32

It was one of those rare days when the group had gathered together in the spacious common area of their student accommodation, taking a well-deserved break from the whirlwind of projects and assignments. The warm sunlight filtered through the open windows, casting soft rays across the room. Rohan and Aakash were sprawled on the couch, engaged in an animated conversation about some random, half-joking debate that had somehow turned into a serious discussion. Tara was tucked away at the large table near the corner, her laptop screen glowing in front of her as she typed away, deeply absorbed in the lines of code she was writing.

"Nerd, can you stop working for a while?" Aakash teased.

Tara looked up, giving him a small playful eye roll, "I can't—I need to finish this!"

Her fingers moved with practiced speed, her mind laser-focused on solving the problem she was tackling for her latest project. The sounds of Rohan and Aakash arguing in the background didn't phase her at all; she was used to it by now, and it helped her concentrate.

Across the room, Aryan was seated at his desk, working quietly on his own project for his computer science course. His table, filled with books, papers, and the hum of his laptop, was the only place where he truly felt at ease. But today, there was a subtle tension in his movements, the result of a lingering conversation he'd had with Tara days before. Things were still a little unresolved between them, and though they hadn't spoken much, the silence between them had begun to weigh heavier on him.

As Aryan glanced up from his screen, he caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. The door creaked open, and in stepped a new face. Tara barely looked up, thinking it was someone just passing through, but then the person caught her attention. The girl who entered had an unmistakable air of confidence about her. She was tall, with dark hair neatly falling around her shoulders, dressed in a casual yet stylish outfit that seemed effortless.

Rohan, who'd been halfway leaning over the armrest of the couch, immediately perked up. "Hey, you must be Zara! The new flatmate, right?"

Zara flashed a warm smile, the kind that made people feel instantly at ease. "Yep, that's me. Just moved in down the hall." She glanced around the room, meeting everyone's eyes as she made her way toward the group.

Aakash, grinning widely, added, "Nice to meet you, Zara. Welcome to the madhouse."

Zara chuckled at Aakash's remark, obviously not bothered by the energetic dynamic. "Thanks," she said, her voice light and engaging. "I'm starting to get the hang of it already."

Tara glanced over for a moment, silently observing the new girl's arrival. Zara looked nice, and she had an easy-going confidence about her that made her fit right in with the group. She didn't think much of it and returned to her work, typing out another line of code. The rest of the group continued to chat, but Tara's focus shifted back to her screen as she tried to push the last remnants of distraction from her mind.

Meanwhile, Aryan, who had been sitting at his desk, typing away with his own intense concentration, finally looked up. His eyes caught the sight of Zara, now standing near the group. There was a brief moment where their eyes met, and she smiled, acknowledging his presence. Aryan gave a small, polite smile in return.

Rohan noticed the interaction and instantly introduced them, "Oh, by the way, this is Aryan."

Zara, with a casual confidence, made her way over to Aryan, almost as if it were natural. "Hi, Aryan," she said, her tone friendly.

Aryan, who had been in his own head most of the time, was taken slightly off guard but quickly responded. "Hey, Zara," he replied, keeping his voice neutral. There was no reason for him to act distant, after all.

Zara, not one to be shy, leaned casually on the arm of the chair next to him, clearly comfortable in the group's presence. "How's your computer science course going?" she asked, clearly eager to find common ground.

Aryan, though not one for small talk, answered nonetheless. "It's been alright. A lot of work lately," he said, gesturing vaguely to his computer screen.

Tara, who had been typing away on her laptop, couldn't help but overhear the conversation. Her focus wavered, and she looked up just for a second. Zara was sitting right next to Aryan, their casual chat unfolding right there in front of her. Tara couldn't pinpoint exactly why, but the sight made her feel a strange discomfort she hadn't anticipated. It wasn't as if it bothered her, but she couldn't ignore the slight feeling that fluttered in her stomach.

Tara refocused on her work, pushing her thoughts aside. She didn't need to overthink it.

But as she sat there, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the keyboard, she couldn't help but notice the slight shift in the room's energy. Zara's presence felt... different. And the way she casually leaned into the conversation with Aryan, sitting so close, only amplified that feeling.

Still, Tara chose to ignore it. She had enough on her mind, and she didn't need to dwell on this. Besides, it wasn't like she had any claim over Aryan anymore, right? He was free to talk to anyone.

As the conversation continued, Aryan and Zara spoke about their courses, their shared experiences, and soon, the group shifted its focus to something else entirely. But that small, subtle tension lingered in the air, unnoticed by everyone else, but not by Tara.

That evening, the group continued to hang out in the flat, the hum of casual conversation filling the room. The day's work had been overwhelming, but now, they were all enjoying a much-needed break. Rohan, sprawled lazily on the couch, was the first to speak up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Alright, who's up for chai?" Rohan asked, looking around the room at the others. "I think we could all use a little caffeine."

Tara, sitting by her laptop and absentmindedly tapping the keys, immediately perked up. "Yes, I could definitely use some," she replied with a small smile. It was a rare moment of relaxation, and she welcomed the opportunity to step away from the stress of the day.

Zara, who had just been chatting with Aryan and getting to know him better, chimed in, "I'm down too! A cup of chai sounds great."

Rohan raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. "You sure you want to come? You just moved in, but if you want to, no problem."

Zara shrugged, smiling casually. "Yeah, why not? I'm sure I'll enjoy the break too."

The group quickly made their way out, heading toward the nearby chai stall. Aryan, deep in his thoughts, walked alongside Zara, continuing their conversation as they strolled. He spoke to her more out of habit now, trying to suppress the guilt eating at him for not being able to talk to Tara. Every word that came out of Zara's mouth, every light laugh they shared, felt like a distraction from the heaviness in his chest.

As they walked, Zara laughed about something that Aryan had said, clearly enjoying their exchange. Aryan, though not entirely engaged, smiled politely. He didn't want to deal with the situation with Tara—he didn't want to address the mess he'd made, so he kept talking to Zara, hoping that the normalcy of it would distract him from everything else. If he could just keep his mind occupied, maybe he could put off facing his reality for just a little longer.

Tara, walking a few steps ahead with Aakash and Rohan, couldn't help but notice Aryan and Zara engaged in their conversation. She saw the way they leaned into each other, how comfortable they seemed, and something tugged painfully at her chest. But she quickly shook the feeling off. This doesn't matter, she told herself. I'm the one who said it didn't matter. I need to get used to this. She glanced back at the group, forcing a smile, and joined them, putting her attention on the chatter of the others.

Her heart, though, felt a little heavy. She couldn't help but wonder if there was something between them. But no. She had made her choice, and she couldn't let herself feel hurt over something that wasn't hers to claim.

Meanwhile, Aryan, too, was trying to push the conflicting emotions away. As Zara spoke, he noticed Tara laughing and talking easily with the rest of the group. The way her hair swayed as she turned her head, the way she smiled—it all made him ache inside. The guilt that had been gnawing at him for weeks intensified.

His eyes involuntarily flickered back to Tara, and for a split second, he let his gaze linger on her. A soft, sad smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Why did things end up this way? The thought hit him hard. Fate had pushed them away, and now she seemed so far out of his reach.

But he quickly averted his gaze and returned to Zara's words, though his mind kept wandering back to Tara.

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