Riya had always believed one thing—love was dangerous.
Not because someone told her, but because life had shown her enough proof. Growing up, she had seen relationships fall apart like fragile glass. Her parents never fought loudly, but their silence spoke louder than any argument. Conversations faded, warmth disappeared, and what remained was just routine.
That wasn't love.
That was survival.
From a young age, Riya decided she would never depend on anyone emotionally. She would never give someone the power to hurt her.
So she built walls.
Invisible, but strong.
She became quiet, distant, and self-contained. People often misunderstood her silence as arrogance, but in reality, it was protection.
Books became her escape. They didn't betray. They didn't leave.
And most importantly—they didn't demand anything.
But then Aarav came into her life.
At first, he was just another person—loud, carefree, and completely different from her. But slowly, his presence started to disturb her carefully built world.
He talked when she wanted silence.
He laughed when she stayed serious.
He stayed… when everyone else would have left.
And that scared her.
Because the more he stayed, the weaker her walls became.