“Aarav, no!” she whisper-yelled, trying to resist.

“Tanya, yes!” he whisper-yelled back, shoving her inside just as another knock sounded at the door.

Her eyes shot daggers at him as she stumbled into the cramped space, nearly knocking over a stack of books on the floor.

“If I die in here, I’m haunting you,” she muttered.

Aarav ignored her, shutting the door in her face just as the lock on the main door clicked open.

His mother, Mrs. Mehta, stepped inside, looking around suspiciously.

“Aarav, why did it take you so long to open the door?” she asked, her sharp eyes scanning the room.

Aarav forced a smile. “Uh, I was… changing.”

Mrs. Mehta’s eyes narrowed. “Changing? In the middle of the night?”

Aarav scratched the back of his head. “Yeah. It’s… uh, refreshing.”

From inside the closet, Tanya groaned softly.

Mrs. Mehta took another step inside, her gaze moving across the apartment. “Why do I feel like you’re hiding something?”

Aarav let out a nervous laugh. “What? Me? Hiding something? That’s crazy, Mom.”

Mrs. Mehta pursed her lips. “I heard voices before I knocked.”

Aarav stiffened. Crap.

“TV?” he tried.

Mrs. Mehta glanced at the screen. It was off.

Aarav internally cursed. Of course it’s off. Idiot!

Mrs. Mehta’s eyes landed on the slightly ajar closet door.

Aarav’s heart stopped.

She started moving toward it.

Oh, no, no, no!

Thinking fast, he stumbled dramatically, pretending to trip over his own feet.

Mrs. Mehta turned sharply. “Aarav, what—”

“Ow! My ankle!” Aarav clutched his foot, groaning. “I think I twisted it!”

Mrs. Mehta immediately rushed over, momentarily distracted. “Let me see.”

Aarav quickly sat on the couch, pulling his foot into his lap. “No, no, it’s fine. Just… give me a minute.”

From the closet, Tanya whispered, “Are you serious right now?”

Aarav subtly kicked the closet door to silence her.

Mrs. Mehta sighed, shaking her head. “You’re so clumsy.”

Aarav forced a sheepish smile. “Yeah, well…”

His mother still didn’t look convinced. “I’ll get you some ice.”

His stomach dropped. The ice was in the kitchen.

Right next to the closet.

Mrs. Mehta stood and started walking toward it.

Aarav panicked.

Think, Aarav. THINK!

Just as she passed by the closet, he blurted out—

“Mom! Do you ever think about your youth?”

Mrs. Mehta paused, frowning. “What?”

“You know,” Aarav continued hastily, scrambling for words. “Like… do you ever miss being young? Falling in love? The thrill of… romance?”

His mother blinked. “Aarav, are you having a fever?”

“No, I just—” He took a deep breath and looked at her seriously. “Mom, do you believe in soulmates?”

That did it.

Mrs. Mehta sighed and sat down beside him, clearly ready to give a lecture.

“Soulmates? Aarav, love isn’t about fate. It’s about choices. You young people think it’s all about some magical moment—”

Inside the closet, Tanya was stifling laughter.

Aarav nodded vigorously. “Right, right. Choices! Tell me more.”

Mrs. Mehta gave him a wary look but continued, now completely distracted from the closet.

For the next ten minutes, Aarav endured a speech on how “love takes work” and “young people have too many unrealistic expectations.”

Eventually, she yawned. “Anyway, I just stopped by to check on you. I should go.”

Aarav bit back a sigh of relief. “Yeah, yeah. You should rest, Mom.”

She stood up, still eyeing him suspiciously. “You’re acting weird.”

“Me? Never.”

Mrs. Mehta shook her head. “Fine. But if I find out you’re hiding something—”

“I’m not!” he said a little too quickly.

She gave him one last narrowed look before finally walking out the door.

The second it closed behind her, Aarav slumped back on the couch, exhaling loudly.

The closet door swung open.

Tanya stepped out, arms crossed. “That was pathetic.”

Aarav shot her a glare. “Excuse me, I just saved both our asses.”

She smirked. “By pretending to sprain your ankle and giving a TED Talk on soulmates?”

Aarav groaned. “Whatever. It worked.”

Tanya shook her head, amused. Then she took a step closer, her expression softening.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

Aarav blinked. “For what?”

“For… not letting her find me. For not making this weird.”

His lips quirked up. “Oh, so hiding in my closet wasn’t weird?”

Tanya rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

He did.

They stood there for a moment, the air between them calm, warm.

Then Tanya let out a small laugh. “I still can’t believe I just hid in a closet for you.”

Aarav grinned. “Yeah. But hey…” He leaned in slightly. “At least now I know you’d survive in a game of hide-and-seek.”

Tanya smacked his arm. “Shut up.”

Aarav chuckled, and just like that—

Everything felt lighter.