Will Aarohi ever love Aira?
It was a question—
Aira never stopped asking herself.
Not loudly.
Not every day.
But somewhere—
deep inside—
it stayed.
Aira was mad for her.
Not in a childish way—
But in a way—
she had never been before.
Before Aarohi—
she had never loved like this.
Never felt this deeply.
Never thought about someone—
this much.
She was drowned in her love.
So deeply—
that even she couldn't explain it.
Why her?
Why this much?
Why couldn't she stop?
Maybe—
she just didn't want to accept the truth.
Aarohi—
might never love her back.
Aira was always talking to Aarohi—
in her mind.
Sharing everything.
Her day.
Her thoughts.
Her small moments.
Everything.
Like Aarohi was still there.
Like nothing had changed.
And in those moments—
she felt happy.
But deep inside—
something felt strange.
A quiet feeling.
A heavy one.
Something she couldn't explain.
Something she didn't understand.
And maybe—
something she didn't want to understand.
One day—
she texted her.
Aira,
"Hey. How are you?"
Aarohi,
"Good. What about you?"
Aira,
"Good."
And then—
silence.
Aira stared at the screen.
She wanted to say more.
So much more.
Ask something.
Tell something.
Anything.
But her fingers didn't move.
Because she was afraid.
Afraid of her own feelings.
Afraid of saying too much.
Afraid—
that maybe—
Aarohi didn't want that.
So she stayed quiet.
Just like before.
After a few minutes—
Aarohi texted again.
Aarohi,
"You know… I'm really glad you're in my life."
Aira's heart skipped.
For a second—
it felt like everything she ever wanted.
But then—
Aarohi continued.
"You're a really important friend to me."
Friend.
That word again.
So simple.
So normal.
But for Aira—
it felt heavy.
Too heavy.
She had heard it before.
Many times.
And still—
it hurt.
Not loudly.
Not like before.
But quietly.
Deeply.
Aira didn't reply immediately.
She just looked at the screen.
Reading that one word—
again and again.
"Friend."
And slowly—
something became clear.
Nothing had changed.
Not her feelings.
Not Aarohi's.
She had come back—
to the same place.
Again.
But this time—
she didn't break.
She didn't cry.
She didn't question.
She didn't ask—
"Why not me?"
She just…
understood.
After a long pause—
Aira typed.
Aira,
"Hmm."
And sent it.
No explanation.
No emotion.
Just—
acceptance.
After sending that one word—
"Hmm."
Aira kept staring at the screen.
Waiting.
Not for a reply—
But for something to change.
Inside her.
But nothing did.
Everything felt…
the same.
The same feelings.
The same attachment.
The same quiet pain.
eyes.
And for the first time—
she didn't imagine a future with her.
No "what if."
No "maybe someday."
Just—
reality.
Clear.
Still.
Unavoidable.
Aarohi was still there.
Still important.
Still loved.
But—
not hers.
And maybe—
never would be.
Aira took a deep breath.
Not to calm herself—
But to accept something—
she had been avoiding for so long.
She wasn't confused anymore.
She wasn't overthinking anymore.
She wasn't even hoping—
like before.
Because now—
she knew the truth.
And sometimes—
knowing the truth—
hurts less than imagining something that will
never happen.
That night—
Aira didn't pick up her phone again.
Not because she didn't want to—
But because she didn't need to.
For the first time—
her thoughts didn't run back to her
immediately.
There was a pause.
A small one—
but real.
And in that pause—
Aira noticed something.
She was still there.
Without Aarohi.
Still breathing.
Still thinking.
Still… existing.
felt strange.
Because for so long—
her world felt like it revolved around one person.
One name.
One feeling.
And now—
for a moment—
it didn't.
Not completely.