Purvi couldn't take it anymore. It was too much for her.

"Why did things like this happen? What did I do to deserve this?" She thought.

Out of pure anger and exasperation, she picked up a nearby vase and hurled it at the wall. It shattered into a million fragments. Just like her heart. The fragments flew through the air, and she heard them pelt against the cabinets and the floor. She sunk to her knees and cried. It wasn't the pretty cry you see in movies, when the characters are hit with peril and are at the end of their rope. It was a real cry.

"Happiness and love belong in movies. They have no place in the real world." She thought.

Her sobs wrung her body like a wet rag. She collapsed on the carpet in her misery. Tears streamed onto the carpet in her hair.

Memories flooded back into her mind. Memories of her younger sister who was now cold in her grave. Memories of her autistic brother who was sent to a special needs facility. Memories of her parents who were divorced and didn't care about them at all.

"I hate everything. I don't understand why life is like this. Cruel. Dark. Cold. Life is brutal. That's just the way of things." She guessed.

The rain fell harder as Kavin walked down the sidewalk. Not wanting to get drenched, he walked faster and pulled his coat higher up his neck.

He finally reached his apartment complex. As he crossed through the door frame, he shook off as much water as he could.

He was able to make it up to his apartment without too much human interaction. There were mostly old people living in the apartment, but there were a few young college students, like him, who took refuge there from the dorms. As he closed and locked his door, he heard a terrific crash in the apartment above his. It sounded like glass and a significant amount of it. Violent crying followed the crash, and then someone fell.

Most people would've shrugged and said, 'none of my business', but the noise tugged at his heart. He wanted to help whoever was upstairs. By the sound of the cry, he guessed the person upstairs was a young girl, probably in college.

He tried to go about his business for the next half hour, but he couldn't stop thinking about the girl. Her sobs had quieted down after about fifteen minutes, but the eerie silence had him worried. He sighed resignedly and slipped his hoodie on. His conscience was making him miserable. He grabbed his keys and headed out of the door.

As he walked down the hall and got in the elevator, he started wondering if it was weird and intrusive. The elevator doors slid open and he walked down the third-floor hall to the apartment above him.

He came to a stop at the door. The number 203 stared at him as he raised his hand to knock. He paused before rapping his knuckles on the wood.

"Am I being a weirdo?" He thought.

He second-guessed himself again, but he forced himself to knock on the door. The rap seemed to echo down the hall. He immediately blushed.

"What if I knocked too hard? Did I have any food in my teeth? This was really weird, wasn't it?" He thought.

The door swung open suddenly, revealing Purvi with tousled braids and a stormy expression.

Something in his heart felt warm when Kavin made eye contact with her. Her eyes were big and crystal black - so crystal and shimmery he could almost see his reflection in them.

Purvi seemed angry at first, but her eyebrows furrowed and she looked puzzled. Seeing him confused her, Kavin guessed.

"Hey!" He stammered.

Purvi didn't say anything.

"I live in the apartment below yours. I heard some glass break and I was just wondering if you were alright." Kavin said to her with concern. Though his cheeks burned as he spoke this to her.

Purvi looked down and the stormy expression reappeared.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you heard. Nothing like that happened here. It's nice of you to check in, and I'm sorry I can't tell you what the sound was. Must've been the air conditioning." She uttered blankly.

"Yeah, must've." Kavin replied slowly.

Purvi didn't say anything.

"My name is Kavin, by the way." Kavin said amiably, starting to hold out his hand.

"Nice to meet you. If you don't mind, I have to go in now." Purvi replied coldly and hastily shut the door, leaving him to go his way.

So that's what he did. He wasn't mad at all, just worried. He couldn't forget the look of fear and pain deep in her beautiful eyes. He felt like he recognised her. Her fair skin looked so soft, although he had noticed a few scars around her wrists. She had long, thick braids cascading down her back and shoulders, and her long eyelashes glistened with tears. Kavin assumed she was in the same college he was because she had the Goa University logo and name on her t-shirt. Even though she was slightly familiar to him, he couldn't place her. But those eyes - he couldn't stop thinking about her.

He laid in bed for hours that night thinking about her.

"I wish I could've helped her." He mumbled to himself downcastly.

He sighed heavily. He knew he had done it. He was done for.

"I'm done for. I'm in love." He mumbled to himself thinking about Purvi.

