Aira found herself smiling for no reason.
At school.
In tuition.
At home.
Everywhere.
She hadn't felt this kind of happiness in a long time—
and somehow, it was all because of her.
Aarohi felt the same.
They were like two souls, quietly finding something in each other…
something they had never searched for before.
Aira told herself it was just attraction.
Aarohi called it infatuation.
But deep down—
neither of them really knew what was happening.
One day, Aira had to go on a school trip.
She didn't want to go.
A part of her just wanted to stay back… and talk.
But she went anyway.
Before leaving, they talked on a call.
"I have to go now," Aira said. "I'm going on a school trip… to Kutch."
"Now?"
"Yeah. I'll leave soon. Bye."
"Okay… when you get in the vehicle, text me.
And when you reach, text me again. Okay?"
"Okay… I will."
But Aira didn't.
She thought it was just something said casually.
So she forgot.
The next day—
"Hey."
"Hey… why didn't you text me when you reached?"
There was a pause.
"Sorry… I forgot."
"I was waiting for your message."
Aira felt a small guilt.
"Sorry. From now on, I'll tell you everything about my trip. Okay?"
"Okay."
After a while, a new message came.
"You know… I love clicking my photos."
Aira replied,
"I don't like clicking my photos. I prefer taking pictures of nature."
"Same," Aarohi said. "I love nature photography too."
Aira typed slowly,
"Nature doesn't try to pose… it's just beautiful the way it is."
"Exactly," Aarohi replied.
"Still… click your photos too. And send me. Okay?"
Aira hesitated.
"I don't like taking my photos… but I'll click them for you."
"Okay."
They talked for a while.
Then Aira went to her friends.
And Aarohi got busy with her schedule.
That night—
they didn't talk.
But both of them felt it.
The silence.
The absence.
Aira kept thinking about her during the trip.
And somewhere far away—
Aarohi was missing her too.
For Aarohi, it was no longer just infatuation.
She was sure now—
it was something more.
But Aira…
She was still unsure.
Still confused.
Still holding herself back.
Neither of them said anything.
Neither of them confessed.
But their hearts…
were already speaking.