It was a quiet evening at home, the kind where the world outside seemed distant, and the only sounds that filled the room were the soft hum of her phone and the occasional rustling of paper as Riya went through her notes. She had been talking to Vishal for almost an hour now, just the usual back-and-forth, talking about school, life, and anything that came to mind. But there was a shift in their conversation tonight. There was a softness to it, a gentleness that Riya hadn't felt before.
Vishal's messages weren't just casual anymore. They were laced with warmth. And though Riya tried not to overthink it, she couldn't help but notice the small things—the way he'd reply with thoughtful words, the way he seemed to care more than just a friend would.
"Hey, Riya, you should really get some sleep soon," Vishal said, his words showing genuine concern.
Riya smiled, typing back quickly. "I know, I will. Just going through some stuff. You know how it is."
"Yeah, I get it. But it's already 11:10. You should go to sleep, it's late!" Vishal's message came through, almost immediately after hers. There was a light teasing tone in his words, as though he was looking out for her, but in a way that made her heart flutter.
Riya hesitated for a second. She could feel the pull to stay up a little longer, to keep the conversation going, to enjoy this quiet moment with him. But she also knew that if her parents found out she was awake too late, there would be consequences.
"I can't, Vishal. My parents don't allow me to stay awake too late," she typed back, "I have to sleep now."
A pause. Then, his reply came.
"Okay, I get it. You should sleep then. Take care, and sleep well."
Riya felt a sense of comfort in his words. There was something in the way he spoke to her, something that made her feel cared for, without any pressure, without any expectations. It was a simple message, but it meant a lot to her in that moment.
She couldn't help but smile to herself, feeling a warmth spread across her chest. "Thanks, Vishal. You should also not stay up too late, you know. Sleep early, so you stay healthy!" she typed, her fingers hovering over the keyboard before sending the message.
There was a brief moment of silence, and then Vishal's reply came.
"I will. But only because you said so."
Riya couldn't help but laugh softly at his playful tone, but she also felt her heart flutter again, more than it should have.
"Good night, Riya. Sleep tight," Vishal added.
"Good night, Vishal," she replied, her fingers lingering on the keys as she stared at the screen for a moment before locking her phone. She placed it beside her on the bed and turned off the light.
As she lay there, in the quiet of her room, she thought about the conversation. The way Vishal had said goodbye, the warmth in his words—it wasn't just a regular conversation anymore. It was something more. And Riya couldn't deny that the way she felt when she talked to him was slowly changing.
As her thoughts drifted, she realized that tonight, something had shifted inside her. She wasn't sure where this was going, or what it all meant, but she knew one thing for sure—she liked him. Maybe more than she was ready to admit, but that was the truth.
And with that thought, she closed her eyes, letting herself drift into sleep, a small smile on her lips.
As Riya lay in the stillness of her room, the soft hum of the night outside her window blending with the quiet of her thoughts, she couldn't shake the feeling that had been growing inside her. That warmth, that flutter in her chest whenever she spoke to Vishal—it had been creeping up on her ever since their conversation had started to feel different. But tonight, it was more than just a feeling. It was almost overwhelming.
What am I doing? she thought, her fingers tracing the edges of her blanket absentmindedly. How can I feel this way again?
The words kept spinning in her mind, repeating themselves over and over, like a broken record. She had already been through so much in the past. She had already let go of Vishal once, tried to move on, and yet here she was, caught in the same web of emotions, the same pull toward him that she had felt all those months ago. It was confusing. It was frustrating.
How can I even let myself feel this way again?
Riya closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in her head. She had promised herself that she wouldn't let her heart make decisions for her. She had promised herself that she wouldn't fall into the same trap. But there was something about Vishal—his kindness, the way he seemed to care about her without any expectation—that made it hard to keep that promise.
Maybe it's just the attention, the way he listens to me, Riya reasoned with herself. Maybe I'm just lonely, and that's why I feel this way. I don't know what to think anymore.
But deep down, she knew that wasn't entirely true. There was something more to it than just that. It wasn't just about loneliness. It wasn't just about attention. It was the way he made her feel—special, cared for, like someone actually saw her, understood her. That was what made it different this time. That was what made her heart skip a beat whenever she saw his name pop up on her phone.
Riya exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't deny it anymore. She liked him—probably more than she was willing to admit, even to herself. But how could she? She had been hurt before. She had already given him her heart once, only for it to be broken. And now, here she was, considering giving him another chance. Was she crazy? Was she just setting herself up for more heartache?
I need to be careful, Riya thought, her heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty. I can't let myself get too caught up in this. I have to remember what happened before, remember why I pulled away in the first place.
Her mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. Was she falling for him again, or was she just caught up in the comfort of familiar feelings? She wasn't sure. What she did know was that it wasn't going to be easy. She couldn't let her emotions make decisions for her again. She had to be logical, had to protect herself from repeating the mistakes of the past.
But as much as she tried to reason with herself, a small part of her—one that she couldn't ignore—wanted to believe in the possibility of something more with Vishal. The thought of a second chance, of things working out this time, kept tugging at her heart. She couldn't help but wonder if this time would be different, if this time he would stay.
Riya sat up in bed, running a hand through her hair. The night felt long, and her thoughts felt heavier than ever. There was no easy answer to this. No simple solution.
She had a decision to make—and it wasn't going to be easy.
But for now, she closed her eyes again, determined to rest her mind. Tomorrow was another day, and maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to figure out what her heart really wanted.
She tried to sleep but couldn't and then she started thinking something