Morning settled gently over the Roy house, but inside Kashvi, everything was carefully controlled.

She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her spectacles, tying her hair back with steady hands. No rush. No hesitation.

Just quiet composure.

At the breakfast table, Sia placed toast on her plate.

“Eat properly,” she said softly.

“I will.”

Aryan watched her.

Too calm.

Too measured.

That wasn’t how she usually was.

Before he could say anything, the familiar bike horn echoed outside.

Right on time.

Kashvi stood up, picking her bag.

“I’ll go.”

The door opened before she could reach it.

Aditya walked in casually, like always.

“Good morning,” he said, dropping his keys on the table.

“Morning,” Sia replied with a small smile.

Aryan nodded once, his eyes already shifting to Kashvi.

“Ready?” Aditya asked her.

“Yeah.”

They walked toward the door together.

Almost out.

His phone rang.

He pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

“Rohini.”

The name landed softly.

But Kashvi heard it.

Of course she did.

He picked up.

“Hello?”

The voice came clearly through the speaker.

“Adi, can you pick me up? My cab got cancelled.”

Kashvi’s fingers tightened slightly on her bag strap.

Aditya started, “Yeah, I was just—”

Before he could finish…

Kashvi turned.

“Dad, can you please drop me today?”

The room stilled.

Aryan didn’t hesitate.

“Of course.”

Kashvi didn’t look at Aditya again.

“Let’s go.”

She walked past him.

Calm. Simple. Final.

The door closed behind her.

Aditya stood there for a moment, phone still in his hand.

The call had ended.

But something else had begun.

He turned slowly toward Sia.

“Is there anything I should know?”

No teasing. No smile.

Just confusion.

Sia looked at him quietly.

Then said gently, “You’re mature enough. You’ll figure it out.”

That answer stayed with him longer than anything else.

In the car, Kashvi looked out of the window.

Aryan started driving.

“She called him?” he asked after a moment.

“Yes.”

“And you chose to come with me.”

“Yes.”

Aryan nodded slowly.

“I’m not adjusting,” Kashvi added after a pause.

“I’m choosing.”

Aryan didn’t say anything after that.

But something inside him eased.

At college, Kashvi stepped out.

“Call me if you need anything,” Aryan said.

“I will.”

She walked in.

Straight.

Not searching.

Not waiting.

A few minutes later, Aditya entered the campus.

His eyes found her instantly.

Walking alone.

He walked up to her.

“Kashu.”

She stopped.

Turned.

Waited.

“You left,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Without telling me.”

“I told you.”

“When?”

“When I asked my dad to drop me.”

Simple.

Clear.

Before he could respond, Rohini approached.

“Hey,” she said, slightly breathless. “Sorry, I made you change plans.”

Aditya shook his head. “It’s fine.”

Kashvi stood there.

Quiet.

Present.

Invisible.

Rohini smiled at her. “Hi Kashvi.”

“Hi.”

“You could have come with us,” Rohini said naturally.

Kashvi shook her head lightly. “It’s okay.”

No edge in her voice.

No complaint.

That made it harder.

“Come, class is about to start,” Aditya said.

Rohini nodded and walked with him.

Kashvi followed.

But not beside him.

Not anymore.

In class, Aditya sat next to Rohini.

Like yesterday.

Like it was becoming normal.

Kashvi took her seat in the second row again.

Opened her notebook.

Focused.

Or at least pretended to.

“Adi, what is this?” Rohini laughed softly as he scribbled something wrong.

“Relax, I’ll fix it.”

“You said you’re good at this.”

“I am. Just distracted.”

Rohini raised an eyebrow. “By what?”

He didn’t answer.

But his eyes drifted.

To Kashvi.

She didn’t look back.

Not once.

During break, Rohini turned to him.

“You’re not really here, are you?”

“What?”

“You keep looking at her.”

Aditya frowned. “I don’t.”

Rohini smiled slightly. “You do.”

He stayed quiet.

Then shrugged. “She’s just being weird.”

“Or maybe you are,” Rohini said lightly.

Meanwhile, Kashvi sat with her notes.

A girl from her class leaned over.

