The following days after Riya's conversation with Vishal felt like a whirlwind, but not in the way she expected. She had shared her feelings with him, and although she didn't label what was happening between them, she felt something shift. It wasn't instant, but the change was undeniable. What started as a tentative connection began to grow, slowly but surely.
Vishal didn't push her for more than she was ready to give. He was kind, patient, and understanding—traits that Riya hadn't experienced in a long time. And despite herself, she found herself looking forward to their chats after school, those quiet moments when it was just the two of them, sharing their thoughts in the safety of their phones or whispered calls.
But none of this showed on the outside.
Riya continued to act like nothing had changed around her friends. She kept the conversation with Vishal to herself, not because she was ashamed, but because she wasn't ready to make it real for anyone else just yet. To them, she was still the same Riya—the girl who laughed and joked, the one who always seemed to have everything together. But deep down, things were beginning to feel different.
It was a Wednesday morning, and Riya stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her school uniform. She didn't recognize the girl staring back at her. Her reflection seemed almost distant, like someone else was wearing her skin. It wasn't that she didn't like who she was becoming; she was just beginning to realize how much things had changed.
Her phone buzzed on the table, and she immediately knew who it was.
"Good morning, Riya 😊" – Vishal's message flashed on the screen.
A smile tugged at her lips as she quickly typed back, but just as quickly, she stopped herself. She didn't want to look too eager. Not yet. Not when she wasn't even sure what this was.
"Morning, Vishal. How's your day going?"
She put her phone down, trying to focus on the day ahead. But it was hard to keep her mind from drifting back to him. She could still hear his voice in her head, that calm and warm tone that always seemed to put her at ease. She remembered the way he had looked at her the other day, the sincerity in his eyes. It was like he could see through her walls, and that scared her.
But what scared her even more was that she didn't want those walls up anymore.
When she got to school, the usual chaos of the morning rushed in. She met up with Sana, who was chatting animatedly about something that had happened in class the day before. But Riya barely heard a word of it. Her thoughts were elsewhere.
Vishal's presence seemed to be everywhere. Even when he wasn't around, she was aware of him—his laugh, his smile, the way he carried himself. It wasn't like she was obsessing over him, not at all. But there was something in the way he made her feel that was so different. Every glance they exchanged, every word he spoke—it made her heart flutter, even though she tried not to show it.
"Hey, you okay?" Sana's voice broke Riya out of her trance. "You've been kind of quiet today."
Riya quickly masked her emotions with a smile. "Yeah, just tired, I guess."
Sana narrowed her eyes, but she didn't press further. She knew Riya well enough to know when she didn't want to talk. But Riya could tell her friend was still curious.
As the day wore on, the space between Riya and Vishal seemed to narrow. They didn't talk much during class, but there was always that subtle, unspoken connection between them. The way his eyes would meet hers across the room, or how he'd catch her attention with a small wave when he passed by.
It was during lunch when Riya found herself sitting alone, lost in thought. She didn't know why she had pulled away from her friends today. Maybe it was the quiet that allowed her mind to wander so easily. Or maybe it was just the fact that, despite everything, she had started to fall for Vishal again—quietly, secretly.
Her phone buzzed again.
"Lunch break! Want to meet outside for a bit?" – Vishal's message flashed on the screen.
Riya hesitated for a moment. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to spend time with him, talk to him. But then her mind flashed back to all the times she had held herself back from her emotions, afraid of getting too close, of feeling too much.
She quickly typed her response, trying to play it cool. "Sure, but only for a bit. I've got work to catch up on later."
When she walked outside to meet him, her heart skipped a beat. Vishal was leaning against the fence, scrolling through his phone. When he saw her, he immediately stood up and greeted her with that familiar, soft smile.
"Hey, Riya. How's everything?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
Riya smiled back, though it felt like her heart was beating too fast. "Everything's good. Just… trying to keep up with school, you know?"
They talked for a while, about nothing in particular—school, classes, random little things that didn't seem to matter much. But for Riya, every moment felt significant. It wasn't just the conversation—it was the way he made her feel like she mattered. Like she was important. And that was something she hadn't felt in a while.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and Riya stood up, ready to head back to class. But before she could walk away, Vishal said something that caught her off guard.
