He Was Never Mine by Aaina at Inkitt

Story Notes

Every story begins somewhere… and this one began with a glance that never turned into a conversation.

“When He Returned” isn’t just about a girl and her first crush — it’s about all the quiet feelings we bury, the daydreams we outgrow, and the people who return when we least expect them. It’s about timing, fate, and the strange ache of recognizing someone who once meant everything but was never really yours.

If you’ve ever had a crush you never confessed to, a memory you tried to forget, or a heart that skipped a beat years later — this story is for you.

So, take a deep breath, turn the page, and step into her world.

Because sometimes, the past doesn’t knock before it walks right back into your life.

Summary

Every girl has that one crush. The one she never spoke to, yet built entire worlds with inside her head. The one whose smile she memorized from across the street, whose voice she replayed in silence. He was mine—my neighbor’s cousin, the boy who never knew I existed. Back then, I thought love was about fairytales and fate. But real life? It has a way of moving on even when your heart doesn’t. He left—for school, then for another country—and I learned to live without the sound of his laughter in the air. Years passed. The crush faded… or at least I thought it did. Until tonight. My life had finally found peace—quiet, steady, simple. And then he walked in. Like a storm I didn’t see coming. Same eyes. Same careless charm. And suddenly, all those years of silence weren’t enough to drown the echo of his name. Maybe some people never really leave our stories. They just wait for the right chapter to return.

Genre: Drama

Author: Aaina

Status: Ongoing

Chapters: 8

Rating: 5.0 1 review

Age Rating: 18+

Chapter 1

I’m Riya —cheerful, adventurous, and usually the first one to crack a joke in the room. At home, I’m a whirlwind of energy, always planning small adventures or teasing my parents. To relatives, I’m the calm, composed one who listens politely, smiles warmly, and only occasionally lets my playful side peek out.

My parents are my pillars. Mom, Sreedevi, is a school teacher, gentle, caring, and forever fussing over details, from my clothes to my breakfast. Dad, Rajesh, works as an IT manager, and he’s the perfect mix of strict and fun—always teasing me, but the first to back me up if I need him. Together, they’ve given me the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and still know I have a safe place to come home to.

I live for my friends almost as much as my family. My best friend, Ruchitha, has been my partner-in-crime since college. She’s bubbly, dramatic, and the only person who can match my energy. Then there’s Vinod, playful, mischievous, and a little annoying at times—but somehow, he balances out our chaos perfectly. With them, I’m loud, talkative, and occasionally unstoppable.

To my extended family, I’m a mix of both worlds. With aunts, uncles, and cousins, I’m calm, polite, and respectful, making sure I don’t cross any boundaries. But with close cousins, I’m back to my adventurous self—daring dares, teasing, and planning small fun escapades whenever possible.

I love mornings—there’s something about the sunrise that calls me out, coffee in hand, watching the world wake up. I love laughter, small adventures, and talking endlessly about anything and everything with the people I care about.

And yes, I sometimes drive my parents crazy with my energy, but they know it’s all love. Life, to me, is about moving forward, making memories, and enjoying every laugh along the way.

So, here I am—Riya M. Adventurous, talkative, endlessly curious, and completely ready to dive into Ruchitha’s wedding chaos, armed with laughter, mischief, and maybe a few little surprises of my own.