“You’re not sitting with Aditya today?”

“Just felt like sitting here.”

“That’s new.”

“People change.”

The girl nodded slowly.

But kept looking at her, like she understood more than Kashvi said.

Later in the canteen…

Aditya waved at her.

“Kashu, come.”

She walked over.

Sat across, not beside.

A small change.

But it didn’t go unnoticed.

“Why there?” he asked.

“Comfortable.”

Rohini watched both of them.

The space between them.

The words unsaid.

“You guys fight?” Rohini asked casually.

“No,” Kashvi replied.

“No,” Aditya said at the same time.

They both went quiet after that.

Conversation shifted.

Laughter continued.

But Kashvi stayed quieter.

Listening.

Responding when needed.

Not adding more.

Not giving more. At one point, Aditya said something funny.

Rohini laughed.

Kashvi smiled.

But it didn’t reach her eyes.

After college, Aditya walked toward her again.

“You’re coming?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I have work.”

“You always have work now.”

She looked at him.

“Maybe I do.”

He stepped closer.

“Or maybe you’re avoiding me.”

A pause.

Kashvi held his gaze.

Not angry.

Not emotional.

Just steady.

“Maybe I’m just giving you space.”

That wasn’t what he expected.

“For what?” he asked.

She tilted her head slightly.

“For what you asked for.”

Then she turned and walked away.

Aditya stood there.

Confused.

Because he didn’t remember asking for distance.

But somehow…

He had.

Without realizing it.

Rohini walked up beside him.

“She’s not upset,” she said softly.

“Then what is it?”

“She’s stepping back.”

“Why?”

Rohini looked at him.

“Because she feels more than you do.”

That hit.

Harder than expected.

At home that evening, Kashvi sat with Sia in the kitchen.

Helping quietly.

No phone in her hand.

No distractions.

“Better?” Sia asked gently.

Kashvi nodded.

“A little.”

Sia didn’t ask more.

She didn’t need to.

She could see it.

Kashvi wasn’t healed.

But she wasn’t breaking anymore either.

In her room that night, Kashvi looked at her phone.

Aditya’s name still there.

Still close.

Still familiar.

It buzzed.

She stared at it.

Let it ring.

Once.

Twice.

Then it stopped.

No call back.

No message.

She placed the phone aside.

Turned off the light.

And lay down.

It still hurt.

But she didn’t react.

And sometimes…

That was the strongest thing she could do.

CH 8 SLEPT

The rain had started before college even ended.

Dark clouds covered the sky while students rushed through corridors trying not to get drenched.

Kashvi stood near the classroom window, watching the rain pour heavily outside.

“We’re doomed,” Rohini sighed dramatically while packing her bag.

Aditya leaned back on the bench. “Not as doomed as our project if we don’t finish it today.”

Kashvi looked at her notebook quietly. “We can submit tomorrow morning.”

“And stay awake the whole night panicking?” Aditya stood up. “No thanks.”

Rohini checked her phone and suddenly smiled. “Dad’s here. I’m leaving.”

She looked between them knowingly. “You two finish the project.”

Before leaving, she looked at Kashvi softly.

“Don’t stress too much.”

Kashvi nodded faintly.

A few minutes later only she and Aditya remained in the classroom.

Rain sounds filled the silence.

Aditya picked up her bag naturally. “Your house?”

Kashvi hesitated for a second.

Then nodded.

“Fine.”

He grinned slightly. “Good.”

The bike ride was quieter than before.

Cold wind brushed against them while rainwater splashed across the roads.

Kashvi sat behind him carefully, keeping a little distance.

Aditya noticed immediately.

Earlier she used to complain about speed, argue with him halfway through rides, sometimes even rest her forehead against his back during rain.

Today she stayed silent.

And somehow… that silence bothered him more than her anger ever could.

When they reached the Roy house, Aryan was sitting in the living room with his laptop.

The moment he saw Aditya entering behind Kashvi, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Again?”

Aditya removed his helmet with a small smile. “Project work, sir.”

Aryan leaned back slowly. “Interesting. Does college not provide libraries anymore?”

“Dad,” Kashvi muttered.

