The next day—
they went out again.
This time—
to a bookstore.
A quiet place.
Filled with stories.
With words.
With emotions hidden in pages.
A place that felt like Aarohi.
Both of them loved reading.
But Aarohi—
loved books in a different way.
Deeper.
Like books weren't just stories for her—
they were a part of her life.
Aira knew that.
She had always known that.
That's why—
she had read every book Aarohi had written.
Not just to read—
but to understand her.
Aira always wanted this.
To buy books with her.
To stand beside her—
while she picked stories she loved.
And now—
she was living that moment.
Aarohi walked slowly through the shelves.
Touching the spines of books gently.
Reading titles.
Smiling at some.
Pausing at others.
And Aira—
just followed her.
Watching her—
more than the books.
Their tastes were almost the same.
Same kind of stories.
Same kind of emotions.
Like even their choices—
understood each other.
They were enjoying.
Laughing softly.
Sharing random thoughts about books.
Recommending each other stories.
But beneath that—
something else was there.
Something unspoken.
Aarohi was feeling something.
Something familiar.
Something she had felt before.
But this time—
it scared her.
Not because it was wrong.
But because it felt real.
Too real.
Maybe it was the fear of love.
The fear of trusting someone again.
The fear of losing—
after finally finding something meaningful.
But still—
she knew one thing.
Aira wasn't like everyone.
She was different.
She understood her.
Even in silence.
Even without words.
And that scared her even more.
Because it made everything deeper.
Aarohi paused near a shelf.
Her fingers resting on a book—
but her mind somewhere else.
"We just met after ten years…"
"It's only been two days…"
"How can I decide something this big?"
So many questions.
So many thoughts.
So many "what ifs".
She wasn't ready.
Not yet.
Not to name this.
Not to define it.
She just needed time.
Time to understand.
Time to feel.
Time to answer the questions in her heart.
Aira noticed her silence.
But didn't ask anything.
Because she already understood.
Aarohi picked a book—
and handed it to Aira.
Aarohi, softly,
"You should read this."
Aira smiled.
Aira,
"Only if you read it with me."
Aarohi looked at her.
For a moment—
all the confusion paused.
And she smiled.
Aarohi,
"Okay."
After buying the books—
they didn't leave immediately.
They sat in a quiet corner of the bookstore.
A small reading space.
Peaceful.
Comfortable.
Like the world outside didn't exist there.
Aarohi opened one of the books—
but she wasn't really reading.
Her eyes were on the pages—
but her mind was somewhere else.
With Aira.
With everything she was feeling.
Aira noticed.
But she didn't say anything.
She just sat beside her—
flipping pages slowly—
pretending to read.
After a while—
Aarohi leaned slightly closer.
Not fully.
Just enough—
that their shoulders touched.
And this time—
she didn't move away.
Aira felt it.
But stayed still.
Because even this small closeness—
meant everything.
Aarohi closed the book slowly.
And whispered—
almost to herself—
"Why does this feel so right…?"
Aira heard it.
But didn't respond.
Because she knew—
this wasn't a question for her.
They sat there—
side by side—
in silence.
Not empty silence.
But the kind that holds feelings—
too deep to explain.
And maybe—
for now—
that was enough.