
Sunder Nursery.
Aradhya wanted to go there.
She didn't know.
Couldn't know.
That it was the place from his nightmares.
But maybe that's why he needed to go.
To replace the nightmare with something real.
To make new memories.
With her.
He imagined her right now.
Sitting wherever she was. Phone in hand.
Eyes bright and hopeful.
Waiting for his response.
Wanting to go to this place because she loved plants and gardens.
Not knowing what it meant to him.
He typed.
Shant: Yeah. Sounds great.
Ananya: Perfect! It's a date then.
Aradhya: It's not a date.
Ananya: It's ABSOLUTELY a date. A double date.
Rishi: She's right, you know.
Aradhya: ...
Shant: ...
Ananya: Meet at 2 PM? Entrance gate?
Rishi: Works for me.
Aradhya: Okay.
Shant: See you there.
Shant set his phone down.
Lay back on his bed.
Stared at the ceiling.
Sunder Nursery.
With Aradhya.
In reality.
Not a dream.
He didn't know if he was terrified or relieved.
Both, maybe.
He sat up.
Opened his diary.
Wrote: "We're going to Sunder Nursery today. The place from the breakup dream. Aradhya suggested it. She doesn't know what it means to me. But maybe that's good. Maybe I need to go there with her. Make new memories. Replace the old ones. Face the fear. I'm choosing this. Choosing her. Choosing to believe reality can be different than the dreams."
He closed the diary.
Got up.
Time to get ready.
[Aradhya]
She stood in front of her closet.
It wasn't just a group outing.
Ananya had called it a double date.
And even though Aradhya had protested, part of her hoped it was true.
She pulled out outfit after outfit.
Not the gown. Too much.
But something nice.
Something that showed she cared.
She settled on a kurta. Light pink with delicate embroidery. Fitted but comfortable.
Paired with white pants.
Her jhumkas. The ones Shant had complimented before.
A small bindi.
She braided her hair. Loose. Falling over one shoulder.
Checked the mirror.
Nice. But not trying too hard.
Perfect for a date.
If that's what this was.
Her mother passed by the door.
Stopped.
Smiled.
"Going somewhere?"
"Sunder Nursery. With friends."
"With the boy?"
Aradhya blushed. "Yes. And Rishi and Ananya."
Her mother's smile widened. "You look lovely."
"Thanks, Ma."
Aradhya grabbed her bag.
Small. Just essentials.
Phone. Wallet. Lip balm.
Took a breath.
And left.
Heart pounding.
[Shant]
He got ready.
Jeans. A button-down shirt. Casual but nice.
Not overthinking it.
Checked himself in the mirror.
Ran a hand through his hair.
He looked... fine.
Normal.
Not like someone about to face the place from his nightmares.
He grabbed his phone.
Wallet.
Keys.
Paused at the door.
Turned back.
Grabbed the flower symbolism book from his nightstand.
The one Aradhya gave him.
Flipped to the page about yellow and white flowers.
"Love is everything at once."
He closed the book.
Set it down.
Took a breath.
And left.
Sunder Nursery: Arrival (2 PM)
All four met at the entrance gate.
The park stretched out before them.
Green everywhere. Pathways winding through manicured gardens.
Old Mughal structures in the distance. Domes and arches.
Trees. So many trees.
The air smelled like earth and flowers.
Peaceful.
Beautiful.
"This is amazing," Ananya said, looking around.
"I know, right?" Aradhya's eyes were bright.
They bought tickets. Entered.
Started walking.
Rishi and Ananya walked ahead.
Holding hands. Comfortable.
Pointing things out to each other.
Laughing.
Shant and Aradhya walked behind.
Side by side.
Not holding hands.
But close.
Their arms brushed occasionally.
Neither moved away.
"This place is beautiful," Aradhya said.
Shant nodded.
He'd been here before.
In a dream.
But it looked different now.
Brighter. More alive.
More real.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
He blinked. "Yeah. Just... taking it in."