Before Aditya could answer, Sia walked out carrying coffee mugs.

“They’re students, Aryan.”

“Exactly,” Aditya agreed immediately.

Aryan looked at him blankly. “You sound very comfortable agreeing with my wife.”

Aditya smiled innocently. “Because she’s reasonable.”

Kashvi almost choked trying to hide her laugh.

Aryan pointed at him immediately. “See? This is why I don’t trust you.”

Sia laughed softly while placing coffee on the table.

“Go upstairs and finish your work before he throws you out.”

“That threat feels real,” Aditya whispered dramatically to Kashvi while walking upstairs.

Aryan heard it anyway.

“It is real.”

This time Kashvi actually smiled a little.

And Aditya noticed instantly.

That tiny smile somehow felt like an achievement.

Upstairs, Kashvi settled near her study table and opened her laptop.

Aditya sat beside her, spinning a pen between his fingers.

The room felt strangely formal.

No playful fights.

No random teasing.

Just work.

“You became very serious suddenly,” he said after a while.

“Submission matters.”

“So do conversations.”

“We are talking.”

“No,” he corrected softly. “We are discussing.”

Kashvi didn’t respond.

She kept typing.

That silence frustrated him more than it should have.

“What happened to you?” he asked finally.

“Nothing happened.”

“You’re lying.”

She looked at him calmly. “Adi, complete your slides.”

Rain thundered loudly outside.

Suddenly the lights went out.

The room fell dark.

“For god’s sake,” Aditya muttered.

Kashvi switched on the emergency lamp beside her bed.

Soft golden light filled the room.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Warm.

Quiet.

Intimate in a strange accidental way.

Rain sounds echoed around them while shadows danced softly across the walls.

Aditya looked at her quietly.

“You used to talk more.”

Kashvi’s fingers slowed over the keyboard.

Without looking at him, she replied softly,

“You used to notice more.”

The words hit directly.

He stared at her.

For once… he had no teasing reply.

Kashvi stood up before the silence became heavier.

“I’ll bring coffee.”

Downstairs, Sia looked up immediately as Kashvi entered the kitchen.

“You both done pretending nothing is wrong?”

Kashvi sighed softly. “Mom.”

Sia handed her mugs gently. “He looks confused.”

“He should focus on Rohini.”

Sia watched her carefully.

“You really want that?”

Kashvi stayed quiet.

That silence said enough.

Upstairs again, they continued working.

Hours passed slowly.

Sometimes discussing project details.

Sometimes sitting quietly.

Sometimes stealing glances without meaning to.

Around midnight, Kashvi stretched tiredly.

“Done.”

“Finally,” Aditya groaned dramatically, dropping backward onto the couch.

Just then thunder cracked loudly outside.

Rain still poured heavily.

Sia entered the room. “Enough studying. Sleep now.”

Aditya immediately stood up. “I’ll leave.”

“Yes,” Aryan’s voice came instantly from behind her.

Everyone turned.

Aryan stood near the door with crossed arms.

Sia looked at him. “In this weather?”

“He has a house.”

“Dad,” Kashvi said softly.

Aryan ignored her completely. “He also has roads.”

Another loud thunder interrupted him perfectly.

Aditya tried very hard not to laugh.

Sia gave Aryan a pointed look. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re too soft.”

Sia smiled sweetly. “That’s why you married me.”

Aryan stared at her for two seconds before muttering,

“Not in front of kids.”

Aditya whispered to Kashvi, “He says that like he behaves better usually.”

“I heard that,” Aryan said immediately.

Kashvi burst out laughing before she could stop herself.

Even Sia laughed now.

The tension softened slightly.

Finally Sia spoke firmly. “He’s staying.”

Aryan looked personally offended.

“Fine. Couch.”

“Done, sir,” Aditya replied quickly.

“You sound too happy.”

“I respect safe weather decisions.”

Aryan narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You enjoy irritating me.”

Aditya smiled. “A little.”

Kashvi shook her head while laughing quietly.

And for the first time in days, Aditya saw her genuinely relaxed.

That alone made staying worth it.

Later the house grew quiet.

Kashvi sat on the bed revising notes while Aditya lay on the couch scrolling through his phone.

