The one day he stayed

There was something different about her the next morning.

Vanya laughed louder. Walked lighter. Her smile wasn’t just for show anymore.

In studio, she animatedly mimicked a faculty member’s tone, making Atharva almost choke on his chai. She sat on the floor with her friends, surrounded by torn sheets, glue, and bits of conversation, and for once, she wasn’t hiding behind polite nods or fake smiles. She was present. Whole.

And Yuvi? He noticed.

He leaned casually against a pillar, watching her from across the room as she threw her head back laughing at something Asmita whispered.

He joined their group without hesitation. Flopped down beside her, mock-scowling at the mess they were sitting in.

“This what freedom looks like?” he teased, pulling a pencil from her messy bun.

She gasped. “Yuvi!”

“What? It was stuck. I'm doing you a favour.”

“Put it back!”

“Where exactly? Your hair’s a hurricane.”

She tried grabbing it back but he raised it just out of reach. “Why do you always do this!” she groaned, laughing, her hands reaching up—and that’s when her fingers brushed his wrist.

The spark of contact made her freeze for half a second. Made him go quiet too.

Her cheeks flushed pink. And he smirked.

“You blush too easily,” he said softly, leaning a little closer.

“Shut up,” she muttered, snatching the pencil and poking his shoulder with it before getting up in mock indignation.

Later, tucked into the stairwell corner with Anitta and Asmita, Vanya finally let the words tumble out.

“He flirts,” she whispered, “but in this… casual, maddening way. It’s not like he's saying anything huge. Just... moments.”

Anitta smiled knowingly. “You’re allowed to feel something new, Vanya.”

Asmita nodded. “You’ve been done with Shrey for a long time. The breakup just made it official.”

Vanya looked down, playing with the corner of her sleeve.

“I didn’t realize how heavy it had gotten with Shrey. How I always felt watched. Judged. But now… it’s like I can finally breathe.”

Anitta squeezed her shoulder. “You deserve lightness. Joy. Even if it’s just small moments with someone who sees you without expecting you to be perfect.”

“And who flirts like it’s breathing,” Asmita added with a wink.

Vanya smiled.

Maybe it was okay to enjoy this freedom. To feel something flutter again.

Maybe, for once, it wasn’t wrong to want more than survival.

It was a weekend hangout—spontaneous, chaotic, classic architecture kids.

Someone had suggested the cliffside café on the edge of town, the one with fairy lights tangled in trees and mismatched wooden benches. Everyone jumped in, no planning, just packed bikes and autos and spilled laughter.

Vanya hadn’t expected him to come. Yuvi never showed up for things like this.

But there he was—dark hoodie, messy hair, helmet under one arm, that same relaxed air he always carried.