Naaz reached home quite late that evening. Without stopping anywhere, she went straight to her mother’s room. Pushing the door slightly, she stepped inside with a playful smile.

“Hey, Mom… sorry, aaj main bahut late ho gayi,” she said, slipping onto the edge of the bed. “Woh kya hai na, main thoda ghoomne gayi thi.” She added a quick wink, as if sharing a little secret.

Her mother looked at her curiously, but Naaz didn’t wait for a response. The words began to pour out of her, as though her heart had been waiting too long to release them.

“You know what, Maa? Aaj main bahut, bahut khush hoon. Aisa lag raha hai jaise kitne mahino baad main khul ke jee paayi hoon. Warna to hamesha aisa hi lagta tha jaise main bas chaar deewaron ke andar hi qaid hoon. Lekin aaj… sirf kuch ghante hi sahi, par mere liye woh meri zindagi ke sabse khoobsurat pal the.”

Her eyes sparkled as she added softly, “Sidharth ke saath…”

She hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the sound of his name on her lips, then continued.

“Wahi, mera naya teacher. Pata hai, Maa… woh sirf teacher hi nahi, dheere-dheere mere dost bhi ban rahe hain. Unhone toh aaj mujhse yeh bhi kaha ki jab hum bahar ho, main unhe unke naam se bulaun. Aur socho, woh mujhe zabardasti sunset dikhane le gaye.”

Naaz’s voice softened further, her tone turning wistful. “Aapko toh already pata hai, Maa, ki mujhe sunset kitna pasand hai. Lekin pichhle ek–sawa saal se mere liye sunset ek bojh jaisa ban gaya tha, jaise wo mere andhar ki udaasi ka rang ban gaya ho. Lekin aaj… Sidharth ne phir se mera nazariya badal diya. Sunset… zindagi… sab kuch phir se alag lagne laga hai.”

She fell silent, a gentle smile lingering on her face, as though she was reliving the moment all over again.

Naaz kept on blabbering, her words tumbling out one after another, lost in her own excitement. She was so immersed in her little world that she didn’t even notice the presence behind her.

A sudden voice cut through the air, deep and unsettling.

“Lagta hai aaj kisi ne kuch zyada hi enjoy kar liya…”

Naaz froze. Her breath hitched, and her body stiffened as if an invisible rope had tightened around her. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes widening in shock.

Her heart pounded violently against her ribs. No… please, not this. Hopefully they didn’t hear everything, she prayed silently, biting down on her lip.

A shiver ran down her spine as her gaze locked on the figure standing in the doorway.

______________________________________

Sidharth finally reached home, a tired yet content smile lingering on his face. As soon as the door opened, he was greeted by Rita Maa. Without a second thought, he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and kissed her cheeks affectionately. She, in turn, placed a soft kiss on his forehead, her motherly warmth wrapping around him like a blanket.

“Kya baat hai,” she said, breaking the hug with a teasing smile. “Aaj to mera beta bahut khush lag raha hai?”

Sidharth chuckled, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. “Haan, Maa… bas aise hi, aaj dil acha lag raha hai.” He glanced around the quiet house and raised a brow. “Waise ghar mein itni shanti kaise hai? Aapke guest kahaan gaye?”

Rita Maa closed the door behind him and replied casually, “Aparna ki ek cousin aayi hui hai, toh ek–do din ke liye woh wahin gayi hai. Tu tab tak yahin ruk jaa. Waise bhi teri classes hain na, woh yahin se kar le… coaching wali. Mujhe bhi acha lagega. Akeli mein bore ho jaati hoon.”

She gave him a playful nudge. “Aur waise bhi, main bhi mil loongi tere students se.”

Sidharth laughed softly at her words, shaking his head. “Maa…” he said, his voice carrying both affection and mock reproach.

__Sidharth thought for a while, then smiled faintly.

“Theek hai, Maa,” he said softly. “Akela toh main bhi nahin chhodunga aapko.”

Rita Maa’s eyes softened with affection. She caressed his cheek lightly. “Mera bacha…” she whispered. “Ja, jakar haath–muh dho le. Main khana lagati hoon.”

He nodded and walked toward his room. After freshening up, he stood before the mirror, droplets of water still clinging to his face. For a moment, he simply gazed at his own reflection, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Today was one of the best days… he thought, his heart replaying the moments that had already become precious memories. I don’t know why, but it feels too good to be with her… around her. The way she spoke about sunsets, the way her eyes carried both light and pain…

His smile dimmed a little, replaced by a frown of concern. She hides so much behind those words. She spoke as if happy endings aren’t meant for everyone… as if she’s been carrying some invisible weight all along. She seemed so upset… so broken.

He ran a hand through his hair, his chest tightening. And I don’t know why… but I can’t see her like this. Why was she so upset? Is she trapped in some kind of problem?

A quiet determination settled in his eyes. I need to find out.