“You should sleep,” he murmured.

“You too.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

He looked toward her lazily. “Used to talking at night.”

Kashvi’s fingers paused slightly.

She looked down quickly before he could notice.

“Good night, Adi.”

“Good night, Kashu.”

Rain continued outside softly.

Slowly, unknowingly… both drifted asleep.

Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains gently.

Aditya woke first.

And froze.

Kashvi was beside him.

Sometime during the night she had shifted near the couch unconsciously.

Her head rested softly against his shoulder.

One hand loosely clutching his hoodie sleeve.

Hair slightly messy across her face.

Spectacles removed.

Peaceful.

Very peaceful.

Aditya stared silently.

No jokes came to mind.

No teasing.

Just stillness.

He looked at her properly for what felt like the first time.

The softness in her sleeping face.

The trust in the way she leaned against him so naturally.

Something warm settled strangely inside his chest.

Without thinking, he slowly moved a strand of hair away from her face.

Kashvi shifted slightly in sleep and moved even closer unconsciously.

His breath caught.

For a moment he forgot everything else.

The rain.

The project.

Rohini.

Everything.

Then the door opened.

Aryan stood there.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

His eyes moved from Kashvi sleeping against Aditya to Aditya very much awake beside her.

Aryan’s expression darkened instantly.

Aditya swallowed hard.

“Sir…”

Aryan stepped inside slowly.

“This better have an explanation.”

Kashvi stirred awake at the voice.

She blinked sleepily at first.

Then realized her position.

Her eyes widened instantly.

She moved away so fast she almost slipped off the couch.

“Dad nothing happened,” she said immediately.

Aryan looked at Aditya coldly. “I’m sure he’ll say the same.”

“Sir honestly this looks worse than it is.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“Dad,” Kashvi groaned softly in embarrassment.

Aryan pointed at Aditya. “You. Downstairs.”

Aditya stood up obediently. “Yes sir.”

Before he could leave, Sia finally appeared behind Aryan.

She looked inside.

Took in the entire scene.

Then calmly covered her smile with her hand.

Aryan turned toward her slowly. “You find this amusing?”

“A little,” she admitted honestly.

Kashvi buried her face in her hands.

“Maa please.”

Sia laughed softly and walked inside properly.

“Kashu probably shifted in sleep.”

“I did,” Kashvi replied quickly.

Aditya nodded immediately. “Exactly.”

Aryan looked unconvinced. “Very believable.”

Sia moved beside him and adjusted his collar casually.

“You’re acting like they got married overnight.”

Aryan looked horrified. “Sia.”

Aditya accidentally laughed.

Even Kashvi looked up laughing now.

Aryan stared at all three of them in betrayal.

“No one is taking this seriously.”

“We are,” Sia said sweetly while trying not to smile again.

“You’re literally laughing.”

“That’s because your face looks terrifying.”

Kashvi burst into laughter again.

Aditya followed instantly.

Even Sia laughed openly now.

Aryan looked at the three of them laughing together and finally sighed dramatically.

“This family is impossible.”

Aditya smiled immediately. “Technically I’m not family.”

Aryan looked at him sharply. “Exactly.”

That only made everyone laugh harder.

CH 9 ITS HARD

The morning after the sleep incident was painfully awkward for Kashvi.

Not because of Aryan.

Not because of Sia teasing endlessly during breakfast.

But because every time she accidentally looked at Aditya… she remembered waking up against him.

The warmth of his shoulder.

The way he had been looking at her.

And somehow that memory refused to leave.

“Eat properly,” Sia said while hiding her smile.

Kashvi glared lightly. “Mom.”

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

Aryan folded the newspaper sharply. “I should have.”

“Dad please,” Kashvi groaned.

Right then the bike horn sounded outside.

Aryan looked personally offended again.

“He came back.”

“He comes every morning,” Sia reminded calmly.

“That’s exactly the issue.”

Kashvi quickly stood up before the conversation could continue.

“I’m leaving.”

As she walked outside, she found Aditya leaning against his bike casually.

The moment he saw her, something shifted in his expression for a second.

A strange hesitation.

