4

Tara sat at her small kitchen table, the morning sunlight streaming through the window as she cradled her steaming mug of chai in her hands. Her hair was still damp from the shower she had just taken, and the cozy warmth of the drink contrasted with the coolness of her wet strands. She felt calm and content, the exhaustion from the previous day slowly melting away.

The room around her was peaceful, her studio finally starting to feel like home again after the whirlwind of the past few weeks. She took another sip of chai, savoring the familiar taste as she looked at her phone to check the time. It was almost time to head out for day two of Welcome Week. She had no plans other than to roam around, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy the day with Aisha and Aria.

Just as she was about to set her phone down, it buzzed. It was Aisha.

"Hey, listen," Aisha's voice came through, light and cheery as always, "Is it cool if Rohan and Aakash join us today? They're heading out too, and I thought it would be fun."

Tara smiled to herself, feeling the easy warmth of friendship. "Yeah, of course! The more, the merrier."

"Great! See you in a bit!" Aisha said before hanging up.

Tara finished her chai, set the mug down on the counter, and quickly got dressed in her favorite pair of jeans, a simple t-shirt, and a light cardigan. Her hair was still damp, but she let it fall in loose waves around her shoulders. She grabbed her bag, threw on a pair of comfortable sneakers, and made her way out of the studio, locking the door behind her.

When she reached the reception, Aisha and Aria were already there, waiting for her. Rohan and Aakash were with them, standing off to the side, chatting among themselves.

"Morning!" Tara greeted, smiling as she approached the group.

"Heyyy!" Aisha grinned back. "Ready for another day of Welcome Week?"

"Definitely," Tara replied, feeling her energy picking up just being around her friends.

The group headed out together, strolling down the cobbled streets and weaving through the crowds of students. The day was sunny but cool, and there was a light buzz in the air as everyone tried to enjoy the first days of the semester before the heavy coursework started.

They wandered through the activities set up for the second day of Welcome Week. Games, food stalls, and booths lined the streets, and everywhere people were chatting and laughing. Tara was content to just soak it all in, the familiarity of the environment easing any lingering tension she hadn't realized was there.

It was easy to hang out with everyone—Rohan and Aakash fit in well with the group, their easygoing attitudes making the day feel even more fun. At one point, they all sat down together in a nearby park, laughing about silly things from the previous year and reminiscing about their first days in Oxford. Tara felt herself relaxing completely, feeling the weight of the past few months slowly slip away.

As the day wore on, the group started talking about what to do in the evening.

"So," Rohan said, glancing at everyone with a mischievous grin, "Why don't you all come to our flat this evening? We can have chai, or drinks, whatever you want."

Aisha was quick to respond, her smile wide. "I'm down! Sounds perfect."

Tara paused for a moment, but the invitation felt casual enough. And besides, she was enjoying the company. "Yeah, why not?" she said, her voice light. "Chai sounds good."

"Perfect!" Aakash grinned. "We'll see you there later, then."

The group continued chatting, enjoying the rest of their time together, and the plans for the evening settled in easily. It was shaping up to be a great day, and Tara couldn't help but feel that maybe this—this right here—was exactly the kind of fresh start she needed.

~•~

The girls walked through the door of Rohan and Aakash's flat, their eyes immediately catching sight of the spacious kitchen/ living room. The place was cozy, with a soft, modern vibe to it. It was a bit messier than Tara's studio, but it had a charm to it—a lived-in feel. As Tara stepped further in, she couldn't help but notice the view from the big windows that overlooked a bustling part of the city. The soft glow of the evening light hit the glass, casting a golden hue across the room.

"Wow, your view is so nice!" Aria said, glancing out the window with wide eyes. "It's amazing here!"

"I know, right?" Aakash grinned, leaning back in his chair. "It's perfect for the evenings when we're just chilling."

Tara nodded, still taking in the room. She felt at ease, sitting down on the couch next to Aisha, while Aria took a spot beside Aakash. Rohan moved to the kitchen to prepare the drinks.

"Make yourself at home," Rohan said, already grabbing glasses from the cabinet. "I'll just get the chai started."

Tara tucked her legs underneath her on the couch, glancing around the flat again. It was definitely bigger than her studio and had a very different vibe—more of a shared space, filled with the energy of multiple personalities. The guys seemed to have their own system going on, and it was nice to be part of it, if only for the evening.

As the chatter continued, Rohan finally looked up from his place in the kitchen. "So what course are you guys doing?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity. "I completely forgot to ask earlier."

Tara looked up from her phone and answered first, feeling comfortable with the group already. "I'm doing computer science," she said with a small smile.

Aisha, sitting beside Tara, responded next, "I'm doing Computer Science too."

Aria followed, her voice light and casual. "I'm doing economics."

Rohan nodded, impressed. "Ooo, I'm doing economics too," he said with a grin, clearly pleased to have something in common with Aria.

Aakash, sitting beside Rohan, spoke up next. "And I'm doing computer science as well," he added, giving Tara a knowing look.

Tara smiled back, the group seeming to mesh together more comfortably by the second. "No way, we have a lot in common!"

Rohan seemed to have something on his mind as he leaned forward. "You know, even our new flatmate is doing computer science."

Tara raised an eyebrow. "Oh, damn. That's a lot of brainy people in one place," she joked.

"I know right! Oh—he got here last night!" Rohan replied, standing up. "Wait, let me see if I can get him in here to join us." He walked towards the hallway, his voice carrying as he called out, "Hey, man! You here?"

There was a brief pause, followed by footsteps in the distance. Rohan returned to the kitchen, a look of excitement on his face. "He's coming! Yes, he'll join us."

Aisha clapped her hands together. "Yay! More people to hang out with! This'll be fun."

Tara smiled, looking forward to meeting Rohan and Aakash's third flatmate. She wasn't expecting it to be much of a big deal—just another person to meet and get to know.

The door creaked open, and Tara turned her head slightly, the sound of footsteps approaching. And then—she froze.

The figure that entered the living room in track pants and a casual t-shirt wasn't just any flatmate.

It was Aryan.

Her heart skipped a beat. He was standing there, his usual smile lighting up his face when he looked at the group. But when his eyes fell on her, the world seemed to slow down for a moment. His expression faltered, a look of surprise crossing his features as his eyes widened. The realization hit him at the exact same time it hit her.

There, standing in front of her, was Aryan. The boy who had walked away from her, the boy who had left without a single word of explanation, now standing before her as a stranger—and yet, someone she knew too well.

Rohan spoke, unaware of the moment between them. "Guys, here's our third flatmate—Aryan." He looked back at Aryan with a smile.

But Tara's mind was already reeling. Aryan had seen her, and she had seen him. Time stopped for a beat, before they both blinked, the moment of shock lingering in the air.

The tension was palpable, and Tara's heart raced. She couldn't stop herself from staring at him, his gaze still locked with hers.

And in that silence, as Aryan's lips tugged in a smile, something in the air shifted.

💜