A COLLEGE LOVE STORY

the library encounter

The next day , atharva roaming here and there freely.. and decided to move towards library .. although he had never been one to spend much time in the library. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about his studies, but more because he preferred the bustling energy of the campus canteen or the thrill of the basketball court. But today, for some reason, he found himself wandering the quiet aisles of books stacked higher than he'd ever seen. Maybe it was the peaceful atmosphere that drew him in, or perhaps it was the looming deadlines he had conveniently ignored.

As he made his way toward the back, searching for a book on sociology, he saw her.

Hania was seated at one of the study tables near the window, sunlight cascading down onto her like a spotlight. Her long, jet-black hair was tied in a loose braid that hung over her shoulder, and her eyes were focused on the pages in front of her. She looked so serene, a picture of quiet concentration, that for a moment, Atharv stopped in his tracks and looks towards her ..Now, under the soft light and in the calm of the library, she seemed… different.

He stood there, awkwardly, pretending to look for a book while stealing glances at her. His heart thudded in his chest with an unfamiliar rhythm. What was this feeling? He wasn’t sure, but before he could make sense of it, hania looked up.

" Their eyes met "

For a brief second, the world outside seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of silence. Atharv blinked, scrambling for something to say, but his mind drew a blank. Before he could even consider walking away and hiding in some other corner, hania smiled—just a small, polite smile, but it was enough to break the ice.

"Looking for something?" she asked softly, her voice as calm as her demeanor.

Atharv, still slightly stunned, nodded. "Yeah, uh, psychology section... I think I'm lost."

Hania chuckled lightly and stood up, brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. "It's over there," she pointed to a row of books a few aisles down. "I spend so much time here; I could probably give you a tour."

Atharv grinned, relaxing slightly. "I might take you up on that."

They both walked toward the section together, talking to each other . As they walked, Atharv couldn’t help but steal glances at hania , noticing how her presence felt warm and soothing, something he hadn't realized he needed until that very moment.

“So, you’re a psychology major?” Atharv asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

Hania nodded. “Yeah, first year. What about you?”

“Mechanical engineering,” he replied, with a little pride in his voice.

Hania raised an eyebrow. “Wow, I don’t often see engineers in the library. What brings you here?”

Atharv scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Let’s just say I’m trying to be a little more responsible this semester.”

She laughed, a sound that seemed to light up the entire room. “Good luck with that,” she teased. “If you need help navigating these books, feel free to ask.”

They reached the computer science  section, but Atharv barely paid attention to the books. He was more intrigued by the girl standing beside him, who seemed so effortless in her confidence and kindness. As hania pointed out a few books that might be useful, Atharv realized something: this wasn’t just an ordinary encounter. Something about her made him want to stay longer, talk more, get to know her beyond polite exchanges.

“Thanks for the help,” he said finally, pulling a book from the shelf. “Maybe I’ll see you around?”

Hania smiled, a little brighter this time. “Maybe.”

As Atharv walked away, he glanced back once more. Hania had returned to her table, her attention back on her books, but the brief encounter stayed with him, replaying in his mind. He didn’t know it yet, but that one moment in the library would be the start of something unexpected—something that would change both their lives in ways they could never predict.

For now, though, Atharv smiled to himself, clutching his computer science book..