After that evening of tea, the walls between Aryan and Sameeksha had fallen. Now, that library table had become not just a place to study, but their own little world.
Sameeksha felt like she was getting to know Aryan, but there was one thing about him that remained a mystery—the 'black diary' he always kept with him, but never let anyone touch.
"You seem very happy today?" Sameeksha asked softly, as she noticed Aryan coloring in his sketchbook.
"Today is 'Day 120,'" Aryan said without raising his head. "Today's sketch is special."
Sameeksha smiled. She noticed Aryan's fingers were trembling slightly. Suddenly, Aryan's phone rang, and he went out to talk, leaving his black diary on the table.
Sameeksha's mind wavered. She thought that perhaps there would be more of his sketches in it. As she turned the first page of the diary, her eyes widened.
The diary didn't contain sketches, but rather scribbles with dates.
August 12: Even today, he hasn't seen me. Perhaps he doesn't even remember that we used to play in the same park as children.
September 25: His smile is the same as it was 10 years ago. I wish I could tell him that I've come back just for him.
Seeksha's heart began to pound. Had Aryan known her since childhood? And he was talking about 'coming back' to her?
Just then, the door opened. Aryan came in, and his eyes fell on the black diary clutched in Sameksha's hand. Her face went pale.
"Seeksha... did you read this?" There was a strange pain in Aryan's voice.
Seeksha's eyes were filled with tears. "You... are you the same 'Golu' who used to give me his chocolates in the park? Where were you all these years, Aryan? And why didn't you tell me?"
Aryan lowered his gaze. "I was afraid, Sameeksha. I thought you'd moved on. I wanted to be a part of your present, not a burden of your past."
Silence fell over the library. It had started raining again outside, but this time it wasn't washing away old memories, but rather reviving them.