Karan didn’t see Meera for the rest of the day, but his thoughts circled back to her constantly, even when he tried to focus on other things. The memory of her quiet presence outside the library lingered, and he kept replaying his conversation with Raj. There was something there—something unresolved, something just out of reach.
The next morning, he was determined to find her and figure out where he stood with her, especially after everything that had been left unsaid between them. He wasn’t looking for a confrontation, just a sense of clarity. And maybe, if he was honest with himself, he wanted to get closer to her.
As he entered the campus café, scanning the tables, he spotted her sitting alone by the window, her attention on a stack of notes spread out in front of her. A quiet relief washed over him. It felt like a sign that maybe he could finally bridge the distance between them.
Karan approached her table slowly, catching her attention as he drew nearer. She glanced up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she returned to her usual composed expression. “Karan,” she said, her tone polite but cautious.
“Hey, Meera,” he replied, a tentative smile playing on his lips. “Do you mind if I join you?”
She looked at him for a brief moment before nodding. “Sure.”
He settled into the chair across from her, trying to gauge her mood. There was a faint hint of curiosity in her gaze, as though she were wondering why he was there.
“So,” he began, struggling for the right words. “I feel like we haven’t really talked much… you know, outside of classes or brief hellos.” He paused, searching her expression. “I just thought… it might be nice to change that.”
Meera’s eyes narrowed slightly, a touch of amusement softening her face. “You make it sound like we’re strangers or something.”
He chuckled. “In some ways, I guess we are. Or at least, I feel like I barely know you. You’re… kind of hard to read, you know?”
Meera shrugged, a faint smile lingering. “I don’t think there’s much to read. I just don’t say things unless I mean them.”
“That’s fair,” he said, nodding. “I guess that’s one of the things I like about you.” The words slipped out before he could stop them, and he felt a twinge of embarrassment. But Meera didn’t seem fazed. She simply looked at him, her expression contemplative.
“Is there something specific you wanted to know?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, as if trying to see through his intentions.
He hesitated, his thoughts tangling together. He hadn’t really planned what he would say; he just wanted to break through her reserve. “I guess… I just want to understand you. To know more about what makes you… you.”
A slight smirk played on her lips. “That sounds like a lot of work,” she teased, though her tone was gentle.
Karan grinned, relieved to see her softening, even if only a little. “Maybe. But I don’t mind a challenge.”
They fell into a comfortable silence, and Karan felt his earlier tension ease. Just sitting here, sharing this quiet moment, felt like a step forward. He noticed how she glanced out the window, her gaze distant, as if lost in thought.
But before he could ask her what was on her mind, Meera turned back to him, her eyes thoughtful. “I saw you with Anika yesterday,” she said, her tone carefully neutral. “Did something happen between you two?”
Karan blinked, momentarily taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to bring up Anika. “Oh, uh… yeah, actually.” He scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward. “I, um, told her that… we wouldn’t work out. I didn’t want to lead her on.”
A small, almost imperceptible smile crossed Meera’s face. “That was probably the right thing to do,” she said, her voice quiet.
“Yeah,” he agreed, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction that she approved. “It was… hard, though. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I couldn’t keep pretending.”
Meera nodded, her gaze softening. “Sometimes it’s better to be honest, even if it’s difficult.”
They shared a look, a moment of understanding passing between them. Karan could sense that she appreciated his honesty, and he felt a strange sense of pride in himself for not hiding the truth.
Just as he was about to speak again, a familiar figure entered the café. It was Arav, who immediately spotted them and made his way over with a casual wave. Meera’s face lit up with a genuine smile as he approached, and Karan felt a pang of jealousy twist in his chest, though he tried to hide it.
“Hey, Meera, Karan!” Arav greeted them, his tone cheerful as he pulled up a chair. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“Not at all,” Meera replied, her smile widening. “We were just… catching up.”
Karan forced a smile, though he couldn’t help but feel a bit deflated by Arav’s sudden presence. It was as if every time he started to get close to Meera, someone or something would come along to disrupt it.
Arav chatted with them for a few minutes, his easygoing manner lightening the atmosphere. But every so often, Karan noticed Meera’s gaze flicker toward him, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but it was there—a small, silent acknowledgment that maybe she was starting to see him differently.
Eventually, Arav checked his watch and stood up, giving Meera a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I’ve got to run, but I’ll catch you guys later.” He gave Karan a playful grin. “Don’t go scaring her off, alright?”
Karan chuckled, though his tone held a hint of seriousness. “I’ll do my best.”
As Arav walked away, Karan turned back to Meera, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He wasn’t sure where things were going between them, but he knew he didn’t want to let this moment slip away.
“So… do you think we could spend more time together?” he asked, his tone casual but hopeful. “Maybe just as friends, at least for now?”
Meera looked at him, her eyes thoughtful. For a moment, he wondered if she was going to say no, if she was going to retreat back behind her walls.
But then she nodded, a small smile breaking through. “Alright, Karan. As friends.”
Karan grinned, feeling a surge of excitement he hadn’t felt in a long time. He knew they still had a long way to go, but this felt like a step forward—a chance to finally get to know the real Meera.
And as they finished their conversation, Karan couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, things were finally starting to change.
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...
