A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, and the sound of the ocean waves harmonized with the murmurs of people passing by. The town square was alive with laughter and chatter, yet amid this bustling scene, they sat as if in their own world. The stars above twinkled, reflecting the candles that flickered softly on their table. She babbled on about her day, her fingers dancing over the empty plate before her, while he watched her attentively, his smile as sweet as it was subtle. Occasionally, he laughed at her antics, his dimpled cheeks catching the soft candlelight. Passersby glanced at them with fond eyes, internally exclaiming, "What a lovely couple!" But to the couple, the rest of the world was muted, their conversation a private sanctuary.

His smile deepened as he shared another warm glance with her. Then, without warning, he broke the pause, his voice steady and firm, "Let's break up."

The world seemed to halt. Her fork froze mid-air, and the twinkling stars seemed to dim. The girl, stunned, didn't even blink as the guy, whom she'd dated for two years, stood up and walked away. Around them, onlookers choked on food, sputtered drinks, and dropped silverware, their earlier admiration turning into shock.

She sat there for a few more moments, still processing his words. Her eyes remained on her plate, her appetite seemingly unaffected. She continued to chew her spaghetti, each bite more mechanical than the last. Her gaze finally lifted when another man, handsome and well-groomed in a simple business-like attire, took the seat that had been vacated just moments earlier.

"What was that?" His exasperated tone held a hint of amusement, though the bemusement on his face was clear.

She forced a smile, her response tinged with sarcasm. "Oh! You're welcome?"

He rolled his eyes, clearly finding the situation hard to fathom. "What just happened?"

She sighed, rolling her eyes again. "What's your problem?"

"Never in my life has something like this happened!" he exclaimed, still reeling from the scene he had just witnessed. "All my analysis till now has been true, while this has turned out to be a failure! I considered for a long while about the possibilities of you two; it should've worked!"

She smiled at his bewilderment, offering him a glass of water. "Here, drink."

He took the glass, his expression still one of disbelief. "Is it love? What do they fear? The way you love? The way you treat them?"

Her reply was delivered with a humor that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'd rather say, they fear me!"

An evil glint sparkled in her eyes, and her response amused him, though it left an unsettling feeling. As he sat there, he began to realize that her words held a deeper truth. Men did fear her, not because of how she loved, but because of who she was—a dangerous territory, a deity disguised, ready to thrash and kill when necessary. She exuded charm with her jovial nature, yet there was a tense undercurrent that kept people on edge. It was a line she drew to keep those she didn't want to be with at a distance. This life, this society, the pressure to include a man in her life—she despised it all.

The man, intrigued and perplexed, pondered how he could help her. But as the evening wore on, he found no answers. He watched her, this enigmatic woman, a force of nature who lived on her own terms, and he knew that any help he could offer would have to come on her own terms as well.

Days turned into weeks, and he found himself drawn into her orbit more and more. Their encounters became frequent, each one revealing another layer of her complex personality. She was a whirlwind, unpredictable and fierce, yet there was a vulnerability she carefully hid from the world. He admired her strength but understood the isolation it brought.

One evening, as they sat together in a quaint café, he broached the subject again. "Why do you think they fear you, Avni?"

She looked up from her coffee, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of defiance and weariness. "Because I don't fit into their mold. I don't play by their rules. I am who I am, and I won't change that for anyone."

He nodded, his admiration for her growing. "You shouldn't have to change. But it must be lonely, fighting the world alone."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "It is. But it's better than losing myself, Neil"

Their conversations grew deeper, more personal, and he found himself becoming her confidant, someone she could trust in a world that seemed determined to misunderstand her. He learned about her dreams, her fears, and the walls she had built around her heart. And slowly, he began to see the woman behind the fierce exterior—a woman who wanted to be loved for who she truly was.

One night, under a canopy of stars, he took her hand in his. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm here for you, no matter what."

She looked at him, her eyes searching his for any sign of deceit. Finding none, she squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

As time passed, they grew closer, and the bond between them deepened. He became her anchor, the one person she could rely on. And in turn, she opened up to him, sharing her dreams and fears without reservation. They became a team, facing the world together, and in each other's company, they found a solace that had eluded them for so long.

Years later, as they sat on the same bench where they had first met, she turned to him with a smile. "Remember the night we met?"

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling with affection. "How could I forget? It was the night everything changed."

She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you stayed."

He kissed her forehead, his heart swelling with love. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

And as the stars twinkled above them and the waves crashed against the shore, they knew that they had found something truly special. Together, they had created a love that was unbreakable, a bond that would endure the test of time. And in each other's arms, they had found their forever.

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A simple short story I had in my mind for a long time.

Do let me know if you liked it or not!

Your comments and votes will surely help me with that..

Thank you Amigos 

Amor 

Seem.