She looked at him.
He was tense.
She could tell.
The same look he got when he zoned out.
But she didn't push.
Just walked beside him.
Present.
The Bonsai Garden
They stopped at the Bonsai garden.
Tiny trees. Meticulously maintained.
Each one a work of art.
Aradhya's face lit up.
"Look at these! They're so intricate."
She bent down to look at a miniature tree.
No taller than her hand.
But shaped like a full-grown oak.
Branches twisted. Leaves delicate.
"How do they do this?" she murmured.
Shant watched her.
The way her eyes brightened when she talked about plants.
The way she was so present in this moment.
Completely absorbed.
And he felt the déjà vu again.
But different this time.
Not heavy. Not ominous.
Just... familiar.
Like this was exactly where they were supposed to be.
"They train them," he said. "Over years. Pruning, wiring, shaping."
She looked up at him. "You know about bonsai?"
"A little. Read about it once."
She smiled. "Of course you did."
They moved through the garden.
Her pointing out different species.
Him listening.
Just happy to be near her.
The Lake (Fab Cafe)
They reached the central lake.
Water reflecting the sky. Birds flying overhead.
The surface calm. Mirror-like.
"Want to grab something to drink?" Rishi suggested.
They headed to Fab Cafe.
Glass-walled. Right by the lake.
View of the water. The gardens. The monuments in the distance.
Ordered cold coffee.
Sat outside on the terrace.
Wooden tables. Cushioned chairs.
Talking. Laughing.
Aradhya and Shant sat next to each other.
Closer than necessary.
Their knees touched under the table.
Neither moved away.
Ananya noticed.
Shot Rishi a look.
He grinned.
Raised his eyebrows.
She nodded.
Shant caught the exchange.
Rolled his eyes.
But he was smiling.
Aradhya was oblivious.
Too busy talking about the park.
"Did you know there are over 300 tree species here? And six Mughal-era monuments. There's even a museum with artifacts from that period. Sigils, coins, weapons, tiles, religious books from the Mughal era."
"You really did your research," Shant said.
"I wanted to know what we were seeing."
"We should check out the museum later," Ananya said.
"Definitely."
They finished their drinks.
Kept walking.
The Monuments
They wandered through the heritage section.
Old structures. Stone and brick.
Sunder Burj. Lakkarwala Burj. Sunder Wala Mahal. Mirza Muzaffar Hussain's Tomb.
History everywhere.
Aradhya read the plaques.
Told them facts.
Shant just watched her.
The way she got excited about learning.
The way she wanted to share it.
Rishi and Ananya wandered ahead again.
Giving them space.
Intentional.
Shant and Aradhya walked slower.
Through arched doorways.
Under stone ceilings.
The monuments cool inside.
Quiet.
"It's beautiful," Aradhya said softly.
"Yeah."
But he wasn't looking at the monuments.
He was looking at her.
The Bench
They left the monuments.
Walked down a quieter path.
Trees overhead. Shade dappling the ground.
Rishi and Ananya had wandered toward the Serenity Amphitheater.
Visible in the distance.
"We'll catch up with you guys!" Ananya called.
Shant and Aradhya were left alone.
Walking side by side.
And then Shant saw it.
The bench.
Under a large tree. Slightly secluded from the main path.
Wooden. Old.
And carved into the wood: A + S
His breath caught.
The bench from the dream.
The one where he sat alone after she left.
But now it was real.
And she was here.
With him.
He could lead her there.
Intentionally.
Face it.
"Shant?"
He blinked. "Sorry. Let's sit for a minute."
He gestured toward the bench.
They walked to it.
Sat down.
The wood warm from the sun.
Aradhya noticed the carving almost immediately.
"Oh. Look."
She traced the letters with her finger.
A + S
"That's us," she said, smiling.
Shant's chest tightened.
"Yeah."
She looked at him. "Do you think it's fate? Or just a coincidence?"
He looked at her.
At the way the dappled sunlight caught her hair.
