IRA - Chapter 3

“Hii, Aarav,” she said softly, her voice carrying that gentle warmth he’d missed so much.

And just like that, just by hearing his name from her lips - Aarav froze. Everything he had wanted to say, the questions that had filled his nights - Where were you? Why didn’t you come to the temple? Did you forget me?, they all vanished. His mind went blank, yet his heart felt full. All he could do was repeat her words silently - Hii Aarav… as if they were the most precious thing he’d ever heard.

“I forgot to ask your contact that day,” she said, her eyes meeting his with a little guilt. “And the whole week just slipped away with studies and exams. I didn’t even get time to visit the temple.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. He didn’t have to. Her words gave him every answer he needed. The ache of waiting, the loneliness - it melted away in a single instant. His heart whispered, How lucky am I to have this girl in my life?

"ohhh you've been so tired with all that academic stress... come, let's have some tea. It’ll help you breathe again.” Without waiting much, they started walking toward the small tea stall at the corner of the street.

They took two steaming cups and sat on a low bench beside the shop. The world around seemed to slow again - the clinking of cups, the chatter of strangers, the golden glow of the streetlight falling on her face.

Aarav watched her sip the tea, her fingers wrapped around the glass, her eyes half-closed, She looked so peaceful, so unaware of how much space she occupied in his heart. He smiled quietly, thinking how easily she made everything around her feel lighter.

“So… what are you studying?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“BSc in Astronomy,” she replied, her eyes brightening a little. “I’ve always loved stars.”

Ohh, that’s a big one.

No wonder you were buried in books. Maybe for that kind of course, you deserve another cup of tea to ease out.

She laughed - a small, “And you?” she asked,

“The usual,” he said with a smile. Just an average Indian student, what else can we do except engineering?” He paused,

“Just kidding. I love it, actually.”

Words came easily again, stories, jokes, small dreams. It wasn’t grand or dramatic, just… real. The kind of conversation that quietly builds a bond, thread by thread.

From that day on, it became their little rhythm. They met almost every day, or atleast every other day at that same tea stall. Some evenings they’d talk for hours, other times they’d just sit in silence, watching the world pass by. But even silence felt full when she was beside him.

Their talks deepened, about life, fears, ambitions. She told him about constellations and galaxies, and he told her about coding and stories. Sometimes, when she’d laugh too hard, he’d look at her like he was memorizing the sound. Sometimes she’d notice and blush, pretending not to.

Days passed like that - soft, steady, beautiful.

One evening,

“Hey, Aarav… let’s go somewhere. Just a short trip. You know, away from all this noise.”

He looked at her, surprised but smiling. “A trip? Just you and me?”

She nodded, eyes twinkling. “Why not? A small escape. Maybe the hills… or the sea.

After weeks of small, shared moments at the tea stall, they finally decided to go on a trip together. Aarav had just finished his exams, and with a quiet excitement. They chose the beach, somewhere away from the noise, where they could just be themselves.

They took the train early in the morning. Aarav found himself smiling more than usual, watching Ira as she leaned against the window, her hair catching the sun. Their conversation flowed easily about the silly childhood memories, dreams they barely admitted to anyone else.

Hours passed quickly, and before they knew it, the train pulled into the coastal town. The evening sun painted the sky in warm shades of orange and pink. They checked into a small hotel, relaxed a bit, and had a simple, comforting meal together. The day felt already perfect, yet both of them knew the best was yet to come.

The evening had settled in completely by then. They walked toward the sea, the streets quiet and empty. The distant sound of waves grew louder with every step, mingling with the soft night breeze.

When they reached the shore, the sound of waves was like nature's own lullaby. The beach was beautifully empty, just a few figures far away, barely more than shadows. The night sky stretched endlessly above, dotted with stars that mirrored the gentle shimmer of the waves. Aarav and Ira walked barefoot on the cool sand, the water brushing lightly against their feet, feeling the peace and magic of a world that seemed made for them alone.

They found a quiet spot near the shore and sat down, side by side. The sea whispered, the wind played with their hair, and the stars glimmered above like tiny lanterns guiding them. Ira tilted her head, awe in her eyes, and whispered, “It’s… so beautiful.”

Then, with a small, teasing smile, she added, “You write such lovely poems, don’t you? Tell me one about this - about this night, the sea, the stars… everything.”

Aarav’s heart skipped. He looked at her, at the quiet wonder in her eyes, and felt the words he had been keeping inside flow freely, ready to become their shared memory.

The waves hum softly along the shore,
Stars scatter above, gentle and pure.
The night breeze drifts, carrying a tune,
And the sea glimmers beneath the moon.

I’ve kept these words, silent and tight,
Hidden in my heart, away from the light.
But being here now, with you so near,
Makes the quiet inside me suddenly clear.

You are the calm that eases my fears,
The gentle warmth that dries all my tears.
With you, the world feels soft and true,
And simply being here feels like home with you.

After he finished the poem,

“I… I mean it, You’re very special in my life. I can’t even describe it. Thank you… for being in my life.”

Tears welled up in Ira’s eyes, a heartfelt smile spreading across her face. She leaned forward gently, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

“I know,” she whispered, her voice trembling just enough to show the depth of her feelings.

And then, without any grand gestures, without a loud confession or dramatic moment, it happened. Just a quiet understanding passed between them, a warmth that settled deep into their hearts.

“Some love doesn’t need words; it’s felt in the quiet, in the presence, in just being together.”