Her name was Meera.
She started visiting the bookstore almost every day after that. Sometimes she would read silently, sometimes she would talk.
And slowly, Aarav started listening.
"You don't talk much, do you?" Meera asked one day, flipping through a novel.
"I talk when needed."
"And when is it needed?"
Aarav paused. "Not often."
Meera laughed. "You're weird."
"And you come here every day to talk to a weird person."
"Maybe I like weird people."
Aarav didn't respond, but inside… something shifted.
The next day, Aarav didn't expect to see her again.
But she came.
Dry this time. Calm. Smiling.
"Hi," she said, as if it was the most normal thing.
Aarav nodded slightly. "Hi."
She walked in like she already knew the place.
That day, she didn't say much. She just sat and read.
But the silence felt… different.
Comfortable.
The next day, she came again.
And this time, she talked.
"So, do you read all these books?" she asked, looking around.
"Most of them."
"Seriously? Even romance novels?"
Aarav hesitated. "Not really."
Meera smirked. "So you don't believe in love?"
Aarav looked at her for a second.
"No," he said simply.
"Why?"
"Because it doesn't last."
Meera leaned back in her chair.
"That's a very sad way to think."
"It's a realistic way."
She smiled, but her eyes showed curiosity.
"Maybe you just haven't met the right person yet."
Aarav didn't respond.
But for some reason… that sentence stayed in his mind longer than it should have.
Days passed.
Meera became a regular.
She would come in the afternoon, sit near the window, and either read or talk.
Sometimes she would ask random questions.
"What's your favorite book?"
"Why do you always look so serious?"
"Do you ever smile?"
Aarav rarely gave long answers.
But slowly… he started speaking more.
And slowly… he started waiting for her.
One day, Meera brought two cups of tea.
"One for you," she said.
"I didn't ask for it."
"I know," she smiled. "But you needed it."
Aarav took the cup.
That was the first time someone had done something for him… without expecting anything in return.
And he didn't know why—but it mattered.