The campus buzzed with activity as students streamed out of classes, crowding the open courtyard under the afternoon sun. Karan was waiting on the steps of the library, casually scrolling through his messages. When he finally looked up, he spotted Meera making her way across the bustling courtyard, her gaze focused straight ahead and her expression as composed as ever.
She reached him with a brisk nod, holding her notebook close. “Ready to get started?”
“Of course,” Karan replied, flashing his usual smile. “You sure you don’t want to grab a coffee first?”
Meera glanced at him, one eyebrow lifting slightly as she seemed to weigh the idea before she gave a short shake of her head. “I’d rather get the work done first. That way, we don’t have to rush.”
“Alright then,” Karan said, trying not to show his mild disappointment. He gestured toward the library entrance. “Lead the way.”
They navigated through the library’s maze of shelves to a cozy, quiet corner Karan had discovered a few days ago. The seating area was tucked away from the main crowd—a spot he’d chosen intentionally, thinking Meera might appreciate the quiet. She seemed entirely unfazed by the setting, though, taking her seat and opening her notebook with practiced efficiency.
He watched her dive into a list of ideas they’d discussed for the project, her pen moving swiftly over the page. Her focus was intense, her entire demeanor calm and collected. She didn’t pause to glance around or even seem to notice the quiet rustle of nearby students. Her attention was entirely on the work in front of her, as if she didn’t even see him.
Minutes passed in comfortable silence as they worked, the ticking of the clock and the occasional sound of turning pages filling the air. But as the meeting went on, Karan felt a growing urge to break through her concentration, to disrupt the air of formality that seemed to surround her.
He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head thoughtfully. “Don’t you ever take a break, Meera?”
She looked up, meeting his eyes with a neutral expression. “I’m focused. Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Sure, but…” Karan searched for the right words, still trying to understand her. “Don’t you ever think about something else for a minute? Or maybe just…take a breath?” He chuckled, noticing the faint frown on her face. “It just seems like you’re always…busy. Always in a rush.”
She tilted her head, considering his question. “I just prefer to keep things moving. It keeps me grounded.”
Karan leaned forward, his curiosity getting the best of him. “You don’t find that a little…lonely?”
There was a flicker of something in her expression—he couldn’t quite place it, but it felt like he’d touched on something deeper. She looked down at her notebook, her fingers tracing a line on the page as if avoiding his gaze. “Maybe for some people,” she said softly. “But not for me.”
The quiet honesty in her tone caught him off guard, and he found himself wanting to ask more. But before he could, Meera’s phone buzzed, breaking the moment. She checked it quickly, and a faint smile played at her lips as she read the message. Karan noticed the way her gaze softened, a warmth he rarely saw in her guarded demeanor.
“Friend of yours?” he asked, hoping to keep the conversation going.
Meera nodded, slipping her phone back into her bag. “Yes. Just Arav.”
Karan raised an eyebrow. “Arav?”
She met his gaze briefly, the tiniest hint of a smile in her eyes. “Yes. We’ve known each other for a long time. He’s…like family to me.”
“Oh, close friends, huh?” Karan couldn’t help the slight edge of curiosity in his voice.
She nodded, her expression growing more relaxed than usual. “Arav and I understand each other. I feel like I don’t have to…explain anything when I’m with him.”
The fondness in her voice was subtle but unmistakable, and Karan felt a strange pang of irritation. She seemed at ease when she spoke about Arav, her tone softer, even a bit nostalgic. It was different from how she was with him—always so polite, so guarded.
He pushed the feeling aside, though, reminding himself that he had no reason to care who Meera was close to. “Seems like he’s a lucky guy then,” he said, trying to keep his tone light.
She just gave a brief, noncommittal nod before returning to her notes, signaling the conversation was over. But Karan found himself lingering on her words, thinking about this friend of hers. She spoke of Arav in a way that hinted at a history he knew nothing about, a friendship that made her lower her walls, even if only slightly.
Shaking off his thoughts, he forced himself to refocus. “Alright, back to business. I was thinking maybe we could take a different angle on this section,” he said, tapping the paper in front of him.
Meera looked at where he pointed, her gaze sharpening as she considered his suggestion. “That could work,” she said slowly, tracing a line on her page. “If we adjust this part here…yes, I think that might make our points stronger.”
They fell into a focused rhythm after that, bouncing ideas back and forth, their earlier conversation fading into the background. Despite her usual reserve, Karan couldn’t deny that working with her was surprisingly smooth. She had a knack for organization and clarity that made the work flow naturally, and he found himself almost enjoying the process.
As they wrapped up, he felt an unexpected satisfaction, though he still couldn’t shake the feeling of curiosity that lingered in his mind. This project partner of his—she was like a puzzle with pieces missing, revealing just enough to intrigue him, but not enough to understand her fully.
They packed up their things in silence, and as they walked out of the library, Karan stole a glance at her. She was already looking ahead, her expression unreadable, yet there was a quiet confidence about her that he couldn’t quite ignore.
“See you tomorrow,” she said with a nod, turning to head toward her next class.
“Yeah,” he replied, watching her go. “See you.”
As he walked away, he found himself wondering, yet again, about this strange pull he felt around her. She was plain, nothing remarkable by his usual standards, and yet…there was something about her that drew him in, something he couldn’t quite put into words.
It was frustrating and captivating all at once, and he couldn’t help but wonder just what it was that kept her so guarded—and whether he’d ever get the chance to see the person beneath her careful walls.
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...
