Ritesh and Ananya's friendship had reached a point where an awkward silence and confusion had settled in both their hearts. They had become used to spending time with each other, but the feelings that were now developing between them were much more than just friendship. Still, Ritesh was hesitant to speak his heart out. A fear was deeply rooted in his mind—if he spoke his heart out and Ananya rejected him, would their friendship break?
This dilemma had become like a big question for Ritesh. He did not have the words to express his love to Ananya. He knew how special Ananya was to him, but he also feared that if he took the wrong step, this special relationship could change forever. These thoughts were running through his mind day and night.
He would ask himself again and again, "Does Ananya feel the same? If she rejects my love, will our friendship end?" Thinking this, Ritesh's heart would start beating faster. His life was very calm and organized till now, but everything had changed with the arrival of Ananya. Everything now felt incomplete without her. Still, he was afraid to accept that he had started loving her.
On the other hand, there was a strange turmoil in Ananya's mind too. She felt something special in every moment spent with Ritesh, but she was unable to understand this feeling. Her life was no longer as simple as before. She felt relaxed when she was with Ritesh, but when she was away from him, an emptiness surrounded her. She tried to ignore this emptiness again and again, but this feeling was settled in some corner of her heart.
Ananya had never thought that she would come so close to someone. Ritesh's seriousness, his understanding nature and his calm presence were making a deep impression on Ananya's heart. She knew that Ritesh was no longer just a friend to her, but she was not able to accept this truth to herself. She was afraid that if she followed her heart, things would change, and that change might make her uncomfortable.
The unspoken bond between the two was now slowly turning into an unspoken tension. Earlier, where they used to share everything with each other without any hesitation, now a silence started spreading between them. This silence sometimes became so heavy that both of them felt it, but no one had the courage to talk about it.
Ritesh made plans to meet Ananya every day, but when he was in front of her, he could not muster the courage to speak his heart out. He was suppressing his feelings inside. His love for Ananya was clearly visible in his eyes, but he was unable to express it in words. He was always afraid that if he said something and Ananya misunderstood it, he would lose her forever.
This confusion of Ritesh was also affecting his daily routine. Earlier he used to be completely engrossed in his work and studies, but now his attention started wandering all the time. His life seemed incomplete without Ananya. Every morning he used to hope that today perhaps he would get a chance to express his feelings, but every evening he used to return home with his hesitation.
On the other hand, Ananya was also feeling this changing relationship. She was not able to understand why her conversation with Ritesh had become so uncomfortable now. Earlier where they used to talk for hours without any hesitation, now even small things were becoming difficult. Ananya was beginning to feel this change. She too felt something for Ritesh, but she was having trouble understanding what that feeling was.
A question kept coming up in Ananya's heart, "Do I love Ritesh? Or is it just a deep friendship?" This question also kept bothering her. Whenever she met Ritesh, she felt a strange nervousness. She wanted things to be easy and normal like before, but now it was not so. After every meeting she became more confused.
One day, when both of them were walking in a park, Ananya suddenly asked, "Ritesh, do you think that our friendship is changing?" Ritesh looked into her eyes, but he did not answer. The question that was in his heart was also similar to Ananya's question, but he did not have the courage to talk about it. He said with a light smile, "Maybe everything changes with time, even friendship."
Hearing this, Ananya remained silent for a while, then said, "Yes, maybe. But I feel that something is left unsaid between us." Ritesh's heart started beating fast. He thought that maybe Ananya was also feeling the same as he was, but then he was afraid that if he spoke about it, would their friendship break?
This dilemma had now deepened between the two. The burden of unsaid words was making their meetings heavy. They were feeling uncomfortable even when they were with each other. Ritesh repeatedly prepared himself to speak his heart out, but when he was in front of Ananya, his courage would fail.
Ananya was also feeling Ritesh's changing behavior. She knew that there was something in Ritesh's heart, but she was not able to understand what it was. She thought many times that she would talk to Ritesh openly about this, but then she was also afraid that this might spoil their relationship.
This strange tension had now become a part of the lives of both of them. Their meetings were no longer as spontaneous as they used to be. Every day Ritesh's heart was in a dilemma whether to express his feelings or not.
Finally, one day Ritesh decided that he could not drag this unspoken dilemma any longer. He could not live in this dilemma any longer. He decided that he would talk to Ananya openly, no matter what the consequences.