Chapter 7
(A Jolt, A Response, and A Strange Pull)
The morning felt a little uncomfortable. As soon as Aishi woke up, she sensed that something wasn't quite right. An odd restlessness was wandering inside her. Everything felt empty. Standing by the window and looking at the sky, she murmured to herself,
"Maybe it would've been better if I didn't go to class today… but somehow it feels like the day will remain incomplete if I don't see him."
Hearing her own thoughts, she startled herself.
"What am I even thinking! He's just an annoying boy."
Then, standing in front of the mirror while combing her hair, she said,
"He's not important. I'm just going to class for myself, not for him."
On the other hand, Ayush woke up that morning humming softly while sipping tea. With headphones plugged in, he kept listening to one song after another, standing on the balcony, lost in his own world. That familiar playful smile was on his face.
His mother asked,
"Why are you so cheerful today, Ayush?"
Ayush smiled and replied,
"Today's going to be a wonderful day, Ma—I just know it!"
As Aishi entered the classroom after crossing the college gate, she paused slightly upon seeing Ayush. He was standing by the window, hands in his pockets. Their eyes met, and he smiled lightly, saying,
"Is the morning this beautiful because of you?"
Aishi looked away, but her mind didn't follow. She quietly went and sat somewhere else.
Ayush didn't mind. He knew she was like this—sometimes suddenly cold, sometimes suddenly fiery. But within her mood swings, Ayush found colors of life he had never experienced before.
Before the lecturer arrived, a discussion suddenly broke out in the class. A student came in and said,
"Today we have a new class coordinator, and I've heard they're very strict!"
Everyone started whispering. Just then, the professor entered—his demeanor sharp, voice authoritative. The classroom atmosphere changed instantly.
Ayush, however, seemed completely unfazed, wearing the same expression as always.
In a low voice, Aishi said,
"What's there to smile about all the time? Even in serious moments, you could be a little calm."
Ayush replied,
"No matter what you say, this is how I am. Someone who can't smile in life can never truly love."
Aishi turned her face away without replying. In her mind, she thought,
"Love? People use this word so easily these days, but how many really understand it? And this boy… why is he always so dramatic?"
After class, everyone stepped out. Standing in the college corridor, Ayush suddenly said,
"Come on, let's go to the canteen and grab something."
Aishi replied,
"I have tuition. I can't be late."
Ayush said,
"Just a cup of tea and a little conversation—it'll take only fifteen minutes."
Irritated, Aishi said,
"You don't understand. Everything needs to happen on time."
Ayush paused for a moment, then smiled,
"If everything happened on time, life wouldn't be like a movie—it would just remain a tense drama."
Annoyed, Aishi turned and started walking. Ayush followed behind her.
Suddenly, a small child ran onto the road, tripped, and fell. At the same time, a bicycle was coming fast from one side. Without a second's delay, Ayush rushed forward and picked up the child.
Aishi froze, watching him.
Placing a hand on the child's shoulder, Ayush asked gently,
"Did you get scared?"
The child nodded no. Some people nearby came and praised Ayush. An elderly man said,
"These are the kind of boys we can still call human!"
Aishi stood silently, staring at him. That same light smile, that same carefree presence—but how responsible he was in action!
Coming back, Ayush said,
"This is what time really is—you never know when someone might need you. And if no one is there in that moment, life can just stop."
This time, Aishi said nothing. She just kept looking at his face. There was something in his eyes that couldn't be expressed in words.
That evening, Aishi sat by the window. Light clouds floated in the sky, and a gentle breeze was blowing. Birds chirped below. Her heart felt heavy.
She knew something was changing inside her.
She tried to convince herself,
"It's all just illusion… all temporary. Ayush isn't anything special."
But her heart whispered,
"Then why do I feel like seeing him again? Why do his words keep coming back to me?"
No one knows the answer to such questions—not Aishi, not Ayush.
But both of them could feel it—
this story was no ordinary college tale.
It had depth. It had a pull. And it carried some strange, unfinished words…
that perhaps would remain unfinished forever.
To be continued…