Second Chance Short Love Story
It was raining in Dehradun—that soft, nostalgic kind of rain that made everything look like a movie scene. Aarav stepped out of his car, pulled his hoodie up, and looked around.
Well “this place hasn’t changed a bit…” he muttered, looking in the familiar streets, the smell of wet earth, and that old bookstore tucked between two tea stalls.
He hadn’t planned on coming here. Honestly, he hadn’t planned much at all lately. Life was on autopilot—meetings, deadlines, fake smiles. He needed a breather. Or maybe, just maybe… he needed closure.
“He stepped into the old bookstore, and the familiar ding of the doorbell echoed in his ears. A small smile appeared on Aarav’s face.”
Inside the bookstore, the wooden floor creaked under his shoes. The air smelled like old pages and memories. His fingers brushed past a poetry book—the same one she used to read.
“Still judging people by their book choices?”
The voice was calm, teasing… familiar.
Aarav’s heart skipped a beat.
He turned.
“No freakin’ way…”
There she was. Meera.
Wavy hair tied in a loose bun, hoodie slightly oversized, cup of coffee in hand. And that same sarcastic spark in her eyes.
Meera: smirking “Surprise, surprise.” who is here
Aarav: blinks, slightly stunned “I—uh—wow. You look… exactly the same.”
Meera: “And you still suck at compliments. Classic Aarav.”
Aarav: grinning “Still roasting me like old times, huh?”
Meera: “Wouldn’t miss the chance.” 😌
There was a beat of silence. Not awkward. Just heavy with old feelings.
Aarav: softly “It’s really good to see you.”
Meera: nodding “Yeah… you too.”
They ended up grabbing coffee at the same café next door—the one with fairy lights and badly spelled menu boards. Sitting across from each other after all these years felt surreal.
Aarav: sipping chai “So… what’s new?”
Meera: laughs softly “Apart from grown-up problems and back pain? Not much.”
Aarav: “Oof. Relatable. I miss bunking lectures and eating momos for lunch.”
Meera: “We were such idiots.”
Aarav: “Speak for yourself. I was the mature one.”
Meera: snorts “Yeah, right. You once cried ’cause I stole your last french fry.”
Aarav: “Hey! That fry had emotional value.” 😂
They both laughed. The kind of laugh that felt like coming home.
But then… quiet again.
Meera: looking away, thoughtful “Why’d you disappear, Aarav?”
Aarav: sighs, for a second scratching his head “I don’t know… I thought leaving was the mature thing. We kept fighting. Nothing made sense. I was freaked out.”
Meera: softly “And I waited… for a long time.”
That hit hard. Like, deep-in-the-gut hard.
Over the next few weeks, they kept meeting—casually, or that’s what they told themselves. Long walks, street food, aimless drives with old Bollywood songs playing low in the background.
One evening, they sat on the old bridge—their spot during college.
Aarav: breaking the silence “You ever think about… us?”
Meera: nods slowly “Sometimes. Usually when I hear our old playlist. Or smell filter coffee. Or walk by that panipuri guy we used to fight over.”
Aarav: smiling sadly “We were so messy. But… damn, we were real.”
She looked at him. There was that look again—the one that used to make him feel seen.
Meera: “I’m not the same girl anymore, Aarav. I don’t believe in forever without effort. I need communication. I need… someone who stays.”
Aarav: voice low “And I’m not that lost boy anymore. I know what I want now. And it’s you. It’s always been you.”
She stared at him. Eyes shiny. Heart racing.
Meera: smirks through her tears “Say that again, but without sounding like a Bollywood hero.”
Aarav: laughs “Fine. You’re my safe space, okay? My favorite hello, and my hardest goodbye.” 💔
Meera: “Damn. That was actually good.”
Aarav: “So… can we try again? New rules. Real talk. Less ego?”
Meera: nods slowly “Only if you’re okay with midnight rants and me hogging the blanket.”
Aarav: “Deal. But I get extra fries.”
They laughed. This time, it wasn’t nostalgic.
It was… hopeful.
Moral:
Love doesn’t always come easy. Sometimes, you break apart just to find your way back—stronger, softer, and a little more sure of what matters. 💞