The days following Riya's decision were a blur of quiet moments and tentative steps forward. She had told Vishal she was willing to try, but the weight of that decision hung heavy on her heart. Every time she saw him around school, her heart raced, her thoughts swirled, and a part of her still felt unsure. They didn't talk at school—they only communicated through messages or calls, keeping their distance in person. It was easier that way, for now.
Thursday afternoon came, and Riya sat at lunch with Sana, her mind not on the food, but on everything else. She kept staring at her phone, wondering if Vishal had sent her a message yet. But, as usual, nothing. The silence between them in school felt even louder now. Every time she saw him across the room, she couldn't help but wonder if he was waiting for her to make the next move.
Sana noticed Riya's distraction and raised an eyebrow. "You've been quiet today. Something on your mind?"
Riya sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "I'm just... thinking about what I said to Vishal yesterday. I told him I'd give it a try, but I don't know if I'm ready for all of this. What if I mess everything up again? What if I make the wrong choice?"
Sana took a moment to consider her words before responding. "Riya, you can't predict everything. Life doesn't work like that. You took a step, and that's all you can do for now. Don't overthink it."
Riya glanced at her phone again, wishing she had a clearer answer. "It's just that, I don't know if I'm doing this for the right reasons. What if I'm just looking for someone to fill the space I was feeling after everything with Araav? What if this is just... an escape?"
Sana's expression softened. "You're being honest with him, and more importantly, you're being honest with yourself. You've thought it through, and that's all that matters. You can't rush things. Take your time. But don't push him away if he's someone you want to be close to."
Riya nodded slowly, her thoughts a whirl of uncertainty. She had liked Araav—still did, in a way—but that was something she had to let go of. Araav was interested in Priya, and nothing was going to happen there. Vishal, on the other hand, was patient. He had always been patient with her, and maybe that was something she could trust. But she still wasn't sure if she was ready for all of this to be real.
Before she could speak again, her phone buzzed in her hand. It was a message from Vishal.
"Hey, Riya. I know you're probably busy, but I just wanted to say that I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. I understand you need time, and I'm okay with that. I just don't want you to feel like you have to rush into anything."
Riya stared at the screen for a moment, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She had meant to take things slow, but Vishal's words made her feel both reassured and guilty at the same time. Was she holding back too much? Should she be more open to him?
She typed out a response slowly, trying to keep her thoughts organized.
"Thanks for understanding. I'm still figuring things out. I don't want to make any decisions too quickly, but I do appreciate you being patient with me."
She hesitated before sending it, wondering if that was the right balance of honesty and distance. She didn't want to shut him out, but she also didn't want to give him false hope. After a moment, she hit "send."
Sana, seeing the shift in Riya's expression, leaned in. "That him?"
"Yeah," Riya said quietly. "He's been really patient with me, but I don't know if I'm ready for more. He says he's okay with waiting, but I just... don't know if I'm doing the right thing."
"You'll know when the time's right," Sana said reassuringly. "Just take it one day at a time."
Riya smiled at her friend's comforting words, even if she wasn't sure how to handle everything. As the school day dragged on, Riya couldn't help but think about how much had changed in such a short time. It felt like she was standing at the edge of a decision, looking out at the unknown. The only thing she was certain of was that she wasn't ready to make a move in person.
That night, as she sat in her room, Riya pulled out her phone again, this time to make a call to Vishal. The conversation they had last night had left her feeling unsettled, but she knew that talking it through with him would help. After a few rings, he answered.
"Hey, Riya," Vishal's voice was warm, but Riya could hear the underlying uncertainty. "Everything okay?"
"I'm just... thinking," she began, feeling the familiar knot of nerves tighten in her stomach. "I appreciate everything you've said. I do. But I need to be honest with you—I'm not sure where I'm at with all of this. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to lead you on."
There was a brief pause before Vishal spoke again, his voice steady. "I get it, Riya. I don't want to pressure you. I just want to make sure you know that whenever you're ready, I'm here. No rush."
Riya exhaled in relief, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. It wasn't the answer she had been looking for, but it was the honesty she needed. "Thanks, Vishal. I'll let you know when I'm sure. I just need some more time."
"Take all the time you need," he replied, and Riya could hear the sincerity in his words. "I'm not going anywhere."
After hanging up, Riya sat in silence for a moment, the air around her feeling a little lighter. She still didn't have all the answers, but one thing was clear—she wasn't alone in this. Vishal was patient, and he was willing to wait for her to figure things out.
After their conversation, Riya couldn't help but feel a little more at peace. Vishal's patience was something she hadn't expected, and it eased the tension that had been building inside her. She knew she had time, and that was all she needed.
