Aira was happy—
but she didn't feel okay.
It was strange.
She had her back—
yet something inside her felt uneasy.
"What if something goes wrong again?"
That thought didn't leave her.
She felt tense.
Her smile had returned—
and this time, it was real.
But behind that smile—
there was fear.
On the other side—
Aarohi missed her too.
But only as a friend.
Or maybe—
that's what she chose to believe.
She knew Aira's feelings.
And deep down—
she knew her own as well.
But she denied them.
Aarohi had strong control over herself.
She knew how to hide.
She could lie about her own feelings—
so that no one would ever know.
But she knew the truth.
She knew—
what she felt.
In their story—
there was one problem.
Distance.
They were far from each other.
And sometimes—
distance doesn't just separate people—
it changes what they can become.
Aira often thought—
"If I were there with her… in person…"
"Maybe things would be different."
"Maybe she would love me… only me."
But reality was different.
Aarohi acted normal.
As if nothing had ever happened between them.
But Aira could feel it—
she wasn't being real.
Aarohi was denying herself.
Denying her feelings—
because of her relationship.
Because of him.
When Aarohi had no one—
he was there.
He loved her.
Always.
And she couldn't break his heart.
Even if—
it meant breaking her own truth.
Because somewhere—
she loved Aira too.
But she chose—
not to accept it.
Aira, on the other hand—
was different.
She was used to being alone.
She liked her own space.
Her own thoughts.
She didn't know—
how to share herself with someone.
"I always keep everything to myself…"
"How can I suddenly give it to someone else?"
She wasn't ready for a relationship.
Not because she didn't feel—
but because she felt too deeply.
So she chose silence.
But silence didn't mean absence.
She still loved her.
Deeply.
Quietly.
But she didn't want her.
Because she knew—
they had no future together.
Still—
somewhere in her heart—
there was a small hope.
A hope—
that refused to disappear.
Days went by—
and their conversations continued.
Normal.
Simple.
But something was missing.
Aira noticed it.
The way Aarohi replied—
felt lighter.
Less involved.
Not like before.
One evening—
Aira typed a message:
"Do you ever feel the same… like before?"
She stared at it.
For a long time.
And then—
she deleted it.
Because she already knew the answer.
On the other side—
Aarohi was also holding back.
Sometimes—
she wanted to say more.
Something honest.
Something real.
But she stopped herself.
Because she was scared—
that one step forward
could ruin everything again.
So both of them stayed—
right where they were.
Close enough to talk.
But not close enough to feel.
Sometimes—
Aira would open her chat with Aarohi
without any reason.
She wouldn't type anything.
Just look at their messages.
As if—
just seeing her name
was enough.
There were so many things
she wanted to say.
But every time—
she stopped herself.
Because she knew—
some words,
once spoken—
can change everything again.
And she didn't want to lose her again.
Even if it meant—
not having her completely.
On the other side—
Aarohi was also not free.
Not from her thoughts.
Not from her feelings.
Sometimes—
in the middle of her day—
Aira would cross her mind.
Randomly.
Softly.
And for a second—
everything around her
would feel quiet.
But she would quickly distract herself.
Because thinking about her—
felt dangerous.
Like stepping into something
she couldn't come back from.
So she stayed where she was.
Safe.
But not happy.
Both of them were trying—
in their own ways.
One was holding on silently.
The other was letting go slowly.
And somewhere in between—
their story stayed.