Residency ke last month me Anaya ko extension offer mila.
Dream upgrade.
Usne call pe directly bola —
"Main lena chahti hoon."
Silence.
Aarav ne poocha —
"Hum?"
Anaya ne saans li.
"Hum tab tak hai jab tak choice hai. Agar tumhe lagta hai ye unfair hai… say it."
Aarav ne apni balcony se city lights dekhe.
Usne realize kiya —
Uska fear abandonment ka nahi tha.
Control ka tha.
"Take it," usne finally kaha.
"Par ek baat clear karte hain."
"Hmm?"
"Hum future ko plan karenge.
Escape nahi."
Anaya ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye.
Weakness ke nahi.
Clarity ke.
Call ke end par dono ne ek hi sentence bola —
"I choose you."
Distance khatam nahi hua tha.
Uncertainty bhi nahi.
Par ab relationship fear-driven nahi tha.
It was intentional.
Mature.
Imperfect.
Real.