Ruhi & Rudra — The Book of Two Hearts
Ruhi had started work on her second book — but this time, not alone.
She had asked Rudra to co-author it with her.
"It's not a novel," she said. "It's a collection of letters — our letters. Your unsent ones, my diary pages, and everything in between."
Rudra was nervous.
"I don't know if I can write like you," he admitted.
"You don't have to," Ruhi smiled. "Just be honest. That's more powerful than perfect."
They titled it:Half a Sky Each
🏙️ Aarav's Silence — The Offer That Waited
Aarav stood outside Simran's PG one night with a printed contract from the National Youth Sports Authority.
The Mumbai job would change everything:
Structured programs
National impact
A chance to mentor full-time
But he hadn't told Simran.
He watched her through the window — laughing, working on her Paris speech, sipping chai.
She was glowing.
How could he say,"I might be moving 1,400 kilometers away"?
💌 Simran's Confession — She Knew
When Aarav finally handed her the contract, she didn't flinch.
"I knew," she said softly. "You've been quieter. More restless. You only get like that when something big is in your heart."
Aarav looked away."I didn't want to ruin your Paris moment."
"You didn't," she said. "But I won't lie — it hurts."
"Will you come with me?"
Simran shook her head slowly.
"I can't leave Delhi. Not yet. I have stories to raise here."
A pause.Then, she added:
"But I'll meet you halfway. Always. No matter the city."
They didn't break up.They just agreed to grow forward, even if not side by side.
📞 The Call of the Families — Time to Meet
Ruhi's father, Mr. Sharma, finally called her one evening.
He had seen her book.Read her poem about her late mother.
And for the first time in years, he asked:
"Do you love him?"
Ruhi paused."Yes. More than I thought I could love anyone."
He didn't speak for a while.
Then simply said,"Then bring him home."
Rudra's parents were more complicated.His mother, Mrs. Meena Sharma, wasn't thrilled about a middle-class girl writing poetry instead of "doing something stable."
But his father — a quiet businessman who had once married for love himself — said:
"Let them come. Let's meet the girl who stole your stubbornness."
🏠 First Meetings — Sweet Tea & Salted Pride
At Ruhi's home in Darjeeling, Rudra tried to impress the family.
He brought a basket of Delhi sweets, remembered to remove his shoes, and even praised Ruhi's father's rose garden (which he knew nothing about).
Mr. Sharma warmed up eventually, especially after learning Rudra had declined two international job offers to stay closer to Delhi.
"He respects roots," he told Ruhi's aunt. "I like that."
But in Delhi, Ruhi's experience was more tense.
Mrs. Meena offered her chai but eyed her diary with visible discomfort.
"So… you write poems?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Yes," Ruhi replied. "And now co-authoring with Rudra."
That… didn't go over well.
But Rudra defended her later.
"She's not just my partner in writing," he told his mom. "She's my clarity when I lose focus. She's everything."
Mrs. Meena didn't smile.But she didn't object again either.
📓 Beyond the Buzzer – Page 190
"Acceptance doesn't always come with applause.Sometimes, it arrives quietly — like the first soft nod from someone who once said no."
📅 The Whispered Wedding Plan
They hadn't fixed a date.
But one evening on a campus bench, Rudra handed Ruhi a handmade calendar.
Each month had a moment:
Jan: First coffee fight
Feb: Simran's first poem
March: Aarav's coaching camp
April: Spain
May: The letter
June: The ring
Then July — blank.
"What's in July?" Ruhi asked.
Rudra grinned."You tell me."
She leaned her head on his shoulder.And whispered:
"Let's write the last page of this book together… on July 21st."
✨ Simran & Aarav — Love in Different Languages
As Simran prepared to leave for Paris and Aarav slowly transitioned toward Mumbai, they found comfort in routines:
Video calls at 9 p.m.
Poems left on WhatsApp
Voice notes from trains
"Miss you" texts with no emojis — just meaning
Their love didn't weaken.It matured.
📸 Final Page — A Picture Tells the Future
Ruhi snapped a photo of her diary next to Rudra's basketball medal.
Caption:
"Two kinds of victories. One heart."
💫 End of Chapter 39