The next day at school, everything felt almost normal. Riya still couldn't help but feel nervous when she saw Vishal in the hallways, but she did her best to act like nothing had changed. Sana noticed the way Riya seemed a little more relaxed, but she also knew her friend was still in the middle of a personal battle.
At lunch, as they sat together, Sana nudged Riya. "So, what's the plan now? You talked to Vishal last night, right? How's he doing?"
Riya took a deep breath, letting the words roll off her tongue slowly. "He's... understanding. I told him I need more time, and he's okay with it. He's not rushing me."
"That's good," Sana said, nodding. "So, you think you can take things slowly, see where it goes?"
Riya hesitated. "I don't know. I mean, I like him, but there's still something holding me back. I just... I can't be sure if I'm doing this for the right reasons. Sometimes, I feel like I'm just not ready."
Sana studied Riya for a moment before speaking. "That's okay, Riya. No one's forcing you to make a decision. You can take it slow and figure things out. Just don't push him away completely, especially if you think there's something real there."
Riya nodded slowly, chewing on her thoughts. She did like Vishal—there was no denying that. But she didn't want to jump into something too quickly, especially when a part of her still clung to the idea of Araav, despite knowing that nothing would ever come of it. Vishal was patient, yes, but would that patience eventually wear thin?
As they were talking, Riya's phone buzzed again, and she quickly glanced down. It was a message from Vishal:
"Hey, I just wanted to check in on you today. How's everything going? 😊"
Riya's heart skipped a beat, her fingers hovering over the keys as she contemplated her response. She didn't want to be distant, but she also didn't want to be too eager. Taking a deep breath, she typed back:
"Hey! Everything's good. Just focusing on schoolwork today. How about you?"
She pressed send and put her phone down, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. Vishal had always been considerate, always checking in on her without pressuring her. He seemed different from the others, but Riya still wasn't sure if that was enough to build something long-term.
Sana was watching her closely. "You seem nervous. Is everything okay with him?"
Riya nodded, her mind racing. "Yeah, everything's fine. It's just... I don't know if I'm ready to dive into this, you know?"
"I get it. But you don't have to have all the answers right away," Sana said. "You're figuring things out, and it's okay to take your time."
Riya smiled weakly at her friend. "I guess so."
The rest of the day passed slowly for Riya, each moment tinged with uncertainty. She couldn't help but wonder if she was overthinking everything. Vishal wasn't asking for anything more than she could give, and yet, the thought of opening up completely still made her feel vulnerable.
After school, when Riya got home, she couldn't resist checking her phone again. Vishal had replied to her message:
"I'm good. Just thinking about some stuff, but I'll be alright. Take care of yourself, Riya. 😊"
His simple message brought a smile to Riya's face. He wasn't pushing her. He wasn't making her feel like she had to decide right away, and that made all the difference.
Later that night, as Riya sat in her room, she glanced at her phone again. This time, it wasn't a message from Vishal that caught her attention but the fleeting thought of Araav. She couldn't deny that she still had feelings for him, but she had learned to let go of what wasn't hers. Araav would never see her in the way she wanted him to. That was the truth.
A knock on her door broke her train of thought. It was her older sister, Diya, stepping into the room with a knowing smile. "You've been quiet lately. Everything alright?"
Riya sighed, looking up at her sister. "Yeah, I'm just... figuring some things out."
Diya sat on the edge of the bed. "I can tell you've been deep in thought. Is this about Vishal?"
Riya nodded, her voice small. "I told him I'd give us a chance, but I don't know if I'm ready. I still think about Araav sometimes, but I know nothing can happen with him. And I don't want to hurt Vishal either."
Diya's expression softened, and she placed a hand on Riya's shoulder. "It's okay to feel conflicted. But remember, you don't owe anyone anything right now. If you're not ready for more, then take your time. If Vishal is the right person, he'll wait for you. But you can't force yourself into something you're not sure about."
Riya smiled, feeling comforted by her sister's words. "Thanks, Diya. You're right. I just need to figure this out on my own, without rushing anything."
"I'm always here if you need to talk," Diya said, standing up. "Take care of yourself, Riya."
After Diya left, Riya lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She felt a little more at ease, knowing that she didn't have to rush. Vishal was understanding, and she had people in her life who cared about her, like Sana and Diya. Maybe it was time for Riya to stop overthinking and start living in the present, one step at a time.
And with that thought, she closed her eyes, finally allowing herself to rest.
The following morning, Riya woke up with a sense of clarity she hadn't had the previous night. The doubts still lingered, but they didn't feel as overwhelming. She had made a decision, or at least, she was on the path to making one. Vishal wasn't rushing her, and she realized that was something rare and worth holding onto.
