5

The remaining exams passed one after another.

Days became a routine of studying, giving papers, coming home, and preparing for the next exam.

During those days, Naina and Aarav continued talking.

Nothing unusual.

Nothing that would make anyone suspect anything.

Sometimes they discussed exams.

Sometimes professors.

Sometimes random things that didn't matter at all.

Yet every conversation felt surprisingly easy.

There was no awkwardness.

No pressure.

No need to think twice before sending a message.

Somewhere along the way, they had become comfortable with each other.

And that was when Naina started noticing something strange.

Aarav hardly spoke to any other girls.

At least, not from their course.

Whenever she looked around in college, she saw him laughing with Abhay, Darshan, and other boys.

But with girls?

Almost never.

In fact, she couldn't remember seeing him have a proper conversation with anyone except her.

At first, she ignored it.

Maybe it was a coincidence.

Maybe their subjects were similar.

Maybe they just happened to help each other more often.

But the thought stayed in her mind.

One afternoon, while scrolling through the class group, she suddenly realized something.

She had never seen another girl's name in Aarav's chats.

Never heard him mention anyone.

Never seen him waiting around talking to someone after class.

Nothing.

And for reasons she couldn't explain, that realization made her smile.

Immediately she shook her head.

"Stop overthinking."

Just because he talked to her didn't mean anything.

They were friends.

Good friends.

That was all.

At least that's what she kept telling herself.

Yet a tiny voice inside her heart whispered another question.

"If he talks to everyone the same way, then why have I never seen it?"

For the first time, Naina found herself wondering whether she was special to him in some small way.

The thought was dangerous.

So she pushed it away.

But some thoughts, once they enter the heart, refuse to leave.

FLASHBACK

Naina's thoughts drifted back to the beginning.

Back to the first few days of college.

Classes had only been running for four or five days when Aarav attended that subject for the first time.

It was one of those classes where attendance was always low.

Most students were absent.

There were only a handful of boys present and, among the girls, Naina was usually the only regular face.

That day, everyone was busy copying notes from the board.

Naina was writing quietly when a voice beside her spoke.

"Excuse me."

She looked up.

It was Aarav.

He seemed slightly hesitant.

"Do you have the notes and syllabus?" he asked politely. "Could you please send them to me?"

The first thing Naina noticed was his tone.

Not demanding.

Not casual.

Just respectful.

"Yes," she replied. "I'll send them."

For a moment, Aarav simply nodded.

Then a few seconds later, a small smile appeared on his face.

"Do you have my number?" he asked.

Naina blinked.

Then realized the problem.

"Oh. Sorry. I forgot."

Aarav laughed softly.

"No problem."

He held out his hand.

"Can I have your phone for a second? I'll save my number."

Without thinking much about it, Naina handed him her phone.

Aarav quickly typed his name and number.

Then returned the phone.

"Just send the notes on WhatsApp whenever you get time."

"Okay."

The conversation lasted less than two minutes.

Nothing special.

Nothing dramatic.

Yet it became the first memory she ever had of him.

Later that day, when she opened her contacts, she noticed his number was still there.

Aarav.

Simple.

Ordinary.

But strangely enough, it remained saved.

Naina usually didn't save college boys' numbers unless there was an important reason.

Yet she never deleted his.

Not even once.

At home, her phone was never completely private.

Her younger brother often borrowed it.

Sometimes her mother used it too if another phone wasn't nearby.

Over time, even her family casually learned one thing.

There was a boy from college named Aarav.

Just a friend.

Nothing more.

At least, that's what everyone believed.

Including Naina herself.

Back then, she had no idea that one small exchange of notes and a saved contact would eventually become one of the most important memories of her college life.

END OF FLASHBACK