One evening, Aditya was on the terrace, deeply immersed in his studies. The cool breeze provided a momentary escape from the sweltering heat of the day. Suddenly, Ahana appeared, her presence both unexpected and welcome. She approached him with a gentle smile and asked, "Do you mind if I study here too?"Aditya nodded in agreement, a quiet "Sure" escaping his lips. They settled into their books, the silence between them thick and unbroken, as if an unspoken rule had banned any conversation. The only sounds were the rustling of pages and the distant hum of the city below.After what felt like hours, the silence was suddenly interrupted by a soft chuckle. Aditya looked up, surprised to see Ahana laughing quietly to herself. He raised an eyebrow in curiosity."What's so funny?" he finally asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.Ahana, still smiling, turned her book towards him, pointing to a sentence she had misread. "I completely butchered this sentence," she said, her laughter bubbling up again. "It sounded so ridiculous in my head!"Aditya couldn't help but join her in laughter, though he was more restrained, his natural shyness preventing him from letting go completely. Even as they laughed, he felt a bit self-conscious, unsure of how much to reveal of himself.As the laughter faded, they began to talk—slowly at first, about trivial things like the weather, the noise from the street, and their favourite books. Yet, they avoided the subject of themselves, as if both were wary of crossing that line too soon.Eventually, Aditya glanced at his watch. "It's getting late," he said softly. "I should head back.""Yeah, me too," Ahana replied, her smile lingering. "Goodnight, Aditya.""Goodnight, Ahana," he responded, his voice carrying a warmth that was rare for him.The next morning, Aditya decided to go for a morning walk on the terrace, hoping to clear his mind. But as he reached the top of the stairs, he paused, seeing Ahana already there, engaged in her yoga routine. He hesitated, unsure whether to stay or go, but before he could make a decision, Ahana spotted him."Good morning, Aditya!" she called out cheerfully, her smile as bright as the morning sun."Good morning," Aditya replied, a bit awkwardly. "I didn't mean to disturb you.""Nonsense," she said, waving off his apology. "Why don't you join me? It's a great way to start the day."Aditya felt his nerves tighten at the suggestion. The idea of doing yoga with her made him uneasy, but he saw the genuine invitation in her eyes. Mustering all his courage, he nodded and stepped forward, settling beside her on the mat.As the days passed, this became their routine—morning yoga, evening study sessions on the terrace, and casual conversations that slowly began to chip away at the barriers between them. A foundation for a strong friendship was being laid, each moment together adding another brick.One evening, however, Aditya noticed a change in Ahana. She sat on the terrace, her usual bright demeanour replaced by a shadow of sadness. She stared off into the distance, her thoughts elsewhere. Aditya approached her cautiously, unsure if he should intrude."Is everything okay?" he asked gently, taking a seat beside her.Ahana forced a smile and shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, though her tone was far from convincing.They continued their studies in an unusual silence, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words. Aditya could sense that something was weighing on her, but he respected her space, knowing better than to press too hard.As the night deepened, Aditya checked his watch. It was already 10:15 p.m., later than usual. He had stayed, hoping she would open up, but she remained silent. Gathering his things, he prepared to leave.Before he did, he turned to her and said softly, "You know, sharing your problems or emotions might not solve them, but it can ease the burden a little. Sometimes, it helps to make room for new feelings."He smiled at her, a calm, reassuring smile, and began to walk towards the stairs. But before he could take more than a few steps, Ahana's voice stopped him."Aditya," she called out, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of vulnerability. "Can I always trust you to share all my feelings with? Sad or happy, excited or nervous... any feeling, anything?"Aditya turned to face her, his expression gentle. "What do you think?" he asked, his voice full of patience and understanding.Ahana's face softened, and a smile touched her lips—a smile that spoke of trust and newfound hope. She looked up at the moon, her face bathed in its soft, silver light. The moonlight seemed to make her smile glow, and in that moment, something shifted in Aditya's heart. He felt a warmth, a peace that he had not known in a long time, as he gazed at her, a sense of connection beginning to take root.That night, as they parted ways, Aditya couldn't shake the image of Ahana's smile, glowing in the moonlight. It lingered in his thoughts, a small but significant spark that had begun to light up the darkness he had grown so accustomed to.