Quarantine Hearts

Chapter Four: Crossroads and Confessions

The gentle rhythm of raindrops against the window provided a comforting backdrop as Meera opened her laptop to find a new message from Vivaan waiting for her.

"Hey Meera, how's your day going?" it read.

"Hi Vivaan, it's been okay. Your suggestion about meeting in person got me thinking," Meera replied, her fingers tapping thoughtfully on the keyboard. "It's exciting, but also a bit scary."

Vivaan's reply came swiftly. "I get it. But I think we owe it to ourselves to find out. What do you think?"

Meera paused, considering the possibilities. "You're right. Let's take that step."

As they discussed the logistics of a potential meeting, the conversation naturally drifted into more personal territory.

"You know," Vivaan began, "I've had some pretty terrible relationships in the past."

Meera's heart sank, sensing Vivaan's underlying pain. "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?"

Vivaan took a moment before continuing, his words measured. "I had a long-term relationship with Tara. It was intense, but toxic. She was possessive and controlling, and I felt suffocated."

"That sounds really tough," Meera sympathized, feeling a pang of empathy for him.

"It was. And then there was Saanvi," Vivaan went on. "It started out great, but she was never fully committed. It was like she always had one foot out the door."

Meera listened, her heart aching for Vivaan's struggles. "You deserve better than that."

"What about you, Meera? Have you had any significant relationships?" Vivaan asked gently, shifting the focus to her.

Meera took a deep breath, her thoughts drifting back to Saransh. "I had an online relationship with someone named Saransh. We talked every day for months, but when we finally planned to meet, he just disappeared. He ended things over text and never spoke to me again."

"I'm so sorry, Meera. That must have been incredibly painful," Vivaan said softly, his voice full of empathy.

"It was. But it taught me to be more cautious," Meera replied, her voice tinged with sadness.

Their conversation meandered through lighter topics as they shared stories of their families, hobbies, and dreams for the future. As the evening progressed, Meera felt a growing sense of connection with Vivaan.

"I'm glad we talked about this, Vivaan," Meera said finally, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

"Me too, Meera. It feels good to share with someone who understands," Vivaan replied warmly.

As they bid each other goodnight, Meera felt a new layer of closeness between them. The idea of meeting Vivaan in person seemed less daunting and more hopeful. And as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder where their connection might lead.