Almost like he remembered yesterday too.

“Morning,” he said.

“Morning.”

Silence.

Very unusual silence.

Then Aditya suddenly cleared his throat.

“So… your dad almost killed me.”

Kashvi laughed before she could stop herself.

And Aditya smiled instantly at hearing it.

There she was.

His Kashu laugh.

Soft and real.

“Get on,” he said quietly.

The ride to college felt strange.

Not uncomfortable.

Just aware.

Too aware.

Every small movement suddenly noticeable.

When the bike stopped at a signal, Kashvi instinctively held his shoulder slightly for balance.

Aditya’s fingers tightened around the handle immediately.

Something about that tiny touch affected him far more than it should have.

And he didn’t understand why.

At college, things slowly started becoming normal again.

At least on the surface.

Aditya irritated her during lectures.

Kashvi rolled her eyes at him again.

He stole her pen.

She hit his arm lightly.

Rohini watched both of them silently sometimes.

Like she was noticing things neither of them fully understood yet.

During lunch break, the canteen was crowded.

Kashvi adjusted her spectacles while trying to move through students carrying juice and notebooks together.

Suddenly someone pushed past from behind.

Before she could lose balance, a hand gripped her wrist firmly.

Aditya.

“Careful,” he muttered immediately.

His hand stayed around her wrist for a second longer than necessary.

Warm.

Protective.

Close.

Kashvi looked up at him.

Too close.

For a moment neither moved.

Then someone called Aditya from behind.

He let go instantly.

But the warmth remained on her skin.

Later, while sitting in class, Kashvi struggled to read something written far on the board.

She removed her spectacles, cleaning them lightly.

Aditya glanced at her.

Then suddenly leaned closer.

“Give.”

Before she could react, he took her spectacles from her hands.

“Adi.”

“They’re dirty.”

He cleaned the glasses carefully with the edge of his hoodie.

Focused.

Completely normal for him.

Completely dangerous for her heart.

Then he leaned forward again and slid the spectacles back onto her face gently.

His fingers brushed the side of her cheek slightly.

“Better,” he murmured.

Kashvi forgot breathing for one second.

He pulled away casually like nothing happened.

Like he hadn’t just ruined her entire emotional stability in three seconds.

Rohini saw everything.

Every tiny thing.

The natural closeness.

The comfort.

The instinct.

Things people didn’t do unless someone mattered deeply.

But Aditya remained unaware.

Or maybe… he refused to see it.

That evening, they all sat near the college lawn after classes.

Aditya sat beside Rohini while discussing something funny.

Rohini laughed loudly.

Aditya laughed with her too.

Easy.

Comfortable.

Kashvi sat a little away, pretending to scroll through her phone.

Controlling herself carefully.

Because this was exactly what she wanted, right?

Him moving toward someone else.

Him being happy.

So why did it still hurt?

“Adi, stop lying,” Rohini laughed while lightly hitting his shoulder.

“I’m serious.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And yet you still talk to me.”

Kashvi looked away immediately.

Her chest felt strangely tight.

She hated herself for reacting.

Hated that even after deciding to step back… her feelings remained exactly where they were.

Then suddenly Aditya looked toward her.

Automatically.

Like he always did.

His smile softened slightly.

“Kashu, tell her I’m right.”

Kashvi looked up calmly.

“You usually aren’t.”

Rohini laughed immediately.

“See?”

Aditya stared at Kashvi suspiciously. “You’re supposed to support me.”

She smiled faintly. “That sounds like your personal issue.”

He narrowed his eyes playfully.

“There she is.”

The words slipped naturally from him.

But Kashvi’s smile faded slightly after hearing them.

Because she knew what he meant.

His best friend.

His comfort person.

The girl always there.

Nothing more.

Rohini noticed the shift instantly.

The way Kashvi’s fingers tightened slightly around her phone.

The way her eyes dropped for a second.

And for the first time, Rohini genuinely felt bad for her.

Because the saddest part was clear now.

Aditya cared deeply.

Maybe more than he realized.

But Kashvi…

Kashvi already loved him.

And loving someone before they understand their own feelings was one of the loneliest things in the world.