The Name She Finally Gave Me

The bridge had become more than a place.

It had become a habit.

Every morning l looked for only one

person.

And every morning, she was already there, standing beside the river has though It had been waiting for her just a faithful as I had.

"You were earl today,"she said without looking down.

"I didn't want to keep someone waiting."

She smiled.

"So, you admit you've started waiting for me too?"

I laughed softly.

"I think that happened a long time ago."

She looked at me for a moment before turning back to the river.

Neither of a spoke.

We didn't have to.

Silence had become another language between us.

As we walked towards college, the streets slowly feed with life. Children chased one another along these footpaths. Bicycles rang their bells and the fragrance of freshly baked bread drifted from a nearby bakery.

She stepped outside a small stationery

shop.

I'll be back in a minute.

Curious, I waited outside while she wandered around the shelves.

When she returned, she was holding a brand-new sketchbook.

"You draw?" I asked.

She nodded.

"A little"

"A little?

She smiled.

"I only draw things I don't know how to say."

Her answer stayed with me for long after we reached the college campus.

That afternoon, classes ended early.

Instead of going home, we returned to the bridge.

She sat beneath the old banyan tree with her sketchbook resting on her knees.

The world around us seemed unusual

peaceful.

The river flowed quietly.

The wind carried the scent of jasmine.

Birds settled on the branches above us.

She began sketching.

Her pencil moved effortlessly across the paper, as though it already knew were every line belongs to.

I leaned closer

She quickly covered the page.

"No peaking."

"I only wanted to look."

"You'll get one when it is finished."

Minutes passed.

Neither of us hurried.

For the first time in my life doing nothing with someone felt like doing everything.

A gentle breeze slipped between the Pages of her sketchbook.

One page turned on its own.

My eyes landed on the bottom corner.

There, written in elegant handwriting, was a single word.

MEERA

I looked at her.

"So..."

She froze.

"... that's your name."

Her cheeks flushed with surprise.

"You weren't supposed to see that."

"I've been asking for days."

She closed the sketchbook slowly and laughed to herself.

"I guess the wind decided it was time."

I repeated her name quietly.

"Meera."

Somehow, saying it felt familiar.

As though I know it long before I had learned it.

She looked at the river.

"I don't tell my name to everyone."

"Why?"

Her finger traced the edge of the

sketchbook.

"Because names become memories."

I frowned.

"I don't understand."

She smiled sadly.

"Some people leave so easily.I don't like giving piece of myself to people who don't stay."

Her words settled heavily between us.

I looked at her for long moment.

"I'll stay."

The promise escaped before I had time to think.

She didn't answer.

Instead, she looked away, pretending to watch river.

But I noticed a tiny smile she tried

to hide it.

Clouds slowly gathered above us.

Within minutes, soft raindrops began falling.

People hurried away, opening their umbrellas and searching for shelters.

She didn't move.

Instead, she stretched her hands, letting the rain collect in her palm.

"You really love rain". I said.

She nodded.

"Rain never asks why you are crying."

The smile disappeared from my face.

She realized what she had said and laughs softly.

"I didn't mean to make it sound so serious."

"I think you did."

For the first time since we meet, she didn't hide behind any jokes.

She simply looked at the falling rain.

Sometimes silence tells the truth long before words do.

When the rain finally slowed, we began walking home together.

Halfway across the bridge, she suddenly stopped.

"Can you promise me something?"

I nodded immediately.

"Anything?"

She looked into my eyes with a smile that carried both hope and sadness.

"If one day I disappear..."

"You won't."

She shook her head gently.

"You always interrupt."

I smiled apologetically.

She continued.

"If one day I disappear... don't spend your whole life looking for me."

I stared at her.

"Why would you even say that."

She didn't answer.

Instead, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and began walking again.

I followed her without any questions.

Because somewhere deep inside me...

I had a strange felling that one day, those words would echo louder than anything else she had ever said.

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