Fated strings of love

Ch- 9 | INNOCENCE IS GONE!!

Tara

We both got off from the car
“Okay… we can walk around,” I said casually, like it wasn’t a big deal.

But the moment I looked at him—

Aditya’s face lit up.
Not just a smile.

A full smile.

The kind that made his eyes soften and his whole expression change.

“Really?” he asked, almost like he didn’t expect me to say yes.

I nodded.
And just like that—

we started walking.

The night felt… unreal.

The sky stretched endlessly above us, scattered with stars, the moon glowing softly like it was watching us.

The breeze was cool, gentle, brushing against my skin, making everything feel calmer… quieter.
Almost romantic.
Too romantic.

“Look,” I said, pointing up at the sky, trying to keep things normal. “The moon and stars look so pretty, right?”

“I’m looking,” he said.

I turned to him—
And froze.
Because he wasn’t looking at the sky.
He was looking at me.
His gaze was steady.

Deep.

Like he had forgotten everything else.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe properly.
I quickly looked away.

Why is he looking at me like that?

“It feels nice to walk like this,” I said, forcing a small smile, trying to break
whatever that moment was.

“Yeah,” he replied softly.
And we kept walking.

Slowly.

Side by side.

Close enough to feel each other’s presence…
but not touching.

After a few steps, he suddenly asked—
“Is it true… you never had a boyfriend?”

I blinked. “That was sudden.”

“I was curious,” he said simply.

Of course he was.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I never had a boyfriend.”

There was a small pause.

Then he glanced at me again.

“Well then… who was your crush?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I don’t even remember clearly,” I said.
“He was my dad’s friend’s son. I was like… six.”

Aditya chuckled under his breath.

“I liked him because he was good-looking and kind,” I continued, smiling at the memory. “And I thought that meant I was in love.”

I shook my head, laughing softly.
“And when he was leaving, I actually told him ‘I love you.’”

Aditya stopped walking for a second.
“You didn’t.”

“I did,” I groaned. “And you know what he said?”

“What?” he asked curiously

“‘No.’” I looked at him dramatically. “He
literally rejected me. At six.”

Aditya burst out laughing.

“I don’t even remember his face now,” I added. “Just that his name was… Sid or something.”