____________________________________

The next morning, Sidharth reached college earlier than usual. His eyes scanned the campus anxiously, searching for a familiar face. Where is she? he wondered. Naaz was nowhere to be seen, and a strange restlessness crept into his chest.

Lost in thought, he turned a corner too quickly and bumped into someone.

“Oh, I’m so sorry—” he began, lifting his gaze. The words froze on his lips as his eyes widened in shock. A moment later, excitement lit up his face.

“Oh god! What a pleasant surprise! Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?”

The woman before him folded her arms, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

“Well, well, Mr. Shukla,” she said smoothly. “Meet the new trustee of this college. Aparajita—at your service.”

Sidharth blinked, his surprise deepening. “What? You’re the new trustee? Wow… congratulations!” He laughed, pulling her into a quick hug before straightening up again. “Well, nice to meet you, ma’am.” He even gave a little bow, grinning at his own formality.

Aparajita smacked his shoulder lightly, shaking her head. “Oh, stop it. Waise, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?”

Sidharth smiled and extended his hand. “Meet Professor Sidharth Shukla.”

Aparajita raised her brows playfully before slipping her hand into his. “Glad to meet you, Mr. Shukla. I hope aapko hamare college mein koi problem nahin ho rahi hogi?”

“Not at all, Miss,” he replied with a polite smile.

For a moment, they both chuckled, the air between them light and easy.

“Okay then, Aparajita,” Sidharth said, glancing at his watch. “Mere lecture ka time ho gaya hai. See you soon, haan? Aur haan, iss baar bhoolna mat.”

“Of course not,” she said smoothly, her lips curling into a confident smile. “College ke baad bahar chalte hain… coffee pe?”

“Sounds cool,” Sidharth nodded, already stepping back. “Okay, done. Bye.”

“Bye,” Aparajita replied, watching him leave with a glint in her eyes.

Sidharth stepped into the classroom, his eyes instinctively sweeping across the rows of students. And then he saw her.

There she was—Naaz—sitting all alone in the last row, tucked into the farthest corner. Her shoulders hunched slightly, her face lowered, as if she wanted to disappear into the shadows.

But why…?

A flicker of confusion crossed his face, but he composed himself and walked toward the center to begin the lecture. Still, his eyes betrayed him—again and again they strayed toward the back row, searching for some sign from her. But Naaz never once looked up. Not even accidentally.

His voice carried through the room, but his mind remained restless. Why is she avoiding me?

The class finally ended, and he thought at last he’d get a chance to speak to her. But before he could utter a word, Naaz quickly gathered her books, her movements sharp and hurried. Without sparing him a single glance, she rushed out of the classroom.

Sidharth froze, his breath caught in his chest as he watched her retreating figure disappear down the corridor.

Library… he realized, watching her slip away.

A wave of confusion swept over him, quickly replaced by the sting of anger. His jaw tightened, his fists curled at his sides.

What the hell is going on with you, Naaz?

After some time, Sidharth too walked into the library. The familiar silence welcomed him, but what he saw next stopped him in his tracks.

Naaz.

The girl who always chose the farthest corner, who preferred solitude over company so she could lose herself in books—today, she was sitting right in the middle of a group of students. Laughter and chatter circled around her, and somehow she had become the center of everyone’s attention.

A frown creased Sidharth’s forehead. This isn’t like her at all…

Slowly, almost unconsciously, he began moving toward her. Every step he took seemed to echo in her heartbeat. Naaz felt his presence before she even looked up—her chest tightened, her palms grew restless.

Sidharth’s eyes never left her face, completely lost in the sight of her, so much so that he didn’t notice a table in front of him. His hip bumped into it with a dull thud, breaking the rhythm of silence.

Startled, Naaz jerked her head up. And there he was—already staring at her.

For a few suspended seconds, their eyes locked. Unspoken words, unexpressed feelings, questions, and turmoil—all of it flickered between them in that fleeting gaze.

But before it could turn into something more, Naaz tore her eyes away, looking down quickly, almost as if she couldn’t bear the weight of his stare.

Sidharth’s heart sank, his jaw tightening as he stood there, watching her retreat into herself amidst the noisy crowd.

“Ha-ha, exactly!” she said too quickly, forcing a laugh at something one of the students had just said. Her voice wavered, but she tried harder, nodding and pretending to be engrossed in their chatter. The smile on her face didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Sidharth’s chest tightened as he stood there, unmoving. He could see it—how fake her laughter was, how desperately she was trying to hide. And yet, she didn’t look at him again.

His fists clenched at his sides, a storm rising within him. What are you doing, Naaz? Why are you shutting me out like this?

He turned away, his jaw stiff, leaving behind the hum of her laughter that echoed like a dagger in his ears.

From the corner of her eye, Naaz watched his retreating figure. Her chest ached, and before she could stop herself, her eyes welled up. A few fresh tears slipped down her cheeks.

But just as quickly, she wiped them away, forcing her lips into a faint smile so no one around her would notice. She straightened her back, pretending to listen to the ongoing chatter, while inside her heart screamed for the man who had just left.

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