One day—
Aira was feeling something strange.
A heaviness inside her chest.
A fear—
she couldn't explain.
Something felt wrong.
But she didn't know what it was.
And maybe—
that scared her even more.
She tried to ignore it.
Tried to distract herself.
But the feeling stayed.
Quietly.
Constantly.
So without thinking too much—
Aira texted Aarohi.
Aira,
"I love you, Aarohi."
The reply came quickly.
Aarohi,
"Suddenly? I love you more, Airu."
Aira stared at the screen silently.
Aira,
"I just wanted to say it."
Aarohi,
"Are you okay, Airu?"
Aira,
"Yes."
Aarohi,
"Pakka?"
Aira,
"Yes."
But even after saying yes—
Aira wasn't okay.
Not really.
After some time—
that strange restlessness returned again.
Stronger this time.
Like her heart was trying to warn her about
something—
but she couldn't understand what.
So she texted Aarohi again.
Aira,
"Do you really love me?"
There was a pause.
Aira typed another message before Aarohi could reply.
Aira,
"Because maybe it's just guilt… for not loving me back before."
For a few moments—
there was no reply.
And somehow—
those few seconds felt heavy.
Then Aarohi replied.
Aarohi,
"I really love you, Airu."
Aira kept staring at the message.
Aarohi,
"I know myself."
Aira,
"Okay."
But even after hearing the words she once dreamed about—
Aira still didn't feel peaceful.
And that confused her the most.
Because wasn't this what she wanted?
Wasn't this the thing—
she had cried for before?
Then why—
did her heart still feel afraid?
That night—
Aira couldn't sleep.
She kept thinking about Aarohi's words.
"I love you more, Airu."
Anyone else would have felt happy.
But Aira felt restless.
Not because she didn't love Aarohi.
She loved her deeply.
Maybe too deeply.
But somewhere inside—
she feared something.
Fear of losing her.
Fear of attachment.
Fear that one day—
all of this would disappear again.
And maybe—
that's why her heart refused to stay calm.
The next morning—
Aira woke up feeling tired.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like her mind had been thinking the entire night without resting.
She opened her phone immediately.
First instinct—
Aarohi.
Their chat was still open.
Those words were still there.
"I love you more, Airu."
Aira read them again.
And again.
Trying to feel peace from them.
Trying to trust them completely.
But her heart still felt strangely restless.
Aira hated this feeling.
Because she knew Aarohi was trying.
Trying to stay.
Trying to love her honestly.
Trying to make her feel safe.
And still—
Aira's heart kept doubting.
Not Aarohi.
But fate.
Distance.
People.
Time.
Everything.
Later—
Aarohi texted again.
Aarohi,
"Did you sleep?"
Aira,
"A little."
Aarohi,
"You were overthinking again, right?"
Aira smiled faintly.
Because somehow—
Aarohi always understood her too easily.
Aira,
"Maybe."
Aarohi,
"Don't think too much, Airu. I'm here."
Those three words—
"I'm here."
Affected Aira deeply.
Because all her life—
she had handled everything alone.
And now—
someone was saying they would stay.
Maybe that was why she felt scared.
Aira closed her eyes for a moment.
And suddenly—
she realized something.
Loving someone was not the scary part anymore.
The scary part—
was becoming used to their presence.
Because once someone becomes a part of your everyday life—
the thought of losing them becomes terrifying.
And Aarohi had slowly become—
a habit.
A beautiful one.