15 minutes later...
Shaiv: Hey Saanvi, how are you?
Saanvi: Hey, I'm good. How about you?
What started as a simple call turned into something more meaningful.
They spoke about their families, laughed over little things, and slowly began peeling back the layers.
Shaiv, without hesitation, shared about his past relationship — his heartbreak and lessons. He believed in honesty from day one.
Saanvi didn't interrupt. She listened quietly. Her silence wasn't awkward — it was thoughtful.
Then came the first small spark.
Shaiv: Can I call you Saanvu? It feels... sweet.
Saanvi: Sure, why not?
She didn't have grandparents anymore — neither maternal nor paternal.
Shaiv, who still had his grandmother, gently said,
"No worries... now you'll have one too."
That sentence stayed with her.
They discovered their differences — she was pure vegetarian, he wasn't.
But opposites do attract, and their connection didn't seem to care about food choices.
Two hours passed like minutes.
Saanvi had to step out for the market.
Shaiv stayed back, lost in thought. She was lively, sharp, and unfiltered — something refreshing.
Before bed, he messaged her again:
"Text me whenever you're free."
They talked again that night.
And something shifted.
For the first time in a long while, Shaiv felt a stir of excitement.
He said softly,
"You have a beautiful heart, Saanvi."
Then came the deeper questions — the ones that reveal intentions.
"What kind of partner do you want?"
"Someone loyal. Honest. Who won't leave."
They both wanted the same things — perhaps because they'd both lost love before.
Shaiv reassured her,
"There's no pressure. If you're unsure, just tell me. Even if your family insists — I'll step back. I don't want this to feel forced."
That night, they both lay awake, thinking about each other.
And just before sleep, Saanvi's phone buzzed.
Shaiv:
We might not be able to talk every day. Let's stick to weekends — Saturdays and Sundays.
Okay. Goodnight. Take care.
Saanvi:
Okay. Goodnight.
She read the message again.
Something about it stung… just a little.
To be continued...