The Heart's Unexpected Twist

•||CHAPTER 22||•

The day dawned quietly, as if the world was holding its breath. For Shruti, this day carried a sense of anticipation. Today was not just another day of classes and readings; it was the day she was to present her thesis. And not just any thesis-her work had been centred around Sahil, the person who had, in many ways, become the pulse of her world. The thesis was a deep dive into his personality, his resilience, his complexities, and the unspoken layers beneath the surface. As she prepared her notes, there was a flutter of nervous excitement, knowing she was about to share a part of him with the academic world.

Meanwhile, Sahil had his own hurdles to cross. His second-year admission had been swift, and now, adjusting to the new syllabus and the heightened pace of B.Tech was no easy feat. The coursework was intense, the learning curve steeper than ever, and he found himself grappling with the pressure. Despite this, he was managing. What gave him peace amidst the chaos was knowing Shruti was always a call away, her presence steady even from a distance.

As the hours passed, Shruti stood before her class, her voice steady but heart racing, presenting her thesis on Sahil. Her words flowed easily, each one chosen with care, weaving together a narrative that painted him not just as a subject, but as a symbol of persistence and quiet strength. When she finished, the room was silent for a moment before her professor spoke, a smile on their face. "Full marks," they said, the praise almost more than Shruti had dared to hope for. "Your insights were remarkable. You've captured something quite special here."

Her heart soared, not just because of the grade, but because her words about Sahil had resonated. She couldn't wait to tell him, to share this small victory. As the class dispersed, Shruti's fingers itched to dial his number, but she held off. He would be in class, maybe even struggling with some part of his new syllabus. She decided to wait, knowing the moment they talked, she would light up his day with the news.

But Sahil was facing his own challenges that morning. As he rushed out of the house, the skies had threatened rain, but in the scramble to make it on time, he forgot his umbrella. By the time he reached the bus stop, fat drops of rain were falling steadily, soaking through his clothes. He managed to board the bus, dripping wet, but still smiling. Something about the rain never bothered him much-it was inconvenient, sure, but it felt refreshing, like the world was being washed clean.

As soon as he sat down on the bus, his thoughts drifted to Shruti, and almost instinctively, he called her. When she picked up, her face appeared on the screen, eyes lighting up at the sight of him, but her expression quickly turned to one of annoyance.

"Ye kya haal banake rakha hai aapne?" she scolded, eyebrows furrowing. "Pata tha barish hone wali hai, phir bhi chhata bhul gaye?"

Sahil chuckled, shaking his head as the rainwater dripped from his hair. "I was in a hurry, okay? Didn't think I'd need it."

Shruti huffed, but a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Aur phir ab hasi aa rahi hai? Maine koi joke maara kya jo aap has rahe ho?"

Sahil laughed again, the sound of it warm and familiar. "Tum gussa hote hue bahut cute lagti ho, yaar. Bilkul mere bacchi jaisi."

Shruti's cheeks flushed a light pink, but she rolled her eyes. "Hamesha apni Baaton se pighla dete ho."

But the frustration in her voice had melted away, and Sahil could hear the softness returning. He tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Okay, okay. Tell me how your day's going. Any news from your classes?"

That was all the prompting she needed. Her eyes lit up again, and the words tumbled out. "I got full marks on my thesis!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "The highest in my batch, can you believe it? And it was on you!"

Sahil's grin widened. "Are you serious? That's amazing! I knew you'd crush it, Shruti. I'm so proud of you."

Her heart swelled at his words, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the screen between them dissolving into nothing. It was in moments like this that their bond felt the strongest, when they could celebrate each other's victories and be calm in each other's storms.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and assignments, with both of them caught up in their own worlds, but a sense of contentment lingered. Even though they were physically apart, they were always together in some way, connected through words, laughter, and quiet moments of understanding.

Later that evening, as Sahil sat at his desk, catching up on notes, his phone buzzed. It was a call from their mutual friend, Anshu. Curious, he picked up, only to realise Shruti had been added to the call too.

"Hey, guys," Anshu's voice rang out, playful and a little nervous. "So... I like someone."

Shruti and Sahil exchanged a glance, intrigued.

"Oh, really?" Shruti said, leaning forward as if she could see Anshu through the screen. "Tell us everything! Who is she? What's she like? How long has this been going on?"

Anshu hesitated, but the excitement in her voice was undeniable. "I've been meaning to tell you both for a while, but I wasn't sure. Now... I think I'm ready."

Sahil and Shruti waited eagerly, their own thoughts and worries momentarily pushed aside. As Anshu began to tell her story, the night deepened around them, and the world outside seemed to quiet down, as if waiting for the next chapter to unfold.

But as they listened, a sense of mystery lingered in the air, a question unspoken, hanging between them. Perhaps it was the rain earlier, or the way their lives seemed to be shifting in subtle ways, but something felt different. It was as if the paths they were walking-Shruti with her triple majors, Sahil with his new challenges-were converging on something just out of sight, a destination neither of them could yet see. And though they didn't know it, that unknown was where their story was headed, a mystery waiting to be revealed.