Chapter :- 3
("You again? Did you follow me here or what!")
As soon as Aishi stepped into the college premises, her eyes fell on the huge banyan tree in front of the gate. Under the tree, a group of senior students were laughing and chatting. With her headphones plugged in, Aishi walked past them, lost in her own world. The autumn sky was dotted with white clouds, and the golden hues of dusk were brushing through them. A soft breeze played with her open hair, as if an invisible melody was flowing through it.
Her mood wasn't good today. She hadn't seen Ayush on the bus in the morning. And yet, over the past ten days, a strange sense of comfort had formed during those bus rides. That quiet boy by the window, their little daily banters—it had all turned into a habit.
Their conversation echoed in her mind—
"You can stay quiet today if you want."
"Maybe you have nothing to say because you got a seat today."
"I didn't sit today. I kept the seat empty for you."
These words lingered in her mind like clouds frozen in the sky—ready to rain at any moment. Inside her heart too, a heavy cloud had gathered, waiting to burst with just one simple word from Ayush.
But he wasn't on the bus today. And now, even the college felt unfamiliar. A strange restlessness stirred inside her. She tried to convince herself—he's no one, just a fellow passenger. Yet, somewhere deep within, he had already touched a hidden layer of her heart. Without realizing, she had begun to wish to start her mornings by seeing his face.
Her first class was History. Aishi entered and took a seat by the window, opening her book. The seat beside her was empty. She closed her eyes and took a soft breath. The classroom buzzed with whispers, the scraping of benches, small noises all around—but her mind remained outside the window.
Suddenly—
"Is this seat empty?"
Aishi opened her eyes—and froze.
Standing in front of her—Ayush.
White shirt, black jeans, college ID hanging around his neck. That familiar silly smile on his face, with a hint of stubbornness and a little more mischief in his eyes.
—"You??"
—"I… I'm Ayush. You're Aishi, right?"
—"How do you know that?"
—"The first day on the bus, when you told the conductor your name for the ticket—I heard it."
A hint of anger flashed in Aishi's eyes.
—"Did you follow me? Wherever I go, you show up?"
—"Hey, hey… relax! I study in this college too! Third-year History. You're new—you just don't know who to be angry at yet."
Aishi turned her face away.
This boy… in some strange way, he was touching her, yet she would never admit it.
The class began as the professor entered. Silence fell. Aishi started taking notes, while Ayush occasionally glanced at the serious girl sitting beside him.
After class, as Ayush was about to leave, he paused and said—
—"Can I say something? Don't be scared. Today, for the first time, I felt like studying… just because I got to sit beside you."
—"Do you think you're some kind of hero doing all this drama?"
—"Not a hero. I can play the hero's friend. But if you say so, I might even try becoming the hero."
Aishi didn't reply and quickly walked away. But she couldn't hide the faint smile on her lips. Deep inside her chest, something strange was awakening—an unknown feeling she didn't yet have words for.
The next day, while entering the college gate, someone among the seniors said—
—"Look at those two… don't they come together every day? Love is written all over their fate."
Aishi was about to respond, but Ayush gently pulled her hand and stopped her.
—"I won't let you handle this alone. I'm here. But just so you know—I'm naughty, but I have a very good heart."
—"Don't think so highly of yourself. I don't give importance to anyone."
—"Really? Then why did your face freeze when you heard my name today after getting angry seeing me every day on the bus?"
This time, Aishi stayed silent. She had so much to say, but no words came out. Inside, everything seemed to melt. The tears in her eyes—whether of happiness or fear—even she couldn't tell.
They started seeing each other every day in college. Same canteen, same library, same History department. The boy spoke in such a way that little by little, he was turning into a habit. If he didn't talk, Aishi didn't feel good—yet she never admitted it.
One day in the canteen, Ayush said—
—"You're Hindu, I'm Muslim. Can we still be friends?"
Aishi stayed quiet, sipping her tea with her head lowered. Her hair swayed gently in the breeze, brushing against her cheeks.
Ayush spoke again—
—"You're scared, aren't you?"
—"Not scared… just thinking. And don't think so much. I don't want to define this relationship right now—whether it's friendship, conflict, or love."
Their relationship stood at a strange turning point. Sometimes laughter, sometimes arguments, sometimes silent glances—it felt like a timeless painting of real life.
One day, it suddenly started raining in college. Everyone rushed under the corridor. Aishi didn't have an umbrella. Ayush came and stood beside her, holding his umbrella over her head.
—"You're like the rain. You'll come, touch, and then disappear. But I'll remain drenched in that touch."
Aishi said nothing. She just looked into his eyes once. There were no jokes, no drama—just a deep sense of sincerity.
For the first time that day, Aishi felt—maybe, if she stands beside this boy, she won't get lost.
To be continued…