The semester picked up its pace, and between classes, assignments, and his own social calendar, Karan’s time was filling up fast. But in quiet moments, he found his thoughts drifting back to Meera. He couldn’t quite shake the memory of her indifference, the way she’d looked through him as if he was just another task to cross off her list.
A part of him was annoyed, maybe even offended. He wasn’t used to girls ignoring him so completely, especially ones who didn’t seem all that remarkable. But there was something about Meera’s quiet, elusive demeanor that tugged at him, and it made him curious. It wasn’t the kind of curiosity he could just brush off. It was an itch he couldn’t quite scratch, a nagging feeling that wouldn’t leave him alone.
So when he saw her walking across campus one afternoon, with Arav beside her, he found himself slowing down to watch. Arav was gesturing as he spoke, his face animated and bright. In contrast, Meera walked with her usual reserved grace, her expression soft but distant. She let Arav’s arm settle around her shoulders as he spoke, but she didn’t return the gesture, simply letting him lead the interaction.
Karan’s irritation flared again, an inexplicable tightness in his chest that he quickly brushed off. Why should he care if she was close to Arav? They clearly had a history, some inside connection he wasn’t a part of. And he didn’t need to be. She was just his project partner. Just some girl who happened to challenge his expectations.
But still, he found himself heading in their direction, catching up with them as they entered the student café.
“Hey, Meera!” he called, ignoring the way Arav’s arm slipped off her shoulders as they turned to face him. Meera’s expression remained neutral, but she nodded in acknowledgment.
“Karan,” she greeted, her tone polite but distant. “Did you need something?”
Karan held back a smirk, noticing how carefully she kept her distance. He gestured to the table they’d just claimed. “Just thought I’d say hi, maybe join you two if that’s alright.”
Arav gave him a friendly smile, though his eyes held a hint of curiosity. “Sure, man, pull up a chair,” he offered, glancing at Meera as if for approval. She didn’t object, but she didn’t invite him either. Karan took that as a yes.
As he sat down, he could feel the air of familiarity between Arav and Meera, but it was strange. It wasn’t flirtatious, not in the way he’d seen friends cross that line. Arav treated Meera with a gentle ease, the kind of affection that was more protective than romantic. Still, it didn’t make the closeness any easier to watch.
“So, how long have you two known each other?” Karan asked, his tone casual as he leaned back.
“Since our first semester,” Arav replied, giving Meera a warm smile. “We hit it off right away. She’s like family to me now.”
Meera’s expression softened, though she remained quiet, allowing Arav to speak for her. Karan noticed her hands resting on her lap, her fingers fidgeting slightly—a subtle gesture, but one that hinted at her discomfort with attention. It made him wonder, once again, why she was so guarded.
“That’s nice,” Karan replied, his eyes briefly meeting Meera’s. “Guess you’re just full of surprises, huh?”
She raised an eyebrow, her expression unchanging. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Just didn’t peg you for someone who’d have such a…close circle,” he said, trying to sound casual but knowing it came off as a little teasing.
She gave him a flat look. “People don’t need to advertise their friendships to have meaningful connections.”
Karan opened his mouth to retort, but Arav quickly jumped in, sensing the tension. “Meera likes to keep things low-key,” he explained with a grin. “But hey, don’t take it personally, Karan. She’s like this with everyone.”
Karan chuckled, though it was forced. “Yeah, I noticed. She’s…consistent, I’ll give her that.”
Meera’s eyes flicked over him briefly, and she gave a small nod, almost as if to say, Good, I’m glad you noticed. Her gaze was as direct as it was unreadable, and for a moment, he felt the weight of her scrutiny. She wasn’t judging him, exactly, but it was clear she had no intention of softening just to put him at ease.
After a few more polite exchanges, Karan finally stood up to leave, still baffled by the unbreakable calm she exuded. “Well, don’t let me interrupt you two. I’ll catch you later, Meera,” he said, forcing a friendly tone that felt unnatural even to him.
“See you in class,” she replied, her voice neutral as ever. Arav gave him a wave, but Karan noticed the way he gently nudged Meera’s arm, a silent communication that only they understood. She responded with a small nod, her expression finally softening in a way Karan hadn’t yet seen.
As he walked away, Karan’s frustration grew. Meera was an enigma, an oddly compelling puzzle that he couldn’t crack. He tried to dismiss the thought as ridiculous; she wasn’t even remotely his type. Her looks were plain, her personality as guarded as a vault. But still, she intrigued him. And the more he tried to ignore it, the more she seemed to linger in his mind.
---
That evening, as Karan sat in his dorm, Sameer couldn’t help but notice his friend’s distracted state.
“What’s up, man?” Sameer asked, tossing a pillow at him from across the room. “You’ve been acting weird since lunch. Something going on?”
Karan caught the pillow, then threw it aside with a sigh. “It’s nothing. Just this girl, Meera.”
Sameer snickered, already invested in the tease. “The quiet one? Man, don’t tell me you’re actually interested in her.”
Karan scoffed, though he couldn’t quite shake the truth behind Sameer’s words. “I’m not interested. She’s not… She’s not even my type.”
“Then why are you thinking about her?”
Karan hesitated. “She just…I don’t know. She’s like this brick wall. Doesn’t care about anything I say or do. It’s annoying.”
“Annoying? Or intriguing?”
“Annoying,” he insisted, though he knew it sounded forced. Sameer’s grin only widened.
“Well, good luck, man. If she’s that closed off, it’ll take a miracle to get through to her.”
Karan laughed, though there was a touch of frustration in it. He wasn’t used to feeling like this—stuck, unable to figure someone out. And for what? She was just a project partner. Just some quiet, unassuming girl who didn’t think much of him.
But, he admitted to himself, that was exactly what made her so interesting.
YOU ARE READING
Silent Vows
RomanceKaran Kapoor has always lived life on his own terms-charming, confident, and a notorious playboy who never took anything too seriously. Relationships were just a game to him, and emotions were something he could easily brush aside. That is, until a...
