🎵 Song: Apna Bana Le – Bhediya (Instrumental)

"Sometimes, love doesn't arrive with a conversation...

Sometimes, it begins with a glance across two balconies."

The Sharma house had finally fallen silent.

After an entire day of unpacking, arranging furniture, and laughing over old stories, everyone had retired to their rooms.

The only sounds left were the gentle chirping of crickets and the occasional rustling of leaves as the cool night breeze swept through the neighbourhood.

Aarohi closed the last carton of books and stretched her arms.

"Finally..."

She smiled to herself.

Her room was almost ready.

Books neatly arranged.

Study table organized.

Curtains hung perfectly.

Photo frames placed carefully beside her bedside lamp.

Only a few boxes remained.

She looked at the clock.

Almost 10:30 PM.

She let out a long breath before deciding to take a small break.

Walking towards the glass doors, she slid them open.

A cool breeze instantly greeted her.

Her loose strands of hair danced gently in the wind.

She stepped onto the balcony.

The entire neighbourhood looked magical under the silver glow of the moon.

Streetlights illuminated the empty roads.

The gardens shimmered under soft yellow lights.

The night felt peaceful.

Calm.

Comforting.

Exactly what Aarohi needed after such a hectic day.

She rested both her hands on the balcony railing and closed her eyes for a brief moment.

The cool air relaxed her nervous mind.

"Maybe this city won't be so bad..."

A faint melody suddenly reached her ears.

Music.

Someone nearby was playing music softly.

Curious, Aarohi slowly opened her eyes and instinctively followed the sound.

Her gaze drifted towards the luxurious mansion standing opposite her house.

The Malhotra residence.

One of the balconies on the second floor was lit by a warm yellow lamp.

And there...

stood a boy.

He leaned casually against the balcony railing.

One hand tucked inside the pocket of his black cargo pants.

A loose black hoodie covered his broad frame.

White wireless earphones rested in his ears.

His slightly messy hair swayed with the breeze.

His head tilted back as if he was completely lost in the music playing around him.

The moonlight gently fell across his face.

It highlighted his sharp jawline...

his calm expression...

and the confidence with which he carried himself.

For someone who had spent the entire day hearing stories about a "troublemaker"...

he looked surprisingly peaceful.

Aarohi blinked.

"It's... him."

The boy everyone had been talking about.

Reyansh Malhotra.

She had heard his name only a few hours ago.

But this...

This was the first time she was actually seeing him properly.

Without the noise of people around him.

Without the stories.

Without the labels.

Just...

him.

At that exact moment, the music in Reyansh's ears changed.

He closed his eyes and softly hummed along to the tune.

The wind blew through his hair.

He absentmindedly tapped his fingers against the railing in rhythm.

For the first time that entire day...

there wasn't even a hint of arrogance on his face.

He simply looked like a boy enjoying the quiet of the night.

Aarohi found herself staring.

She should probably go back inside.

It wasn't polite to look at someone for so long.

Yet...

she couldn't move.

There was something strangely captivating about him.

Not because he looked handsome.

Though...

she couldn't deny he did.

It was the contrast.

Everyone had described him as loud.

Arrogant.

A troublemaker.

Someone who loved creating chaos.

But standing under the moonlight...

he looked like someone who loved silence.

"Maybe people exaggerate..."

she thought innocently.

Just then, Reyansh slowly opened his eyes.

Aarohi's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh no..."

Thinking he might look in her direction, she quickly ducked behind one of the balcony pillars.

Her heart raced wildly.

What am I doing?

She placed a hand over her chest.

"Calm down, Aarohi."

After gathering enough courage, she carefully peeked again.

Reyansh hadn't noticed her.

Instead, he had turned his attention towards the sky.

He removed one earbud and simply stood there, watching the stars.

A tiny smile unknowingly appeared on Aarohi's face.

"He likes looking at the stars..."

She mentally noted it.

Then immediately frowned.

"Why am I noticing things like that?"

She lightly shook her head.

"You've known him for less than a day."

Still...

her eyes wandered back to him.

Again.

And again.

Inside the Malhotra mansion...

Meera climbed the staircase carrying a glass of warm milk.

She walked towards the balcony door and smiled helplessly.

"There he is."

She stepped outside.

"Reyansh."

He turned around.

"Maa?"

"Enough music for today."

He removed one earbud.

"Hmm?"

"You've been standing here for almost an hour."

"So?"

"So you'll catch a cold."

He chuckled.

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

She handed him the glass.

"Drink."

Reyansh made a face.

"Maa..."

"No arguments."

He sighed dramatically before accepting the glass.

"You treat me like Kabir."

"Because sometimes you behave younger than him."

He laughed softly.

"That's unfair."

Meera lovingly ruffled his messy hair.

"Good night."

"Good night, Maa."

As she walked back inside, she smiled to herself.

No matter how much the world called her son difficult...

Moments like these reminded her that there was still a gentle boy hidden beneath all that attitude.

Across the street...

Aarohi had unknowingly witnessed the entire interaction.

The way he obeyed his mother without arguing much...

The way Meera affectionately fixed his hair...

The comfortable bond between them...

It warmed her heart.

"He doesn't seem scary at all..."

For the first time...

she wondered if the stories she had heard were only one side of him.

Maybe...

there was another Reyansh Malhotra that very few people knew.

And somehow...

she wanted to know that version.

A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Aarohi!"

It was her mother.

"Beta, it's getting late!"

"Come inside!"

"I'm coming, Maa!"

She took one last glance towards the opposite balcony.

It was empty now.

Reyansh had already gone inside.

For reasons she couldn't explain...

the balcony suddenly felt a little lonely.

She smiled faintly at her own thoughts.

"Why am I disappointed?"

She shook her head with a soft laugh.

"It's just because I'm new here."

That had to be the reason.

Nothing more.

Absolutely nothing more.

That night...

Aarohi lay on her bed staring at the ceiling.

Sleep refused to come.

Every time she closed her eyes...

she remembered the image of the boy standing under the moonlight...

his messy hair dancing with the wind...

the soft music...

the peaceful smile...

and the strange calmness he carried.

Without realizing it...

the corners of her lips curved into a tiny smile.

She hugged her pillow closer.

She didn't know his favourite colour.

She didn't know his hobbies.

She didn't know his voice.

She didn't even know what kind of person he truly was.

Yet...

for the first time in sixteen years...

someone had managed to stay in her thoughts long after she had looked away.

It wasn't love.

Not yet.

It wasn't even admiration.

It was simply...

the smallest, sweetest beginning of a first crush.

And somewhere in the quiet night...

without either of them knowing...

fate had already begun writing the first page of their story.

End of Chapter 3 💙🌙