At the way she was smiling.
Like this was magical.
Like the universe had left them a message.
"I don't know," he said. "But I like it."
She smiled wider.
Leaned back against the bench.
"Me too."
They sat in comfortable silence.
Just existing.
Together.
The park quiet around them.
Birds singing. Wind rustling leaves.
Peaceful.
"Shant?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad we came here."
"Me too."
And he meant it.
Because sitting here with her, in reality, was erasing the nightmare.
Replacing it with something real.
Something good.
The Rain
They sat for a while.
Just talking quietly.
About nothing important.
Favorite memories. Silly things.
And then the sky darkened.
Fast.
Aradhya looked up.
"Is it going to rain?"
Shant followed her gaze.
Dark clouds rolling in.
"I think…"
Thunder.
Loud. Close.
Then rain.
Sudden. Heavy.
"Oh my god!" Aradhya jumped up.
They looked around.
There was a pavilion nearby. Small stone structure with a roof.
Twenty feet away.
"There!" Shant grabbed her hand.
They ran.
Laughing. Breathless.
The rain coming down hard now.
Soaking them in seconds.
They reached the pavilion just as the downpour got heavier.
Ducked inside.
Under the Pavilion
They were both soaked.
Hair wet. Clothes sticking to skin.
Breathing hard.
Laughing.
"That came out of nowhere!" Aradhya said.
"Yeah."
They were standing close.
The pavilion was small.
Barely enough room for two people.
The rain loud around them. Pouring down.
But inside, it was quiet.
Just them.
Just their breathing.
Aradhya shivered.
"You're cold," Shant said.
"A little."
He stepped closer.
Not touching.
But close enough that she could feel his warmth.
"Here."
His hand touched her arm. Gentle.
Warmth despite the rain.
Despite the cold.
She looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
And everything slowed.
The rain faded.
Just his eyes.
Just her breath.
Just the space between them.
Shrinking.
He was leaning in.
She was leaning in.
Unconsciously.
Inevitably.
Closer.
His hand moved from her arm to her waist.
Gentle. Steady.
Her hand found his chest.
Could feel his heartbeat.
Fast. Pounding.
Matching hers.
They were so close now.
Wet clothes. Cold skin.
But the space between them warm.
Charged.
Electric.
His eyes flickered to her lips.
Hers to his.
Closer.
She could feel his breath.
Warm against her face.
Her wet kurta clinging to her skin. His shirt soaked through.
The cold rain outside.
But here, pressed close, everything warm.
Closer.
Almost touching.
And then he closed the distance.
His lips met hers.
Soft. Gentle. Tentative.
Like he was asking a question.
She answered.
Kissed him back.
Her hand moved from his chest to his neck.
His hand tightened on her waist. Pulled her closer.
The kiss deepened.
Not tentative anymore.
Sure. Real. Right.
Everything she'd been imagining.
Better.
His other hand came up to her face. Cupped her cheek.
She leaned into it.
Into him.
The rain pounding outside.
But they didn't hear it.
Didn't feel the cold.
Just this.
Just them.
Just the kiss they'd been building toward for days.
Finally.
Her fingers tangled in his wet hair.
His thumb traced her cheekbone.
Gentle even as the kiss grew more intense.
She could taste rain on his lips.
Could feel his heart racing under her palm.
Time stopped.
The world stopped.
Just this moment.
This kiss.
This them.
They pulled back slightly.
Just enough to breathe.
Foreheads touching.
Eyes closed.
Both breathing hard.
Neither wanting to move.
Neither wanting this to end.
"I uh…" Shant started.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Rishi and Ananya came running.
Soaked. Laughing.
Looking for shelter.
Shant and Aradhya jumped apart.
Like they'd been caught.
Faces flushed.
Breathing hard.
Hearts pounding.
Rishi stopped in the entrance of the pavilion.
Looked between Shant and Aradhya.
Noticed immediately.
The way they were standing.
The way they wouldn't look at each other.
