Love is powerful.
But timing… is everything.
And sometimes, even love isn't enough to beat time.
Aarav had made a decision.
He couldn't stay silent anymore.
Every day, it was getting harder to pretend that Meera was just a friend.
Every time she smiled, his heart reacted.
Every time she looked sad, it hurt him.
He had to tell her.
He had to.
That evening, everything felt different.
The sky was cloudy.
The air was calm.
And the bookstore… felt like it was waiting.
Meera walked in, as usual.
But Aarav noticed something immediately.
She looked… distracted.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said quickly. "Just a little tired."
Aarav wasn't convinced.
But he didn't ask more.
Not yet.
After a while, Meera sat near the window.
The rain started again—soft, slow, almost like a whisper.
Aarav took a deep breath.
"This is the moment," he told himself.
He walked toward her.
"Meera," he said.
She looked up. "Hmm?"
"I need to tell you something."
There was a slight pause.
"Okay…"
Aarav's heart started beating faster.
His hands felt cold.
"I—"
Before he could finish…
Her phone rang.
The sound broke the moment.
Meera looked at the screen.
And her expression changed instantly.
Fear.
Worry.
Panic.
"I have to take this," she said quickly.
She stepped outside.
Aarav stood there, frozen.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
A few minutes later, Meera came back inside.
Her eyes were slightly red.
"What happened?" Aarav asked.
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she sat down slowly.
"They've fixed it," she said.
Aarav frowned. "Fixed what?"
"My marriage."
The words hit him like a storm.
"When?"
"Next week."
Silence filled the room.
Aarav felt like the ground beneath him had disappeared.
"So… that's it?" he asked quietly.
Meera looked down.
"I don't have a choice."
Aarav wanted to say something.
Anything.
He wanted to stop her.
To fight for her.
To tell her how he felt.
But the words… didn't come out.
And that was the moment he lost.
One evening, Aarav decided he couldn't stay silent anymore.
He had to tell her.
The rain was softer that day, almost like the sky itself was waiting.
"Meera," he said, his voice slightly shaking.
"Yes?"
"I need to tell you something."
She looked at him, curious.
Aarav took a deep breath.
"I—"
Before he could finish, Meera's phone rang.
Her expression changed instantly.
"I have to go," she said hurriedly.
"What happened?"
"My family… they've fixed the date."
Aarav's heart dropped.
"The wedding… it's next week."