Silent Vows

Chapter 34

“Meera,” Arav said, adjusting his backpack and looking at her with a serious expression. “Make sure you eat properly while I’m gone, okay?”

Meera looked up at him, a playful glint in her eye as she raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me what to do now, Arav?” she teased, her voice light, but her gaze betraying the warmth she felt.

Arav laughed, though it was a bit strained. “I’m just saying. You always get so caught up in your work, you forget to take care of yourself.” His tone softened, and there was an unspoken concern in his eyes. “Eat properly, okay? Don’t forget to sleep, and be good. Just... take care of yourself.”

Meera crossed her arms, giving him a mock serious look. “I’ll be fine. You’re the one leaving for two years, remember?”

Arav smiled, though there was a hint of sadness behind it. “Yeah, well, I’ve got no choice but to leave for this internship. It’s a big opportunity, you know? But I won’t be able to help myself if you don’t at least try to take care of yourself while I’m gone.”

Meera rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. “I get it, Arav. I’ll be a good girl, just like you want.”

Karan, who had been silently observing the exchange, chuckled. “I’m not sure if the ‘good girl’ part is possible with Meera, but I guess we’ll see.”

Meera shot him a playful glare. “I’m standing right here, you know.”

Arav gave a soft laugh and nudged Karan’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine. But seriously, Karan, make sure she doesn’t forget about herself. You know how she is when she gets focused on something. She doesn’t stop for anything.”

Karan nodded slowly, his expression more serious than his usual banter. “I’ve got it covered. You don’t have to worry about her.”

Arav smiled appreciatively, then turned back to Meera. “I’ll miss you, you know.”

Meera’s smile softened. “I’ll miss you too. But this is your dream, Arav. You’ve worked so hard for this. You deserve it.”

“I know,” Arav said, his voice quiet now, almost thoughtful. “But that doesn’t make leaving any easier.”

---

As they waited for Arav to check in, Meera had stepped away for a moment to grab coffee for the three of them. Karan and Arav were left to stand in the busy terminal, the hum of the airport surrounding them.

Karan glanced around the airport, his thoughts drifting back to the past few weeks. The distance between him and Meera had slowly started to close. It had been a steady process—slow but unmistakable. At first, he had simply been trying to get under her skin, challenging her, maybe even pushing her buttons. But as the days passed, he had found himself genuinely wanting to spend time with her. They’d shared quiet conversations and moments that weren’t about anything grand, just simple, real things. He’d learned more about her—her fears, her strengths, her vulnerability.

And Meera had begun to open up, albeit cautiously. Her tough exterior, the one that screamed independence, had cracked a little, and in those moments, Karan had caught glimpses of the person she was beneath it all. She had stopped looking at him like he was just some playboy, and while she still resisted, Karan could see that she was starting to trust him in a way she hadn’t with anyone else. It wasn’t love yet, but it was something deeper, something he wasn’t going to take for granted.

The weeks that had passed since they first crossed paths felt like an eternity and no time at all. Meera still pushed him away at times, but there were moments—like tonight—when the distance between them didn’t feel so vast.