Monday Morning: Aradhya's First Day
Aradhya woke up at 6:30 AM.
First day of college.
She lay in bed for a moment.
Staring at the ceiling.
Nervous.
Excited.
Terrified.
Her phone buzzed.
A text from Shant.
"Good luck today. You're going to kill it. 🌻"
She smiled.
Typed back: "Thanks. I'll need it."
Another buzz. Ananya this time.
"Ready for day one?? Meet you at the gate?"
Aradhya replied: "YES. See you there."
Got out of bed.
Showered. Got dressed.
Practical outfit. Jeans. Simple kurti. Comfortable.
Not trying too hard.
But thoughtful.
She grabbed her bag.
Checked she had everything.
Notebooks. Pens. Water bottle.
The textbooks from yesterday.
Took a breath.
And left.
Campus Gate: 8:30 AM
Aradhya arrived at the south gate.
Ananya was already there. Bright smile. Energetic as always.
"First day!" Ananya squealed, pulling her into a quick hug.
Aradhya laughed. "You're way too excited for this early in the morning."
"Are you kidding? This is huge! We're officially college students now."
They walked onto campus together.
Other students everywhere. Some looking confident, others nervous like Aradhya.
"Do you know where your first class is?" Ananya asked.
"Botany lecture hall. Building C."
"I'm in Building A. Chemistry." Ananya made a face. "Why did I choose science again?"
"Because you love it?"
"Right. That."
They laughed.
Reached a fork in the path.
"Okay, this is me," Ananya said, pointing left. "Text me at lunch? We can meet at the cafeteria."
"Yeah. Definitely."
"Good luck!"
"You too."
They parted ways.
Aradhya took a breath.
And headed to her first class.
Introduction to Botany: 9 AM
Aradhya sat in the lecture hall.
Rows of seats. Maybe fifty students.
The professor walked in. Middle-aged woman. Confident. No-nonsense.
"Good morning. I'm Dr. Kapoor. Welcome to Introduction to Botany."
She launched into the syllabus.
Course structure. Assignments. Exams. Lab requirements.
Aradhya took notes.
Tried to focus.
But her mind wandered.
She imagined Shant sitting next to her.
Leaning over to whisper something about the professor's serious expression.
She'd try not to laugh.
The professor would glare.
They'd both look down. Suppressing smiles.
Under the desk, his hand would find hers.
She blinked.
The professor was still talking.
Aradhya was alone at her desk.
But she was smiling.
Lunch: 12:30 PM
Aradhya found Ananya at the cafeteria.
Sitting at a table near the window. Already eating.
"There you are!" Ananya waved her over.
Aradhya slid into the seat across from her.
Pulled out the sandwich she'd brought from home.
"So?" Ananya asked. "How was it?"
"Intense. The professor doesn't mess around."
"Same here. Chemistry is going to kill me." Ananya took a bite of her food. "But also kind of exciting?"
"Yeah. Exactly."
They ate in comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Ananya grinned. "So. Have you texted Shant yet?"
Aradhya's face heated. "What? Why would I…?"
"Oh please. You two were practically attached at the hip yesterday."
"We were not."
"You literally took the metro together. Alone. Before meeting us."
Aradhya looked down at her sandwich. "He was helping me find the way."
"Uh-huh. Sure." Ananya's grin widened. "You like him."
"I…" Aradhya stopped. "We're friends."
"Friends who look at each other like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're the only two people in the room."
Aradhya didn't know what to say.
Because Ananya wasn't wrong.
She pulled out her phone.
Texted Shant: "Surviving so far. But honestly? Kind of exhausting. Miss having someone to talk to."
Ananya leaned over. "Oh my god, are you texting him right now?"
"Shut up."
Ananya laughed.
Shant's response came quickly.
"You have me. Coffee after you're done?"
Aradhya's heart skipped.
"Yes please."
"Text me when you're free. I'll come to you."
She stared at the message.
He'd come all the way to campus.
Just for coffee with her.
"You're the best."
"I try." 😊
Ananya was watching. Smirking.
"What?" Aradhya asked defensively.
"Nothing. Just... you're smiling like an idiot."
"I am not."
"You so are."
Aradhya threw a napkin at her.
Ananya dodged, laughing.
But Aradhya was smiling.
And imagining him sitting in Ananya's seat.
Sliding into the chair across from her. Grinning.
"Hey, stranger."
She'd look up. Surprised. Happy.
"What are you doing here?"
"Couldn't stay away."
He'd reach over. Steal a bite of her sandwich.
