I had convinced myself it didn't matter.
That Vihaan Malhotra was just another coworker.
That my eyes only followed him because he was impossible to ignore.
That the ache in my chest would go away eventually.
But fate had other plans.
Because after years of watching him from a distance—
One day, he fell into my arms.
And suddenly, I couldn't pretend anymore.
I had spent the last ten hours on the train.
The overnight journey from my hometown back to Bangalore.
It was supposed to be uneventful.
Just me, my window seat, and a long playlist to drown out the noise.
But fate?
Fate decided I needed a reminder of the one person I had tried to forget.
Because just as we reached Bangalore City Railway Station—
He appeared.
Vihaan Malhotra.
Hair messy from sleep.
A lazy yawn hidden behind his hand.
Dragging his bag with the exhaustion of someone who didn't want to be back.
And just like that—
My world was off-balance again.
The train slowed to a stop.
Passengers rushed to get off.
I moved toward the door, blending into the crowd, determined to disappear before Vihaan saw me.
But before I could step onto the platform—
Someone stumbled.
A heavy weight crashed into me.
Arms—tangled with mine.
A body—pressing against me.
And then—a voice.
"Shit—"
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
I knew it too well.
Vihaan.
I looked down.
And there he was.
Face too close.
Hands gripping my arms for balance.
Chest pressed against mine like we had done this a thousand times.
Oh.
Oh no.
Brain? Gone.
Sanity? Completely shattered.
Heart? Beating too damn fast.
Then—he grinned.
Like this was the most normal thing in the world.
"Whoa. Didn't think I'd be falling for someone this early in the morning."
…WHAT.
I forgot how to breathe.
Because—no.
No, he did not just say that.
I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore the heat rushing to my face.
"Get off."
Vihaan laughed.
LAUGHED.
Like he wasn't ruining my entire existence.
Finally—he stepped back.
Hands still lingering slightly on my arms before letting go.
Like he hadn't just turned my entire world upside down.
The platform was crowded, noisy, full of people pushing past us.
But all I could feel?
Was him.
The warmth of where he had touched me.
The way he had grinned like it was just another moment.
Like he hadn't just crashed into someone who had been watching him from a distance for years.
I turned away.
Tried to breathe.
Tried to pretend it didn't matter.
But as I picked up my bag and walked off the platform—
I knew.
I knew.
I wasn't getting over him.
Not today.
Not ever.