Chapter 3: The Friendship Begins

Aradhana couldn’t deny that there was something magnetic about Reyansh Lamba. Even in the few short days since their reunion, the air between them had thickened with an unspoken tension. Yet, for all the lingering questions in her mind, she found herself drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.

She had come back to Delhi for the familiarity, for the comfort of family and the bustling life she had once known. What she hadn’t expected was how quickly Reyansh would reenter her life. Despite their past, despite the emotional distance they had maintained all these years, it felt as though they were slipping into a rhythm again.

But it was different this time.

Reyansh seemed to be trying to bridge the gap, to be there for her in ways he hadn't before. The mysterious, aloof persona he’d always maintained seemed to be shifting. He’d never been much of a talker, especially not about personal matters, but he would make small gestures, offering help with family events or sharing memories of their school days.

It was during one of those moments, a casual evening gathering at her family’s house, that Aradhana began to see the man behind the walls he had built around himself.

“Aradhana, remember that time you tried to sneak into the school play to meet the lead actor?” Reyansh’s voice broke through her thoughts as he handed her a drink. She hadn’t even realized he was standing beside her. “I’ll never forget the look on your face when the principal caught you.”

Aradhana laughed, her lips curving into a smile at the memory. “You were the one who ratted me out,” she teased, nudging him playfully. “I was trying to get his autograph!”

Reyansh shrugged, a small, rueful smile tugging at his lips. “And I was just looking out for you. I couldn’t let you get into trouble… again.”

The ease between them was surprising. She hadn’t expected it to feel this natural. It was as if the years apart had melted away in the span of just a few conversations.

“I’m glad you’re back,” Reyansh continued, his voice soft but genuine. “Delhi hasn’t been the same without you.”

Aradhana’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly masked her emotions with a light laugh. “I haven’t been gone that long.”

“You’d be surprised,” he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. Then, as if to cover up the intensity of the moment, he clapped his hands together. “So, what’s next on the agenda? I’m here to help.”

Aradhana looked at him, his offer genuine. It was strange to think that the boy she once knew could be standing here beside her, offering to help her with her family’s new venture. There had been so much distance between them in the past—unspoken words, unresolved issues—but now, it felt as though Reyansh was trying to make amends in his own quiet way.

She tilted her head, a glimmer of curiosity sparking in her eyes. “What made you decide to come back to Delhi? I thought you were all about the international scene.”

Reyansh’s expression shifted ever so slightly, his smile fading for a split second. He seemed to wrestle with his answer before giving a simple shrug. “Life changes. Priorities change. Besides, sometimes you have to come back to your roots.”

There was something in his voice, something heavy, but Aradhana chose not to press him. There were too many unspoken things between them already. Instead, she turned her attention back to the gathering, but her mind kept circling back to Reyansh’s words.

That night, after everyone had left, Aradhana sat in the quiet of her room, thinking about their conversation.

She hadn’t realized how much she had missed this. The ease of a friendship, the comfort of someone who knew her well—someone she could rely on, even after all the years. And yet, the connection she felt with Reyansh was more than just friendship. There was something deeper there, something neither of them had yet addressed, though it hung in the air between them like an unspoken promise.

But what exactly was that promise?

Was this friendship just the beginning, or was something more about to unfold?

As she drifted off to sleep that night, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Reyansh’s presence in her life wasn’t just a coincidence. There were too many threads connecting them—too many moments, too many unanswered questions. And just beneath the surface of their renewed friendship, something was bubbling, waiting to be discovered.

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