She'd swat his hand.
Laughing.
She blinked.
Ananya was still there. Still smirking.
"You were just thinking about him, weren't you?"
Aradhya buried her face in her hands. "Oh my god."
Ananya laughed harder.
After Lunch
Ananya walked with Aradhya partway to her next class.
"So you're meeting him after classes?" Ananya asked.
"Yeah. Just coffee."
"Just coffee," Ananya repeated, teasing. "Right."
"It is just coffee!"
"Whatever you say." Ananya bumped her shoulder. "But for real, I'm happy for you. He seems really into you."
Aradhya looked at her. "You think?"
"Are you kidding? The way he looks at you? Yeah. Definitely."
Something warm bloomed in Aradhya's chest.
"What about you and Rishi?" she asked, changing the subject.
Ananya's face softened. "We're good. Really good, actually."
"How long have you been together?"
"Almost six months now."
"That's amazing."
"Yeah." Ananya smiled. "He's kind of the best."
They reached Aradhya's building.
"Okay, this is me," Aradhya said. "What do you have next?"
"Lab. Wish me luck."
"Good luck."
"Text me later! I want details about the coffee date."
"It's not a date!"
"Sure it's not!" Ananya called over her shoulder as she walked away.
Aradhya shook her head.
Smiling.
And went to her next class.
Greenhouse Tour: 3 PM
The final class of the day was a tour of the campus greenhouse.
Dr. Kapoor led the group through the glass doors.
Aradhya stepped inside.
And felt something loosen in her chest.
This.
This was why she'd chosen botany.
Plants everywhere. Rows and rows. Different species. Different colors.
Sunlight streaming through the glass ceiling.
The air warm. Humid. Alive.
Dr. Kapoor walked them through.
Explaining the different sections. The rare species. The ongoing research projects.
Aradhya listened.
But she was also imagining.
Shant beside her.
Walking through the rows with her.
Listening as she explained the plants.
Not looking at the greenery.
Looking at her.
She'd notice. Blush.
"Are you even listening?"
He'd smile. "Every word."
And take her hand.
They'd walk together.
Surrounded by green and light.
She blinked.
The tour was over.
Students filing out.
She was alone.
But her heart felt full.
Evening: Coffee Date
Aradhya texted Shant at 5 PM.
"Done for the day. Officially exhausted."
"Coffee? I'll come to you."
"Please."
"Be there in 20."
She waited outside the Botany Department.
Sitting on a bench.
Watching students pass by.
And then she saw him.
Walking toward her.
Hands in pockets. Slight smile.
She stood up.
"Hey."
"Hey."
They walked to a café near campus.
Ordered coffee.
Sat across from each other at a small table.
"So," Shant said. "How was it?"
Aradhya sighed. "Overwhelming."
"Good overwhelming or bad overwhelming?"
"Both. The professors are intense. There's so much information. But also... it's exciting. I actually love it."
"Tell me about the classes."
So she did.
Talked about the introductory lecture. The syllabus. The greenhouse tour.
He listened.
Asked follow-up questions.
Didn't just nod absently.
Actually engaged.
"What about you?" she asked. "How was your day?"
"Boring compared to yours. Just a lecture on cognitive behavioral patterns. Studied for a bit. Thought about you."
She blinked. "You thought about me?"
"A lot, actually."
Her face heated.
"Oh."
He smiled.
She looked down at her coffee.
Then back at him.
"The greenhouse tour was amazing. There were these rare orchids. The professor said they only bloom once every few years. And the colors were just..."
She gestured with her hands. Trying to describe it.
Eyes bright. Animated.
Shant watched her.
And then it happened again.
The déjà vu.
Stronger this time.
Her. Talking about plants. Hands moving. Face alive with passion.
He'd seen this.
Exactly this.
Same words. Same expression. Same light in her eyes.
Time slowed.
His chest tightened.
She kept talking.
But he couldn't hear her.
Just watched.
And felt the weight of it.
This moment.
This her.
This impossible, inexplicable sense that he'd been here before.
"Shant?"
He blinked.
Came back.
"Sorry. What?"
She frowned. "You zoned out. Do I have something on my face?"
"No. Sorry. I just..." He paused. "I really like listening to you talk. You light up when you talk about plants."
She smiled. Shy.
"I do?"
"Yeah. It's..." He hesitated. "It's beautiful."
Her breath caught.
They looked at each other.
The café noise faded.
Just them.
Just this moment.
Then someone dropped a cup.
The sound shattered the silence.
They both blinked.
Looked away.
