The warm sunlight filtered through the half-open window as Aanya stood in front of her mirror, tying her hair into a loose braid. College was slowly becoming a rhythm—unfamiliar yet comforting. Each day brought a hint of something new, and a whisper of something ancient that she couldn't quite place.
She slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped out, not knowing that the day ahead would stir another layer within her soul.
The lecture hall buzzed with mild chatter. Aanya sat near the middle row, flipping through her notes when Vedant walked in. He looked around, spotted her, and gave a small smile—a gesture that didn't scream confidence, but held a certain sincerity.
"Hey," he said, sliding into the seat beside her. "Did you get the last assignment's topic?"
Aanya nodded, passing her notebook over. Their fingers brushed slightly—a small, forgettable moment for most, but her breath paused for just a second.
Over the next few days, conversations flowed—sometimes awkward, sometimes smooth. They talked about professors, food, funny college moments. Vedant wasn't loud, nor too quiet. He had this calming presence, like a slow-moving river—steady and soft.
But even as their friendship began to bloom, something inside Aanya started to stir.
That night, as she sat by the window in her room, wrapped in her shawl, the world felt quiet. Too quiet.
She rested her head against the wooden frame and stared at the stars.
Out of nowhere, a memory came back—one that wasn't exactly a memory, but a feeling. The warmth of someone's presence, standing beside her in silence. The way she felt seen without speaking. A touchless connection. A soul-deep knowing.
She closed her eyes.
No dream came. But her heart felt it.
He was returning. Not in reality… not yet.
But her soul had started remembering.
She touched her wrist where she sometimes felt warmth in her dreams, as if someone used to hold her there gently. That feeling—it had faded for months. But tonight, it pulsed faintly again.
The next morning, over breakfast, her mother called her name twice before she realized.
"Lost in thoughts?" her mom asked with a teasing smile.
Aanya blinked. "Just... tired, I think."
But she wasn't tired. She was awakening.
To emotions she had buried.
To dreams she had forgotten.
To the path she had once promised herself she would walk—no matter how long it took.
Back in college, Vedant walked with her to the library.
"You okay?" he asked gently. "You look... far away today."
Aanya hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Yeah, just… thinking a lot lately."
He didn't ask more. Just walked beside her quietly.
And that's when she realized:
Vedant was part of this journey—not the destination.
He was a bridge, not the shore.
And somehow, her soul was guiding her closer to the one it had never forgotten.