The morning sunlight filtered through the dense foliage of the campus, painting dappled patterns on the cobbled walkways. A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of dew and freshly brewed coffee, making the campus feel alive with possibility. Karan strolled toward the campus café, his thoughts lingering on the conversation with Meera from the previous night. Her guarded words, the soft tremor in her voice when she spoke about not wanting to get hurt—it all left him wondering just how much she was carrying beneath her quiet demeanor.
Despite her aloofness, there was something about Meera that kept drawing him in. She wasn’t like anyone he’d ever known. She didn’t laugh at his charm, didn’t fawn over his attention. She wasn’t cold, exactly, but there was a steeliness to her that made him both frustrated and intrigued.
He spotted her almost immediately as he neared the café. Meera was seated at one of the outdoor tables, a book open in front of her and a steaming cup of coffee by her side. Strands of her dark hair fell across her face, and her brow furrowed slightly as she read, fully immersed in the pages. She looked so serene, so unreachable, that he almost second-guessed approaching her. For a fleeting moment, he thought about turning around, letting her have her peace. But then she glanced up, her eyes meeting his briefly before flicking back down to her book.
“Morning,” he called out casually, stepping closer.
Meera raised an eyebrow but didn’t look annoyed. “Morning.”
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from her.
She hesitated for a moment, her fingers brushing the edge of her cup as if debating whether to let him stay. Finally, she nodded. “Sure.”
Karan grinned and sat down, leaning back in his chair as he ordered his coffee when a waiter passed by. “What are you reading?”
“Nothing you’d find interesting,” she replied, a hint of teasing in her tone.
“Ouch,” he said, feigning offense. “You didn’t even give me a chance. Maybe I’m secretly a huge fan of…what is that, psychology?”
Meera gave him a wry smile, tilting the book so he could read the title. “Neuroscience, actually. And I doubt it.”
Karan chuckled, enjoying the rare banter. It was a delicate balance with Meera. Push too hard, and she’d retreat. Play it too safe, and she’d lose interest. But this morning, she seemed at ease, her guard lowered just enough for him to catch glimpses of the person beneath the reserved exterior.
His gaze drifted to her hand resting near her coffee cup. The familiar silver bracelet caught the sunlight, its worn edges glinting softly. It was a delicate piece, yet scratched and old, clearly cherished. The sight of it stirred his curiosity again, though he knew he had to tread carefully.
“So,” he said after a moment, his tone light, “you always wear that bracelet, huh?”
Meera’s fingers instinctively brushed against the silver. Her gaze flickered to him, guarded now. “Yeah. Why?”
“Just curious,” Karan replied with a shrug. “It seems…important.”
She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the bracelet as if shielding it. For a moment, he thought she wouldn’t answer. But then she spoke, her voice quieter now. “It was a gift,” she said simply.
“From someone special?” he ventured, his tone careful.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked away, her eyes clouded with something he couldn’t quite decipher. “Yes,” she said softly, not offering more.
YOU ARE READING
Silent Vows
RomansaKaran 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...
