It was raining the day Aarav noticed her.
The kind of rain that made the campus quieter than usual. Students rushed through corridors. The smell of wet soil drifted in through the open windows of the library.
Aarav liked rainy days. People talked less.
He sat at his usual table near the window, a book open in front of him. He had been staring at the same page for ten minutes, but no one would know that. He looked focused. Distant. Unapproachable.
That was intentional.
He did not like conversations that lasted longer than necessary. He did not like people asking personal questions. He especially did not like feeling understood.
That was dangerous.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Her voice was soft but steady.
Aarav looked up.
She stood there holding two books against her chest, her hair slightly damp from the rain. She did not look nervous. She did not look overly confident either. Just calm.
"Yes," he said automatically.
She glanced at the empty chair.
"Oh. By who?"
He hesitated.
"No one."
She smiled slightly. "Then I'll sit."
And she did.
Without asking again.
Aarav lowered his eyes back to his book, mildly irritated. He expected her to start talking. Most people did. Small talk. Useless questions.
She did not.
She simply opened her notebook and began writing.
Minutes passed.
Only the sound of rain and turning pages filled the space between them.
For the first time in a long time, Aarav felt something unfamiliar.
Peace.
He did not know yet that this girl, who sat across from him without trying to impress him, would slowly become the one person he would be afraid to lose.
And Aarav Mehra did not do fear.
But he would.
Soon.