The rain outside had no mercy. Thick sheets of water slapped against the windows, running down the glass like endless rivers. The street lamps flickered faintly through the blur, their golden halos drowning in the storm’s gray fury. Inside, the little living room felt almost like another world—warm, dimly lit, safe.

Aarya shifted uncomfortably on the couch, glancing at her watch. The thin ticking sound seemed louder than usual, a reminder of how late it had become.

“Right behind your house?” she asked, her tone more surprised than casual.

Hiten grinned, scratching the back of his neck as if the realization still amused him. “We never knew we were neighbors! That’s… kinda amazing, don’t you think?”

Aarya gave a small smile, though her heart was still racing from everything that had happened today. Neighbors. How odd. For years, their paths must have crossed—at the market, near the bus stop, maybe even walking down the same road. Yet until tonight’s downpour, they were strangers.

She opened her mouth to reply, but Hiten cut her off with a worried glance at the window.

“I’m really sorry,” he said quickly. “It’s too late to go home. I only brought you here because of the rain—it’s way too heavy outside. You can’t possibly walk back now.”

He hesitated, shifting his weight, then added, “But if you don’t mind… you could stay here. I—I mean, I have an extra bed. My sister barely uses it, maybe once or twice when she visits. Don’t worry, I change the sheets regularly.”

His voice carried a teasing lilt at the end, almost as if he was trying to lighten the awkwardness.

Aarya blinked at him, caught between gratitude and hesitation. Stay at his house? A boy’s house? Her parents would never allow it if they knew. But the thought of stepping into the furious rain outside made her shiver.

Finally, she nodded softly. “Okay… if you don’t mind, I can stay.”

Relief flashed in Hiten’s eyes, quick but unmistakable. He smiled, that boyish curve of his lips making him look younger somehow. “Great. That settles it.”

But then Aarya’s practical side returned. She frowned. “Wait—what about school tomorrow? I don’t have my uniform, my books—”

Hiten waved a hand. “Don’t worry about that. You can run home early in the morning, grab your bag and uniform while I’m making breakfast. Then we’ll head to school together. Simple.”

Aarya’s lips parted in surprise. “Damn, Hiten… you’re so smart,” she teased, nudging his arm lightly.

That did it—his cheeks turned a faint shade of red, and he glanced away quickly. “C’mon, yar, don’t say it like that. You’ll make me embarrassed.”

For the first time that night, Aarya laughed openly. Not the polite chuckles she usually gave, but a real laugh that reached her eyes. And strangely, Hiten laughed with her, the sound soft and unguarded.

The room felt warmer after that.

---

Hiten busied himself preparing the extra bed in the small guest room. The sheets smelled faintly of detergent and sunshine, as if they had been waiting just for tonight. He smoothed out every wrinkle carefully, almost nervously, like he was afraid of leaving a bad impression.

“There,” he said at last, stepping aside with a small flourish. “Your palace for the night.”

Aarya smiled, touched by the effort. “Thank you.”

“Good night,” he said softly, lingering for a second at the doorway before pulling it shut.

But sleep didn’t come easily.

---

Hiten lay on his back in his own room, staring at the ceiling. The rain’s rhythm drummed against the roof, steady and hypnotic, but his mind was restless. He turned once, twice, thrice. Finally, curiosity won.

Quietly, he pushed his blanket aside and padded toward the guest room.

The door was slightly ajar, just enough to see the faint outline of Aarya lying awake. Her eyes glimmered faintly in the dim light, reflecting the storm outside.

He whispered, almost as if confessing to the dark, “We were strangers just a few hours ago… and now everything’s changed.”

Aarya shifted, her gaze meeting his through the small gap. For a moment, neither spoke. The storm filled the silence between them, a third presence in the room.

“Time is such a weird game,” Hiten continued, his voice low and thoughtful. “It can make or destroy things in seconds.”

Aarya swallowed. Something in his words resonated, tugged at places inside her she rarely let anyone see. “Yeah,” she whispered back. “It really is.”

The two of them lingered in the half-darkness, the distance between their doors suddenly feeling smaller than ever.

Finally, Hiten chuckled softly. “For now, just sleep. Otherwise, you won’t wake up in time. And then both of us will be dead in school tomorrow.”

That broke the tension just enough for Aarya to smile. “Good night, Hiten.”

“Good night, Aarya.”

And with that, the quiet settled in again—though neither of them truly slept right away.

---

Morning came wrapped in the faint silver of dawn. The rain hadn’t stopped, but its fury had lessened to a steady drizzle. The scent of wet soil drifted in through the open window.

Hiten stretched and walked toward the guest room. He knocked lightly, pushing the door just enough to peek in. “Aarya… wake up. Time to grab your bag and uniform. I’ll take a bath in the meantime.”

Aarya sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Okay,” she murmured. She slipped on her sandals, planning to rush home quickly.

When she returned a short while later, her arms full with books and uniform, she assumed Hiten must already be in the kitchen. The faint clatter of dishes seemed to confirm it.

But as she pushed open the bathroom door, expecting to take a quick shower—

Her breath caught in her throat.

Hiten was already there, half-hidden in a fog of steam, his face covered in white foam. He turned at the sound of the door, his eyes wide.

“Aarya?!”

Aarya screamed instinctively, her hand flying to her mouth.

Startled, Hiten slipped on the wet floor and flailed, nearly falling into the tub. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

“I—I thought you were in the kitchen!” she stammered, panic and embarrassment mixing into nervous laughter.

“I should be the one scared, not you!” Hiten spluttered, trying to regain his balance, soap still dripping from his hair.

Aarya backed away quickly, her face burning. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know!”

For a heartbeat, their eyes met—her cheeks pink with humiliation, his flushed with equal parts anger and awkwardness.

The moment stretched, fragile, strange, and electric.

Aarya froze at the doorway, her hand on the knob, her heart hammering in her chest. Hiten’s voice broke the silence, lower now, almost unreadable.

“Aarya… what are you really doing here?”

Will she laugh it off… or will the slip of this morning reveal something deeper neither of them is ready to face?

Half-asleep, she whispered words that could mean so much… and he wasn’t sure what to do. Click Next to see what happens next?