By evening, it had become a storm.

The kind that turned roads into rivers.

The kind that made the city feel lonely.

Nila sat near her bedroom window watching raindrops race down the glass.

A half-finished cigarette rested between her fingers.

The room was quiet.

Too quiet.

Which meant she was thinking again.

A dangerous activity.

Her phone vibrated.

One message.

**Aaradhya:**

*Are you awake?*

Nila immediately smiled.

Then frowned.

Then smiled again.

Annoying.

**Nila:**

*Unfortunately.*

A reply appeared instantly.

**Aaradhya:**

*I'm stuck.*

Nila sat up.

**Nila:**

*Where?*

**Aaradhya:**

*Library.*

**Nila:**

*Still?*

**Aaradhya:**

*Everyone left.*

**Nila:**

*Call your family.*

Several seconds passed.

Then—

**Aaradhya:**

*They're busy.*

Nila stared at the message.

Something about it bothered her.

Not the words.

The feeling behind them.

A minute later, her phone rang.

Aaradhya.

Nila answered immediately.

"Why are you still there?"

The storm echoed faintly through the phone.

"I lost track of time."

"Idiot."

A soft laugh came from the other side.

"Probably."

For a few moments neither spoke.

Then Aaradhya quietly said,

"It's scary."

Nila froze.

The confession sounded small.

Vulnerable.

Unexpected.

"What is?"

"The storm."

A pause.

"And being alone."

The second part came out much quieter.

Almost accidentally.

Without thinking, Nila stood up.

"Stay there."

"What?"

"Stay there."

"Nila—"

The call ended.

Twenty minutes later, Nila was riding through the rain on her old scooter.

Getting soaked.

Freezing.

Questioning every life decision that brought her here.

The storm showed no mercy.

Rain hit her face.

The roads were terrible.

Visibility was worse.

Yet she continued.

Because somewhere in that nearly empty campus...

Aaradhya was waiting.

The library lights were still on when she arrived.

Nila parked quickly and rushed inside.

Completely drenched.

Aaradhya sat near the entrance holding a book.

The moment she looked up—Everything changed.

Relief flooded her face instantly.

Real relief.

Not polite.

Not controlled.

Real.

Like she'd been waiting.

Like she'd hoped.

"You came."

The words were barely above a whisper.

Something tightened painfully inside Nila's chest.

"Obviously."

Aaradhya stood.

Still staring.

Still looking strangely emotional.

"You're soaked."

"You're observant."

A small laugh escaped her.

The tension eased.

Just a little.

Outside, the rain continued pouring.

Neither moved immediately.

For some reason, the moment felt important.

Neither understood why.

Finally Aaradhya spoke.

"You really came."

"There are only so many times you can say that."

"No."

Her voice softened.

"You don't understand."

Nila looked at her.

Aaradhya looked away first.

"When I sent that message..."

A small smile appeared.

"I didn't think anyone would come."

The confession landed heavily.

Because Nila knew exactly how that felt.

Expecting nobody.

Preparing for disappointment.

Learning not to hope.

For a moment neither joked.

Neither teased.

The truth between them felt too fragile.

Then Nila stepped closer.

Not much.

Just enough.

"You should expect better people."

Aaradhya smiled sadly.

"Maybe."

A pause.

Then—

"Maybe I already found one."

The world seemed to stop.

Just for a second.

Rain hammered the roof above them.

Thunder echoed in the distance.

Yet all Nila could hear was her own heartbeat.

Aaradhya realized what she'd said.

And immediately looked embarrassed.

"Nila, I meant—"

"I know."

But honestly...

She wasn't sure she did.

The ride home was awkward.

Mostly because Aaradhya sat behind her holding onto her hoodie.

And Nila was trying very hard not to think about it.

Failing completely.

The rain remained relentless.

The roads glowed beneath the streetlights.

Everything felt cinematic.

Beautiful.

Dangerous.

At one red light, Aaradhya's grip tightened slightly.

Instinctively.

Protectively.

Trustingly.

Nila's breath caught.

Just for a moment.

Because nobody had ever held onto her like that before.

As if she was safe.

As if she could be trusted.

That night, after dropping Aaradhya home, Nila received another message.

Only three words.

**Thank you, idiot.**

Nila laughed quietly.

Then typed back.

**Anytime, princess.**

The reply came immediately.

**Goodnight, Nila.**

For some reason...

Those two words stayed with her long after the screen went dark.

And for the first time in years...

Going to sleep felt a little less lonely.