Heart Vs Headlines

Zooming In On Love

Jia couldn’t wait to share every detail with her best friend, Swati. The excitement bubbled up inside her as she recounted how she had met Vedant and how the Adspark induction had gone. Swati listened intently as Jia described the rush of emotions she felt around him how her heart fluttered, how she blushed uncontrollably, and how nervous she got just being near him.

Swati, ever the supportive friend, couldn’t resist teasing her. “Oh, so Vedant, huh? Already on a first-name basis?” she giggled, nudging Jia playfully.

Jia blushed even harder. “Stop it, Swati! It’s not like that. I mean… I don’t know what it is yet.” They both laughed, the sound filling the small room with warmth. Eventually, the laughter subsided, and they settled into bed. But as Jia lay there in the quiet, her thoughts began to spiral.

"Am I doing the right thing?" she wondered, staring up at the ceiling. "I came here to focus on my career, to make something of myself. Am I getting too distracted?"

The doubt gnawed at her, twisting her thoughts into a tangled mess. After a moment, she decided to reach out to her  Millie Bua. It had been a while since they last talked, and Jia missed the comforting wisdom that only her aunt could provide.

Her fingers hesitated for a moment before typing out a message. She told Millie about her life at college, how she was adjusting to Delhi, the people she’d met, and the challenges of managing everything. The conversation was long, catching up on all the little details of her new life.

Millie was thrilled to hear about Jia’s experiences, but her perceptive nature picked up on something more. “You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?” Millie asked, her tone playful yet probing.

Jia chuckled. “How do you always know?”

“Because I’m your bua, that’s why. So, spill it!”

Jia took a deep breath and then told her everything about Vedant how she’d noticed him from afar, how their small interactions had left her both flustered and excited, and how she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Millie listened, her excitement evident as she responded.

“Oh my God, Jia! Your first real crush! I can’t believe it!” Millie exclaimed, her happiness radiating through the phone. “You’re finally finding love, or at least the beginnings of it!”

Jia smiled, feeling the weight of her worries lift just a little. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’ve just been so overwhelmed with everything.”

Millie’s voice softened, filled with understanding. “There’s nothing wrong with having feelings for someone, Jia, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of your dreams. You can have both a career and love. Just let things happen naturally, without forcing it.”

Jia felt a deep sense of relief wash over her. Millie’s words were exactly what she needed to hear. “Thanks, bua. I feel so much better now.”

“Good,” Millie replied warmly. “Now, I want to see this Vedant! But since he hasn’t accepted your Instagram request, I’ll have to wait.”

Jia laughed. “I’ll figure something out. But for now, I’ll focus on my studies and let the rest take its course.”

After ending the call, Jia felt more at ease. She decided to let things flow naturally, without pushing too hard or having any expectations from Vedant. If something was meant to happen, it would.

The next day at college, Jia was added to the AdSpark WhatsApp group, and her excitement grew. She decided to join the design department, partly because Vedant was in it. As she scrolled through the messages, she saw how Vedant enthusiastically welcomed everyone, his messages filled with Gen Z slang that made her smile. He was so different from what she’d imagined, but in a way that she found charming.