After finishing her breakfast, Riya grabbed her school bag, trying to shake off the lingering unease in her chest. As she stepped out of the house, her dad was already waiting in the car. The drive to school was quiet, but Riya's mind was swirling. She thought about what her sister, Diya, had said last night—how she didn't need to rush, how taking her time was okay.
Her dad glanced at her from the rearview mirror, sensing something was off. "Everything okay, Riya?"
She smiled at him, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, Dad. Just thinking about stuff."
"You know you can always talk to me if you need to, right?"
Riya nodded, appreciating his concern. "I know, Dad. Thanks."
The rest of the drive was spent in silence, with Riya looking out the window, lost in her thoughts. Her mind kept coming back to Vishal. He was kind, patient, and seemed genuinely interested in her. But there was still a part of her that was unsure. Could she truly move on from Araav? Was she ready to embrace something new, even if it was with someone like Vishal, who seemed so different from her past experiences?
By the time they reached school, Riya's heart was pounding, but she had made up her mind. She would talk to Vishal, clear things up, and take the first step.
As she walked through the school gates, she spotted Sana waiting by the entrance. Sana waved excitedly, but Riya couldn't help but feel nervous. She walked over, giving her friend a small smile.
"Hey, how are you feeling today?" Sana asked, her eyes scanning Riya's face for any signs of worry.
Riya took a deep breath. "I think I'm ready to talk to him."
Sana's face lit up. "Really? That's great! Do you have a plan?"
Riya nodded. "Yeah, I'm just going to tell him where I stand. I can't keep putting it off. He deserves to know."
Sana gave her a supportive hug. "I'm proud of you, Riya. You're doing the right thing."
As they walked into the school, Riya's thoughts shifted back to Vishal. She couldn't help but wonder what he'd think when she told him how she felt. Would he be disappointed that she still wasn't sure? Or would he understand?
Classes began, and Riya did her best to focus, but her mind kept drifting to Vishal. She noticed him in the hallway, talking to a few friends, and for a moment, their eyes met. He gave her a small, encouraging smile, and it made her heart flutter. It was moments like this that made her feel like there was something real between them.
The bell rang for lunch, and Riya couldn't put it off any longer. She pulled out her phone and hesitated before texting Vishal.
"Hey, can we talk after school? I think it's time I tell you what's been on my mind."
She pressed send, almost immediately regretting it. What if he was upset? What if he didn't want to wait anymore?
Seconds later, her phone buzzed with his reply:
"Of course. I'm here when you're ready. Just take your time."
His words were so kind, and Riya felt a little bit of the tension lift from her shoulders. She didn't have to be perfect in her response. He wasn't expecting perfection—he was just expecting honesty.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Riya couldn't focus on anything except the conversation she was about to have. Every time she saw Vishal in class, her heart beat a little faster. She kept replaying her message to him in her mind, wondering if she had said the right thing.
Finally, the school day ended, and Riya walked out of her last class with Sana by her side. "You okay?" Sana asked, noticing the anxious look on her face.
"Yeah," Riya said, trying to steady her breath. "I'm just... nervous. What if he doesn't understand?"
Sana smiled. "He will, Riya. He seems like the type of person who would understand. You just need to be honest with him. Tell him how you feel. That's all."
Riya nodded and took one last deep breath before walking out of the school building. She could see Vishal waiting by the gate, his hands in his pockets, looking casual but patient. When he saw her, he smiled softly, his expression warm and reassuring.
Riya walked up to him, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. It felt like everything was hanging in the balance, and the weight of the moment settled in.
Finally, Vishal broke the silence. "You okay?"
Riya nodded. "Yeah, I just... I've been thinking a lot, and I wanted to talk to you about everything."
Vishal nodded. "I'm listening. Take your time."
Riya paused, looking for the right words. She wasn't sure how to begin, but she knew she had to be honest. "Vishal, I like you. I do. But I also don't want to rush things, and there's still a part of me that's unsure because of everything with Araav... but I don't want to let that hold me back from something good either. You've been patient with me, and I appreciate that more than you know."
Vishal's expression softened, and he took a step closer to her. "I'm not going anywhere, Riya. I understand. I just want you to be happy. If you're not ready for more, that's okay. I'll wait, and I'll support you no matter what."
Riya's heart swelled. She had never expected him to say something like that. In that moment, she felt a sense of relief. The weight of her doubts wasn't gone, but for the first time in a while, she felt like she could move forward without fear of losing herself in the process.
"I think... I think I'm ready to give this a real chance," Riya said, smiling nervously. "But I'm going to take it slow, okay?"
Vishal smiled back, his eyes warm with understanding. "That's all I ask for, Riya. We'll take it slow, together."
And with that, the uncertainty that had hung over her for so long started to lift. Riya wasn't sure what the future held, but for the first time, she felt hopeful about it.