Aanya's POV
The aroma of homemade dal and freshly made roti filled the dining room as Aanya sat with her parents, quietly eating her dinner. The TV was playing softly in the background, her father laughing at something the news anchor said, her mother offering her another spoonful of sabzi.
Everything felt normal.
But inside her?
Everything was different.
She didn't say much. She didn't have to.
Because she couldn't stop smiling.
Just as she picked up her glass of water, her phone buzzed beside her plate.
A message.
From Aarav.
Her breath caught.
She quickly wiped her fingers on her napkin and opened it.
> Aarav: Hi. If you're free tomorrow… maybe we can go somewhere?
Just the two of us.
I want to know you more.
And it's Sunday. So no excuses 😌
Aanya stared at the screen for a full five seconds before realizing her heartbeat had doubled.
She locked the phone quickly, trying to act normal.
But her mom had already noticed.
"Aanya?" she said with a raised brow. "You're glowing these days. Anything you want to tell us?"
Her father looked over his glasses, teasing, "New semester energy or something else?"
"Nothing!" Aanya blurted, her face turning a deep pink. "I'm just… eating well these days!"
Her parents laughed, letting it go.
But she could still feel their eyes on her, smiling softly like they knew something she didn't say.
Later, in her room, Aanya sat by the window, phone still in hand. The message was open. She re-read it. Then again.
And then—slowly—she typed back.
> Aanya: Hi. I'm free tomorrow.
Where do you want to go
There was a pause.
Then the screen lit up again.
> Aarav: Anywhere you'd like.
I just want to hear you talk more.
Maybe this time, not on stage.
I'll plan something. 11 am okay
Aanya's fingers hovered over the keyboard.
She finally replied:
> 11 sounds perfect.
She stared out of the window, the moon hanging above quietly, as if listening in.
For the first time in a long time, tomorrow didn't feel uncertain.
It felt… exciting.
The Next Morning…
Aarav reached the quiet lakeside café ten minutes early.
It was peaceful. A soft breeze blew across the water, rustling the leaves in the small garden beside the café. The sunlight reflected gently on the lake's surface.
He kept glancing at the entrance.
And then—he saw her.
Aanya.
In a simple cotton dress, hair loosely tied, eyes scanning the café like she wasn't sure if she belonged in a scene this calm.
But she did.
In fact—she was the calm.
Aarav's breath caught for a moment.
He smiled to himself.
"She looks so beautiful…" he thought.
"Like the kind of beautiful that doesn't need effort. Like poetry that breathes without rhyming."
He stood up slowly, his hand brushing through his hair.
And as she walked toward him, something in his heart whispered—
"I don't want this day to end."
Aanya's POV
The lakeside café was calm—almost too calm for Aanya's thumping heart.
She spotted Aarav waiting near a table by the garden edge. He stood up as she approached, smiling without hesitation.
"Hey," he said, pulling the chair out for her.
"Hi," she replied, gently sitting down, avoiding his eyes for a second too long.
He noticed—but he didn't make it awkward.
Instead, he picked up the menu and grinned. "Okay. First official question of the day: What would you like to order?"
She glanced at the menu. "Um... maybe iced coffee?"
"Perfect," he nodded. "One iced coffee for the moon girl."
She raised her brow.
"Moon girl?"
He gave her a playful look. "That's what I saved your number as. Aanya 🌙. Felt right."
She looked down, biting back a shy smile.
Aarav ordered the drinks confidently, then turned his full attention to her.
"You're a little quiet," he said softly. "Is it because it's our first time actually talking like this?"
She nodded slightly. "Maybe. I'm just… not very talkative with new people."
He leaned in a little, his voice still calm.
"That's the thing though… I'm not new to you, am I?"
She looked up, confused.
He smiled, voice gentle but sure.
"Even if we're in different bodies… our souls already know each other."
Aanya blinked.
The words sank deep into her chest, right where her breath had caught.
Her heart fluttered.
Not just because of what he said, but because—
She felt it too.
The dream boy. The ache. The comfort in his voice. The way her heart settled near him like it had always known where to rest.
She didn't reply.
She didn't have to.
Because Aarav leaned back, took a sip of water, and said casually—
"So. I'll do most of the talking today. You just listen and laugh when I'm charming. Deal?"
Aanya chuckled quietly. "Deal."
And just like that, the first wall between them crumbled.
Not with big words or dramatic confessions.
But with laughter, a coffee, and a feeling that maybe—
This was exactly where she was meant to be.