The house was quieter now.
Reyansh's family had left fifteen minutes ago. The cushions on the sofa still carried the shape of their visitors. The leftover teacups stood silently on the tray, as if listening.
Aarya's father closed the main door gently.
Her mother picked up the empty plates and walked into the kitchen. Maushi followed, already whispering, "She smiled twice. That means at least a second meeting!"
Aarya walked to her room without saying anything.
---
In her room, she changed into her soft, oversized T-shirt and sat on the edge of her bed.
She wasn't sure how she felt.
There was no lightning. No butterflies.
But also… no resistance. No tiredness. No pretending.
It had been easy to talk. Easy to sit quietly too.
> "I didn't want to meet him," she thought. "But I didn't want to leave either."
Her phone buzzed.
Not a message. Just a missed call from her best friend, Priya.
She ignored it.
She needed silence more than advice right now.
---
In the living room, her father stood by the window.
Her mother joined him, arms folded.
"Well?" he asked softly.
"She didn't say much," her mother replied.
"She's thinking."
Maushi returned from the kitchen. "I think she liked him. I know that look. That is not a 'no' look."
"She also didn't say yes," the father added with a smile.
"She's not the 'say everything immediately' type," Maushi said confidently. "She'll process it. Quietly."
The fridge made a small hum in the silence. Someone had left the samosas in there, forgotten.
---
At that very moment, across the city, Reyansh was sitting at his desk.
His mother was humming softly in the kitchen. His father had changed into his regular kurta and was watching the news.
But Reyansh was scrolling through his gallery.
He had no photos of her. Of course not.
But he was staring at a photo of the balcony plants he had clicked a few days ago.
Nothing special. Just green. Peaceful.
He wasn't sure why he opened that photo — maybe because it looked like her balcony. Maybe because she was peaceful too.
His phone buzzed.
A reply had come.
> "Me too."
That was all she had written.
But somehow, it felt enough.
---
Later that night, Reyansh's mother entered his room.
"So?" she asked, arms crossed, standing by the door.
He looked up from his phone. "It was fine."
"Just fine?"
"I liked her."
His mother smiled gently. "You don't say that easily."
He didn't reply.
"She's sharp," his mother added. "Quiet, but not blank. And she listens."
He nodded.
"Will you meet her again?"
"If she wants to."
His mother paused. "She's worth meeting again."
He looked at her.
"So am I," he said, and smiled.
His mother smiled back.
---
At Aarya's house, her mother brought a cup of warm milk to her room.
Aarya was sitting on the bed, sketching absently in her notebook — not buildings, just lines.
Her mother placed the cup on the table.
After a pause, she said, "He's not like the others."
"I know."
"And you didn't look uncomfortable."
"I wasn't."
Her mother sat beside her, brushing back her hair. "I just want you to feel... still."
"I think I did," Aarya said, quietly.
Not excited.
Not confused.
Just still.
---
The city slowed down for the night.
Both houses turned off their lights, one by one.
Two people — not in love, not in pain, not in a hurry — lay down quietly, thinking of each other, even if they didn't admit it yet.
---