The flush on their faces.
He paused.
Then grinned. "So... should we come back later?"
Ananya caught on. Eyes widened. "OH. Oh my god, FINALLY."
Aradhya buried her face in her hands. "Please don't."
"Don't what? Be excited that you two finally…"
"Ananya."
"Fine, fine." But she was still grinning. "I'm just saying. It's about time."
Shant rubbed the back of his neck. Avoiding eye contact with everyone.
Rishi nudged him. "You good?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Rishi smiled. Didn't push.
But his grin said everything.
The four of them stood in the pavilion.
Waiting for the rain to stop.
The silence loaded.
Everyone aware of what just happened.
But giving Shant and Aradhya space.
At least for now.
After the Rain
It stopped as suddenly as it started.
The clouds parting. Sun breaking through.
Everything wet. Glistening.
The four of them walked back toward the entrance.
But the energy was different now.
Rishi and Ananya walked ahead.
Giving them space.
But kept glancing back.
Grinning.
Shant and Aradhya walked behind.
Not talking.
Not touching.
Both hyper-aware of each other.
Of what just happened.
Aradhya's mind was racing.
We kissed.
We actually kissed.
And it was perfect.
But what does it mean?
Are we together now?
Should I say something?
What do I even say?
Shant was thinking the same thing.
I kissed her.
She kissed me back.
It was real. It was right.
But I didn't say anything after.
Does she think I regret it?
Should I have said something?
They reached the gate.
The awkwardness settling in now.
The high of the kiss fading into uncertainty.
"Okay, we're heading to Noida," Rishi said.
Ananya looked between Shant and Aradhya.
"Want to share a cab?"
Aradhya glanced at Shant.
Their eyes met.
Held.
Something passed between them.
Uncertain. Charged. Wanting.
But also scared.
Awkward.
Too much too fast.
She looked away.
"Actually, I'll go with Ananya," she said quietly.
Shant's chest tightened.
Tried not to show his disappointment.
"Okay. Yeah. I'll go with Rishi."
They split up.
Ananya and Aradhya in one cab.
Rishi and Shant in another.
Driving in opposite directions.
In Ananya's Cab
The moment the cab pulled away, Ananya turned to Aradhya.
"OKAY. TELL ME EVERYTHING."
Aradhya buried her face in her hands. "Oh my god."
"You kissed him!"
"I know."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Was it good?"
Aradhya peeked through her fingers. "...Yes."
Ananya squealed. "I KNEW IT."
"But I don't know what it means."
"What do you mean?"
"Like... are we together now? Was it just a kiss? Should I have said something? I just left!"
"You didn't leave. You're in a cab."
"You know what I mean."
Ananya softened. "Do you want to be together?"
Aradhya was quiet.
Then: "Yes."
"Then talk to him."
"What do I say?"
"I don't know. 'Hey, that kiss was great, what are we?' Something."
"I can't just you know…"
"Why not?"
"Because what if he didn't mean it like that? What if it was just... I don't know. A moment. Rain. Adrenaline."
"Aradhya. That boy has been looking at you like you hung the moon for WEEKS. It wasn't just adrenaline."
Aradhya stared out the window.
"Then why didn't he say anything after?"
"Maybe he's scared too. Maybe he doesn't know what to say either. Maybe he's waiting for you."
"Or maybe he regrets it."
"He doesn't."
"How do you know?"
"Because I SAW his face. He looked... I don't know. Happy. Terrified. But happy."
Aradhya bit her lip.
"I don't know what to do."
"Text him."
"And say what?"
"Literally anything. Just... don't let this sit. Don't let it get weird."
Aradhya nodded.
But didn't pull out her phone.
Too scared.
Too unsure.
In Rishi's Cab
"So," Rishi said.
Shant groaned. "Don't."
"You kissed her."
"I know."
"And?"
"And I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? Did you like it?"
"Of course I liked it."
"Then what's the problem?"
