The evening had begun without a plan.
That was how most of their best days seemed to happen.
They had walked farther than they intended.
Stopped for food when Aanya complained that she was hungry.
Stopped again because she saw something she wanted.
Argued about whether they should buy it.
Bought it anyway.
And then kept walking.
By the time they realized how far they had gone, the familiar sounds of the city had begun to thin.
Aanya noticed first.
She looked around.
"Where are we going?"
Sagnik glanced at her.
"Walking."
"That's not a destination."
"I know."
"Then where are we going?"
He smiled.
"You'll see."
She narrowed her eyes.
"That sounds suspicious."
"It isn't."
"You say that whenever it is."
He laughed.
Aanya kept walking beside him.
For a while, she didn't ask again.
The air had changed.
There was something cooler moving through it now.
A faint smell of salt reached them.
Aanya slowed.
She looked ahead.
Then at him.
"No."
Sagnik smiled.
"Yes."
Her face lit up.
"You brought me to the beach?"
"I thought you liked it."
"I do."
She immediately walked faster.
Sagnik followed.
She reached the sand first.
Her shoes came off almost immediately.
"Aanya."
"What?"
"At least wait."
"No."
She ran a few steps toward the water.
He shook his head, smiling.
She turned around and walked backward.
"You are too slow."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"You'll regret saying that."
She laughed.
Then turned and ran.
He followed.
The evening swallowed their laughter.
They eventually slowed down.
The water reached their feet and withdrew again.
Aanya stood there, watching it.
Her hair moved gently in the wind.
Sagnik stood beside her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
The sky had begun changing colors.
Not dramatically.
Just gradually.
The light softened.
The horizon blurred.
Everything seemed slower.
Aanya breathed in.
"I missed this."
Sagnik looked at her.
"You said that about going home."
"I know."
She smiled.
"I guess I missed a lot of things."
"What things?"
She thought.
"Being healthy."
A pause.
"Being stupid."
He laughed.
"You're very good at that."
She nudged him.
"Let me finish."
"Sorry."
She looked at the water again.
"Being with you."
Sagnik went still.
Aanya didn't notice.
Or pretended not to.
She continued.
"I think I missed that the most."
His expression softened.
She looked at him then.
"Do you know something?"
"What?"
"You've changed."
He raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"You used to be so careful."
"I still am."
"No."
She shook her head.
"Not like before."
She looked at him for a moment.
"You don't hesitate anymore."
Sagnik didn't answer.
Aanya smiled.
"I like that."
Something inside him tightened.
She looked toward the sea again.
"I like knowing that when I reach for you..."
Her fingers found his.
"...you'll be there."
He closed his hand around hers.
She smiled.
"And when you reach for me..."
She squeezed his fingers.
"I'll be there too."
There it was.
The thing he'd been waiting for without allowing himself to admit that he was waiting.
Not a promise about forever.
Not a grand declaration.
Just certainty.
Aanya looked at him.
"What?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing."
"You keep saying that."
"I know."
She smiled.
Then leaned her head against his shoulder.
He let her.
The waves moved around their feet.
The wind carried her laughter from earlier away into the evening.
And Sagnik realized that he didn't want to wait anymore.
Not because he was impatient.
Because he was finally certain.
She wasn't simply someone he loved.
She was someone who had made a place for him in her life.
And she had just told him so.
They walked farther down the shore.
Aanya talked.
Of course she did.
She told him about something ridiculous Aditi had done.
Then about a movie.
Then about something she wanted to do someday.
Then she stopped.
"What?"
He was looking at her.
"Nothing."
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Looking at me like that."
He smiled.
"Like what?"
She couldn't answer.
So she simply smiled back.
They stood facing each other.
For a moment, the noise of the sea seemed distant.
Aanya's fingers were still intertwined with his.
Sagnik looked down at them.
Then back at her.
He took a breath.
"Aanya."
"Hmm?"
He stepped closer.
She tilted her head.
"What?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he gently took both her hands.
She smiled.
"You look serious."
"I am."
"Should I be scared?"
"No."
"Then why are you making that face?"
He laughed softly.
"I'm trying to say something."
She waited.
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
At the girl who had somehow become his safest place.
The girl who had fought through exams while terrified.
The girl who had complained through recovery.
The girl who talked too much.
Laughed too loudly.
Stole his things.
Fell asleep beside him.
Reached for him when she was frightened.
And, somehow, had learned to reach for him when she was happy too.
He had spent so long wondering whether he was allowed to want more.
He didn't wonder anymore.
Sagnik slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
Aanya's smile disappeared.
Her eyes widened.
"Sagnik..."
He looked up at her.
There was a smile on his face now.
A nervous one.
A real one.
She stared at him.
He held her hands.
For a second, neither moved.
Then he breathed out.
"Aanya..."
Her heart began beating faster.
He smiled.
And finally—
"Would you be my girlfri—"