Aanya said goodbye to him at the hostel gate the same way she always did.
Casual.
Normal.
A little too normal.
"See you," she said.
Sagnik nodded.
"Yeah."
Nothing more.
No hesitation.
No extra glance.
Nothing that would justify the way her mind refused to settle afterward.
She walked inside first.
And didn't look back.
Not because she didn't want to.
Because she did.
And that was the problem.
By the time she reached her room, Aditi was already there.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed.
Scrolling on her phone.
Immediately looking up when the door opened.
"There you are," Aditi said. "I thought you got kidnapped by your walking philosophical crisis again."
Aanya gave a small laugh automatically.
"Very funny."
She dropped her bag onto the chair.
Took off her shoes.
Normal movements.
Routine movements.
But Aditi was already watching her.
Not openly.
Not aggressively.
Just… noticing.
Aanya sat on her bed, exhaling slightly, reaching for her bottle of water.
Aditi tilted her head.
"You're weird today."
Aanya paused mid-sip.
Lowered the bottle.
"What?"
"I don't know." Aditi shrugged. "You're here but you're not here."
"That makes no sense."
"It does. You're usually loud even when you're quiet. Today you're just… quiet."
Aanya rolled her eyes lightly.
"I'm tired."
Aditi didn't accept that immediately.
Not because she disagreed.
Because it didn't fit completely.
"Did something happen in class?" she asked.
"No."
"Did Sagnik do something?"
That name landed a little differently than it should have.
Aanya reacted too quickly.
"No."
Aditi narrowed her eyes slightly.
That was enough.
Not proof.
Just enough.
"You said that too fast," Aditi said.
Aanya looked away, setting the bottle down.
"I didn't say anything fast."
A pause.
Aditi leaned back against the pillow.
"Okay," she said slowly. "Then what is it?"
Aanya hesitated.
That was new.
She didn't usually hesitate with Aditi.
Not like this.
"I don't know," Aanya finally said.
And that was the most honest answer she had given all day.
Aditi studied her for a moment longer.
Then sighed.
"Is it him?"
Aanya didn't respond immediately.
Not yes.
Not no.
Just silence.
And that silence answered more than she intended.
Aditi raised an eyebrow.
"…oh."
Aanya frowned.
"It's not like that."
"What is it like then?"
Aanya opened her mouth.
Closed it again.
Because she didn't have language for it.
Not yet.
So instead she said the only thing that felt safe.
"Nothing happened."
Aditi nodded slowly.
"Right."
But her expression didn't match agreement.
It matched observation.
Like she was watching a pattern she couldn't fully decode yet.
Aanya stood up abruptly.
"I'm going to wash up."
"Sure," Aditi said softly. "Go reset your very normal day."
Aanya didn't respond.
She left the room before Aditi could say anything else.
In the bathroom mirror, she stared at herself for a moment too long.
Nothing looked different.
That was the worst part.
Because everything felt different.
And she still didn't know why.
Back in the room, Aditi looked at the closed door.
Then at her phone.
Then back at the door again.
And quietly muttered to herself—
"…this is definitely not nothing."
But she didn't push further.
Not yet.
Because whatever it was—
it wasn't fully formed enough to name.
Just like Aanya's thoughts.
Just like whatever was happening between her and Sagnik.
Still invisible.
Still shifting.
Still waiting to become something undeniable.