Chapter 18 – A Shared Secret
553 Words
The evening air carried the scent of rain and jasmine. The café was quieter than usual, the city’s rush fading into the hum of distant traffic. Kavya sat by the window, tracing circles on her cup, waiting. She didn’t know why her heart raced — maybe because tonight felt different.
Aryan arrived late, his usual calm replaced by something heavier. His shoulders were tense, his eyes distant, like he was carrying a weight he couldn’t put down.
“You’re late,” she said softly, her smile faint.
“Got caught up,” he replied, taking the seat across from her. “Sorry.”
The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t easy either. There was something unsaid between them, something pressing against the edges of their quiet comfort.
Kavya leaned forward. “You look… off. Everything okay?”
He hesitated. Then, for the first time since she’d met him, Aryan looked uncertain. “Can I trust you with something?”
Her breath caught. “Of course.”
He stared into his cup for a long moment before speaking. “There’s something about me I don’t talk about. I keep things… locked up. It’s easier that way. But lately—” His gaze lifted to meet hers. “I don’t want to hide anymore.”
Kavya’s chest tightened. “You don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready.”
He shook his head. “I want to.”
The cafe’s light flickered as rain began tapping against the window. Aryan’s voice was low when he continued. “A few years ago… I lost someone. My sister. She was everything to me. And I couldn’t save her.” His throat tightened. “Since then, I don’t let people close. It’s easier to keep things quiet, to stay in control. Until you.”
Her fingers curled around her cup, trembling. “Aryan…”
“I don’t know why I’m telling you this,” he said with a faint, self-conscious smile. “Maybe because when I’m with you, it doesn’t hurt as much.”
Kavya blinked away the blur in her eyes. “Thank you… for trusting me.”
He nodded, exhaling like a weight had lifted. “Your turn. What’s your secret?”
She looked down, her reflection rippling in her coffee. “Mine’s not as painful, but it still feels heavy. I… write stories. Always have. But I never share them. Not with anyone. They’re too personal, too close to me. My words are the only place I let myself be honest.”
Aryan’s lips curved faintly. “You? The girl who smiles at strangers and talks to the rain — afraid to be honest?”
Her cheeks warmed. “It’s easier to hide behind words than let people see me.”
Their eyes met again — two souls baring quiet truths in the soft glow of the café.
He leaned slightly forward. “Then maybe we both hide too well.”
She smiled, small but genuine. “Maybe.”
Outside, the rain grew heavier. Inside, something fragile and real formed between them — trust.
He reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers, not asking, just grounding. She didn’t pull away. Their hands rested together, still, warm, trembling just slightly.
For the first time, neither of them felt alone in their silence.
- Writer
