As promised, he began showing her around the campus.
They walked side by side, the night air cool against their skin. The place was quiet, except for the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.
She had a lot on her mind. Who was this guy? Why was he here at this hour? She had so many questions but took her time sorting them out.
Finally, she spoke. "What's your name? And what are you doing here at this time?"
He let out a small laugh, tilting his head as he looked at her. "Why did it take you so long to ask?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"I almost thought you weren't curious," he continued. "Or cautious, I'd say."
Luna stayed quiet for a moment, then said, "Well, I'm asking now, aren't I? So why not answer?"
He grinned. "Nikhil. That's my name."
She nodded, waiting for the rest.
"And as for what I'm doing here… well, I just like this place. So, here I am, spending my time here."
It made sense. Somehow, it suited him. Even though she had only met him minutes ago, she could already tell—he was a free-spirited guy, someone who did things simply because they felt right to him.
Nikhil glanced at her. "Won't you tell me yours?"
Luna hesitated for a second before replying, "You already know why I'm here anyway."
Then, in a single word, she answered. "Luna."
Nikhil repeated it, as if testing the way it sounded. "Luna… oh, it means moon, right?"
She nodded.
"Not a common name around here," he mused. "But I think it's a good name. Simple, yet beautiful. Luna."
She looked at him, unsure how to react to that.
To shake off the strange feeling, she asked, "What does Nikhil mean?"
He didn't hesitate. "It means 'complete.'"
Luna frowned slightly. "Complete?"
He shrugged. "That's what they say it means. But for me, it's just a name. I like it as it is. It doesn't need a meaning."
Luna thought about it for a moment, then nodded. She understood what he meant.