The evening air was filled with laughter, music, and memories. It was the university’s final gathering after graduation—one last celebration before everyone parted ways.

And for the first time in your life, u wore a saree.

Your best friend had begged u for days. “Please, just this once! U'll look so pretty!” she’d insisted, dragging u to shops and helping u choose the perfect one.

Maroon with golden borders. Soft. Elegant. It felt strange on your skin at first, but as she draped it around u, smiling at your reflection in the mirror, something in u shifted.

U felt… different.

U stepped into the hall, heart racing. The pleats clung to your waist, the pallu resting gently over your shoulder. U clutched your clutch tightly, trying to walk gracefully.

And then, u saw him.

Nabil.

Your best friend’s elder brother. The quiet one. Reserved. He barely spoke to girls—especially not u. He was always polite, always distant. But respectful. Always respectful.

He stood near the back of the hall, dressed in a white kurta, phone in hand. He looked up—and for a moment, it felt like the world paused.

His eyes found u.

And he didn’t look away.

Not this time.

U felt your breath catch. His gaze lingered, as if he was trying to recognize u. As if he’d never truly seen u before this moment.

U looked away first. Your cheeks burned.

Later, your best friend whispered, “He’s been staring at u since u walked in.” She smirked. “Go talk to him.”

But u couldn’t. U didn’t have the nerve. Not until most of the crowd had left and u stood alone near the exit, waiting for your dad.

“U look… different today.”

U turned.

He stood just behind u. Not too close, not too far. His voice was gentle, almost uncertain.

“In a good way,” he added quickly. His gaze dropped respectfully. “The saree suits u.”

Your heart fluttered.

“T-Thank u,” u whispered, adjusting your pallu nervously. He noticed—but he didn’t look away rudely.

Silence fell again. Comfortable this time.

“Didn’t think u’d be here,” u said.

“My sister dragged me,” he replied. Then, after a pause, “I’m glad she did.”

U smiled without meaning to.

He didn’t ask for your number. He didn’t say too much. But he walked beside u to the parking lot, quiet and gentle. A few respectful steps apart, yet something in the air had changed.

A feeling. A beginning.

And it all started with a saree.

Later that day,at night.

Your phone buzzed past 11 p.m.

A number u didn’t recognize.

“This is Nabil… I hope it’s okay that I messaged u.”

U stared at the screen, heart thudding in your chest. Then, another message.

“I asked my sister for your number. She didn’t ask why.”

U smiled. He always was quiet. Always subtle. Even this message felt like him—careful, respectful, soft.

U typed back with shaking hands: “It’s okay. I didn’t expect it, though.”

“I didn’t either.”

There was a pause. U watched the screen like it was holding your future. Then—

“U looked like someone else that night. And also… like yourself. If that makes sense.”

U didn’t know what to say. No one had ever said something like that to u. Not a compliment. A reflection.

“I was nervous,” u admitted. “I’d never worn one before.”

“It didn’t look like it. U looked… peaceful.”