A COLLEGE LOVE STORY

First steps , new challenges

A week passed since Atharv and Hania decided to give their relationship a chance, and it felt like they were finding a rhythm. Their days were still filled with the usual demands—classes, projects, and study groups—but there was something new and exciting between them. Late-night texts had become longer, filled with shared stories, thoughts, and moments of vulnerability. Lunch breaks in the cafeteria turned into their favorite time of day, where they’d steal moments away from the chaos of campus life to just be together.

But, as the newness of their relationship started to settle, the reality of their separate worlds slowly crept in.

It was a Tuesday afternoon when Hania sat in the library, staring blankly at her laptop screen. Her inbox was filled with emails about an upcoming group presentation, and her phone buzzed relentlessly with reminders for meetings and deadlines. Her internship application was due next week, and she hadn’t even begun to gather all the necessary documents.

She sighed, resting her forehead against her palm. No matter how hard she tried, everything seemed to be piling up at once. And in the back of her mind, she couldn’t stop thinking about Atharv. They hadn’t talked much in the last couple of days—both of them caught up in their own work.

Just as she thought about messaging him, her phone buzzed. It was Atharv.

Atharv: “Hey, we haven’t caught up in a while. Can we meet after class today? I miss seeing you.”

Hania’s heart warmed at his message, but she felt a twinge of guilt too. She missed him as well, but between everything she had going on, she wasn’t sure if she’d have the energy to meet up.

She hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Finally, she typed a reply:

Hania: “I miss you too, but today’s been super stressful. I have so much to do. Can we postpone it ?”

She hit send and leaned back in her chair, feeling a knot form in her stomach. As much as she wanted to spend time with him, the pressure from everything else was overwhelming. She hoped he’d understand.

Across campus, Atharv stared at his phone, a mix of disappointment and understanding filling him. He knew how busy Hania was—after all, he was in the same boat. His own workload had been weighing on him too, and the pressures of balancing school and personal life were beginning to take their toll. But lately, it felt like he and Hania were slipping into their own worlds, seeing each other less and less.

He tossed his phone onto his desk and stared out the window of his dorm room. Maybe they were moving too fast. Maybe they should have taken things slower. He liked Hania—more than he had liked anyone in a long time—but he couldn’t help but wonder if the timing was off. Were they setting themselves up for failure by trying to navigate this relationship in the middle of their most demanding year?

His phone buzzed again.

Hania: “Maybe we can meet tomorrow? I’ll try to get everything done by then.”

Atharv sighed. He didn’t want her to feel like she had to squeeze him into her already packed schedule. He wanted their time together to be something they both looked forward to, not another item on their to-do lists.

Atharv: “Yeah, tomorrow sounds good. But don’t stress, okay? We’ll figure it out.”

He put his phone down and rubbed his eyes. As much as he tried to reassure her, doubt lingered in his mind.

AT CAFÉ

The next day, they finally met up at their favorite café—where it had all started. Atharv arrived first, choosing a table near the back where they could talk without interruption. When Hania walked in, he could see the fatigue in her eyes, but she greeted him with a smile.

“Hey,” she said softly, sliding into the seat across from him. “Sorry about yesterday. Things have been kind of crazy.”

“It’s okay,” Atharv replied, trying to keep his tone light. “I get it. I’ve been overwhelmed too.”

They fell into a brief silence, both sipping their drinks. But the silence wasn’t the easy, comfortable kind they were used to. There was tension—unspoken but present.

“Atharv,” Hania finally began, setting her cup down, “I’ve been thinking... Maybe we rushed into this.”

Atharv’s heart sank. He had been thinking the same thing, but hearing it from her stung. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty building inside him.

“I mean... we’re both so busy. It’s hard to find time for each other, and when we do, it feels like we’re both distracted with other stuff. I don’t want this to feel like another responsibility. I want us to enjoy being together, but I’m worried we won’t have the time.”

Atharv nodded slowly. “I’ve been thinking about that too. I don’t want to add more pressure to your life, Hania. I want us to work, but maybe we need to figure out a better way to balance everything.”

Hania’s eyes softened. “So what do we do? I don’t want to stop seeing you, but I also don’t want us to burn out before we even really begin.”

Atharv leaned forward,  and held Hania 's hands ,  “Maybe we don’t have to meet as often as we used to. Let’s not force it, you know? We’ll take it day by day. And if things get too overwhelming, we talk about it—like we promised.”

Hania smiled, and felt relieved when he held her hands , and said ,  “I like that. No pressure. Just... us, figuring it out.”

They both felt lighter after the conversation, the tension easing as they returned to their easy rhythm. They knew this wasn’t a magic fix. There would still be days when they’d be too busy or stressed to meet up, but at least they had a plan—an understanding.

As they left the café that evening, walking side by side, they felt more in sync than they had in days. They were at a crossroads, but they were ready to face it together, no matter how challenging the road ahead might be.

For now, they had each other, and that was enough.