Anaya's heart skipped a beat as she stared at Aarav's message for what felt like an eternity. Her fingers trembled, her chest tightened. Why now? After all this time?
She needed to talk to someone—someone who had seen her break, cry, and rebuild.
She quickly dialed Mira's number.
"Mira," she whispered the moment the call connected.
"What happened? You sound breathless."
"Aarav messaged me…"
There was a pause on the other end.
"…What?"
"He just said, 'Hey! Are you well?' That's it. But Mira, after months… why would he—?"
Before Anaya could finish, Mira cut in, her voice suddenly sharp. "Wait, wait. Aarav? The same Aarav who ignored you? Who pushed you away when you were at your most vulnerable?"
Anaya sighed. "I know. I was shocked too."
Mira's tone softened slightly but still held a sharp edge. "What do you feel? Tell me honestly. Did your heart skip or… was it just confusion?"
"I don't know," Anaya admitted. "It felt like someone pulled open a door I had locked tight. I wasn't expecting it. And now I can't stop thinking—why would he text me out of nowhere?"
Mira was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "I don't want to judge him instantly, Anaya, but don't forget what you went through. Don't forget the nights you cried, blaming yourself, thinking you weren't enough. He broke your heart, and you still gave him your attention for so long."
Anaya swallowed hard. "I remember."
"Then think clearly. Don't let a single message undo the strength you built up over months. Maybe he's lonely. Maybe he's seeing you move on and now regrets his decisions. But guilt is not love, Anaya."
That line hit her like a wave.
Guilt is not love.
"Mira, I just… don't want to fall into that trap again. I don't want to expect anything. But a part of me still… cares."
"And that's okay," Mira said gently. "You loved him. You were genuine. But he needs to earn the right to even talk to you again. You don't owe him anything."
Anaya closed her eyes. Mira was right.
This message wasn't a fairytale. It wasn't a sign from the universe. It was just a sentence from someone who once let her go like she meant nothing.
She didn't reply.
Not yet.
Because this time, she wasn't the same Anaya who waited around for someone else to see her worth.
This time, she would decide if he deserved that second chance.
And Aarav?
He waited… still unaware that the girl on the other end of his message had grown stronger, wiser, and just a little more guarded.
Days passed. The message remained unopened.
No reply from Anaya.
Aarav checked his phone more than he cared to admit. Each time, hoping. Each time, let down. The silence was louder than any words she could've said.
He wanted to text again, to call, to just know how she was. But something in him said… don't push. Maybe he didn't deserve an answer.
So, he stayed silent.
Until one morning, the campus buzzed with something new.
"Inter-College Tech Fest Announced!"
College forums, notice boards, even WhatsApp groups flooded with the announcement. It was the biggest competition of the semester—teams from different colleges would battle it out with their innovation, coding skills, presentations, and passion.
Aarav's team, led by their seniors, was already registered. He, along with Nitya and a few others, would be representing their department in the tech innovation category. Nitya, ever eager, had already started preparing their project outline.
In another part of the city, Anaya received the same notification.
Her college was participating too. And her group, known for creativity and smart solutions, had been selected by their professor to compete. The moment she saw the details, she felt a strange flutter in her chest.
She would be competing in the same event.
Possibly… facing Aarav.
Without knowing it, fate had written the next chapter for them.
The fest was just a few weeks away. Both teams buried themselves in preparation.
Aarav poured himself into work, more focused than ever. He stayed up late with his group, fine-tuning their ideas, planning presentations, and debugging code. Nitya, smart and resourceful, was always by his side. But even as they worked closely, Aarav's mind often drifted—to a message left unseen and a girl who still lived in a quiet corner of his heart.
Anaya, on the other hand, had no time to dwell on old wounds. Her team was ambitious, her schedule packed. She knew the competition was important for their future. And though she had heard whispers of Aarav's college being one of the competitors, she refused to let it distract her.
They were on different paths now.
But destiny?
Destiny had a habit of crossing paths at the most unexpected moments.
And as the day of the competition approached, both Anaya and Aarav felt something shift.
A storm was brewing—not one of chaos, but of old memories, hidden feelings, and unspoken words.
Would this competition bring them closer… or show them just how far apart they'd truly become?