Part 11

MAHER POV

For a while, Kian said nothing. He just sat there, his eyes on me, waiting. He wasn't pushing, wasn't forcing me to speak.

But somehow, that silence made it harder to ignore the memories clawing their way back to the surface.

And then, finally, he spoke.

"When did you both meet?" His voice was softer than usual, as if he knew how much it hurt to talk about this. "And how did it end?"

I exhaled, tilting my head back to look at the sky.

"We met on the first day of college," I murmured, a ghost of a smile tugging at my lips despite the ache in my chest.

I could still remember that morning so vividly.

I had been late. Very late.

The alarm hadn't gone off, my bag wasn't packed, and by the time I rushed out of my hostel, I was already sure I'd make the worst first impression on my professor.

So, I ran. Fast.

And then—bam.

I collided into something—or rather, someone.

A yelp left my lips as I stumbled back, only to realize I wasn't the only one falling. The guy I had crashed into also lost his balance, and before either of us could react, we both hit the ground. Hard.

I had been ready to curse whoever it was, but the moment I looked up, the words died on my tongue.

Because that's when I saw him.

Rudra.

His brows were furrowed in irritation, clearly about to scold me for knocking him down, but the second our eyes met, something in his expression shifted.

And for a brief moment, everything around us blurred.

It was just me and him.

The way his dark, sharp eyes softened for a split second. The way the sunlight hit his face, making him look like something out of a dream.

And the way my heart skipped a beat for the first time.

Then, reality crashed back.

I quickly scrambled to my feet, mortified beyond belief. "I—I'm so sorry!" I stuttered, holding out my hand to help him up.

For a second, he just looked at me.

Then, without a word, he took my hand.

and then I went away from there thinking about him.

I let out a shaky breath, pulling myself back to the present. "That's how we first met," I whispered.

Kian was quiet, waiting for me to continue.

I took a deep breath, letting the memory wash over me. It felt like it had happened yesterday.

"After that," I continued, "I finally made it to class—barely. I rushed inside, and the professor was just about to start."

The image of that first day in college was still so clear in my mind. The crowded hall, the nervous energy in the air, and the anticipation of a fresh start. It had all felt like a whirlwind.

I remember sliding into an empty seat, barely making it in before the professor began speaking. He had welcomed everyone with that usual speech, talking about how exciting the next few years would be, about how we were about to embark on this amazing new journey.

It all sounded like typical first-day talk, but the weight of those words still lingered. I had no idea at that moment how life was going to change.

But as the professor started going through the rules and regulations of his class, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off. I couldn't focus. Not because I wasn't paying attention, but because my mind kept drifting back to the guy I had knocked over—Rudra.

I tried to ignore the strange flutter in my chest. He had brushed past me, his eyes filled with that quiet intensity, but he hadn't even apologized for what had happened. He had just walked away. Why did that bother me?

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away, but just as I was about to settle into the rhythm of the lecture, something caught my attention.

The professor paused, looking up at the door.

The air seemed to shift, and everyone turned around as Rudra entered the room.

He stood there, looking slightly disheveled, as if he'd rushed in—just like me. His eyes scanned the room, briefly locking with mine before quickly moving away. His gaze was almost apologetic, but I couldn't read him fully.

The professor narrowed his eyes, a stern look crossing his face. I could see the tension in the air as he glanced at Rudra, almost as if he were deciding whether to let it slide or not.

And then, in that moment of stillness, the professor did something unexpected. He added, with a glint of authority in his voice, "One more rule, gentlemen and ladies. Never be late for my class."

He turned toward Rudra, his glare sharp.

Rudra, to his credit, didn't make excuses. He simply muttered a "sorry" under his breath, and I watched the professor's gaze soften just slightly.

"Sit beside her," the professor ordered, pointing at the seat next to mine. "That's the only space left."

I froze for a moment. Sit next to me?

I glanced at the empty desk beside me, my heart suddenly racing. Was this really happening?

Rudra hesitated for just a second, as if weighing his options, before slowly making his way to the empty seat beside me. He didn't say a word, didn't even look at me directly.

He just... sat down.

The moment he did, I could feel the tension in my chest grow. We were so close, and I could smell the faint scent of his cologne, a combination of wood and spice. It was almost overwhelming.

It felt like the entire room had disappeared, and all that was left was the space between us—silent, thick, and impossible to ignore.

I was just about to continue speaking, when suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down, my breath catching when I saw the caller ID: Mom.

A sudden pang of guilt hit me. I hadn't even thought about my family all day, caught up in the storm of my emotions and the memories of the past that Kian had unknowingly helped bring to the surface.

I excused myself from the moment, reaching for my phone and answering quickly, trying to sound as normal as possible despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.

"Hello?" I said, my voice wavering slightly.

There was a brief pause on the other end before my mother's voice came through, soft but warm. "Maher, where are you? You didn't tell us you were going out today. Is everything okay?**"

I took a deep breath, managing to calm myself enough to answer, "I'm fine, Mom. Just out for a drive, getting some fresh air."

I didn't want to go into details—not now. Not when I still felt so raw.

After a brief conversation, I hung up the phone and looked up, meeting Kian's gaze. He was already standing, his expression soft and understanding, as if he knew this was a tough moment for me. He had always known how to be there when I needed him, even if I didn't ask for it.

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently take mine, the warmth of his touch offering a sense of comfort I didn't know I needed. "It's time to head home," he said, his tone steady and calm.

I nodded, allowing him to guide me, not saying anything in response, just letting the quiet surround us. Kian had a way of making me feel like I didn't have to say everything out loud. Sometimes, just being with him was enough.

As we walked toward the car, Kian spoke again, his voice light, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "From now on, we'll come here regularly. You'll see, it'll help you clear your mind, and we'll have fun together."

I couldn't help but smile at his words. There was something about his presence, his unwavering support, that made everything seem a little more bearable.

Kian stopped for a moment, turning to face me fully. His expression softened, and I could see the genuine concern in his eyes. "You know you can talk to me anytime, right?" he asked.

I nodded, my eyes softening in response. He didn't need to say anything more. I already knew how much he cared.

As we reached the car, I let out a sigh, trying to put the weight of everything I had been carrying out of my mind, even if just for a moment. But there was one more thing I needed to say.

Kian, sensing that I had more to share, gently squeezed my hand. "Tell me about Rudra, Maher."

The way he said his name made my heart skip, but I didn't look away. There was no escaping the past. I had to confront it eventually. And right now, with Kian's steady presence beside me, it felt like the right time to speak.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, gathering my thoughts. "Rudra..." I started softly, feeling my voice tremble as I spoke. "He was my first love."

Kian didn't say anything, didn't press me to say more. He simply gave me a nod, reassuring me that I could take all the time I needed.

After a few seconds of silence, I whispered, "I don't know how to feel about him anymore, Kian. It's complicated."

I felt Kian's fingers tighten around mine, his silent understanding offering me more comfort than words ever could. He didn't need to ask for more details. He just let me process it on my own time.

Yes. I thought to myself as I climbed into the car, my hand still in Kian's. We will come here again. Regularly. I'll find peace here.

Hello Guys ,

We all in our life have someone with we share our thoughts , we tell everything cause we know they won't ever judge you .

So for Maher , the person is kian.

In my book , Kian and Maher share a beautiful bond and that bond will remain same throughout the book.

If found any grammatical error then do tell me.

Thank you