Closer To You

𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚞𝚎

V I H A N N A 

As I sat in the bustling cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the soft hum of conversation, my mind wandered back to that fateful encounter all those years ago. It had been a clumsy moment, one that I had often laughed about with Ayaan in the years that followed.

Lost in thought, I failed to notice the waiter approaching with a tray of drinks until it was too late. With a sudden jolt, I knocked my cup of coffee, sending it tumbling towards the table and onto a stack of papers—a familiar sight that brought a rush of memories flooding back.

As the coffee spilled across the table, threatening to engulf the stack of papers in its wake, I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu wash over me. It was as if time had folded in on itself, transporting me back to that fateful day in the café all those years ago.

My heart skipped a beat as I watched the liquid spread across the surface of the table, threatening to ruin everything in its path. But just as panic began to set in, a familiar voice broke through the chaos.

"Need a hand?"

I looked up to see Ayaan standing before me, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips. In that moment, as I gazed into his eyes, I felt a sense of warmth and familiarity wash over me, as if no time had passed at all.

With a sheepish smile, I nodded, grateful for his offer of assistance. Together, we worked quickly to mop up the spill and salvage what we could of the papers, our laughter mingling with the clatter of dishes and the chatter of the café.

As we settled back into our seats, the tension of the moment giving way to a sense of camaraderie and connection, I couldn't help but marvel at the twists and turns that had brought us to this point. Despite the passage of time and the changes that had occurred along the way, some things remained constant—like the clumsy mishaps that seemed to follow me wherever I went.

Ayaan chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he shook his head. "You haven't changed a bit," he teased, his tone affectionate yet teasing. "Still the same clumsy you were five years ago."

I couldn't help but laugh along with him, the familiarity of our banter filling me with a sense of comfort and belonging. In that moment, as we shared a smile across the table, I knew that no matter where life took us, our connection would always remain unbreakable, anchored by the shared memories and moments that had shaped our journey together.

As our laughter subsided and a comfortable silence settled between us, I reached across the table to gently brush a stray lock of hair from Ayaan's forehead. His eyes met mine, a softness lingering in their depths that spoke volumes of the love and understanding that bound us together.

"You know," he began, his voice quiet yet filled with warmth, "even after all this time, I still find myself falling for you over and over again."

A blush crept into my cheeks at his words, a familiar fluttering sensation stirring in the pit of my stomach. Despite the passage of time and the trials we had faced along the way, his love remained a constant source of strength and joy in my life.

"I feel the same way," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper as I reached out to intertwine my fingers with his. "You're my anchor, Ayaan. No matter how clumsy I may be, you always seem to steady me."

A tender smile graced his lips as he squeezed my hand in return, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that bound us together. In that moment, as we sat together amidst the hustle and bustle of the cafe, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me, knowing that no matter what the future held, we would face it together, hand in hand.

And as we shared a quiet moment of togetherness, lost in the gentle rhythm of our intertwined hearts, I knew that our love would endure, strong and unwavering, for all the days yet to come.