Ashi froze.

Their eyes met — just for a second.

The glow of the setting sun lit her skin softly, and the steam from her cup danced like a curtain between them.

No smiles.

No frowns.

Just… silence.

She lifted her cup slightly — as if saying hello.
A quiet, unsure gesture.

He didn’t respond.

Just turned his head, closed the window halfway, and disappeared behind the curtain.

Ashi looked down into her cup.

"Why can’t he just greet back…?"
"Am I invisible? Or… is that just how people are now?"

She took one last sip, the tea now lukewarm.
And stepped back into her room, sliding the balcony door shut behind her.

Behind the curtain, Haruv paused.
Still. Quiet.

"She keeps looking."
"Why does she look at me like that… like I matter?"
"She doesn’t even know me."

He turned toward the mirror.
The fog was clearing.
But somehow, her eyes stayed behind —
etched somewhere in his thoughts.