Finding you in the crowd

Time never stops for anyone. Slowly, the school days came to an end. Deepika and Manish, who had spent years together — sharing smiles, dreams, dances, and silent promises — finally completed school.

Their bond had grown so deep over the years. What started with shy glances in corridors turned into friendship, and then something much more — a quiet, strong love that didn't need too many words.

But life was changing.

After school, Manish had to leave town. His family wanted him to move to Chandigarh to live with his cousin brother. It wasn't a permanent job, just something small to get him started — but it was his first step toward the future his family dreamed for him. He had to learn to work, to earn, to become a man.

Deepika, on the other hand, stayed back in their hometown. She remained with her family, preparing for her own path — college, responsibilities, and a life without Manish by her side every day.

It was not easy for either of them.

The school where they met daily now stood empty for them. The streets where they used to meet quietly on the way home now felt silent. Even the little tea shop where they once laughed together during school breaks felt like a memory.

Everything had changed. And all that was left now was a phone.

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Love in Missed Calls and Messages

The distance was new. Painful. And heavy.

They couldn't talk the way they used to. Manish was trying to adjust to his new life — new people, new city, a job that demanded time and energy. Deepika too had started college, but her thoughts often drifted to Manish during classes, on the way home, or at night when the world was quiet.

Still, they tried to stay connected.

There were missed calls during the day — when one was free and the other wasn't. There were short voice notes at odd hours:

"Hey, I miss you."

"How was your day?"

"Did you eat properly?"

"Please take care."

Sometimes, days would pass with no message, and a strange emptiness would settle in both hearts.

But then, suddenly, a ping on the phone. Just a few words — and a tired face would light up with a smile.

Love had changed its form. It no longer lived in long walks or shared lunches. It now lived in messages, in late-night calls, in waiting, in remembering.

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Holding On

There were days when Deepika felt like crying. She would miss him the most when she saw couples walking together, laughing freely — something she couldn't do anymore. She would stare at her phone, hoping for a message from him.

And Manish? He was trying to be strong too. But some nights, after a long day, he would lie awake, looking at their old photos. A small smile would cross his face. Sometimes, tears too.

But neither gave up.

They both believed in each other. They both trusted the bond they had created over the years. They knew — this was not the end.

"Bas thoda waqt aur…" Manish would say.

"Main wait karungi…" Deepika would reply.

It was not always romantic. There were arguments too — misunderstandings, doubts, and silence. But each time, love brought them back to each other.

Because even in the distance, they were together.

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A Promise in the Heart

Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months.

Seasons changed, routines changed — but one thing didn't change: their hope.

Even though they were far apart, they had made a silent promise to meet again — in a better time, in a better world where distance wouldn't exist between them.

And till that day came, they held on to the small moments — a text, a smiley, a short call, or a memory that played like a movie in their hearts.

Because love, real love, doesn't end when school ends.

It only finds a new way to grow.