Rain had always unsettled Karthik. The grey clouds reminded him of old fears, of loneliness, of days spent staring out of windows and wondering if he mattered to anyone.
But today was different.
Today, the rain was quiet music. A backdrop to something soft blooming between him and Ananya.
They were seated beside each other in the library—Ananya flipping through a novel, Karthik sketching in his book. A quietness sat between them, not uncomfortable, but comforting. Like the silence of two people who didn't need to fill every moment with words.
Karthik paused his drawing and glanced sideways. Ananya's face was relaxed, her eyes trailing over the words on the page, a small curl of hair falling over her cheek. He wanted to brush it away, but his hand froze halfway.
She noticed.
"You can," she said, without looking up.
He hesitated. Then gently tucked the strand behind her ear. His fingers lingered for a second too long, but she didn't move away.
"What are you drawing?" she asked softly.
He turned the sketchpad toward her.
It was a drawing of a library. This library. The windows showed the gentle pattern of rain. Two figures sat side by side at a desk—one reading, the other drawing. The expression on both was peaceful.
"I don't know when this place started feeling like home," he said.
She smiled. "Maybe it's not the place."
He looked at her, puzzled.
"Maybe I started feeling like home to you," she whispered, eyes twinkling with playful challenge.
He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he tore the drawing from his sketchpad, folded it, and slid it into her book when she wasn't looking.
Ananya caught the motion, smiled knowingly, and continued reading.
The bell rang soon after, breaking the spell of the quiet moment.
They walked through the corridor together, the school bustling with students ready to leave. Karthik usually avoided the crowds—but now, with Ananya beside him, his fear didn't bite as hard.
As they reached the stairwell, she paused.
"Hey… want to take the long way around?" she asked.
He nodded.
They went up instead of down—onto the empty rooftop, where the sky stretched out above them in soft grey layers. The rain had slowed to a mist, making the air crisp.
Karthik stood still, watching the city blur in the distance.
Ananya reached out and held his hand. He didn't flinch. Didn't hide.
"We're not who we were in the beginning," she said.
"No," he agreed. "And that's okay."
"I used to think I needed to be perfect all the time."
"I used to think I was too broken to deserve anything."
They looked at each other.
"And now?" she asked.
"I think we're just… two people trying," he said. "And that's enough."
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
The space between them—once filled with fear, doubt, and distance—was gone.
All that remained was warmth.
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END OF CHAPTER 126