He loved me first

“The Unexpected Meeting”

The day felt unusually warm. The sun wasn’t harsh, but something about the air felt heavy—like it was waiting for something to happen.

Zara’s POV

I hated weekends that felt like this—empty, slow, loud in all the wrong places.

Nyra was off with her cousins. I didn’t have school to distract me. And my phone? Silent, except for one unread message from last night.

From him.

Aarav.

I didn’t open it. Not because I didn’t want to. But because I did. And that scared me.

I pulled on a plain kurti, grabbed my headphones, and headed out. I needed to walk. Breathe. Think. Maybe forget how his eyes stayed in my mind longer than they should’ve.

The small book café on the corner was quiet. A few college students, an old man flipping pages of a thick novel, a girl sketching something by the window.

Zara ordered a cold coffee and slid into a corner seat, pulling out her journal.

Words usually came easy. But today, her pen just… hovered.

And then the bell above the door rang.

She didn’t look up at first—until she heard the soft thud of someone sitting at the table right across her.

Her eyes lifted.

Aarav.

Aarav’s POV

I swear I didn’t plan this.

I just wanted a coffee. A break. And there she was.

Sitting alone. Headphones off. That look in her eyes—the one that made me forget what I came here for.

I didn’t ask to sit. I just… did. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Hey,” I said, low.

She blinked. “Hey.”

Damn. That smile.

She looked like she’d been thinking of me too—but maybe I was just hoping.

I placed my coffee down and leaned forward.

“You always run away from people who make you feel something?” I asked, not teasing. Just curious.

She didn’t answer right away.

Then—“I run from people who make it hard to forget I’m not ready.”

They sat like that for a while—not talking much, but everything in their silences screamed. Two people who weren’t supposed to meet again, but somehow, did.

The background music played soft love songs. A page turned somewhere. Zara’s fingers brushed her journal.

Aarav’s knuckles rested on the table, close to hers—but not touching.

She noticed.

He noticed her noticing.

Zara’s POV

Why the hell does silence feel louder with him?

I couldn’t write. Couldn’t even sip my coffee right. I hated how aware I was of his presence—his breathing, his stupid confident calm.

“I didn’t reply last night,” I said.

He nodded. “I know.”

“I wasn’t ignoring.”

He smiled. “I know that too.”

Ugh. He says things like that and it feels like a hug I didn’t ask for but don’t wanna let go of.

Outside, the sky had turned golden.

Zara stood first, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

Aarav didn’t ask to walk her home this time.

He just said, “Don’t disappear again.”

Zara looked at him, really looked at him.

And for the first time… she didn’t say no.

Author’s Note 📝✨

Maybe it was just coffee. Or maybe... fate’s got a habit of crashing into people when they least expect it ☕💫

Thank you for reading, love 💖 If this chapter made your heart skip even a little—vote, comment, or just smile silently like Aarav does when he sees Zara ✨

this chapter was a bit short I apologise for that but keep holding tight I promise you won't regret reading their story.

Next chapter? Let’s just say… the calm didn’t last long 😮‍💨❤️‍🔥

Stay tuned 🫶