Days turned into weeks.
And slowly, something changed.
Aarav didn't try to force conversations anymore. He just… stayed.
Sometimes they would sit together in silence. Sometimes he would talk, and she would listen. Sometimes she would respond with just one word.
But that one word meant progress.
One evening, they walked out of the college together.
"You don't talk much," Aarav said.
"You talk too much," she replied.
He laughed. "Fair enough."
There was a comfortable silence between them.
For the first time, Riya didn't feel the need to escape.
"Why are you like this?" Aarav asked gently.
"Like what?"
"Closed."
Riya hesitated.
Then, after a long pause, she said, "Because it's easier."
"Easier than what?"
"Easier than getting hurt."
Aarav looked at her, serious now.
"Not everyone hurts you," he said softly.
Riya didn't reply.
But deep inside, something shifted.