Episode 4 – A New Routine

The next morning, I reached college earlier than usual.

Not because I had classes.

Not because I wanted to study.

I just hoped to see Aanya.

I stood near the canteen with a cup of coffee in my hand, pretending to scroll through my phone.

"You're waiting for someone," Kiran said, appearing out of nowhere.

"I'm not."

"Oh? Then why have you been looking at the college gate every ten seconds?"

I sighed.

"Am I that obvious?"

He laughed.

"To everyone except her."

Before I could reply, Aanya walked through the gate.

She noticed me almost immediately.

"Good morning, Arjun."

I froze for a second.

She remembered my name... again.

"Good morning."

"You're here early."

"So are you."

She smiled.

"I like reaching before the rush."

"Me too."

It wasn't true.

But she didn't need to know that.

For a few moments, we simply walked toward the classroom together.

There wasn't any awkward silence.

We talked about the assignment that was due next week, the upcoming college fest, and how the weather had suddenly become pleasant after yesterday's rain.

As they reached the classroom, Aanya stopped.

"I'll see you after class. We still have to finish the last part of the presentation."

"Sure."

The day passed quickly.

Whenever the professor asked a question, Aanya confidently answered it.

Arjun admired how calm she was. She never tried to show off, yet everyone listened whenever she spoke.

During lunch break, Kiran sat beside him.

"So... how's your future wife?"

Arjun nearly choked on his juice.

"Will you stop saying things like that?"

"I'm just saying what you're thinking."

"I'm not thinking that far."

"Really?"

Arjun smiled to himself.

Maybe... just a little.

After classes ended, they met in the library once again.

Within an hour, the presentation was finally complete.

"We did it," Aanya said, stretching her arms.

"Finally."

She closed her laptop and looked at him.

"As a thank you for helping so much..."

Arjun looked up.

"...I'll buy you a coffee."

He blinked.

"You don't have to."

"I know."

She smiled.

"I want to."

For the first time, they sat together in the college café with no project files, no notebooks, and no deadlines between them.

They talked about movies they liked, childhood memories, and the funniest things that had happened in school.

Time passed so quickly that neither of them noticed the café becoming almost empty.

"I should go," Aanya said, checking the time.

"My parents will worry."

"Yeah... mine too."

As they walked toward the gate, she turned to him.

"I'm glad we became partners."

Arjun smiled.

"Me too."

She waved goodbye before getting into her bus.

Arjun stood there until it disappeared from sight.

He knew they had only become friends.

Nothing more.

But for now...is this enough yesss I think this is ok this

That was enough.

Because every lasting love story begins with a friendship worth holding on to.

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