After that night in the rain, something changed between Harsh and Indu.
They didn't confess in a dramatic way.
There was no big proposal.
No big promises.
But the way they looked at each other…
The way they walked together…
The way they held hands when no one was looking…
Everything had changed.
Now, they were no longer just "something more."
Now, they both knew—
They were in love.
Days became more beautiful for them.
Small things became special.
They started going to school together in the morning. Harsh would wait near the girls' hostel gate, pretending he was just passing by, and Indu would come out a few minutes later, pretending she was not coming for him.
"You're late," Harsh would say.
"You're early," Indu would reply.
And both of them would smile like idiots.
They started studying together every evening in the library. But now, studying was less and talking was more.
One evening, Indu asked, "Harsh, what is your dream?"
Harsh thought for a moment. "It's a little weird."
"Tell me," she said.
"I want a small house," he said slowly. "Not in a big city. Somewhere quiet. Maybe countryside. I want two horses, some cows, and a small garden. I want my parents and grandparents to live with me. And…"
"And?" Indu asked softly.
"And… I want you there," he finished, looking down.
Indu didn't speak for a few seconds.
Then she said quietly, "That's not a weird dream. That's a peaceful dream."
Harsh smiled. "Peace is all I ever wanted."
Indu looked at him and thought, This boy doesn't want the world… he just wants a small piece of happiness.
And at that moment, she fell even more in love with him.
But not everyone was happy with their relationship.
Rohan had noticed everything.
The way they sat together.
The way they left school together.
The way Indu smiled more when Harsh was around.
One day, Rohan stopped Harsh in the corridor.
"You and Indu are very close these days," Rohan said.
Harsh looked at him calmly. "Yes."
Rohan smirked. "Do you really think you're good enough for her?"
Harsh didn't reply.
Rohan stepped closer. "She's a topper. She's beautiful. She has a future. And you? You're just an average guy with average marks and no personality."
Harsh clenched his fists but stayed quiet.
"People like you don't end up with girls like her," Rohan continued. "In the end, she'll realize that too."
Harsh looked at him and said only one thing:
"I may be average in everything. But I'm not average in loving her."
Rohan laughed. "Love doesn't build a future. Money and status do."
Harsh didn't argue.
He just walked away.
But Rohan's words stayed in his mind.
Maybe he's right… Harsh thought that night.
What if one day she realizes she deserves someone better…?
A few days later, Harsh was quieter than usual.
Indu noticed immediately.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said.
"You're lying," she replied. "Tell me."
After a long silence, Harsh finally said, "Indu… what if one day you realize I'm not good enough for you?"
Indu looked at him like he had said something very stupid.
"Who told you that?" she asked.
"No one… I just feel it sometimes," he said.
Indu stepped closer to him and said very seriously,
"Listen to me, Harsh. I don't love you because of your marks. I don't love you because of money. I don't love you because of status. I love you because you're you. And if you ever say again that you're not good enough for me… I'll get very angry."
Harsh looked at her, surprised. "Why?"
"Because you're insulting the person I love," she said.
Harsh felt his chest tighten with emotion.
"Do you trust me?" she asked.
"With my life," he replied.
"Then trust my love too," she said softly.
That evening, they were walking back while the sun was setting behind the hills of Darjeeling. The sky was orange and pink, the wind was cold, and the road was almost empty.
Indu suddenly stopped walking.
"Harsh," she said.
"Hm?"
"I don't want to be 'something more' anymore."
Harsh looked at her, confused. "Then what do you want to be?"
Indu looked straight into his eyes and said,
"I want to be your girlfriend."
Harsh felt like his heart had stopped.
"Are you serious…?" he asked.
Indu nodded slowly. "Very serious."
Harsh smiled, a real, big smile this time.
"Then… I want to be your boyfriend," he said.
Indu laughed. "Idiot, you already are."
For the first time, they didn't hide.
Harsh slowly held her hand again.
But this time—
It wasn't a secret anymore.
This time, it was a promise.
They didn't know that life would test this promise again and again.
They didn't know they would break up and patch up many times.
They didn't know that one day, fate would be cruel to them.
Right now, they were just two teenagers in love, walking on a quiet road in Darjeeling, holding hands, and dreaming about a small house, two horses, and a peaceful life together.
They thought they had a lot of time.
They thought their story was just beginning.
They didn't know—
Their story would become beautiful…
But also tragic.