Days passed after Sanya's confession. Each morning she waited anxiously, watching the gate where Akhil usually arrived. Each evening she wondered if he had made his decision.
Finally, one bright afternoon, Akhil found her in the library. She was sitting by the window, absentmindedly sketching in her notebook. Her heart jumped when his shadow fell across her desk.
"Sanya," he said softly.
She looked up, eyes wide. "Akhil…?"
He sat down, leaning forward on the table. For a moment, he just studied her face, as if searching for the right words. Then, with a small smile, he said, "I thought about what you said the other day… and honestly, I couldn't stop thinking about it. About you."
Her breath caught in her throat.
"I… I'd like to give this a chance," Akhil continued, his cheeks turning faintly pink. "You're not just kind, Sanya—you're real. And I like that."
Her hands trembled, but she managed to whisper, "So… you're saying…?"
Akhil chuckled softly. "Yes. I'm saying I like you too."
The words rang in her ears like music. For the first time in a long while, Sanya felt lighter than air. She smiled so brightly that the sunlight pouring through the window seemed to pale in comparison.
From that day on, their bond grew. They studied together in the evenings, went out for ice cream after classes, and slowly started sharing small secrets. To the outside world, they were the perfect pair—the handsome, admired boy and the intelligent, graceful girl.
But while their story bloomed, another one quietly withered.
Ram watched from the sidelines. At first, he told himself it was fine—Sanya deserved happiness, even if it wasn't with him. But as the weeks turned into months, he felt himself drifting further away.
The once constant companion—walking her home, helping with assignments, listening to her worries—was no longer needed. She had Akhil now.
"Ram, you'll come with us, right?" Sanya asked one evening, holding a pair of movie tickets.
He forced a smile. "I… I've got something to do at home. You two go ahead."
Her brows furrowed for a moment, but Akhil slipped his hand into hers, and she quickly forgot the hesitation. Ram turned away before they could see the ache in his eyes.
At night, he lay awake, staring at the ceiling, whispering into the silence.
She's happy now. Isn't that what I wanted? So why does it hurt so much?
One evening, Akhil asked Sanya casually, "By the way, how's Ram? I don't see him around much anymore."
Sanya shrugged lightly. "He's probably just busy at home. I barely see him too."
Akhil's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, thoughtful. "He's a good guy. He just… seems like someone who hides a lot inside."
Sanya only nodded, brushing it off. But somewhere, deep inside, Ram's absence had left a quiet void she refused to acknowledge.
And so, while Sanya and Akhil's love story moved forward, Ram began walking a lonelier path—one no one else noticed.