They began meeting unintentionally—then intentionally.
A bench near the tea stall became theirs. They spoke slowly, carefully, as if each sentence mattered.
Meera talked about stories she wanted to write. Aarav talked about a future he was building brick by brick.
"You listen differently," Meera said one evening.
"How so?"
"You don't wait to speak. You wait to understand."
Aarav smiled. He had never been seen like that before.