Aarav had always watched life quietly, as if he were standing slightly outside it. He believed some people were meant to feel deeply but speak less, and he had made peace with that. Until Meera’s laughter colored his world.Their houses stood facing each other, separated only by a narrow road and a line of old trees. Every morning, Aarav would step out with a cup of tea, pretending to check his phone, while secretly waiting for the sound of her gate opening. Meera would water the plants in her small garden, humming softly, her hair loosely tied, her eyes carrying