For Ananya, the past few months felt like living inside a dream she never wanted to wake up from. Life seemed to bloom around her in ways it never had before. Every small thing—be it the color of the morning sky, the chirping of the sparrows near her window, or the sound of her phone buzzing with his name—felt brighter, warmer, and more alive.
Arav had become her world.
He wasn't just a boy she liked anymore; he had slipped into her life so deeply that she couldn't imagine a single day without him. Their conversations were endless, flowing like water—sometimes about silly little things, sometimes about fears and dreams, and sometimes just silence that felt louder than words. It was the kind of bond that made her believe in fairy tales, the kind that made her think love really could heal everything.
But even the brightest mornings cast shadows.
Arav wasn't perfect, though her heart wanted to believe he was. His world wasn't as soft and safe as the one Ananya lived in. His friend circle was… different. They were loud, careless, the type who lived without thinking of tomorrow. Ananya noticed it from the beginning—the way some of them joked too harshly, the way they wasted time as if the world owed them a living.
She didn't like it.
Not because she was judgmental, but because she cared.
"Arav," she had told him once, while they were walking home after college, her voice soft yet firm, "you're better than them. You know it, right? You have dreams… I don't want to see you pulled into things you'll regret later."
Arav had only chuckled then, brushing her words off with the kind of easy smile that always melted her anger. "You think too much, Ananya. They're my friends, nothing more. Don't worry."
But Ananya did worry. Every time she saw him laughing with them, every time she noticed their careless attitudes rubbing off on him, her heart grew restless. So, she kept reminding him gently, again and again—not as a complaint, but as a plea.
And slowly, she saw changes. Maybe small ones, but they were there. Arav listened to her more than he admitted. Sometimes he skipped plans with his group just to meet her. Sometimes he repeated her words back to her, teasing, but with a glimmer of seriousness in his eyes.
For Ananya, that was enough to believe her love was making a difference.
---
That morning was no different—or so she thought.
The sun was still stretching its golden fingers across the sky when her phone buzzed. Half-asleep, Ananya reached out, smiling as she saw Arav's name glowing on the screen. It had become their little tradition: whispering "good morning" before the world around them had fully woken.
His voice, though still heavy with sleep, carried a comfort that always filled her chest with warmth.
"Good morning, Ananya," he said softly.
"Good morning," she replied, her voice playful, "You sound like you just rolled out of bed."
"I did," he admitted with a laugh. "But I wanted to hear you first."
Those small confessions always made her heart flutter, and she hugged her pillow tighter, biting back a smile. They talked for a while—about nothing and everything. About the weather, about the upcoming class project, about how lazy Arav felt that morning.
Then suddenly, his tone shifted. "Hey, wait for me a few minutes, okay? I'll come in some time."
Ananya blinked, curious. "Where are you going?"
"Just… something to take care of," he answered vaguely, his words rushed. "Don't worry. I'll meet you later. Promise."
Before she could ask more, he cut the call short.
It wasn't unusual for him to be mysterious at times. Arav often hid little things, not because he wanted to lie, but because he had a habit of keeping certain details to himself. Still, that morning left Ananya with a faint uneasiness. She pushed it away quickly—telling herself not to overthink.
Instead, she focused on the excitement that always came with meeting him in college.
She got out of bed, humming softly to herself. Standing in front of the mirror, she carefully braided her hair, her hands trembling slightly because her heart was beating faster than usual. She wanted to look good today—no, perfect. Not for the world, not for her friends, but only for him.
Choosing a light-colored dress, she stood in front of the mirror again, tilting her head, wondering if Arav would notice. He always did. He always had a way of looking at her that made her feel like she was the only girl in the entire college.
Her parents called her for breakfast, but she barely ate. Butterflies had filled her stomach instead. She was already imagining their meeting: the way he'd smile when he spotted her, the way they'd steal a moment together between classes, the way he'd make even the dullest lecture seem interesting with his quiet jokes.
Ananya picked up her bag and stepped out of the house, her heart light and full of anticipation. The morning breeze brushed against her face, carrying the scent of fresh jasmine from a nearby garden. It felt like the whole world was in harmony with her emotions, like nature itself was celebrating her love.
She didn't know why—but that day, more than any other, she felt a strange thrill. As if something was about to happen, something she couldn't yet name.
Her footsteps quickened as she neared the college gates. She knew Arav would be somewhere inside, waiting. And the thought of seeing him again, of sharing stolen glances in the crowded corridors, was enough to make her cheeks warm.
But what she didn't know was that this ordinary morning, with its laughter and glowing sky, would soon hold memories that would change her life forever.