Chapter 1: The First Seat by the Window

The first day of college always carries a strange mix of excitement and fear. Aarohi sat near the window in the last row, quietly watching the campus. The breeze gently played with her hair while students around her laughed loudly, already forming groups as if they had known each other for years.

She wasn’t like that. Aarohi always took time to open up. She preferred observing people first — noticing their expressions, their tone, the way they treated others. For her, connections weren’t instant; they grew slowly, like a plant needing patience.

“Is this seat taken?” a voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

She looked up. A tall boy stood there, holding his bag carelessly over one shoulder, his expression calm but his eyes full of curiosity.

“No,” she replied softly.

He sat down, stretching his arms as if he had just finished a long journey. “First day nervousness?” he asked casually.

Aarohi nodded slightly. “A little.”

“Same,” he smiled. “By the way, I’m Kabir.”

“Aarohi.”

There was a brief silence. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that felt new… like the beginning of something that hadn’t yet found words.

The professor entered, and the class began. Kabir leaned slightly toward Aarohi and whispered, “I already forgot what subject this is.”

She couldn’t help but smile. It was small, but genuine. That was the first time she laughed in college.

As days passed, their conversations grew naturally. They weren’t trying too hard; things just flowed. Kabir had a habit of sharing random thoughts — from how the sky looked different every evening to how he believed people entered our lives for a reason.

One afternoon, while they sat under the old banyan tree, Kabir asked, “Do you believe in friendships that change your life?”

Aarohi thought for a moment. “Yes… but I think they’re rare.”

Kabir looked at her, slightly serious now. “Maybe we should try being one of those rare ones.”

She didn’t respond, but something inside her shifted. It was strange how comfortable she felt around him. With others, she measured her words. With Kabir, she just spoke.

Weeks turned into months. They started sharing notes, lunch, jokes, and sometimes even silence. Aarohi noticed how Kabir always waited for her after class. He would pretend it was coincidence, but she knew.

One rainy day, they got stuck in the corridor. The rain poured heavily, and students rushed around.

Kabir stretched his hand out, catching raindrops. “You like rain?”

“I love it,” Aarohi replied.

“Then let’s not run,” he said, smiling.

They walked slowly through the rain. Aarohi felt her heart beating faster, not because of the cold, but because she realized something — she looked forward to seeing him every day. His absence made her notice the emptiness around her.

But she didn’t call it love. Not yet.

Because sometimes feelings grow quietly, without announcement… just like the rain that begins as a soft drizzle before turning into a storm.

As they reached the gate, Kabir suddenly said, “You know, Aarohi… I don’t usually talk this much to anyone.”

She looked at him. “Me neither.”

Their eyes met for a second longer than usual. Neither spoke. But in that moment, something unspoken formed between them — fragile, beautiful, and uncertain.

And neither of them knew… this simple beginning would soon become the most complicated chapter of their lives. 💔

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