Purvi was leaning against the door with her head in her hands. She gasped recalling that she shut the door before Kavin could say another word. Before he could make her fall anymore.

She felt like Cupid had shot her. She daresay he did. The memory of Kavin's dark brown eyes and comforting voice stayed with her the whole day.

When she had heard the knock, she was expecting to see the mailman or some old person bringing her disgusting fruitcake. She wasn't at all expecting the tall, handsome college boy she saw - she assumed he went to the same college she did because of the Goa University emblem on his jacket and he probably assumed the same thing after seeing the Goa University logo on her t-shirt.

"Kavin. His name is just so adorable. No, no, I couldn't think like that. Love at first sight isn't real. But his fair skin, his cute smile and his concern for me just made my heart throb." She mumbled to herself thinking about Kavin.

She jerked her thoughts and took a long, deep breath.

"Why did things like this have to happen? I didn't have the time to be in love, and then I'd have to deal with a breakup, and dates, and people touching me - the whole thing is a mess." She mumbled to herself despondently.

Kavin didn't know how he did it, but he met Purvi on campus one day. He was so glad he could've jumped for joy - but he didn't, because that would've been weird.

Kavin and Purvi crossed paths on their way home later that evening after Kavin saw Purvi at their apartment. He didn't want to seem like a stalker, so he tried to casually amble up beside her, but he thought he ended up looking like a creep. But luckily it didn't end there. Purvi was in a great mood and introduced herself, apologising for the way she had acted previously.

"Purvi." Kavin couldn't stop saying it over and over again that night because he loved it so much.

Purvi was a fresher still finding her way around. Since Kavin was a seasoned junior, he offered her a tour of campus the next day, since it was still early in the semester.

"Would you like to have a tour of the campus tomorrow morning?" He offered.

"I had already had a tour, but would love another one, as I'm still a bit unfamiliar with the locations of everything." Purvi accepted.

Kavin smiled widely as she agreed for the tour of the campus with him.

"By the way, have you made any friends yet?" He asked.

"No, no one besides you." Purvi answered.

"Hmm. Don't you have any friends back home who kept contact?" Kavin asked further.

He knew it was a weird question, but he wanted to make sure to some degree at least that she didn't have a boyfriend.

"No, I didn't keep in contact with anyone back home." Purvi answered.

And then she fell silent and looked at the ground.

"Are you alright?" Kavin asked quietly, afraid he had touched on an injury still raw and aching.

Purvi looked up again and smiled a bit.

"Nothing I can't handle." She said confidently.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm just an elevator ride away." Kavin said, smiling.

Purvi smiled back, but Kavin knew she wasn't going to take his offer.

"Well, we're here now." Purvi said as they approached his apartment door.

Kavin looked at her and then at the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning for my tour, right?" Purvi said, smiling.

Kavin looked back at her and grinned.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow morning. Good luck on your tests." He said.

"Thanks." Purvi said as she walked down the hall.

Kavin was shaking so hard from nervousness he could hardly unlock his door.

"I'm definitely in love." He mumbled thinking about Purvi.

"I'm definitely in love. There is no denying it at this point." Purvi mumbled to herself looking at a sticky note.

Kavin had left the note on her apartment door. Purvi guessed he had dropped it off there sometime between the day they crossed paths on their way home and when she left for library the next day. It had a song suggestion that happened to be her favorite song: Lean On Me ~ Bill Withers.

Purvi recalled how she had felt a tingly feeling when Kavin was walking with her around the campus. The tingling must've been all common sense leaving her body. She was done for.

The tour was well. Now Purvi loved spending time with Kavin. After the tour they had went to a little coffee shop. They sat there, talked for a bit and had coffee together. As they talked and laughed, Purvi felt like she had a friend. It was a very new feeling to her. After she lost her sister, she didn't really have any friends. Her sister was her best friend - and even if Kavin and she became really good friends, he could never take that place in her heart. But it was nice for her to feel like someone enjoyed her company.

Kavin and Purvi walked outside a restaurant after having dinner. They decided to walk around the city a bit since it was getting dark and the city lights were beautiful.

"Look at all the lights." Purvi gasped as they walked through downtown.

"And all the colours." Kavin added, looking up.

"Oh, Kavin, look!" Purvi exclaimed, grasping his hand in her excitement at a spinning wheel of light and a few fireworks.

