The classroom was unusually quiet that afternoon.
The teacher was explaining something on the board, writing formulas again and again, but Aarav wasn't paying attention at all.
His eyes kept drifting toward Anaya.
She was sitting two rows ahead of him, writing something carefully in her notebook. A few strands of her hair kept falling across her face, and every few seconds she would gently move them back behind her ear.
Aarav smiled to himself.
Why does everything she does look so perfect? he thought.
Suddenly Anaya looked back.
Their eyes met.
Aarav quickly looked away and pretended to read his book.
A few seconds later he heard a soft whisper.
"Aarav…"
He looked up again.
Anaya was smiling at him.
"Why are you staring at me?" she asked teasingly.
"I wasn't staring," Aarav said quickly.
She raised her eyebrow.
"Really?"
He tried to look serious.
"Yes."
Anaya leaned back in her chair and whispered again.
"You're a very bad liar."
Aarav couldn't stop himself from laughing quietly.
The teacher suddenly turned around.
"Is something funny there?"
Both of them immediately became silent.
After a few seconds the class continued again, but Aarav and Anaya kept smiling to themselves.
After college ended, the sky suddenly turned dark.
Heavy clouds covered the entire sky, and a strong wind started blowing through the campus.
Students began rushing toward the gate.
Within minutes—
Rain started pouring heavily.
Everyone ran to find shelter.
Aarav and Anaya stopped near the college entrance, watching the rain fall like a silver curtain.
"Looks like we're stuck," Aarav said.
Anaya stepped closer to the edge of the roof and stretched her hand out.
Raindrops landed on her palm.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"I love rain," she said softly.
Aarav watched her quietly.
The rain started touching her hair and shoulders. Her light blue kurti became slightly darker as it got wet.
In that moment, Aarav felt like time had slowed down.
He had seen many girls before.
But Anaya felt different.
There was something about her that made his heart feel calm and excited at the same time.
Without thinking, he said,
"You look really beautiful right now."
Anaya turned toward him in surprise.
For a second she didn't say anything.
Her cheeks slowly turned pink.
"Are you… flirting with me, Aarav?" she asked.
Aarav laughed nervously.
"I'm just telling the truth."
She looked at him for a moment longer, then looked away shyly.
The rain continued falling harder.
Finally Anaya suddenly stepped out into the rain.
Within seconds she was completely wet.
"Aren't you coming?" she asked playfully.
Aarav shook his head.
"You're crazy."
Anaya laughed.
"Maybe."
After a moment, Aarav walked out into the rain too.
Cold raindrops fell on his face and hair, but he didn't care.
They started walking slowly along the empty road outside the college campus.
Everything felt peaceful.
The sound of rain.
The cool wind.
And the quiet moment they were sharing together.
Suddenly Anaya slipped slightly on the wet ground.
Before she could fall—
Aarav quickly grabbed her hand.
His grip was firm.
She looked up at him.
Their faces were very close now.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
The rain kept falling around them.
Aarav suddenly realized he was still holding her hand.
But strangely… he didn't want to let go.
And Anaya didn't pull her hand away either.
"Aarav…" she said softly.
"Yes?"
"Why are you holding my hand?"
He smiled.
"So you don't fall again."
Anaya tilted her head slightly.
"And what if I want to fall?"
Aarav stepped a little closer.
His voice became softer.
"Then I'll still catch you."
Her heart started beating faster.
She could hear the rain.
She could feel his warm hand holding hers.
For the first time in a long time, Anaya felt something strange but beautiful.
A feeling she couldn't explain.
Maybe…
She was starting to fall for him.
But suddenly a thought appeared in her mind.
I'm leaving in two months.
Her smile faded slightly.
Aarav noticed.
"Hey… what happened?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
But inside her heart, she wished something impossible.
She wished time would stop.
She wished these moments with Aarav would never end.
Because deep inside…
She knew something important was happening between them.
Something that neither of them had the courage to say yet.
But soon…
Very soon…
One of them would have to confess the truth.