Breaking Through Her Walls

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Aashna sat at the table, her arms crossed over her chest, glowering at the array of food Dhruvin had ordered. It wasn't that she wasn't hungry, but the sheer amount of food was... ridiculous. She shot him a look that could've burned a hole in the table.

"Is this some kind of joke?" she asked, eyebrow raised, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Dhruvin, unbothered, casually leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Mujhe laga, you need to eat something. Not just air." (I thought you might need some food, not just air.)

Aashna huffed, looking at the multiple plates of dosa, milkshake, chaat, vada pav, and Chinese bhel that sat in front of her. "Tu mujhe khilane wala hai ya phir buffet kholne wala hai?" [Are you feeding me or opening a buffet?!]

He grinned wider, undeterred by her scowl. "Tumhe jo chahiye tha, wahi hai. Ek ek plate khayenge." (Whatever you need, it's here. We'll finish one plate each.)

She looked at him like he was insane. "I'm not eating all of this," she said, poking at the plates, not even pretending to be pleased.

"Arre, he kuthe jaanar? Aaaa....Aaaaa?" (Where will it go?) he teased, shoving the milkshake towards her. "Drink this, at least. Aaj kuch nahi chalega." (Today, nothing will work except for this.)

With a dramatic sigh, Aashna reluctantly picked up the milkshake. As soon as it touched her lips, she paused. The sweetness of it hit her, and she couldn't help but take another sip. "I didn't say I was that hungry," she muttered, her resistance slowly melting.

Dhruvin watched her with an amused glint in his eyes, not responding but silently enjoying the small victory. As she began to eat, albeit reluctantly, he dug into his food, focusing on finishing his plate.

Aashna scowled at him again. "Tujhe bas sandwich ya kuch bhi simple nahi manga sakta tha?" [ "You really couldn't just order a sandwich or something?"]

"Nope," Dhruvin replied casually, as he broke off a piece of vada pav and popped it in his mouth. "What's life without a little excitement?" He winked, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but take another bite of food. The tension in the air slowly shifted. For the first time in a long while, they ate in silence, the occasional glance exchanged, neither of them speaking but communicating something much more than words ever could.

When they were done, Dhruvin wiped his hands, leaning back in his chair. "So, what happened today?" he asked, looking at Aashna with genuine concern.

She froze, the question clearly catching her off guard. "What happened today?" Her voice was cold. "Mere life mein jo bhi ho raha hai, tumhe usse koi matlab nahi hona chahiye." (Whatever happens in my life, it's none of your business.)

The words stung more than Dhruvin expected, and for a brief moment, he didn't know what to say. Aashna was a hard person to crack, and she had just shut him out in the most direct way possible.

He cleared his throat, trying not to let the hurt show on his face. "Alright. Just wanted to know if you're okay."

"I'm fine," she snapped, "and I don't need anyone hovering around me."

Dhruvin's gaze softened, and though she could see the hurt in his eyes, he didn't push further. Instead, he gave her space to collect herself.

Later, when they were about to leave, Dhruvin insisted, "Rest for now. We can talk tomorrow or over email." His voice was firm, but there was a tenderness in it that made it clear he wasn't giving up.

Aashna, still stubborn, tried to remove his jacket. "I'm not a kid, Dhruvin. I don't need your pity," she muttered, her fingers tugging at the fabric.

He watched her, smirking. "Let it be. It looks good on you anyway."

Aashna started walking away, but Dhruvin followed her, leaving his bike at college. "I'll make sure you get home safely," he said, his voice low and serious, the playful tone gone.

She shot him a glare but didn't argue. The walk to the local train station was quiet, but there was an unsaid understanding between them, one that neither was ready to acknowledge yet.

As they boarded the train, Dhruvin stood by the door, keeping an eye on her as the train jolted and rattled along the tracks. The station crowd was thick, and the air was dense with the smell of street food and the rush of commuters. But all Dhruvin could focus on was the girl standing next to him, her posture stiff, her expression guarded.

She avoided looking at him, keeping her eyes fixed on the passing stations. Yet, every now and then, he caught her glancing at him from the corner of her eye. The distance between them, both physical and emotional, was palpable, but there was a strange sort of peace that settled over them, amidst the chaos of the train.

"Yeh train kab tak chalegi?" (How long will this train take?) she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Dhruvin chuckled softly. "Chalegi? Abhi toh we are still at the start." (How long? We're still at the beginning.)

Aashna let out a small laugh, a brief moment of normalcy in the middle of everything. But she quickly masked it with a frown again. "You don't have to follow me all the way."

"Of course I do," Dhruvin replied, his voice firm but warm. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

She gave him a pointed look but didn't argue further. As the train neared her station, Dhruvin followed her off and walked with her to the society gate. The night air was cooler now, the stars barely visible behind the city's haze, but he stayed by her side, making sure she was safe.

Once they reached the gate, Aashna turned to face him. There was something softer in her gaze now, but she still held her walls up. "I'm fine. You can leave now," she said, her voice quieter than usual.

Dhruvin didn't move. "I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice playful yet serious at the same time. "Not until I know you're inside and safe."

Aashna rolled her eyes but smiled, handing him his jacket back. "Here, take it. I can't just keep it forever."

He grinned, accepting the jacket back. "I thought you'd say that." Then, with a wink, he added, "Keep it next time. It looks better on you anyway."

She stared at him for a moment, clearly conflicted, before walking towards the building. When they reached the entrance, Dhruvin stopped, his voice suddenly quieter. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Aashna didn't look at him immediately, but she did speak, her voice soft but firm. "I'm fine, Dhruvin. You don't need to worry about me."

He smiled, though there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "You know where to find me if you need anything," he said, his usual playful tone back.

She nodded but didn't say anything more. As she turned to go inside, he hesitated for a moment before adding, "I know I'm not your favorite person right now... but I meant what I said. Be safe."

She didn't turn around, but he noticed the slight nod of acknowledgment from her as she entered the gate.

He watched her go, ensuring she was inside safely, before turning on his heel and heading back toward the station. After taking the local back to college, he retrieved his bike and made his way home. But something lingered in his mind, a thought he couldn't shake. Today had changed something, and he wasn't sure what it was. But one thing was clear, he wasn't going to give up on Aashna anytime soon.

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Author's Note

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