Kavin glanced down at her. He was a little surprised, then he smiled. Purvi had loosened her grip in embarrassment, but he tightened his hold around her comfortingly. She smiled back and held on to his hand.

They found a bench to sit on as they watched the fireworks. A small breeze was flitting through the air. Purvi shivered.

"You cold?" Kavin asked.

"Just a bit." Purvi responded.

Neither of them had brought jackets, so Kavin began putting his arm around her. He paused a second and looked at her, she supposed to make sure she wasn't appalled. She guessed he saw she was alright with it because he put his arm around her and pulled her in.

"See the violet firework over there. Didn't you say violet is your favourite colour?" Kavin said, pointing over the treetops and buildings to a big firework.

"Yeah." Purvi responded, looking at the brilliantly coloured firework. Its long fingers grasped the air as it faded into the night sky.

Purvi rested her head on Kavin's shoulder as they watched.

"This is really nice." Purvi said quietly to herself, not thinking he could hear her.

"Yeah, it is." Kavin responded.

His hand was resting on his leg, his fingertips gently brushing hers. Without thinking, Purvi slid her hand closest to his across her lap and laid it on his. When the common sense in her realised what she'd done, she blushed wildly and almost drew back.

"Purvi slid her hand over to mine. She laid her hand on mine, and I could feel that she instantly regretted it." Kavin thought.

He wasn't sure what he should do to show her that he really appreciated the gesture.

He took his hand out from under hers and picked her hand up. He ran his thumb along the side of her hands. They were so soft and delicate. He slowly intertwined their fingers. He could feel Purvi's heart beating fast, so he sat still for a while, just taking in the moment and really realising that he loved her.

Purvi's breathing became slower and uniform as he continued to watch the fireworks. He assumed she was asleep, but he didn't mind. He wondered what she had been struggling with. He wanted to help her.

He felt her shudder and her breath sharpened.

"Purvi, are you alright?" He whispered.

Purvi didn't answer. Kavin guessed it was because she was asleep, but he was a little worried.

"Purvi, wake up." He whispered again, rocking her gently.

Purvi stretched, letting go of his hand and straightening up.

"Hey, you fell asleep." Kavin said, smiling at her groggy look and frizzed hair.

Purvi opened her eyes wider.

"Oh, I'm really sorry, I'm just tired. Maybe we should head back now." She said embarrassedly.

Kavin nodded and they stood up. Purvi still seemed a little sleepy so he slipped her arm through his and she leaned on him as they walked back to their apartment.

Kavin walked up to the second floor with her and to her door. He waited while she unlocked her door so he knew she was safely inside.

"Thanks Kavin. I really had a great time today." Purvi said and smiled, leaning against the doorframe.

"No problem. Thank you too. I really enjoyed myself." Kavin said and smiled back.

Purvi was looking at him with something in her big eyes that he hadn't seen before.

"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" Kavin asked and laughed.

"No, I just think I'm in love with you." Purvi said, giggling.

Immediately, she blushed and looked down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that." She said all embarrassed.

"No, no, it's alright. I feel the same." Kavin responded quickly, stepping forward.

Purvi looked back up at him. Her blush faded, leaving a rosy tint in her cheeks.

"I'm glad. Well, I'll see you tomorrow." She said.

Kavin nodded.

"Goodnight." He said, turning to walk down the hall.

"Goodnight." Purvi replied.

Kavin started walking down the hall, but something was tugging his heart. He turned around. Purvi was still standing in her doorway. She stepped forward, and so did he, and she ran down to meet him.

Purvi flung her arms around his neck, and Kavin wrapped his arms around her body. Her sweet lips met his, sending waves of joy throughout his body. His arms held her tightly against him. She felt so safe in his embrace as he kissed her. His strong hands trailed down her back as she reciprocated the kiss.

Purvi leaned back in his grasp to look into his eyes.

"I love you Kavin." She whispered.

Kavin leaned his face into hers.

"I love you too Purvi." He whispered back.

Purvi felt his warm breath blow across her lips as he leaned in to kiss her again. Kavin pressed his lips on to hers and kissed her tenderly. It was slow, soft and comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.

*****

Author's Note: Hey people! Thanks a lot for reading the one-shot. Let me know by your votes & comments how you liked it!

Little_light649, this one's specially for you dearie. I earnestly hope that you liked it.