That Tanya hadn’t stood in front of him with those unwavering eyes, saying the words that had shattered his carefully built walls.

That she hadn’t declared, “I love you, Aarav, and I will keep loving you, whether you accept it or not.”

That he hadn’t stood there, frozen, as she walked away, leaving him with a storm raging inside him.

He told himself that if he just acted normal, if he pretended like it hadn’t happened, maybe the chaos in his heart would quiet down.

But reality had other plans.

The day had been a series of slow, painful realizations—ones he could no longer ignore.

It started when Daksh, completely unaware of the turmoil inside Aarav, nudged him in the cafeteria and smirked. “So… Tanya was with Kabir all morning, huh?”

Aarav, who had been stirring his coffee mindlessly, stilled.

Daksh continued, “Apparently, they’ve been working on their project together nonstop. Pretty dedicated, huh?”

Aarav didn’t respond.

But something inside him snapped.

The image of Tanya laughing with Kabir, discussing ideas, sitting close, hit him like a punch to the gut.

It shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t.

But the thought of her being with someone else—giving someone else her time, her attention, her smiles—made his grip tighten around his cup until his knuckles turned white.

He left without finishing his coffee.

Later, during basketball practice, it got worse.

He was already on edge, missing shots he normally wouldn’t, his focus scattered. And then, just as he was about to take a break, he heard someone mention Tanya’s name.

“She’s been spending so much time with Kabir,” one of the guys said. “I swear, if he doesn’t confess soon, he’s an idiot.”

Aarav’s jaw clenched.

Confess?

The word sent a jolt of something sharp and unrelenting through his chest.

Tanya wasn’t interested in Kabir. He knew that.

But what if?

What if one day, she decided she was done waiting for him?

What if she turned to someone else?

The thought was unbearable.

The rest of practice was a disaster. He was reckless, missing plays, his frustration obvious. Even his coach noticed.

“Aarav, what’s with you today?”

He had no answer.

Because how could he explain that he felt like he was losing something before he even had it?

By the time evening rolled around, he was exhausted—physically and mentally.

He needed space. Air. A moment to think.

But thinking meant facing the truth.

And the truth was—

He couldn’t lose Tanya.

Not to Kabir. Not to anyone.

Not even to himself.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

It was late. He wasn’t expecting anyone.

When he opened it, his breath caught.

Tanya stood there, slightly out of breath, her hair slightly messy from the wind.

She had come straight from her project, still in the same clothes she had worn in the morning, her backpack slung over one shoulder.

Aarav just stared at her, his heart slamming against his ribs.

She had come.

Despite everything, despite his silence, she had come.

Tanya took a deep breath, then stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.

He closed the door behind her, unsure of what to say.

She turned to face him, her eyes steady. “I’m not here to pressure you, Aarav. I just… I just need you to listen.”

He swallowed. “Tanya—”

“No,” she cut him off gently. “Just let me talk.”

He shut his mouth.

She exhaled, gripping the strap of her backpack like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. “I know you, Aarav. I know how you think. You push people away because you think it’s easier. Safer.”

His fingers curled into his palm.

“But that’s not how love works,” she continued. “Love isn’t safe. It’s messy, and terrifying, and unpredictable. And I know that scares you.”

Aarav’s pulse thundered.

“I told you yesterday that I love you,” she said, her voice unwavering. “And I meant it.”

Silence.

She took a step closer. “I’m not asking for anything from you. Not a confession, not a promise. Just… an answer.”

Aarav forced himself to breathe.

Tanya smiled, but there was a sadness to it. “Because if you don’t feel the same way, if this—whatever this is between us—is just my imagination, then I need to know.”

His chest felt like it was caving in.

If she had yelled, if she had been angry, maybe he could have handled it.

But this?

This quiet, steady courage?

It broke him.

Tanya gave him a small nod, then turned toward the door. “That’s all I came to say.”

His body moved before his mind could catch up.

He grabbed her wrist.

She stopped, but didn’t turn around.

His grip tightened. “Tanya…”

She waited.

His heart was pounding.

This was it.

There was no more running. No more excuses. No more hiding behind the fear of losing her.

Because the truth was—

He had already lost the battle the moment he fell for her.

Slowly, she turned back to face him.

And for the first time, he let himself say what had been buried inside him for so long.

“I love you too.”

Tanya’s lips parted slightly, her eyes widening.

His voice was hoarse, uneven. “I love you, Tanya. I think I always have.”

A shaky breath left her lips. “Then why—”

“Because I was scared,” he admitted, his own honesty catching him off guard. “Of losing you. Of ruining everything.”

She swallowed. “Aarav…”

He looked at her, really looked at her. And he saw it.

Everything he had tried to avoid.

The love. The patience. The quiet understanding.

The reason he couldn’t let her go.

He took a deep breath, then said the only thing that mattered.

“But I can’t run from this anymore.”

Tanya stared at him, and then—

She smiled.

Soft. Radiant. Like the first light after a storm.

And just like that, the last of his resistance crumbled.

He pulled her into his arms.

Tanya didn’t hesitate. She melted into him, her arms wrapping around his waist, her head resting against his chest.

Aarav exhaled, his chin resting on top of her head, his arms tightening around her like he would never let go.

For the first time in a long time, everything felt right.

But just as he closed his eyes, a sudden knock at the door made them both freeze.

Aarav stiffened. Tanya lifted her head.

The knock came again—louder this time.

And then—

A familiar voice.

“Aarav? Are you in there?”

It was Aarav’s mother.

In shock they both stares at each other thinking, What to do? .

Outside, his mom knocked again. “Aarav, open the door.”

Aarav looked down at her, he let go of his from her waist.

She looked up at him, uncertainty flashing in her gaze.

One moment.

One decision.

And whatever happened next—

Would change everything?