Sketching her Shadows

Saanvi and Satya sat together on the bench, the conversation from the day before still hanging in the air. Their bond was starting to grow, but there was a part of Satya that held back, unsure of how much to reveal. He was cautious, but he couldn't deny the pull he felt toward her.

"So, you said you sketch faces and emotions," Saanvi said, breaking the silence as she looked over at Satya, her voice thoughtful. "What do you see when you sketch someone? Do you try to capture their story, or..."

Satya smiled faintly. "I guess it's a bit of both. Sometimes I just look at a person and I get this feeling, like I know their story without even having to ask. It's... hard to explain."

Saanvi nodded. "I get that. It's like I can see beyond what's right in front of me, and sometimes, it feels like I'm connected to something deeper."

Satya's pulse quickened. "Exactly," he said, leaning forward slightly, a sense of familiarity in the way they spoke, as if their words were flowing from some forgotten place within them. "Sometimes, I feel like the sketches tell me more about the person than their face ever could."

Saanvi smiled, intrigued. "You're a bit idealistic, aren't you?"

Satya nodded. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm just trying to understand things that can't always be explained."

There was a long pause, and Satya felt the weight of the unspoken things between them—his memories, their connection. He couldn't keep avoiding it. He had to know if she felt what he did.

"Do you ever feel like... you're drawn to something, or someone, even if you don't know why?" Satya asked carefully, his gaze searching hers for any sign of recognition.

Saanvi's eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head. "I think I do. It's like there's this magnetic force pulling me toward certain places or people, but I can never explain why."

Satya nodded, his heart racing. "I think I know what you mean."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them seemed charged, filled with a silent understanding. Satya couldn't keep the truth to himself any longer. He had to take the risk, to see if she felt what he did.

"I've been coming here for a reason," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Saanvi turned toward him, her curiosity piqued. "What reason?"

"I... I think I've known you before," Satya said, his words coming out in a rush. "Not in this life, but... in another. I think we were meant to meet again."

Saanvi looked at him, her expression a mixture of confusion and intrigue. "What do you mean? Are you saying... this is some kind of fate?"

Satya took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "I know it sounds crazy, but I believe we're connected. That maybe we were in each other's lives before, in a past life."

Saanvi stared at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of joking or disbelief. But all she saw was sincerity. And something else—something she couldn't quite place.

"I don't know about all that," she said slowly, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "but there's definitely something about you. Something familiar."

Satya felt a surge of hope. "I don't expect you to believe everything right away," he said, his tone gentle. "But I had to tell you. There's something about us... something that's more than just coincidence."

Saanvi didn't respond immediately. She sat in silence, processing his words, as the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the fort. She didn't know what to make of it, but one thing was certain—she couldn't deny the pull she felt toward Satya.

"I need time to think about this," Saanvi said finally, her voice soft but firm. "This is a lot to take in."

Satya nodded, understanding. "I'll give you all the time you need. But I'll be here. I'll always be here."