Episode 2: Rain Between Us

Subah se hi aasman badalon se ghira hua tha. Hawa thodi heavy lag rahi thi, jaise kuch hone wala ho.

Aarav classroom ki window ke paas baitha tha, apni sketchbook ke pages flip karte hue. Uski nazar baar baar ek hi page par ruk jaati—

Miyu ka sketch.

Usne halka sa sigh liya aur page band kar diya.

“Focus, Aarav…” woh dheere se khud se bolta hai.

Tabhi—

“Good morning!” 😊

Miyu ki awaaz uske paas se aati hai.

Aarav thoda sa surprise ho jata hai.

“Good morning…”

“Tum hamesha itne chup rehte ho?” woh thodi si teasing tone me puchti hai.

“…Haan. Shayad.”

Miyu halki si hasti hai.

“Interesting ho tum.”

Aarav kuch bol nahi pata… bas uski taraf dekh kar phir nazar hata leta hai.

⏱️ After School

Bell bajti hai 🔔

Aur dheere dheere sab students ghar ki taraf nikalne lagte hain.

Aarav apna bag uthata hai aur bina kisi se baat kiye nikal jata hai.

Jaise hi woh school gate ke bahar aata hai—

Tap… tap… tap…

Boondein girni shuru ho jati hain.

Kuch hi seconds me baarish tez ho jaati hai ☔

Students idhar-udhar bhaagne lagte hain.

Aarav rukta nahi… woh bas seedha chalne lagta hai, jaise baarish uske liye kuch matter hi nahi karti.

Lekin tabhi—

“Aarav! Wait!”

Woh awaaz peechhe se aati hai.

Aarav mud kar dekhta hai—

Miyu.

Woh daudte hue uske paas aati hai, haath me ek chhota sa umbrella pakde hue.

“Tum bina umbrella ke ja rahe ho?” woh thodi si concern se puchti hai.

“…Mujhe aadat hai,” Aarav calmly bolta hai.

“Par mujhe nahi hai,” Miyu turant jawab deti hai.

Aarav confused ho jata hai.

“Matlab?”

Miyu umbrella kholti hai… aur uske paas khadi ho jati hai.

“Matlab… ab tum mere saath chal rahe ho.”

Aarav kuch seconds ke liye chup ho jata hai.

Baarish ki boondein umbrella par gir rahi hoti hain… aur un dono ke beech ek ajeeb sa silence hota hai.

Lekin yeh silence… uncomfortable nahi tha.

Thoda sa warm tha.

🌧️ Walking Together

Dono side by side chal rahe the.

Kabhi kabhi unke shoulders halka sa touch ho jaate… aur Aarav turant thoda side ho jata.

Miyu notice karti hai… aur halki si smile kar deti hai.

“Tum weird ho,” woh softly bolti hai.

“…Aur tum?” Aarav poochta hai.

“Main?” Miyu thoda sochti hai.

“Main bas… lonely nahi rehna chahti.”

Aarav uski taraf dekhta hai.

Pehli baar… usse feel hota hai ki Miyu ke smile ke peeche kuch chhupa hai.

Kuch jo woh kisi ko nahi dikhati.

🌫️ A Sudden Moment

Hawa thodi tez chalti hai… aur umbrella thoda hil jata hai.

Miyu ka balance thoda bigadta hai—

Aur woh slip hone lagti hai.

Tabhi—

Aarav uska haath pakad leta hai.

Ek second ke liye… waqt ruk jata hai.

Unki aankhein milti hain.

Baarish tez ho jati hai.

Aur dono bilkul close khade hote hain.

Miyu ke gaal halki si red ho jaate hain.

“Thanks…” woh dheere se bolti hai.

Aarav turant haath chhod deta hai.

“…Careful.”

🌅 Ending Scene

Road ke corner par Miyu ruk jati hai.

“Yahan se mera ghar paas hai,” woh bolti hai.

Aarav sirf sir hilata hai.

“Kal milte hain?” Miyu poochti hai.

Aarav thoda hesitate karta hai… phir dheere se bolta hai:

“…Haan.”

Miyu smile karti hai—ek aisi smile jo seedha dil tak pahunchti hai.

“Bye, Aarav.”

“Bye…”

Miyu chal padti hai.

Aarav wahi khada rehta hai… usse door jaate hue dekhta hua.

Aur phir dheere se apni sketchbook nikalta hai.

Ek naya page kholta hai.

Aur likhta hai—

“Rain… feels different today.”

✨ Kabhi kabhi baarish sirf paani nahi hoti… kabhi kabhi woh feelings bhi le aati hai.

To be continued… 💫

“Next episode kal aayega ❤️”

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