When I Met Him Again

Aanya was surprised to see Aryan already waiting outside the college. He was on the phone, and so was she—but their eyes met. A warm smile spread on her face, and she quickly walked toward the car and got in.

"Mr Aryan, You came..." she smiled .

He looked at at her and replied

"Why would I forget?"

"I mean, you have a lot of work, right? So I thought maybe you'd be busy..."

A small pause filled the car.

"How was today?" Aryan asked, catching her off guard.

Aanya looked at him in surprise but quickly smiled. "Yeah, it was good!

By the way... what are you studying?"

"Bachelor of Business Administration. I'm in my final year," she replied.

"Oh, final year," Aryan nodded.

Aanya continued, "Actually, I told my father I'd stay in the hostel for the last year, but he insisted to stay at your place. I didn't want to trouble anyone, but he said your family shifted here, so... I had to agree."

Aryan glanced at her. "Your father helped our family a lot". You can stay as long as you want, he said, With a smile.

Aanya whispered under her breath, "I want to stay forever..."

Aryan glanced over. "Did you say something?"

"No, Nothing," She said quickly.

And just like that, The distance between them began to shrink - one drive at a time

They reached home.

---

That night, Aanya sat reading in her room when her phone buzzed. It was Tara.

"Did you complete the assignment?" Tara asked.

"Oh no! I completely forgot. Thanks for reminding me—

I thought you did it already!", Aanya said.

"Nope!" Tara laughed.

Just then, Prerna knocked and peeked in. "Dinner is ready, come soon."

"I'll be there in a minute," Aanya said.

After sometime, She ended the call and walked toward the dining table with a smile. Aryan, Prerna, and their mother were already eating. Aryan looked at her quietly as she sat down.

"You're late today," their mother said.

Aanya was about to reply, but Prerna teased, "Looks like I disturbed her."

"Disturbed?" Aanya blinked.

"Yes, looks like you were talking to your boyfriend," Prerna giggled.

Aanya choked on her food.

Aryan and their mother both looked at her.

"Aryan tried to give her a glass of water but" meanwhile,

Their mother handed her a glass of water.

"Drink slowly," she said.

Aryan quietly glanced at her.

"Boyfriend? No! I was just talking to Tara, my friend. I don't have a boyfriend," Aanya blurted.

"Oh! Sorry, I thought you did," Prerna smiled.

They continued eating.

---

The next morning, Aanya woke up feeling excited. Aryan would drop her to college again today.

After getting ready, she walked out. "Aanya, breakfast is ready," Aryan's mother called.

She quickly ate. Aryan joined her at the table. After breakfast, they both walked to the car.

On the way, Aanya asked, "Mr. Aryan, what do you actually do? I mean, I know you have a company, but I don't know the details."

She knew already, but she wanted to hear it from him.

"I'm a builder," he said simply.

"Oh! Builder. That's nice," Aanya smiled.

Aryan just glanced at her and turned back to the road. When they reached, she said, "Bye," and stepped out.

He nodded slightly.

Her friends were already waiting. As they entered class, the professor said, "You have two days to finish your work. I'll be checking."

Everyone cheered.

---

At Aryan's office, his secretary said, "Sir, you're late again today."

"From now on, I'll come at this time only," he replied.

"Can I ask why?" she asked curiously.

He didn't reply. After a pause, he asked, "Any meetings today?"

"Yes, you have one with Mr. Raizada."

"Okay," Aryan nodded.

---

Back at Aanya's college, during the break, she saw something upsetting.

Rhea and her group were forcing a girl named Priya to kneel.

"Rhea! What are you doing? Leave her!" Aanya shouted.

"Why do you interfere in everything?" Rhea snapped.

"You're interfering, not me."

"Priya was supposed to bring me cold coffee, but she brought tea. Now she must pay," Rhea said smugly.

"Who are you to make her your servant?" Aanya argued.

"How dare you talk to me like that!" Rhea yelled.

"If you don't stop, I'll report you to the principal," Aanya said firmly.

Rhea's friends looked nervous. "Rhea, let's go. Everyone's watching."

Rhea scowled but left. Priya quietly thanked Aanya.

---

In the evening, Aanya walked toward the gate and smiled as she saw Aryan waiting. She climbed into the car.

As the car started moving , she looked at him and thought, Maybe today also he'll ask me how my day was.

He didn't. So she smiled to herself and took charge.

"Mr. Aryan, you know in our college there's this one gang—they call themselves 'The

Gossip Panthers'. I mean, who names a gang that, right?"

Aryan looked at her with a curious smile.

"The Gossip Panthers? What kind of name is that?"

Aanya giggled, excited. "Exactly! They're always trying to tease someone or act like they're in a movie. Today, they made one poor girl almost cry just because she didn't bring the right coffee."

She kept talking, sharing stories from her college—how Rhea always acted like a queen, how Tara always got into weird situations, and how one professor couldn't pronounce her name right.

Aryan kept glancing between the road and her, listening silently, his lips occasionally curling into a smile.

Suddenly, a speed breaker came out of nowhere. Aryan hit the brake. In reflex, he streched his hand in front of her to protect her from jerking forward.

Aanya looked at his hand, then slowly turned to look at his face.

He looked at her for a second, then quickly looked back at the road, pretending nothing happened.

Her heart skipped.

Chapter 5 is complete! 💫