Crush: An Unwritten Love Story

The silence of a loud town, which resonated with life in the rhythm of a song, was what had always enthralled Arjun, a vision from afar. Maya stood before him—a breath of the moment, blowing across his mind—a gentle touch, a sweet caress, and yet something forever out of reach. Each time she brushed past him in the crowded streets or shared a laughter that danced lightly on the wind, Arjun felt his heart race tumultuously, beating like a drum echoing through a cavern of unprocessed emotions. Yet, despite these electric moments between them, their lives never quite intersected meaningfully. For Arjun, he became only a passing face, someone whose gaze clung a bit too long, whose adoration lay behind facades of shyness.

That one day, the cosmos thought of working for secret longings.

Maya entered the coffee shop that used to be one of Arjun's refuges, where there were fragrant, newly brewed coffee beans and gentle chatter among the people in the coffee shop. But today, as she stepped through the door, there was something different. The bright spirit seemed dimmed inside her; she appeared distant, even distracted, carrying with her the weight of untold burdens upon her shoulders. Arjun sensed it instantly and felt a pang of concern grip his heart. Without hesitation, an instinct that seemed to take its lead without explanation, he got up and strode towards her table. His palms felt damp, his heart a mess of emotion. "Mind if I join you?"

He asked, his voice low in barely concealed excitement and anxiety.

She did not hesitate for a moment. A tired but inviting smile was on her face, drawing him into a world he had always admired from afar. At that moment, their lives finally intertwined. They discussed things that sounded important, not like just meaningless, superficial banter with some random stranger. They talked of dreams and desires and of great things they want to achieve and burdens that have weighed upon them all these years. Every conversation word was as if it was one strand tying apart lives into each other. "Sometimes we forget to pause and just breathe," said Arjun contemplatively, eyes stuck on Maya. At that time, she truly listened—not to what he said, but to the honest, pure honesty in his voice.

It is as if she received an epiphany—a respite of relief. And while the clock ran on through the hours, everything outside was left to dust and cobwebs. Laughter resonates with a kind of melody as they share it. Stories reveal who each other is in a whisper between comforted silence. For Arjun, it was everything he had ever wished for—a moment he had longed for and brought to life beneath the dim lights of the café. For Maya, it was a stirring within her, a connection she'd never even thought of and yet felt powerfully real.

She had till now seen Arjun as a mystic figure in her life, but now standing before her was someone who gazed into her soul, with an understanding so rare and precious.

But reality began to creep in through their charming bubble as the evening cast its shadow. After hopeful anticipation, Arjun finally gathered the courage to utter words that had danced at the edge of his consciousness all night long. "Maya, I don't know how to explain what I feel, but I can't ignore it anymore.". I've looked up to you for a long time, and I think…" His heart was racing, his breath catching for just a moment as he hesitated, the air thick with unspoken tension.

"I think I'm falling for you." Maya met his gaze, her own eyes softening, but conflicted emotions danced behind them. She took a deep breath; her eyes wandered towards the window, where the faint light of streetlights sparkled against the twilight. She struggled for the right words and finally whispered, "I... I can't, Arjun." Her voice shook as she spoke, barely rising above the ambient noise of the café. "You're incredible—you're everything anyone could wish for. But I'm not ready for this—for us.". I have too much to figure out.

I don't want to drag you into my mess.

Arjun felt the words hit him like a cold wave crashing against the shore, leaving him momentarily breathless. He had always held onto hope, just a glimmer of hope, that this could be the start of something beautiful. But as silence fell over them, he knew the truth. She wasn't ready, and perhaps he had misjudged the moment, blinded by his desires.

The weight of her words sank into Maya. She stood up, swimming eyes full of regret and relief. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice with a quiver from the inside. "I hope you can understand."

Slowly Arjun nodded, a pain building in his heart. But he did understand. He knew that love cannot be forced into being; sometimes it just wasn't the right time. As they parted that night, each walking in a different direction under the soft glow of streetlights, there was an undeniable connection. The night was full of unexploited potential; their time together ended in a way that however precious and much cherished as the snapshot, could not seem even remotely attainable.

The evening air darkened with uncertainty at Maya's vanishing form. And through it all, some truth had found a residence in her heart: some love stories are not destined to be written—not at least, not now.