16

The morning light filtered through the curtains of Tara's room, slowly pulling her out of her slumber. She groaned as she stretched, her mind already racing. She was still tangled in her blanket when her thoughts wandered to the reality of the previous day—the new arrangement, the sudden proximity of Aryan in the same building. "He's living right opposite me," she muttered under her breath, her heart sinking. "Ugh, no... not again."

She rolled over, trying to push the thought out of her head, but it lingered. "Why is he coming closer when I'm trying to move away?" Tara groaned louder, pulling the covers over her head as if that could block out the storm brewing in her chest.

She couldn't shake the feeling, the unease that settled in her stomach. It wasn't just the fact that Aryan was now so near—it was the unanswered questions, the years of silence, and the painful memories that surged every time she thought about him. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block it all out.

Finally, with a deep sigh, Tara pushed herself out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to shower. The warm water was a temporary distraction, a soft hum against her thoughts, but it didn't last long. She emerged from the bathroom, changed into her clothes, and began preparing her chai, mechanically following the motions she had done so many times before.

As the steam rose from her cup, she took a sip, savoring the warmth for a moment before the knock at her door pulled her out of her reverie.

"Come in!" Tara called, her voice laced with impatience, knowing exactly who it was.

Aisha and Aria entered with their usual cheerfulness.

"Good morning!" Aisha chirped as she plopped down on the couch, her eyes scanning the room. Aria followed suit, standing by the door as Tara's eyes flickered towards them.

"Tara, you look like you've seen a ghost," Aria joked with a grin. "What's up?"

Tara hesitated for a moment before sighing dramatically, looking at them both.

"Aryan's living in 1103, man," she muttered, voice tinged with frustration.

Aisha and Aria blinked, exchanging bewildered glances.

"What?!" Aisha exclaimed, her tone filled with disbelief.

"Yeah, I know," Tara groaned. "Why did he have to live in the building? Of all places."

Aria raised an eyebrow, concern flickering on his face. "You don't have to worry about it. You don't have to interact with him."

But Tara just shook her head. "I don't want him anywhere near me, and I definitely don't want to interact with him." She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "But I guess... we'll see how this goes."

Aisha shrugged. "I think it's going to be fine. Just ignore him. We all have a lot of work to do anyway."

They all agreed, their morning routine settling into its usual pace. Tara grabbed her bag, and they headed out together.

As they made their way downstairs, Tara noticed Aryan with Rohan and Aakash. They were chatting casually, standing near the entrance of the building, seemingly unaware of the tension in the air. As the group joined, Aisha and Aria got into talking with everyone while she instinctively reached for her headphones, slipping them in and trying to block out the world around her.

But then, she felt it—his presence.

She glanced sideways, and there he was, walking closely behind her. Her heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, she quickened her pace, trying to ignore him. But before she could take another step, Aryan reached out and grabbed her hand gently, pulling her back toward him.

"Star, don't run away. Let me walk with you," he said softly, his voice a mixture of desperation and warmth.

Tara's heart was pounding in her chest, but she kept her gaze ahead, refusing to meet his. "I don't want to walk with you, just leave me alone," she said, her voice cold, trying to pull her hand away.

But Aryan didn't let go. "I left you alone for a year. I can't do it again."

Her breathing quickened as she turned to face him. "That was also your decision to leave me alone! I didn't ask you to leave me. You chose to."

His grip on her hand tightened slightly, his voice soft but insistent. "That's not what happened, Star. Just listen to me for a second, and you'll maybe understand."

But Tara shook her head, unwilling to entertain his words. "I don't want to listen to anything. Rohan and Aakash here don't even know we had history, and Aisha and Aria have forgotten about you, so have I. Let's just stay civil because we have to, but there's no need for us to get closer than that."

She tried to pull away, but Aryan was having none of it. He chuckled softly, almost sadly, and looked at her with that intensity she remembered all too well. "I can't do that, I'm sorry," he said, his voice low but firm.

Tara's eyes widened, unsure of what he was saying. "What?"

Aryan leaned a little closer, his voice full of quiet passion. "I can't just pretend we don't have history. I can't pretend my eyes don't find yours every time we're in the same room. And I can't pretend that we don't look at each other like we want each other, Tara."

His words hit her like a wave, the heat behind them sinking straight into her chest. She felt her resolve begin to crumble, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. For a moment, everything felt so real, too real, and she couldn't breathe.

She quickly stepped back, her hands trembling slightly as she pushed him away, a defensive measure against the whirlwind of emotions. "Leave me alone," she said shakily, her voice almost breaking.

Without another word, Tara turned and ran back to the group, leaving Aryan standing there, his eyes full of longing. He watched her go, his heart sinking.

