Parallel Lines: a story of memory, silence, and first love

Finally

Immediately, Sahil waved from near the drinks counter.

"Oi, robot!" he shouted. "You actually showed up!"

Arvind gave him a look.

"Temporary malfunction."

Laughter.

Ankita came over in a splash of color and energy, hugging Kiara before mock-bowing to Arvind.

"Welcome, the rare and mysterious Arvind. We were told you only existed in legend."

He actually smiled.

And then — it happened.

From across the lawn, Tiara looked up.

At first, it was just a boy.
Standing beside Kiara. Laughing.

But then something pulled at her chest. Like gravity.
Her fingers paused mid-sip.
Her smile faltered, just a fraction.
The world blurred at the edges.

Arvind turned.

Their eyes met.

A second. Maybe less.

But it cracked something open.

No one else noticed. Not yet.
Because the music played. Because people laughed.
Because Kabir was beside her, and Kiara beside him.

But in that small silence only they could hear —
everything came rushing back.

The park. The jokes. The notebook.
The loss.

Everything they'd buried.

Later – By the Poolside

All six of them — Ankita, Sahil, Kiara, Arvind, Tiara, and Kabir — finally sat together.
Mocktails in hand, paper plates full of snacks.

The conversation flowed — professors, memes, exam disasters.

On the surface, it was light.

But Tiara's laughter was just a little off-key.
Arvind was quieter than usual.
Kabir kept glancing between them, a slow suspicion rising behind his easy smile.

Kiara was oblivious — excitedly showing Tiara a funny video.
Ankita whispered something to Sahil, and he snorted chai out his nose.

Normal. Happy.

But underneath it — pressure.
Like something waiting to break the surface.

Final Moments – Early Evening

Most guests had jumped into the pool by now.
The music got louder. Lights flickered on.
Some kids were already tipsy on soda and sugar.

Tiara walked toward the edge of the garden to get some air.

Arvind, unknowingly, moved the same way.

They almost bumped into each other near a tall hedge.

They froze.

A thousand things unsaid stood between them.

"Hey," she said softly.

He nodded.

"Hey."

Silence.

Then —

"How've you been?" she asked.

"Alive," he answered.

Another silence.
This one heavier.

She looked like she wanted to say more.
He looked like he couldn't.