The small cafe near the university was quiet that evening, its usual hum replaced by the soft clink of cups and the low strum of music playing from a speaker tucked in the corner. Siddharth reached first. He chose a corner table by the window, where the fading sunlight spilled in, warming the wooden surface. His heart thudded louder than the footsteps around him.

For years, he had waited for this moment. And now that it was here, his palms wouldn’t stop sweating.

“Relax, Siddhu,” he muttered under his breath, tugging at his watch strap. “It’s just Shreya.”

Just Shreya—the girl who had been everything to him for five years.

He looked up, and there she was, walking towards him with that familiar brightness in her eyes. She wore a simple kurti and jeans, her hair loose, carrying her books as though she had just stepped out of the library. To anyone else, she might have looked ordinary. But to Siddharth, she was extraordinary.

“Sorry I am late,” Shreya said, slipping into the chair across from him. “My professor kept me back.”

“It’s fine,” he said quickly, smiling. His voice almost cracked, and he cleared his throat. “How is everything going on?”

She groaned, setting her books down. 

“Exhausting. Two weeks more and I will finally breathe again. Just this project is left. I am relieved that exams are over.” Then, tilting her head, she studied him. “But you look more stressed than me. Is everything okay?”

Siddharth gave a nervous laugh. He reached for his coffee cup, only to realize his hands were trembling. There was no point in stalling. His mother’s words echoed in his head: Follow your heart.

“Shreya, there is something I have been meaning to tell you for… a long time.” Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward. 

“You are scaring me, Siddhu. What is it?” Her brows furrowed slightly, though her lips curved with the faintest smile.

He looked into her eyes and suddenly, the noise of the cafe vanished. It was just them—the way it had always been, unspoken yet undeniable.

“Five years ago, when I first saw you at your ancestral home, something in me changed,” he began, his voice soft but steady. “I knew I shouldn’t feel it—you were still in school, I was in college, and it wasn’t the right time. So I waited. I focused on building myself, but through it all, you were always there, here—” He touched his chest lightly. “In my heart.”

Shreya’s eyes glistened, her lips parting in surprise.

“I don’t want to wait anymore,” Siddharth continued, his words tumbling out now. “I love you, Shreya. I have loved you for five years, silently, stubbornly. And today, I just need you to know. If you feel the same, then… let’s walk through life together. Not tomorrow, not years later. Today.”

For a beat, there was silence. His nerves screamed, but Shreya’s laughter—soft, trembling, beautiful—cut through it.

“You really made me wait five years for this?” She whispered, eyes shining. “Siddhu, I have loved you all along. I was only waiting for you to say it first.”

Relief, joy, love—all of it washed over him at once. He reached across the table, and she slid her hand into his, their fingers interlocking like they had always belonged there.

No grand gestures. No dramatic spectacle. Just two hearts, finally speaking aloud what they had always known.

****

“Hey, D!” Siddharth called, lifting a hand in greeting as he crossed the park towards Drishti. She was sitting on a bench, little Dhruv fast asleep in his baby bassinet.

Drishti looked up, mock exasperation already on her face. 

“Finally! You remembered your best friend exists,” she said, narrowing her eyes.

“Excuse me? For the last three visits, it was me who came to your place. You are the busy one here.” Siddharth rolled his own.

“Busy?” She scoffed. “You came over, yes. But did you talk to me? No. You were too busy cuddling my son and acting like he is your property.”

“Now, now—don’t get jealous of your own son, D.” Siddharth leaned forward, tweaking the sleeping baby Dhruv’s nose before flashing Drishti a grin. 

“Ugh. Fine. But stop changing the subject. Tell me—did you finally confess? Or are you still stuck in the ‘I love her but I will never say it’ stage?” Drishti huffed, though the corners of her mouth betrayed a smile. 

For a moment, Siddharth only grinned, his silence making her suspicious. Then he lifted his hand and pointed behind him. Drishti followed his gesture and froze.

Shreya stood a few paces away, her face glowing with excitement, her eyes unable to hide the joy she felt.

“Oh. My. God!” Drishti squealed, drawing curious looks from the joggers passing by. “You guys are official now?”

Both Siddharth and Shreya exchanged a glance, then nodded in perfect sync.

Drishti clapped a hand to her chest dramatically. 

“When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me? Siddhu, you used to tell me everything before. Now I am always the last to know. Do you know how hurt I was when I heard about your Mussoorie trip from Shravan? Abhi bhai told him, Shravan told me, and I—your best friend—was sitting there crying because you didn’t even bother to tell me first!”

