A COLLEGE LOVE STORY

Navigating the unknown

OnePlus afternoon, Atharv received a message from his professor asking him to stay back after class. He’d been applying for internships and was waiting to hear back from a few companies. His heart raced a little—could this be the moment he’d been waiting for?

After the lecture, Atharv stayed behind, tapping his pen nervously on his notebook. Professor Nair walked over with a smile. “Atharv, I’ve got some exciting news. I spoke with a colleague at a leading tech firm, and they’re interested in you for a summer internship. It’s a highly competitive program, and they’re only selecting a few students.”

Atharv’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s incredible! When do I have to interview?”

“The interview’s in two weeks, but I wanted to give you a heads-up. I’ll forward the details, and I’d be happy to help you prepare,” Professor Nair said.

As Atharv left the classroom, he felt a rush of excitement and nervous energy. This internship was a big deal, a stepping stone for his future career, but it would also mean spending his entire summer working in a different city. He immediately thought of Hania. How would she take the news? Would this create more distance between them?

He sent her a quick text, asking if they could meet up later that evening.

Meanwhile, Hania was having a stressful day of her own. She had been working on her application for a prestigious summer program in Europe that combined her love for literature and cultural studies. It was a dream opportunity, but the application process was intense. She hadn’t told Atharv much about it yet, partly because she didn’t want to jinx it and partly because she wasn’t sure how he’d react to the idea of her being so far away for the summer.

When she saw Atharv’s message, her heart skipped. She missed him. They hadn’t seen each other much in the past week, both buried under their academic workloads. She quickly replied, agreeing to meet him at the café where they always seemed to have their most important conversations.

AT CAFÉ

Hania arrived first, taking her usual seat by the window. She stared out at the street, lost in thought. If she got into the program, it would mean three months in Europe. She didn’t know how Atharv would feel about that. Would it be too much for their relationship?

Just as these thoughts were circling in her mind, Atharv walked in. His face lit up when he saw her, and she smiled back, but there was a nervous tension in the air. They both had something on their minds, and neither was sure where to start.

After a few minutes of small talk, Atharv cleared his throat. “I have some news,” he said, a mixture of excitement and hesitation in his voice. “I got shortlisted for a summer internship at this great tech firm. It’s a big opportunity for me.”

Hania’s eyes widened. “Atharv, that’s amazing! I’m so proud of you!”

He smiled, but his expression was still cautious. “Thanks. The thing is... it’s in Bangalore. I’ll be there for the entire summer if I get the internship.”

Hania’s heart sank, though she tried to keep her expression neutral. She was happy for him—really, she was—but this was exactly what she had feared. She wasn’t sure how to respond.

“That’s... big,” she said slowly. “I mean, it’s an incredible opportunity.”

“Yeah, but I’m worried about what it means for us,” Atharv admitted. “I don’t want to be away for three months and have things fall apart between us.”

Hania bit her lip. This was her moment to tell him about her own plans, but she hesitated. How could she bring up the possibility of spending the summer in Europe now?

“I was actually going to tell you something too,” she began, her voice quiet. “I’ve been applying for a summer program in Europe. If I get in, I’ll be gone for the summer too.”

Atharv blinked, processing the information. “Europe? For the whole summer?”

Hania nodded. “Yeah. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. But now... I don’t know. I mean, we’d be in completely different places.”

They both fell silent, the weight of the situation settling between them. The café, which had once felt like their sanctuary, now felt like the setting for an impossible decision.

“What do we do, Hania?” Atharv finally asked, his voice low. “I want this to work, but we’d be thousands of miles apart.”

“I don’t know,” Hania whispered, her heart heavy. “I don’t want to hold either of us back from these opportunities. But long distance... it’s hard. Especially when we’re still figuring things out.”

Atharv reached across the table and took her hand, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles. “I don’t want to lose you. But I also don’t want either of us to give up on our dreams because of fear.”

Hania’s eyes welled up. “I don’t want to lose you either. But maybe we need to be realistic about how this will work.”

They sat there, hand in hand, both realizing that they were standing at a crossroads again. This time, the stakes felt even higher. Their dreams were calling them in different directions, and neither knew what the right answer was.

Over the next few days, they talked more about the future—both together and apart. They explored the idea of trying long distance, but they were both hesitant. It wasn’t just about the physical distance; it was about the timing. They were still so new to each other, still learning how to navigate their relationship. Three months apart, with different schedules and pressures, felt like a huge risk.

One evening, after a long conversation, Hania finally said what they had both been avoiding.

“Maybe we need to press pause,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “Not because I don’t care about you—I do, so much—but because I don’t want us to hurt each other while we’re trying to figure out our own lives. We’ve got these amazing opportunities, and I think we owe it to ourselves to focus on them.”

Atharv’s heart ached at her words, but deep down, he knew she was right. They had always promised to be honest with each other, and this was part of that honesty. As much as they cared for each other, the timing wasn’t right.

“I hate this,” Atharv admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “But I think you’re right. Maybe pressing pause is what we need.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the reality of their decision sinking in. It wasn’t a breakup, but it wasn’t staying together either. It was an understanding—one that allowed them both to pursue their dreams without the pressure of maintaining a relationship that wasn’t yet ready for the challenges ahead.

On the day before Atharv’s interview and Hania’s application deadline, they met one last time at the café. There was no tension this time, no uncertainty. They both knew what needed to happen, and they had made peace with it.

As they said their goodbyes, Atharv pulled Hania into a tight embrace. “I’m not saying goodbye forever,” he whispered into her hair. “Just... goodbye for now.”

Hania nodded, tears prickling her eyes. “Goodbye for now.”

They pulled apart, their hands lingering for a moment before finally letting go. As Hania walked away, she felt both a sense of loss and a sense of freedom. It wasn’t the end—it was just a new beginning, for both of them.

And maybe, one day, when the timing was right, they’d find their way back to each other. But for now, they were ready to take on the world, even if it meant doing it alone.