Chapter 7
1068 Words
The next day, school felt like a blur.
Aanya had woken up with a strange restlessness, her chest light and heavy all at once. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Atharv’s shy smile, heard his soft voice from last night’s call.
He wanted to show her something.
She didn’t know what.
But her heart wouldn’t stop racing.
Classes dragged on forever, but when the final bell rang, Aanya found herself lingering by the school gates. Students poured out in noisy groups, their laughter echoing down the street. But her eyes searched only for one face.
And then she saw him.
Atharv stood a few feet away, leaning against his bike, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket. His hair fell slightly over his forehead, catching the sunlight, making him look almost unreal.
He noticed her almost instantly. A soft, small smile curved his lips — not wide, not obvious just enough to make her chest flutter.
“You came,” he said quietly when she walked up to him.
“You told me to,” she teased lightly, trying to hide the way her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
He gave a faint shrug. “Wasn’t sure if you’d listen.”
She raised an eyebrow, smirking. “And miss the mystery? No chance.”
For a second, his gaze softened in a way that made her forget how to breathe. Then, without another word, he nodded toward the road.
“Come on. It’s not far.”
They walked side by side, the late afternoon sun painting everything in gold. The air smelled faintly of wet soil from last night’s rain.
At first, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t awkward; it felt… delicate. Like if she spoke too loudly, she’d break the fragile thread connecting them.
Finally, she glanced at him. “So… are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“No,” he said simply, his lips twitching at the corner.
She narrowed her eyes playfully. “Mysterious, are we?”
He shrugged, not looking at her, but she caught the faintest blush on his cheeks. “You’ll see.”
After a short walk, they reached an old, slightly rusted gate behind the school’s sports ground. Atharv pushed it open, and Aanya gasped softly.
It was like stepping into another world.
A small, hidden garden stretched out before her, wild yet beautiful , tall grass swaying in the breeze, flowers blooming along cracked stone paths, sunlight slipping through gaps in the trees. The air was quiet except for the soft chirping of birds.
She turned to him, eyes wide. “How… how did you even find this?”
Atharv’s fingers brushed the strap of his bag nervously. “I… come here sometimes. When it gets… too loud.”
Her chest softened at his words. She didn’t ask what he meant; she just understood.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, stepping forward, her fingers grazing petals as she walked.
“You’re the first person I’ve brought here,” he said quietly from behind her.
She stopped. Slowly turned. “…Why me?”
His gaze met hers, steady yet soft. “…Because you notice things. Like I do.”
Something in her heart stuttered.
They settled beneath an old banyan tree, its roots curling around them like a secret shelter. Atharv pulled his sketchbook from his bag and hesitated before handing it to her.
Aanya blinked. “You… want me to see?”
He nodded, almost shyly.
When she opened it, her breath caught.
Page after page was filled with intricate sketches sunlight streaming through windows, shadows falling across desks, small fragments of everyday life. But in between them… she saw herself.
Her laugh frozen in a half-smile.
Her hair falling over her shoulder.
Her expression when she wasn’t looking at anyone.
“You…” she whispered, flipping through slowly, “…you drew me.”
Atharv’s ears flushed pink. “I… I notice you more than I should.”
Her chest tightened, and for a moment, she forgot how to speak.
“I…” she began softly, “…didn’t know you saw me like that.”
He met her gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve always seen you.”
Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t empty it was charged, warm, and fragile.
Aanya set the sketchbook aside gently, hugging her knees to her chest. “Atharv…”
He hummed in response, watching her carefully.
“You’re… different,” she murmured, looking at him from beneath her lashes.
He tilted his head, curious. “Different how?”
“Quiet,” she said softly. “But not… empty quiet. More like… you think a lot. Feel a lot.”
He looked down, fingers fiddling with a loose thread on his hoodie. “People don’t usually… get that.”
“I think I do,” she whispered.
And then… he looked at her. Really looked at her.
For a moment, she swore the air shifted like the whole world held its breath.
The sun dipped lower, painting the garden in soft orange and pink. The air was thick with unspoken words, the kind that made her palms sweat and her heartbeat stumble.
Atharv reached out slowly, hesitating before brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. His fingers barely grazed her cheek, but it felt like a spark lit beneath her skin.
She inhaled sharply, frozen in place.
“Aanya…” he whispered, her name soft, like he was afraid it might shatter if he said it too loud.
She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. “Hmm?”
His lips parted, like he was about to say something everything but then he stopped, pulling back just slightly.
“Not yet,” he murmured instead, his voice low, rough.
Her chest ached, but somehow… it felt right.
They walked back together as twilight settled over the streets, neither saying much, but the silence felt full, heavy with everything unspoken.
When they reached her gate, Atharv paused.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
“For what?” she asked softly.
“For… being you.”
Aanya didn’t know what to say, so she just smiled, biting back the warmth rising in her chest.
“See you tomorrow?” she asked.
He nodded, gaze soft, unreadable. “Tomorrow.”
And as she walked inside, she realized her heart wasn’t racing anymore.
It was floating.
- Writer
