Silent Vows

Chapter 26

Karan’s mind felt like a whirlwind as he left the library. The conversation with Anika had been harder than he expected, but it was a relief to finally get it out in the open. He had been carrying the guilt of leading her on, and now it was over. He could focus on what was important.

But the relief was short-lived. As he walked across campus, his thoughts drifted to Meera. The sight of her earlier, walking past the library, had left him unsettled. Had she heard him? Had she picked up on anything?

His footsteps slowed as he neared the quad, wondering if Meera was around. He hadn’t seen her all day, but there was something in the back of his mind, an unspoken pull toward her. He wasn’t sure what it was, but the more he tried to ignore it, the more he found himself thinking about her. The way she kept her distance, the way she seemed to watch him with those unreadable eyes—there was something magnetic about her that Karan couldn't quite put his finger on.

As he made his way toward the student center, he spotted Raj and a few of his friends standing near the entrance, their laughter cutting through the otherwise peaceful afternoon. Raj spotted him first and waved him over.

“Hey, Karan!” Raj called, grinning. “How’s everything? You seem a little off today.”

Karan gave a small, distracted smile. “Just thinking about stuff.”

Raj raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying tension. “Stuff? You’re not still hung up over Anika, are you?”

Karan shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips. “No, it’s not about that. I talked to her. It’s... done.”

Raj’s eyes widened with surprise. “Really? You broke it off? Damn, man. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Karan ran a hand through his hair, the weight of his decision settling in his chest. “It wasn’t easy, but it needed to be done. I didn’t want to keep dragging it on when I didn’t feel the same.”

Raj gave him an approving nod. “Respect, bro. But I get why you’re feeling off. It’s not easy to let someone go, even when you know it’s the right thing.”

Karan nodded, glancing off into the distance. “Yeah, I just... feel bad about it. I never wanted to hurt her.”

Raj clapped him on the back, a comforting gesture. “You did what was best, man. Don’t let it mess with your head. You’ll both move on. And, hey, there’s always someone else around the corner.”

Karan gave a half-hearted laugh, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, maybe.”

Raj leaned in, his voice lowering as if sharing a secret. “By the way, I heard some rumors,” he said, glancing around as if making sure no one was listening. “About Meera.”

Karan’s ears perked up, his attention sharpening immediately. “What kind of rumors?”

Raj grinned, clearly enjoying the effect his words were having. “Nothing bad. Just... people are starting to talk about how you’ve been hanging around her more often lately. People think there might be something going on.”

Karan stiffened, a flash of irritation cutting through him. “Is that so? I don’t care what people think,” he said, trying to brush it off, but his mind was already racing.

Raj shrugged, clearly unfazed by Karan’s response. “I know, man, but you might want to be careful. Meera’s... well, she’s not exactly the easiest person to figure out. There’s something about her. People notice that.”

Karan didn’t respond right away, his mind swirling with thoughts of Meera. He knew exactly what Raj meant. Meera was distant, enigmatic even. And maybe that was what intrigued him so much—she wasn’t like anyone else. He didn’t need to know her whole backstory to be drawn to her.

But Raj’s words kept echoing in his head: Be careful, bro. She’s got her own demons. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Was it a warning? Or just another layer to the mystery?

“I’m not worried about what people think,” Karan said, his voice firm but his heart racing. “I just... I don’t know. There’s something about her.”

Raj gave him a knowing look, his expression shifting to something more serious. “Yeah, I get it. But you should be careful, bro. She’s got her own stuff to deal with. You don’t want to get caught up in something you don’t understand.”

Karan didn’t say anything, his mind already elsewhere. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to face whatever was going on with Meera, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her than just the quiet, aloof girl who kept her distance from everyone. There was a reason she was like this, and he was determined to find out what it was.

“I’ll be careful,” Karan muttered, though it didn’t feel convincing even to himself. He wasn’t sure what he was walking into, but there was no turning back now.

As he left his friends behind and walked away from the student center, his gaze instinctively flickered toward the direction of the library. He told himself it was nothing—he was just looking for a distraction, anything to keep his mind off the conversation with Raj. But when he spotted her—Meera, walking across the quad with her head down, oblivious to everyone around her—he stopped dead in his tracks.

He couldn’t help but wonder if she had heard their conversation. His stomach tightened at the thought. Had she been listening?

Meera walked briskly, her usual air of calm, unapproachable reserve surrounding her. But for a moment, Karan imagined her turning around, her eyes locking with his, reading every word, every unspoken tension in the air. But before he could process the thought, she was gone, disappearing behind a corner.

He wasn’t sure if she had heard anything. But in that moment, a wave of uncertainty crashed over him. What if she had? What if she knew exactly what he was thinking about her?

For the first time in a while, Karan felt like he was in over his head. He didn’t have all the answers. But one thing was certain—he needed to talk to her again. To really talk. No games. No distractions. He needed to understand her, to unravel the mystery of who she was. No matter what it took.