The warmth of the morning sun woke Jhanak. She stretched lazily, the events of the previous night rushing back to her in vivid detail. A small, contented smile played on her lips as she remembered Aniruddh’s touch, his tenderness, and the surprising connection they had found.
But when she turned to the other side of the bed, she found it empty.
Her smile faded as confusion set in. She glanced around the room, hoping to see him somewhere, but the stillness of the space confirmed he was gone.
Her heart sank. Why had he left? Did he regret what had happened?
Jhanak sat up, pulling the blanket around her as her mind raced. For the first time in years, she felt unsure, exposed. Last night wasn’t just about physical intimacy—it had been something more. Something she hadn’t expected to feel with someone like Aniruddh.
She stared at the spot where he had lain beside her, her fingers brushing against the faint imprint of his presence. The emptiness he left behind felt heavier than she could have imagined.
“Why would he leave?” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Meanwhile: Aniruddh’s Struggle
Aniruddh wandered aimlessly through the streets, the city’s noise doing little to drown out the storm in his mind. His chest felt hollow, and yet his thoughts were a cacophony of doubts and regrets.
He hated himself for leaving, but he hated the thought of facing her even more. The humiliation he had endured in the past haunted him, making him believe that last night was a fluke—something she might laugh about later or pretend never happened.
“She’s Jhanak Chatterjee,” he muttered to himself, bitterness lacing his words. “The queen bee of St. Xavier’s. And I’m… no one.”
But even as he tried to convince himself that leaving was the right thing to do, a part of him longed to turn back, to take the risk, to see if she felt the same.
Jhanak’s Realization
As the hours passed, Jhanak couldn’t shake the heaviness in her chest. She replayed their moments together, from their awkward beginnings to the tenderness they’d shared last night. And then, a thought struck her—what if he had left because of her?
Her behavior at the Fresher’s Party, her harsh words, her fiery defenses—all of it must have hurt him more than she realized. Jhanak had always worn her confidence like armor, using it to push people away, but Aniruddh had seen past that. He had seen her for who she really was, and she had hurt him in return.
For the first time in her life, Jhanak felt regret—not just for her actions, but for the walls she had built around herself.
“I have to find him,” she whispered, determination setting in.
Jhanak’s Search
Jhanak wasted no time. She threw on her clothes, her mind racing with thoughts of where Aniruddh could have gone. She knew he wasn’t the type to vanish without reason, and deep down, she knew he was struggling just as much as she was.
She started with the obvious places—his favorite coffee shop, the campus library, even the quiet park near his hostel. Each time she came up empty-handed, her frustration grew, but so did her determination.
Finally, as the afternoon sun began its descent, she spotted him on the stone steps of an old church tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. He was sitting alone, his head resting in his hands, lost in thought.
Aniruddh’s Pain
Aniruddh had spent the day battling the voices in his head. One moment, he wanted to go back to Jhanak and tell her everything he felt; the next, he convinced himself that she could never truly love someone like him.
When he heard footsteps approaching, he didn’t need to look up to know it was her. Her presence was electric, impossible to ignore.
“Aniruddh,” she called softly, her voice laced with a mix of relief and hesitation.
He stiffened but didn’t respond.
She sat down beside him, her proximity unsettling him. “Why did you leave?” she asked, her tone more vulnerable than he’d ever heard.
“Why did I leave?” he repeated bitterly, finally lifting his head to meet her gaze. “Jhanak, do you really need to ask? You’ve always made it clear what you think of me. I was a joke to you, wasn’t I? Just another way to pass the time.”
His words stung, but Jhanak refused to let them push her away. “No, Aniruddh. That’s not true.”
He stood abruptly, stepping away from her. “Then what is true, Jhanak? That last night was some… experiment for you? That you’ll wake up tomorrow and go back to being the queen bee, and I’ll be forgotten?”
Jhanak’s Confession
Jhanak stood too, her chest tightening at his words. “You think that’s what last night meant to me?” she snapped, her fiery personality breaking through. “Do you think I’m the kind of person who would share something so… personal, so real, with just anyone?”
Aniruddh looked away, but she wasn’t done.
“I’ve spent my entire life hiding behind this facade,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “The confidence, the attitude—it’s all just armor. But last night, with you, I wasn’t hiding. I was just… me.”
Aniruddh’s eyes flicked back to hers, his defenses starting to crumble.
“And you,” she continued, stepping closer, “you’re the first person who’s ever made me feel seen. You saw past the act, past the walls, and you still cared. You made me feel safe, Aniruddh. And for the first time, I didn’t feel alone.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t care. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you before. I was scared. Scared of letting anyone in, scared of getting hurt. But I’m not scared anymore. I love you, Aniruddh. I don’t care what anyone thinks or says—I love you.”
Aniruddh’s Response
Her words hit him like a tidal wave, washing away the doubts and insecurities he’d clung to for so long. He took a step toward her, his own tears threatening to spill.
“Jhanak,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that.”
He reached out, cupping her face in his hands. “I’ve loved you since the day I first saw you, even when I thought you’d never look at me twice. Last night… it wasn’t just a moment for me. It was everything. You’re everything.”
Their eyes met, and in that instant, the world around them seemed to fade away.
A New Beginning
Aniruddh leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a kiss that was tender and full of promise. Jhanak melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as the weight of their insecurities finally lifted.
When they pulled apart, they rested their foreheads together, both of them smiling through their tears.
“This doesn’t mean I’ll stop teasing you,” Jhanak said playfully, her fiery spirit returning.
“And this doesn’t mean I’ll stop calling you out on your drama,” Aniruddh countered with a smirk.
They both laughed, the sound filled with relief and joy.
Hand in hand, they walked away from the church, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, they had found not just love but a sense of belonging—a connection that neither of them had ever imagined possible.
———
The End.