It was a humid August morning when Aarav first noticed Aanya. The monsoon rains had drenched the campus of St. Xavier's College, but the weather didn’t seem to dampen the energy in the air. Freshmen were buzzing around, finding their way through the labyrinth of old buildings and lush green courtyards. Aarav, a second-year student studying engineering, was sitting on a bench near the canteen, lost in his phone when Aanya walked by.
She was in a hurry, holding a folder against her chest, her brown hair pulled into a messy ponytail, and her eyes—large, curious—were scanning the notice board ahead. Aarav noticed her because, well, it was impossible not to. She had that "something" about her—the kind of charm that didn’t scream for attention but somehow got it anyway.
That afternoon, Aarav saw Aanya again, this time in the library. She was sitting at a desk, scribbling notes furiously. Aarav wasn’t much of a library person—he preferred sitting in cafes or studying with friends—but something about Aanya’s focused expression made him curious.
---
Days passed, and Aarav found himself searching for reasons to bump into her. He'd linger around the library, make small talk at the canteen, and pretend to be interested in the same group projects. Slowly, Aanya began to notice him too—his shy smiles, the way he’d always offer to carry her books when she was running late, the way he made her laugh with his awkward, off-beat jokes. She liked him, though she’d never admit it to herself. He was the kind of person who didn’t try too hard to impress, who was comfortable being himself, and Aanya, despite her outward confidence, had always struggled with being vulnerable.
One evening, they found themselves walking side by side out of the campus gate after a long day of lectures. The rain had stopped, leaving the air cool and fresh. They were talking about random things—movies, music, professors—and Aarav, feeling bold, decided to ask her something.
“Do you ever think about... about the future?” he asked, kicking a stone with his shoe.
Aanya looked at him curiously. “The future? Like… career-wise?”
“No, I mean…” Aarav hesitated. “Like, love. Do you ever think about falling in love?”
Aanya’s breath caught, and for a moment, she didn’t say anything. She looked at the ground, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I think everyone does,” she said softly. “But I don’t know if I believe in it. I mean, people change, don’t they?”
Aarav stopped walking, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. “You don’t think love lasts?”
“I don’t know,” Aanya said, her tone more distant now. “Sometimes, it feels like we’re all just chasing something that doesn’t really exist. Or if it does, it’s just temporary.”
Aarav wanted to say something, to convince her that love wasn’t just a fleeting feeling, but something deeper. But he didn’t know how. Instead, he said the only thing that felt right at that moment.
“I think you just haven’t found the right person yet.”
Aanya looked at him then, really looked at him. Her eyes were serious, searching his face. “Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe I’m just not looking at all.”
---
As the semester progressed, their bond deepened. They spent hours together studying in the library, went for evening walks after classes, and shared quiet, stolen moments between hectic schedules. Aarav found himself falling for her more with each passing day. But he was scared—scared that he’d never be enough for her, scared that she’d pull away like she had with everyone else.
One day, as they were sitting in the canteen, Aarav finally gathered the courage to ask her what had been weighing on his mind.
“Aanya, I…” He cleared his throat. “I think I like you. A lot.”
Aanya looked at him, her eyes wide, her fingers frozen mid-bite of her samosa. “What?”
“I like you. I’ve liked you for a while now,” Aarav repeated, his voice shaky. He quickly added, “But I understand if you don’t feel the same way, I just… needed to say it.”
Aanya looked at him, her face unreadable for a moment. Then she laughed—a soft, nervous laugh. “Aarav, I… I don’t know what to say. This is unexpected.”
“I didn’t want to surprise you,” he said, his heart sinking. “I just wanted you to know.”
There was a long pause, the noise of the canteen fading into the background. Finally, Aanya spoke, her voice quiet. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this, Aarav. I don’t know if I want to start something with you. I’m scared of what it might turn into.”
Aarav’s throat tightened, but he nodded. “I get it. You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready.”
---
Weeks went by. Aarav tried to push his feelings aside, focusing on his studies and keeping things normal between them. But every time he saw her with someone else, laughing, joking, his heart ached.
It wasn’t long before things started to unravel. Aanya, despite her initial hesitation, started spending more time with Raj, a third-year student who was always surrounded by a crowd. Aarav noticed the way she smiled at Raj, the way her eyes sparkled when they talked. It hurt more than he cared to admit.
One evening, Aarav overheard a conversation between Aanya and her friend Simran. They were sitting in the café, laughing about something, when Aanya casually mentioned, “I don’t know why Aarav thinks there’s something between us. He’s so sweet, but he’s just not my type. I don’t know what I was expecting, but not this.”
Aarav froze, his stomach twisting. He quickly grabbed his things and left the café without saying a word.
---
The next day, he couldn’t bring himself to look at her. He avoided her in the library, sat far from her in class, and stayed away from their usual spots. Aanya noticed, of course. She tried to reach out to him—asking him about assignments, casually bumping into him in the corridors—but Aarav kept his distance.
Finally, after days of this cold silence, Aanya caught him outside the college gate.
“Aarav, why are you avoiding me?” she asked, her voice a mixture of confusion and frustration. “What’s going on?”
Aarav stared at her, his chest tight with emotion. “I overheard you yesterday. You said I’m not your type. I get it, Aanya. You don’t have to explain.”
“Aarav, it’s not like that—” Aanya started, but Aarav shook his head, cutting her off.
“No, Aanya. It’s fine. You don’t have to feel bad about it. I just wish you’d been honest with me from the start.”
He turned to walk away, but Aanya reached out and grabbed his arm. “Wait, please. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I… I just wasn’t ready for this, for us.”
Aarav pulled his arm away gently, shaking his head. “You don’t have to explain. It’s over.”
He walked off without looking back, leaving Aanya standing there, the weight of her unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.
---
Months passed, and Aarav threw himself into his studies, trying to forget. But every now and then, he’d see Aanya walking by, laughing with her friends, and the ache in his chest would return, bitter and unresolved.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that love wasn’t always a perfect story with a happy ending. Sometimes, it was just an unfinished letter—one you never sent, one that was never read.
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Lovely Winter
RomanceIt's the series of short love stories based on winter season. Each chapter have different experience with the love diversity.