But the feeling stayed.
They talked for another hour.
Time disappeared.
The café got quieter. Other customers left.
They didn't notice.
Just existed.
Together.
Eventually, Aradhya checked her phone.
"Oh my god. It's past seven. I should get home. My parents will worry."
"Yeah. I'll walk you."
"You don't have to…"
"I know."
They left the café.
Walked through the cooling evening.
Side by side.
Not touching.
But close.
Street lights flickering on.
City sounds around them.
They reached the metro entrance.
Stopped.
Aradhya turned to him.
Adjusted her bag.
"Thanks for today. For coming all the way here just to have coffee with me."
Shant smiled. "I'd come a lot farther than this."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Pause.
She looked at him.
Really looked.
The streetlight caught his face. His eyes.
"Shant?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad I met you."
Her voice was soft. Earnest.
"Like... genuinely. I don't think I've ever felt this comfortable with someone so quickly."
She paused.
Searched for words.
"It's like uh…"
"Like you've known me longer than you have," he finished quietly.
Her eyes widened.
"Yes. Exactly like that."
They stood close now.
The metro station buzzed behind them.
But it felt distant.
"Do you feel that too?" she asked.
"Every second I'm with you."
Her breath caught.
She didn't know what to say.
The metro announcement sounded.
She blinked.
Reality rushed back.
"I should... I should go."
"Yeah."
But neither moved.
"Will I see you soon?" she asked.
"Whenever you want."
She smiled. "Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow."
She turned toward the entrance.
Stopped.
Looked back.
"Shant?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For being you."
And then she was gone.
Down the stairs.
Into the station.
Shant stood there.
The crowd flowed around him.
But he was still.
Replaying her words.
"I'm really glad I met you."
"It's like I've known you longer."
"Do you feel that too?"
She felt it.
This impossible pull.
This connection that defied logic.
He didn't know if it was the dreams.
Or fate.
Or just them.
But it was real.
He could feel it.
In his chest.
In the way his heart raced when she smiled.
In the way time disappeared when they talked.
His phone buzzed.
He pulled it out.
"Home safe. Thank you for today. See you tomorrow? 💛"
He stared at the yellow heart.
Yellow.
Like the marigolds.
Like friendship.
But it felt like more.
He typed: "Definitely. Sleep well."
Another buzz: "You too. Goodnight, Shant."
"Goodnight, Aradhya."
He pocketed his phone.
And headed home.
Smiling.
That Night: Aradhya
Aradhya lay in bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
Replaying the day.
First day of classes.
Good. Overwhelming. Exciting.
But seeing Shant afterward.
Better.
His words echoed.
"Every second I'm with you."
Her heart raced just thinking about it.
She turned her head.
Looked at the yellow marigolds on her desk.
Still fresh in their vase.
Beside them, her new textbooks.
Two worlds.
Botany. And him.
Both making her feel alive.
She closed her eyes.
Not quite asleep.
Not quite awake.
Just imagining.
She's walking through campus. Shant appears beside her. Takes her hand without a word. "Hey." She looks up. "Hey." They walk together. Through the gardens. Past the greenhouse. Easy. Natural. Like they've done this a thousand times. Like this is how it's supposed to be.
She drifted.
Into sleep.
Peaceful.
Smiling.
That Night: Shant
Shant sat up in bed.
Back against the headboard.
The flower symbolism book open in his lap.
The one Aradhya gave him.
He was on the page about yellow and white flowers.
Yellow marigolds:"Associated with the sun, these flowers represent joy, optimism, and the simple beauty of friendship. They are honest in their brightness."
White roses:"Symbolizing new beginnings and hope, white roses speak of purity and the courage to start again."
Both together:"When yellow and white flowers are combined, they represent love in all its forms. The joy of companionship, the hope of new beginnings, and the willingness to hold contradictions. Love is not one thing. It is everything at once."
He traced the words.
Love is everything at once.
He thought about today.
The déjà vu moment.
Her talking about plants. Alive. Bright.
Her words at the metro.
"I'm really glad I met you."
The yellow heart emoji.
He thought about his father this morning.
Giving him money.
Being present. Kind.
Things felt good.
For the first time in months.
Family stable.
Aradhya here.
He could be present.
Available.
Not distracted. Not withdrawn. Not drowning.
He was choosing this.
Choosing her.
Choosing himself.
He closed the book.
Set it on his nightstand.
Beside his diary.
Turned off the light.
Lay down.
Closed his eyes.
No dreams.
Just peace.
And the memory of her smile.