"I am going to meet my girlfriend this evening,so I need to get everything ready. Bye,Glory."
Aradhya instead of going home.she followed pranav.she saw pranav with another girl, she waited sometime before pranav going to leave,she left and walked back to the home.Each step felt heavier than the last.
Aradhya reached home and quietly closed the door behind her.
The silence insides her room felt heavy.
She leaned on her bed,her heart still racing.The image of pranav standing with that girl replayed in her mind, again and again.
Is he cheating.....
Or
Is he a gangstar,or is this something else?
She shouted.
Her mind argued with itself.He just confessed his love today.He didn't promise anything.I don't even know him completely.
Still,the thought hurt more than she expected.
She sat on her bed,"Why does it matter to me this mach?"she whispered.
(Suddenly her phone began to ring)
The sharp sound broke the silence of her room.Aradhya quickly wiped her tears and reached for it.The screen light up.
Unknown number
Should I answer?she wondered.
What if it was him?
What if it won't?
The phone kept ringing.For a second, some hope made her swipe the screen.
"Hello?" she said softly.
There was a brief silence on the other end.tje familiar voice.
"Aradhya....it's me."
"Should I come in?"
"Come in....where?"asked.
Suddenly her mom.Aradhya I am going outside.I prepared lunch you can eat.
Okay Mom...
A dull sound come from the floor beneath her bed.
THUD.
her heart skipped as she slowly sat up , listening.thud....thud.....
The sound was coming from below, right under the floor,as if something was hitting it from down.
"Wh-what is that...?"she whispered to herself.
The phone still in her hand,the call connected ,"Aradhya?"the voice on the other end asked "come downstairs from your room".
Then she lifted floor panel and slowly stepped into the secret room.
"It's me,Aradhya.""I couldn't wait to see you."pranav said.
It was you pranav.
Pranav stepped forward carefully."Yes, I didn't want to scare you.I just needed to explain... before you misunderstood everything."
Tears slipped down aradhya's cheeks.
Pranav closer immediately,his voice filled with concern."Don't cry,"he said softly."I never meant for you to feel this way.I didn't want you to leave thinking I was meeting someone else."
(He took a deep breath and continued, carefully choosing his words)
"She is Glory -my classmate.We have to travel for work.I'm a lab student....a scientist in training,"he explained."she helps me with documents, research files,and everything related to the project, that's all.
Aradhya looked at him, her eyes still wet, searching for truth."I don't wants to go anywhere while leaving you behind,"Pranav said firmly."I don't want to cheat you.I could never do that."
His voice softened, almost breaking.
"I really loved you, Aradhya,"he said.and "I Still love you.I am loving you even now".
(The words settled into the quiet room, honest and unguarded.)
Aradhya wiped her tears slowly.For the first time since that cafe meeting,her heart felt lighter -still unsure, still fragile,but no longer drowning in doubt.
"I thought...."you were cheating on me.she continued, wiping her tears,"I even thought you were....a gangstar or something.that you wanted to kidnap me."
Pranav blinked in surprise."A gangstar?"he repeated softly.
For a second, silence filled the space.
Then pranav let out a gentle sigh."Aradhya...of i wanted to kidnap you, would I confess my love in cafe first?"
Despite herself,a small , embarassed smile appeared on her face.
He stepped closer, careful not to invade her space."I am not a gangstar.I am not here to hurt you.I just didn't know how to explain everything without making it sound strange."
(Her heartbeat slowly... began to calm.)
Pranav looked at her softly and spoke again."Aradhya....I feel hungry."He said with a small smile."I didn't eat anything at the restaurant."
She looked at him, surprised.
"I told Glory. I had a meeting with my girlfriend, "he added gently.
Then Aradhya looked at him for a moment and said softly.
"Shall we go upstairs?"
"We can eat something my mumma cooked...
Aradhya said softly.
Pranav smiled, touched by the simplicity of it. “That sounds perfect.”
They quietly went up to her room. Aradhya brought the food and placed it between them. The room felt calm now—safe, almost familiar.
As they ate, the conversation slowly flowed.
She told him about her favourite colours, how she liked quiet mornings and soft music. He shared his love for late-night research, simple food, and watching the sky when his mind felt heavy.
They laughed when they discovered small differences.
They smiled when they found similarities.For the first time, there were no doubts—only two people getting to know each other honestly.
After finishing, Pranav stood up. Your room is clean and beautiful albums I like it.
Thank you.I took all those pictures(they talked sometime)
'should I go,'he said gently.
Aradhya nodded, though a small part of her didn’t want the moment to end.
He gave her one last look—warm, reassuring—then quietly went back downstairs, disappearing into the secret room that lead to his own.