"Tara..." he whispered softly, the pain in his voice unmistakable. "I wanna fix your wounds. Let me, please."

But Tara didn't hear him. As she joined her friends, she couldn't shake the feeling of his words, echoing in her mind like a soft, bittersweet melody.

~•~

The class was a blur for Tara. She kept her eyes down, focused on her notes, making sure not to glance in Aryan's direction. Every time she did, she could feel the weight of his presence, the intensity of his gaze on her, but she didn't want to acknowledge it. She stayed silent throughout, her usual confidence lost in the chaos of her mind. She had no intention of letting anything break through the walls she'd carefully built around herself.

As the lecture ended and everyone began to pack up, Aisha turned to Tara.

"I have a few friends I need to meet. Are you good to head back alone? Aria still has class." Aisha asked, gathering her things.

"Yeah, no worries," Tara replied, forcing a smile, her voice distant.

"Alright, catch you later!" Aisha waved before walking off, leaving Tara with Aryan, who was still standing nearby, talking with Rohan and Aakash. The moment Aisha and the boys dispersed, she felt the silence weigh down on her.

"I'm coming with you," Aryan said casually, as if he hadn't noticed the reluctance in her posture.

Tara froze, irritation bubbling up inside her. "No thanks." She didn't even look at him as she started walking, trying to ignore him.

But Aryan wasn't ready to let her go so easily. He caught up with her, matching her pace as they stepped out of the university building and into the cooling evening air.

"Star, come on. It's dark. I don't want you to be out here alone," he said, his voice soft but insistent.

Tara couldn't suppress a scoff. "You have no rights to decide what I can and can't do."

Aryan's response was steady, almost calm, as he looked at her with an unwavering expression. "I'm not deciding anything, baby. It's dark. Why would I let you go alone?"

She turned to face him, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Because I know the way, and I can go by myself."

He took a deep breath. "You get scared in the dark on the streets alone. I know you, Tara." His voice softened, filled with an underlying care that she couldn't deny. "You can hate me, but I'm not risking your safety."

Tara's gaze flickered as she glanced away, trying to keep the anger in check. "This is a safe street," she said, her voice tight.

But Aryan wasn't convinced. "But your mind doesn't feel safe. Therefore, it's not a safe street."

Without waiting for her response, Aryan started walking, looking back at her once before continuing. "Chal," he urged, his tone final.

Tara stood still for a moment, trying to hold her ground, but then she began walking, her pace brisker now. With every step, she could feel the space between them growing, but Aryan was right there, his presence undeniable.

"Jar tu aazun door jaashil tar tu padshil, Tara." Aryan called back to her, speaking suddenly in Marathi, his voice full of affection but with an edge of authority. (If you go further, you'll fall Tara.)

Tara looked at him, her steps slowing as she absorbed the words. She blinked, taken aback by the familiar language that once felt like a bridge between them. "I don't care," she muttered, trying to keep her emotions in check.

Aryan chuckled softly but continued to walk beside her.

They reached the elevator, and the tension was thick between them. Aryan turned to her, his voice quieter now but still carrying that warmth she couldn't ignore. "Tara, when will you hear me out?"

Tara's lips pressed into a thin line as she faced him, her heart racing. "Never."

He took a step closer, his hand reaching up to gently caress her face. The touch was so tender that Tara's breath hitched, her chest tightening. The sensation was overwhelming, and before she could even think, her eyes welled up with tears. She quickly turned away, blinking furiously to push them back.

The elevator door opened at that exact moment, and without looking back, Tara ran inside, her heart pounding in her chest. She pressed the button for her floor, her mind racing.

As the elevator ascended, Aryan stood there outside, watching her retreat into the safety of her space. The door closed between them, and for a moment, he just stood there, his hand still lingering at the edge of the elevator door.

Tara stumbled out of the elevator when it reached her floor. She hurried to her door, unlocking it quickly and slamming it shut behind her. She leaned against the door, her hands shaking as she slid down to sit on the floor, her face hidden in her hands.

"Why are you doing this, Aryan?" she whispered, tears escaping despite her best efforts to keep them in.

On the other side of the door, Aryan stood silently, his hand pressed against it, as if he could feel the weight of her emotions. He stayed there, listening to the soft sound of her crying on the other side. His own chest felt heavy, a mixture of guilt and longing clouding his mind.

"I need you, Tara," he whispered quietly, as if speaking to the door itself. "I need you."

The silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever, both of them stuck in their own pain, unable to bridge the distance between them.

💜

Guys, please interact. Say something! Anything! It's not logical to right to myself. Thanks!