Chapter 14: The Shift
Some changes are not loud.
They don't come with fights or arguments.
They just happen…
and one day, you realize things are not the same anymore.
Abhi and Swati
That day felt normal.
But only from the outside.
Abhi and Swati were sitting together like always.
Same bench.
Same place.
But something felt off.
Swati was talking—
about class, about random things—
but Abhi wasn't really listening.
His mind was somewhere else.
Again.
"Abhi… are you even listening?" Swati asked.
"Haan… haan," he replied quickly.
"What did I just say?" she asked.
Abhi paused.
He didn't know.
Swati smiled slightly.
But this time—
it didn't reach her eyes.
"It's okay," she said softly.
"I'll tell someone who's actually listening."
That line was simple.
But it hurt.
The Distance Begins
After that, things slowly started changing.
Swati stopped waiting for him after class.
Stopped calling him again and again.
Stopped expecting.
And Abhi…
He noticed.
But didn't react.
Maybe because he thought—
"She'll be fine."
But sometimes—
people don't need time.
They need attention.
Priyanka and Aditya
Near the staircase, Priyanka was standing alone.
Aditya came and stood beside her.
"You're quiet today," he said.
"Just thinking," she replied.
"About?"
She looked at him.
"You."
Aditya smiled a little.
"That's new."
"Don't act smart," she said.
He laughed softly.
There was a pause.
A comfortable one.
"You confuse me," she said after a moment.
"Good," he replied.
"That means you're thinking about me."
She shook her head.
But she didn't deny it.
Because somewhere…
he was right.
Aditi and Lavesh
In the canteen—
"Tum kabhi serious ho bhi jaate ho ya nahi?" Aditi asked.
Lavesh grinned.
"Main serious hoon."
"Jhoot."
"Sach."
She rolled her eyes.
But then—
he looked at her quietly.
For a second longer than usual.
Aditi noticed.
"Why are you looking like that?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said, smiling again.
But this time—
it didn't feel like a joke.
Poonam, Ayush and Upendra
In class, Poonam and Upendra were talking again.
Laughing over something small.
"Tum funny ho," Poonam said.
Upendra smiled.
"Bas tumhare saamne."
That made her smile more.
From a distance, Ayush saw it.
And something inside him tightened.
He didn't like this.
Not at all.
Ending Scene
After college, Swati was walking alone.
Abhi saw her from behind.
He thought of calling her.
But he didn't.
"She'll come herself," he thought.
But she didn't.
And that was the moment—
when the distance truly began.