Aira was living her normal life.
School.
Tuition.
Watching GL series.
Everything felt the same.
But inside—
nothing was the same.
Aarohi's exams were just two weeks away.
So she was busy.
Very busy.
Because of that—
they talked less.
And even when they talked—
it didn't feel like before.
Their conversations were no longer special.
No excitement.
No warmth.
Just words.
But Aira—
still felt the same.
Nothing had changed for her.
One day—
a message popped up on her screen.
It wasn't Aarohi.
It was someone else.
"Hello."
Aira replied,
"Hello."
"What's your name?"
"Aira. Yours?"
"Sowmiya. Are you a boy?"
Aira smiled slightly.
"No. I'm a tomboy."
"Where are you from?"
"Goa. And you?"
"Tamil Nadu."
"Can you be my friend?"
Aira paused for a moment.
"Let's get to know each other first… then we can decide," she replied.
"Okay… sorry."
"Can you send me your pics?"
"It's okay."
Aira sent her photo.
"You look like a boy," she said.
"Your age?"
"Thank you. I'm 16. Yours?"
"21."
"Can you send a voice message?"
Aira sent one.
"Okay."
They talked for a while.
Aira couldn't think about anyone else.
No matter how hard she tried—
her thoughts always went back to her.
She still loved her.
Only her.
And no matter who came into her life—
she couldn't feel the same.
It wasn't about moving on anymore.
It was about not wanting anyone else.
She could talk to others.
Smile.
Reply.
But her heart—
wasn't there.
It stayed with her.
And maybe—
it always would.
But even while talking—
Aira felt something missing.
She missed Aarohi.
She wanted to text her.
Talk to her.
Share things with her.
But she stopped herself.
"She's busy… I shouldn't disturb her," she thought.
So she stayed quiet.
Instead—
she watched her stories.
Aarohi was hanging out.
With her best friend.
With her boyfriend.
She looked happy.
Aira felt a small pain in her chest.
But at the same time—
she smiled.
Because she was happy to see her happy.
Even if she wasn't a part of it.
That night—
Aira opened her phone again.
Sowmiya had texted her.
She replied.
Normally.
But after a few messages—
she stopped.
Her fingers paused on the screen.
Something felt empty.
She opened Aarohi's chat.
Scrolled.
Read old messages.
The same words.
The same conversations.
But the feeling—
was not the same anymore.
She typed something.
"Hey…"
Then stopped.
Deleted it.
Locked her phone.
She lay down quietly.
Even after talking to someone else—
her heart still searched for the same person.
And maybe—
that was the problem.