WHEN LOVE BLOOMS AGAIN

A TWIST OF FATE

Chapter 3

After shopping with Reenu, Ananya returned to her usual routine, but she couldn't stop thinking about Pranav's smile. It stayed in her mind like a puzzle she couldn't solve. Days passed, and Ananya tried to focus on her studies but her thoughts kept drifting back to that brief moment in the café.

One evening, after a long day filled with classes and assignments, Ananya took a different route instead of the usual crowded streets, she chose a quieter path. The air was cool, and the sky was beginning to turn shades of pink and orange as the sunset. The streets were calm, and Ananya enjoyed the silence.

As she turned a corner, lost in thought, she suddenly heard someone shout hey....! Before she could react, she saw a cyclist wobbling out of control, heading straight toward her. For a second, Ananya froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The cyclist was coming too fast, and she couldn't move in time.

Just as the cyclist was about to hit her, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way. Ananya stumbled slightly, but she didn't fall. When she looked up, she found herself staring into Pranav's eyes.

For a moment, they just stood there, the world around them fading away. Ananya was shaken by how close she had come to getting hurt, but Pranav's calm expression helped her feel safe. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice is reassuring.

Ananya nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "Yes...thank you. That was close." Pranav smiled, a warm, understanding smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Luckily, I was nearby," he said lightly, Ananya couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she felt a strange connection between them as if this wasn't just a random encounter.

As they stood there, a drizzle began to fall, the tiny droplets of rain adding a soft, almost magical feel to the moment. The city seemed quieter,the noise of traffic muffled by the rain. Ananya felt a strange mix of emotions relief, curiosity, and a growing awareness of the man standing in front of her."Let me walk you home," Pranav offered. "It's getting late, and I wouldn't want anything else to happen to you."

Ananya hesitated for a moment, but then she agreed. "Alright," she said softly. There was something comforting about his presence, something that made her feel safe even though he was unknown.

As they walked together, they began to talk. At first, the conversation was light about the weather, the city, and little things. But soon, they started sharing more personal stories. Ananya told Pranav about her studies, her dreams, and even some of her worries about the future. She was surprised at how easily the words came out as if she had known him for a long time.

Pranav listened intently, nodding and asking questions that showed he was interested. He shared a bit about himself too, but he remained silent. He didn't reveal much. The more they talked, the more she felt drawn to him, as if there was something special about him that she couldn't quite understand.

When they finally reached her apartment the rain had stopped, and the night sky was clear. They stood at the entrance, neither wanting to end their conversation. "Thank you for walking me home," Ananya said, smiling up at him.

"It was my pleasure," Pranav replied, his eyes holding hers for a moment longer than necessary. There was something in his gaze that made Ananya feel like he knew more than he was saying as if he could see into her thoughts.

She turned to leave, and Ananya watched him walk away, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She didn't understand why she felt such a strong connection to him, why his smile and presence seemed to affect her so deeply. But one thing was clear this wasn't the last time their paths would cross.

As she stepped inside her apartment, Ananya knew she would spend a lot of time thinking about Pranav, wondering who he was and why she felt this way about him. The memory of their time together stayed with her, a mystery she couldn't wait to explore.