Not even them.

The change happened slowly.

Quietly.

Like rain filling a river one drop at a time.

It started with messages.

Small messages.

Meaningless messages.

At least that's what they told themselves.

**8:04 AM**

**Aaradhya:**

*Good morning.*

**Nila:**

*Why are you awake?*

**Aaradhya:**

*Because normal people wake up in the morning.*

**Nila:**

*Sounds terrible.*

**12:17 PM**

**Nila:**

*Professor Rao looks like he's about to cry.*

**Aaradhya:**

*That's because you're asking questions.*

**Nila:**

*Fair.*

**11:53 PM**

**Aaradhya:**

*Sleep.*

**Nila:**

*No.*

**Aaradhya:**

*Why?*

**Nila:**

*Because you told me to.*

Day after day.

Message after message.

Somehow they became part of each other's routine.

Like coffee.

Like breathing.

Like home.

One week later, Nila woke up unusually late.

Her phone showed seven missed messages.

All from Aaradhya.

**Are you alive?**

**Class started.**

**Nila.**

**Answer me.**

**I'm serious.**

**You're worrying me.**

**Idiot.**

For some reason...

Seeing those messages made her smile.

A lot.

She called immediately.

The phone answered after one ring.

"Nila."

The relief in Aaradhya's voice was impossible to miss.

"I overslept."

"No kidding."

"You sound angry."

"I am."

Nila laughed softly.

A dangerous mistake.

"You were worried."

"No."

"You absolutely were."

"No."

"You sent six messages."

"Seven."

The correction escaped before Aaradhya could stop herself.

Silence.

Then Nila burst out laughing.

"Oh my God."

"Stop."

"You counted."

"Stop talking."

"You counted."

"Nila."

The embarrassment in Aaradhya's voice made her laugh even harder.

For the rest of the day, Aaradhya refused to look directly at her.

Which only made things worse.

Because Nila enjoyed teasing her entirely too much.

That evening they sat on the college rooftop.

A place few students visited.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

Safe.

The sunset painted the sky orange and gold.

The city stretched endlessly beyond them.

For once, neither had anywhere else to be.

Aaradhya rested her chin on her knees.

Watching the horizon.

Thinking.

Always thinking.

Nila watched her instead.

Always watching.

Recently.

Too often.

"What?" Aaradhya asked suddenly.

Nila looked innocent.

"I didn't say anything."

"You're staring."

"You're pretty."

The words escaped accidentally.

Complete accident.

Total disaster.

Aaradhya froze.

Nila froze.

The universe froze.

Several seconds passed.

Then Aaradhya slowly turned toward her.

For once...

Speechless.

Nila wanted to jump off the roof.

Immediately.

Finally Aaradhya spoke.

"You really say whatever enters your brain."

"Unfortunately."

A smile appeared.

Small.

Shy.

Beautiful.

"Thank you."

The answer was simple.

But something about it felt important.

The wind moved gently around them.

The city lights slowly began appearing below.

One by one.

Like stars.

"Nila."

"Hm?"

Aaradhya's voice softened.

"What if we never met?"

The question caught her off guard.

Nila thought about it seriously.

Longer than expected.

Then finally answered.

"I'd still be sleeping through life."

Aaradhya laughed quietly.

Then looked away.

Trying to hide a smile.

"And you?" Nila asked.

A pause.

A long pause.

Then—

"I think I'd be lonelier."

The confession landed gently.

But its impact was devastating.

Because it was true.

For both of them.

The sky darkened completely.

Neither moved.

Neither wanted to leave.

At some point, their shoulders brushed accidentally.

Neither pulled away.

Neither mentioned it.

The silence between them felt different now.

No longer empty.

No longer awkward.

It felt full.

Warm.

Comfortable.

And somewhere deep inside...

Without realizing it...

They had already become the person they searched for first.

The person they wanted to tell everything to.

The person whose absence would ruin an entire day.

Neither called it love.

Not yet.

But both were already beginning to depend on it.