Yesterday, 06:48 PM 
		
	
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 He returned her smile softly, his thoughts briefly caught on the curve of her lips, the gentle tilt of her head, and the bright, unguarded innocence in her eyes. He forced himself to focus on the words she spoke, not just the subtle beauty before him.
“Yes,” he said quietly, “someone to lean on… even when we don’t know what’s happening to everyone else.”
A pause settled between them, filled with the sound of dripping leaves and the soft current of the stream. Then Kavya’s expression softened.
“When I was little, I used to love stories,” she whispered, almost to herself. “My brother would make up tales, and I’d follow along, imagining the worlds he described. I miss that… that feeling of being completely lost in something magical.”
Naveen felt a faint warmth in his chest, a mixture of admiration and quiet protectiveness. He shifted slightly closer, just enough to let their shoulders brush, careful not to crowd her, yet aware of the subtle warmth of her presence.
“I know a few stories,” he said, his voice low, reflective, and steady. “Some from my youth… some about people I cared about. Maybe… I can share one with you.”
Kavya’s eyes brightened slightly, and she leaned in, almost imperceptibly, naturally drawn to the comfort of his closeness. Her shoulder brushed against his, a small electric warmth sparking between them, though neither spoke of it.
He took a breath, letting the soft mist and faint golden light settle around them, and began.
“When I was a boy,” he said gently, “there was a small garden behind my grandmother’s house. She grew roses there, red, yellow, pink, and she taught me to care for them. Every morning, I would wake up before the sun, tiptoe past the creaking wooden gate, and water the flowers before anyone else was awake.”
Kavya tilted her head slightly, listening intently.
The soft wet glow on her skin made her look ethereal, almost part of the forest around them. Naveen noticed how the morning light played across her face, her lashes dark and damp, her lips soft and slightly parted as she followed the story.
It was as if she were absorbed in the moment, her whole being present in the shared space. There was a delicate, almost sacred grace in her silence.
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