Authors POV:
Time moved. Just like it always does.
She thought she'd move on. But every time she passed that tuition lane, a part of her looked back
A few times, they'd run into each other in random places. A temple, A local shop, A festival crowd.
He'd see her. She'd see him. And they'd smile
No words. No "how are you."
just...
"Hi."
"Bye."
Two kids.
Two smiles.
A story that never got a middle... only a beginning and a soft goodbye
She didn't remember him every day. He wasn't stuck in her playlist or haunting her dreams
But sometimes, in the middle of an afternoon, while waiting for rice to boil or during a boring math class, she'd think of him
One year later, fate played again.
Their final board exams were at the same center.
Aaradhya walked in with her childhood friend, Nitya, half sleepy, half stressed.
And then she saw him...
Reyansh Bedi
The same face. A little taller maybe.
The same smile. A little softer.
The old trio...suddenly, it was back.
just like before.
Before every exam, they talked.
About stationery, about food, about teachers.
One day. Nitya giggled and said,
"I'm in love with someone."
Aaradhya smiled. Teased her.
Nitya added
"Reyansh said he likes someone too."
Aaradhya didn't ask right away.
She just smiled.
Not sad. Not exactly happy. Just... still.
But after a pause, she teased anyway,
"Ahh Reyansh, who's that girl?"
He smiled, a little shy. "Umm... she's from my school."
She nodded, pretending. "Nice, nice."
But something tugged inside.
After the last exam, it was just her and Reyansh walking back home.
No butterflies.
no nervousness.
Just comfort.
He told her about school. Friends. The old tuition days.
He said he missed their trio.
she said she did too.
And then, just like before, they reached her lane.
He waved.
"take care."
"You too."
She got home, dropped her bag, and lay on the bed.
Staring at the ceiling, she smiled.
A little sad.
A little full.
it was the last exam.
Maybe also their last chapter.
Seasons changed. Schools changed. People... changed.
But some names? They stayed.
Like a quiet bookmark in the corner of Aaradhya's mind,
Reyansh Bedi.
Senior secondary school began.
One day while scrolling through her mom's phone, a message popped up.
"Hi."
She blinked. Replied,
"Who is this?"
Few seconds later,
"Reyansh here."
Her heart paused.
Just for a second.
And then it smiled.
The story isn't over yet
>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<
My loviessss,
That "hi" was soft, but you felt it, right?
Meet me in the next chapter.
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