Saturday, 4:02 PM.
Karthik stood outside the Anna Centenary Library entrance, pretending not to check his watch every ten seconds.
She was late.
Which was ridiculous because it wasn't even a date. It was just two classmates doing homework together. In public. With butterflies in their stomachs.
Okay, maybe it was a little bit of a date.
Then he saw her.
Ananya, in a simple kurti and jeans, hair in a loose braid, walked toward him with a book in one hand and a smile that could start wars.
"Sorry I'm late," she said, a little breathless. "My appa wouldn't let me leave without eating something."
"I wasn't waiting long," Karthik lied, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Ready to be bored?"
"Absolutely," she said with a grin. "Lead the way, partner."
---
Inside, the silence was thick—pages flipping, hushed footsteps, pens scratching. The two of them found a spot by the tall windows overlooking the courtyard. Sunlight spilled across the table like gold dust.
They pulled out their textbooks, and for a while, there was peace.
Until Ananya leaned over and whispered, "You smell like Ponds powder."
Karthik blinked. "Excuse me?"
She giggled. "I like it. Very... old-fashioned hero vibes."
"I regret coming here."
"No, you don't."
He didn't.
---
About thirty minutes in, their books lay forgotten. Ananya rested her chin on her arms and watched him doodle in his margin—a tiny sketch of a bored stick figure labeled "Me."
She laughed softly. "You're secretly funny."
"Don't tell anyone. It'll ruin my brand."
"Too late," she said. Then added, quieter, "I like this version of you."
Karthik paused. Pen in midair. "What version?"
"The one that lets me in."
That silenced him. But not in a bad way. Just in the way where the world feels very still, and you know something important just happened.
---
As they packed up to leave, Ananya brushed his hand by accident. Or maybe not by accident.
They walked side by side to the gate.
"I had fun," she said.
"I thought we were supposed to be bored."
She smiled. "Then I guess we failed."
A pause.
"Hey, Karthik?"
He turned.
Ananya hesitated—then stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. Soft. Quick. Like a secret.
"Just in case this was a date," she said, before walking away.
Karthik stood frozen for a full minute.
Then he smiled.
And walked in the opposite direction—feeling lighter than he had in years.
---
End of Chapter 36