A COLLEGE LOVE STORY

the first hangout

A few weeks had passed since Atharv and hania's library encounter. They had crossed paths several times since then, always exchanging a friendly wave or a quick smile. Something about their interactions had shifted—they weren’t just casual acquaintances anymore. There was a comfortable ease between them, and both of them knew it.

It was a cool Friday afternoon when Atharv finally mustered up the courage to ask hania to hang out. They were both walking out of the campus café after bumping into each other for the third time that week.

"Hey, hania," Atharv began, trying to sound casual but his voice betraying a hint of nervousness. "I was thinking, maybe we could grab a coffee sometime. You know, outside of campus. What do you say?"

Hania looked up at him, a little surprised but amused by the way he was trying so hard to be nonchalant. Her eyes sparkled with a playful glint. "Are you asking me out, Atharv?"

He chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head. "Well, yeah. Sort of, but more like… just a hangout? No pressure."

Hania pretended to think for a moment, enjoying how flustered he seemed. "Alright, coffee sounds good. When?"

"Tomorrow?" Atharv blurted out, too quickly. "Afternoon? There's this place downtown that’s pretty chill."

Hania  smiled, nodding. "Tomorrow it is."

The next day, Atharv found himself nervously waiting outside a small, quaint café in the city. The place was one of his favorites, tucked away from the usual college crowd. It had a cozy vibe, with old books lining the shelves, warm lighting, and soft jazz playing in the background. He figured hania would like it—it was peaceful, much like her.

As he waited, he replayed their past conversations in his head, wondering if she saw him the way he saw her. Was this just a friendly hangout, or could it be something more? He didn’t know, but he was willing to find out.

"Hey, sorry I’m late!" Hania 's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

He turned to see her walking towards him, wearing a simple white top with a pair of light blue jeans. She looked effortlessly beautiful, and for a second, Atharv forgot how to speak. She gave him a curious look when she noticed his silence.

“You okay?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Atharv snapped out of his daze, smiling. "Yeah, yeah. You look… great."

"Thanks," hania said, smiling back, though a slight blush colored her cheeks.

They went inside and found a cozy corner by the window, where they could watch the busy street outside while sipping their coffee. The conversation flowed easily, much like it always had, but this time there was something more. Atharv could feel it, and so could hania.

They talked about everything—classes, future dreams, silly things like their favorite childhood shows, and deeper subjects like their family lives. Hania opened up more than Atharv had expected. She told him about how she had always felt a bit out of place growing up, balancing her passion for psychology with the expectations her family had of her. Atharv listened intently, realizing how much more there was to hania than her calm and composed exterior.

In return, Atharv shared his struggles with the pressure of being an engineering student. While everyone assumed he had everything figured out, he confessed to hania that he often felt uncertain about the future.

As the afternoon wore on, they both found themselves laughing more, leaning in closer, and forgetting about the world outside. There was no pretense between them—just an honest connection that neither of them could deny.

At one point, hania tilted her head, studying Atharv with a smile. “You’re different than I thought.”

Atharv raised an eyebrow. “Different, how?”

“I don’t know. I used to see you as just this laid-back guy who’s always joking around with his friends, but… you’re more thoughtful than you let on.”

He smiled, appreciating her words. “Well, you’re different too. You’re more... open than I thought you’d be.”

Hania  laughed softly. “Yeah, I guess we're both surprising each other today.”

After hours of talking, they eventually left the café, wandering through the nearby park. The sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow over the trees. Neither of them was in a rush to end the day.

As they walked side by side, Atharv glanced over at hania . “I had a really good time today,” he admitted, his voice softer than usual.

“Me too,”hania replied, looking up at him with a genuine smile. “It was… nice. I’m glad you asked me.”

They stood there for a moment, the evening air cool but not uncomfortable, a comfortable silence settling between them. There was an unspoken understanding that today had been more than just a casual hangout.

Atharv hesitated, wondering if he should say something—anything—that would hint at how he was starting to feel. But before he could speak, hania gave him a playful nudge.

“See you around, Atharv,” she said, starting to walk away, her smile lingering.

Atharv grinned, watching her go, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. “Yeah,” he called after her, “see you around, hania .”

As he turned to head back home, Atharv knew one thing for sure—this was only the beginning. Something was building between them, and he couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.