“For heaven’s sake, D, stop complaining about that already. It’s been weeks!” Siddharth groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

“Hmph!” Drishti crossed her arms, glaring at him with mock indignation.

Shreya bit back a laugh, clearly enjoying the little spat.

“And,” Siddharth added, softening his voice now, “I only confessed today. You are the first person we are breaking the news to.”

That broke Drishti’s pout instantly. Her expression melted into a wide smile as she looked between the two of them. “Really?”

“Really,” Shreya said warmly, stepping forward.

Drishti’s eyes grew shiny, her possessiveness giving way to happiness. She pulled Shreya into a tight hug, then smacked Siddharth’s arm lightly. “About time, idiot. Five years was too long.”

“Yeah, yeah. But it's worth the wait.” Siddharth chuckled, rubbing his arm.

“So?” Drishti leaned forward, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Did you guys kiss?”

“Bhabhi…” Shreya whined, burying her face into her palms as a pretty blush crept across her cheeks.

Drishti’s grin widened. That blush was all the confirmation she needed. 

“You totally did,” she declared triumphantly.

Siddharth didn’t even bother denying it—his cheeky grin said everything.

“Okay then! What’s next on the grand plan?” Drishti clapped her hands once. 

“My project submission is in two weeks. My college life will be over with that. After that, I will vacate the hostel and head back to Mumbai.” Shreya straightened, still pink. 

“Alright. And what about the marriage proposal? How are you guys planning to proceed with that?” Drishti asked, eyes darting between the two of them.

“What are you for?” Siddharth leaned back in his chair with exaggerated ease. 

“Me? What am I supposed to do?” Drishti blinked, her brows shooting up. 

“Talk to your darling hubby, of course,” Siddharth replied in a duh tone.

“Why would I do that? It’s your love story. You are supposed to do the hard part.” Drishti smacked his arm lightly. 

“What?” Siddharth looked genuinely scandalized. “How can you say that? You are my best friend. I have always believed you would speak for me. If I had known you were going to be useless, I wouldn’t have—”

He stopped abruptly as Shreya’s sharp gaze cut into him.

“You wouldn’t have what?” She asked in a dangerous tone, her eyes narrowing.

“I wouldn’t have wasted so much time. I would have prepared myself for it, that’s all.” Siddharth let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck.

Drishti shook her head, smiling despite herself. “Listen, Siddhu. You need to talk to Shravan yourself. If you don’t, he will never respect you. Present your feelings like a man, and once you do, you will have my full support.”

He nodded slowly.

“You are right. I don’t want her family thinking I am a coward.” Siddharth’s grin faltered into something more thoughtful. 

“Even though you are one. Darpok.” Drishti smirked. 

“Very funny,” Siddharth muttered, rolling his eyes.

Shreya, meanwhile, had turned to look at her sleeping nephew in the bassinet beside them. 

“When will he wake up?” She sighed longingly.

“What enmity do you have with me? Let him sleep in peace.” Drishti gasped, clutching the stroller closer. 

Siddharth chuckled, and Shreya pouted. “It’s been so long since Dhruv met his bua.”

“You visited us three days ago,” Drishti reminded her, arching a brow. “You even slept with him in your room that night.”

“That was threeee days ago,” Shreya groaned dramatically.

“Fine, then come home with me today,” Drishti offered.

Both Siddharth and Shreya exchanged sheepish looks, small smiles tugging at their lips.

“What?” Drishti asked suspiciously.

“We… already have plans,” Siddharth admitted. “Movie night.”

“Which movie?” Her eyes narrowed. 

“We are not going to the cinemas,” Siddharth said quickly, his ears turning slightly red. “We will be staying home.”

“And no one will be home?” Drishti’s suspicion only grew.

Siddharth cleared his throat. “Bhai, bhabhi, and the kids are going on a short vacation this evening. They will leave by around five. Maa and Papa are visiting Raghuswamy uncle in Thanjavur. Their flight is at seven I guess. Bhai will drop them off at the airport. But before they leave, I need to talk to them. I don’t want you accidentally blurting the news to Maa over one of your random phone calls, D.”

“No promises.” Drishti grinned unapologetically. 

“Exactly why I need to tell them myself,” Siddharth muttered.

“So…” Drishti tilted her head, mischief lighting her eyes again. “What about this movie night?”

“After they leave, of course.” Siddharth’s grin turned boyish. 

“Just don’t get her pregnant before marriage!” Drishti’s jaw dropped in mock horror. 

“Bhabhi!” Shreya squeaked, her face crimson as she hid behind her hands.

“What? I am serious,” Drishti said, entirely unbothered.

Siddharth burst out laughing while Shreya groaned.

A/N

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