"Riya, I know things are complicated. But I want you to know, no matter what happens, I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
Riya's heart pounded in her chest. His words echoed in her mind, and she suddenly felt something she had tried to suppress—hope.
"I know," she said softly, smiling at him. "Thanks, Vishal."
As she walked back to class, Riya couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing inside her. She didn't know if she was ready to admit it yet, not to herself and certainly not to anyone else. But deep down, she knew—she was falling for him. And the worst part was, she wasn't sure if she wanted to stop.
The rest of the school day seemed to stretch on for Riya, but her mind kept drifting back to that moment with Vishal. It was like everything else faded into the background. Her friends, the lectures, even the usual chatter in class felt distant. All she could focus on was that smile, the way he had said he was there for her, no matter what.
It wasn't that she didn't trust her friends or didn't care about them—it was just that Vishal had somehow slipped into the parts of her heart she hadn't even realized were empty. She wasn't sure when it had happened. Maybe it had started with the way he listened to her, really listened. Or maybe it was how he understood when she needed space, but still made sure to reach out when she was ready.
But now, the question that was lingering in the back of her mind was this: Was it more than just a fleeting feeling, or was it something real? And could she really open herself up to him again, especially when there were still so many unanswered questions about their past?
As soon as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Riya packed up her things quickly, but her movements felt mechanical. She was lost in thought, replaying their conversation over and over in her head. What did it mean?
Her phone buzzed again. She had been waiting for it.
"Hey, just got home. You good?" – Vishal's message popped up on the screen.
Riya smiled to herself, typing back as casually as she could. "Yeah, just getting home. A bit tired from school, but you know, same old."
She didn't know why she was being so guarded with him. Maybe it was the fear of falling too hard too fast, or maybe it was the old defense mechanism kicking in—don't let anyone get too close, because when they do, they can hurt you.
But the truth was, Riya was beginning to wonder if she was the one holding herself back. She could sense Vishal's patience, his desire to take things slow, and it made her question everything she thought she knew about relationships. Was this what it felt like to really like someone? To feel both excited and terrified at the same time?
As she sat down on her bed, her phone buzzed again, this time with a call.
Vishal.
Riya's heart did a little flip as she quickly answered, trying to keep her voice steady. "Hey."
"Hey, Riya. How's your day been? You seemed kind of quiet earlier."
Riya let out a small laugh, trying to ease the tension in her voice. "Yeah, I guess I was just… thinking about a lot of things."
There was a slight pause on the other end. She could almost hear him processing her words. "If you ever want to talk, you know I'm here, right?" Vishal said gently, his voice sincere.
"I know," she replied softly. "I guess I'm just figuring things out."
Vishal's tone shifted slightly, almost like he was hesitant but still firm. "I understand. You don't have to rush anything. I just want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. Take all the time you need."
For a moment, Riya was silent. His words seemed to seep into her chest, wrapping themselves around her heart. He wasn't asking for anything from her. He wasn't pushing for a commitment. He was simply there. And that, more than anything, made her feel something she hadn't expected to feel so soon—hope.
"I appreciate that," Riya said quietly, almost to herself.
"Of course," Vishal responded softly. "And hey, no matter what happens between us, I'm glad we're talking again. It means a lot."
Riya's throat tightened slightly, but she swallowed the lump before it could escape. "Yeah, it means a lot to me too."
As the conversation wound down, Riya felt a strange calm settle over her. She wasn't ready to define what was happening between them. She wasn't ready to tell anyone about how much she was starting to care. But for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was moving in the right direction—slowly, carefully, but steadily.
The next few days passed in a blur of school, study sessions, and casual chats with Vishal. They hadn't met in person again yet, but their messages and calls had become a comfort she hadn't anticipated. Vishal never pushed her. He didn't ask her for answers she wasn't ready to give, and that made Riya feel safe. Safe enough to let herself feel again, even if she wasn't quite ready to admit it to anyone else.
But there were still moments, fleeting and quiet, when Riya caught herself smiling at her phone, her heart fluttering when she saw his name on the screen. She would quickly compose herself, wipe the silly grin off her face, and try to act like everything was normal.
It was only when she was alone that she allowed herself to indulge in the way she felt about him. She didn't want to let anyone know, not yet. Not when everything was still so fragile, so new. But deep inside, she knew—she was falling for Vishal. And this time, she wasn't sure if she could stop herself.