The air felt colder than usual as Riya sat in the library, her head resting on her hand. The quiet hum of whispers and flipping pages surrounded her, yet she felt like she was somewhere else — lost in her own thoughts.
Why does everything feel so… heavy?
Ever since her strange encounter with Aarav that morning, Riya couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He had barely said a word, yet his eyes had lingered on her like he knew something.
---
The Confrontation
“Riya.”
She flinched, startled by the voice. Aarav stood beside her, one hand resting on the table.
“We need to talk,” he said quietly.
Riya’s heart jumped. “About what?”
“Not here.” His tone was low, serious. Without waiting for her answer, he turned and walked toward the empty hallway.
Don’t follow him, her mind warned.
But her feet ignored her thoughts, and before she knew it, she was standing face-to-face with Aarav in the dimly lit corridor.
---
The Tension Breaks
“You’ve been... different,” Aarav said, crossing his arms. “Ever since you fainted that day. Like... you’re not even the same person anymore.”
Riya swallowed hard. He knows...
“I’ve just been tired,” she lied. “That’s all.”
Aarav narrowed his eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not!”
“Yes, you are!” Aarav snapped, his voice sharp. “You avoid everyone, you barely talk to Mira anymore, and you — you don’t even look at me like you used to.”
“Maybe that’s because I’ve changed!” Riya shot back. Her voice cracked, but the words came out louder than she expected.
For a second, Aarav just stared at her. “...Then tell me why.”
“I…” Riya’s breath caught in her throat. How do I explain this?
“You know what?” Aarav scoffed bitterly. “Forget it. If you don’t trust me enough to be honest, then I won’t waste my time.”
He turned to leave.
“I DIED!” Riya’s voice broke the silence.
Aarav froze.
“I died…” she whispered again, her voice shaking. “And now I’m... I’m someone else. I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Her legs buckled, and she sank to the floor. The weight of everything — the pain, the confusion, the loss — came crashing down.
“I’m not the person you knew,” Riya murmured. “I’m not even sure I know myself.”
---
Breaking Down
For a long moment, Aarav said nothing.
Then, without a word, he knelt beside her.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying,” he admitted quietly. “But... I know you’re hurting.”
Riya wiped her face with her sleeve, embarrassed. “I shouldn’t have said anything…”
“You should’ve,” Aarav interrupted. His voice softened. “I don’t know what happened to you, but... I know you’re still you. Even if you’re different... you’re still Riya.”
His words hit her harder than she expected.
“I’m scared,” Riya whispered. “I keep pretending I’ve got this under control, but I don’t.” Her voice cracked again. “I just... I feel like I’m losing myself.”
“You’re not alone,” Aarav said firmly. “Whatever you’re going through... you’ve got me. And Mira. We’re not going anywhere.”
Riya blinked back fresh tears. “I don’t deserve that…”
“You deserve more than you think,” Aarav muttered.
For the first time in days, Riya felt like she could breathe again.
---
End of Chapter 3
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