"I don't know what it means. We didn't talk. We just... kissed. And then you guys showed up. And then she left."
"She didn't leave. She got in a cab."
"You know what I mean."
Rishi was quiet for a moment.
"Do you want to be with her?"
Shant didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"Then tell her."
"What if she doesn't feel the same? What if it was just... I don't know. A moment."
"Shant. That girl kissed you back. Hard. That wasn't 'just a moment.'"
Shant ran his hand through his hair.
"Then why didn't she say anything?"
"Maybe she's waiting for you to say something."
"Or maybe she regrets it."
"She doesn't."
"How do you know?"
"Because Ananya's been texting me. Aradhya's freaking out. In a good way. She likes you, man. She just doesn't know what to do about it."
Shant stared out the window.
"I need to talk to her."
"Yeah."
"Tomorrow."
"Why not tonight?"
"Because..." Shant paused. "Because I need to think. I need to figure out what I'm going to say. And also... I'm terrified."
"Of what?"
"Of messing this up."
Rishi was quiet.
Then: "You won't."
"You don't know that."
"I know you. And I know her. You guys are good together. Just... talk to her. Be honest."
Shant nodded.
"Tomorrow."
"Yeah. Tomorrow."
The cab continued.
Both of them quiet.
Shant thinking.
About the kiss.
About Aradhya.
About the dreams.
About the date that was coming.
Soon.
That Night: Aradhya
Aradhya lay in bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
Replaying the day.
The bench with their initials.
The rain.
The pavilion.
The kiss.
The kiss.
His lips on hers.
His hand on her waist.
Her hand in his hair.
The way he held her.
Like she was precious.
Like she mattered.
We kissed.
We actually kissed.
And I don't know what it means.
She grabbed her phone.
Typed a message.
"Hey. About today..."
Stared at it.
Deleted it.
Typed again.
"That was... nice?"
Deleted it.
Nice? NICE? You kissed him and you're calling it nice?
Typed.
"I can't stop thinking about tha…"
Deleted it.
Threw her phone on the nightstand.
I can't do this.
She closed her eyes.
But all she saw was him.
Leaning in.
The moment before the kiss.
The way he looked at her.
Like she was everything.
And then the kiss itself.
Perfect.
Why didn't we talk about it?
Why did I just leave?
What if he thinks I regret it?
What if HE regrets it?
She groaned.
Pulled a pillow over her face.
Tomorrow.
I'll text him tomorrow.
Maybe.
She fell asleep.
Still thinking about him.
Still feeling his lips on hers.
Still wanting more.
That Night: Shant
Shant sat at his desk.
Diary open.
Pen in hand.
Wrote:
September 10th.
I kissed her.
At Sunder Nursery. In the rain. Under the pavilion.
The place from the breakup dream. But it didn't feel like the dream. It felt real. Right. Perfect.
Her lips were soft. Her hand was in my hair. My hand on her waist. And for those few moments, nothing else mattered. Not the dreams. Not the patterns. Not the fear.
Just her.
And then Rishi and Ananya showed up. And we jumped apart. And she left.
We didn't talk about it.
I don't know what it means to her.
But I know what it means to me.
I want to be with her.
I want this to be real.
I just don't know if she feels the same.
The date is near. I can feel it. Something is going to happen soon. All these patterns are repeating. The kiss at Sunder Nursery. That's how it started in the dream too.
Which means... what? That the breakup is inevitable?
Or that I can change what comes next?
I have to believe I can change it.
I have to believe this time is different.
Tomorrow I'll talk to her. Tell her how I feel. Figure out what this is.
I hope she feels the same.
I hope I'm not too late.
He closed the diary.
Lay down on his bed.
Closed his eyes.
But all he saw was her.
Wet hair. Bright eyes. Leaning in.
The kiss.
The way she kissed him back.
Like she meant it.
Like she wanted it.
Tomorrow.
I'll talk to her tomorrow.
He fell asleep.
Still thinking about her.
Still feeling her lips on his.
Still hoping.