Chapter 17 – A Walk in the Park
730 Words
The day was warm, painted in soft sunlight that filtered through the leaves. It had been Aryan’s idea to step away from the café for once. “Let’s take a walk,” he’d said, almost casually, though something in his tone had held quiet intent.
Kavya had agreed without hesitation.
Now, they walked side by side along the narrow park path, the scent of grass and blooming jasmine surrounding them. Children laughed near the fountains, couples sat beneath trees, and birds flitted across the branches — a perfect slice of calm amid the city’s chaos.
Kavya tilted her head toward him. “I didn’t know you liked parks.”
He gave a small shrug, his hands tucked into his pockets. “I don’t. But I thought you might.”
She smiled. “You’re learning too much about me.”
His lips quirked slightly. “Maybe I’m paying attention.”
The words were simple, but they lingered between them, gentle and charged at once. Kavya’s heart fluttered in that quiet way it always did around him.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while. Aryan glanced sideways at her — the sunlight caught in her hair, her expression soft and peaceful. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so at ease doing something so simple.
When they reached a small pond, Kavya stopped. The water shimmered with reflections of passing clouds. “When I was little,” she said, “I used to come to places like this with my mother. We’d feed ducks, tell stories. I thought grown-ups forgot how to enjoy small things.”
Aryan looked at her for a moment, then picked up a small pebble and tossed it into the pond. “Maybe we don’t forget. We just… stop noticing.”
She turned toward him, her eyes searching his. “And you? What do you notice, Aryan?”
He hesitated, gaze flickering away. “You ask difficult questions.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He exhaled, almost smiling. “I notice quiet things. The sound of rain on windows. The smell of coffee. The way someone laughs when they’re not trying to impress anyone.”
Her heart ached softly at his words — because she knew he was speaking to her without saying it.
They continued walking, sometimes brushing shoulders as the path narrowed. Each accidental touch sent a spark racing through her veins.
At one point, she tripped slightly over a loose stone. Aryan’s hand reached out instinctively, steadying her. His fingers wrapped around her wrist — firm, warm, protective. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
“Careful,” he murmured.
“I’m fine,” she said softly, though her pulse told another story.
When he finally let go, her skin still tingled where he’d touched her.
They found a bench near the old oak tree and sat. A soft breeze carried the faint melody of someone playing guitar nearby. Aryan leaned back, eyes half-closed, looking unusually relaxed.
Kavya watched him for a moment before saying, “You know, this is nice.”
He looked at her, a faint smile touching his lips. “Yeah. It is.”
“Maybe next time, we could bring something to eat. Make it a proper picnic.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Next time?”
She grinned. “You don’t think this was a one-time thing, do you?”
Aryan shook his head slowly. “I wouldn’t mind another walk.”
It wasn’t a confession, but it felt like one.
As the afternoon stretched on, the shadows lengthened, painting gold across the grass. They talked about everything and nothing — favorite books, childhood dreams, the strange comfort of solitude. Kavya found herself laughing more than she had in days.
When it was time to leave, they walked back toward the park gate. For once, neither wanted the moment to end.
At the edge of the path, Kavya looked back at the bench where they’d sat, her heart full. “Funny,” she said quietly, “how something so simple can feel so important.”
Aryan followed her gaze. “Maybe that’s what makes it important.”
They stood there a moment longer, sharing one last look before parting ways. The breeze brushed between them, carrying with it the faint scent of jasmine and something unspoken — the quiet promise of more shared paths to come.
- Writer
