SHANAYA'S POV
I stood at the edge of a mountain, cool wind brushing through my hair. The sky above was cloudy, almost dreamlike. That's when I saw Dishu, running toward me, eyes wide, her hair flowing like a smooth water with the breeze.
But she didn't stop.
She didn't hug me.
She just leapt.
She freaking jumped off the mountain.
"DISHUUUU!"
"DISHUUUUUU!"
I screamed until my throat felt raw, but she was nowhere to be seen. Just gone.
My face twisted in shock, panic crawling up my spine. I turned around in desperation and saw Prithvi.
He was smiling, cool as ever, handing out MAZA ( a mango juice) to everyone like it was a summer party. The others? They were laughing. Chatting. Sipping mango drink as if Dishita hadn't just jumped off a cliff.
Wait.
This wasn't a mountain.
What the hell?
I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings.
It was a terrace, a wide, open terrace with nothing but tall blue walls on all sides. No doors, no stairs. Just the sky above and this strange boxed in world around me.
Hum log abhi ek pahar pe nahi the?
Didn't Dishita just jump?
What was happening?
"Sanaaaaaa! Look here! I'm here!"
I heard her voice and looked up.
There she was, Dishu, floating high up in the sky, waving at me like an angel on vacation.
And in the next breath----
I was standing in a park.
Bright, green, surreal. The trees looked too perfect. The flowers looked hand painted. It was dreamlike, magical even until suddenly, the heat hit me.
The park felt like it had turned into a freaking oven.
I started sweating like a girl who'd just finished a 2 km run in peak summer. I spun around, confused and sticky with heat and then I saw it.
A giant cockroach.
But not just any cockroach.
This one had the body of a snake and it was staring right at me.
And then it shouted-----
"SHANU! UTH JAAA! KAB TAK SOYEGI?!"
I nearly collapsed, it freaking, talked.
It was yelling at me like my mom on exam day, and worse it started chasing me. I bolted, feet flying across the dream park like my life depended on it.
Then.
BOOM.
I tripped. Fell. Slammed down.
And opened my eyes. There she stood my personal alarm clock, my personal volcano aka Mamma, glaring at me, standing beside the switchboard.
Before she could say a word, I jumped out of bed and ran into the washroom, slamming the door with a thud sound behind me.
"God! Kal se pakka time pe uthungi. Lekin aaj tak kabhi late nahi hui!
Haan, uthti hoon late se, magar time pe toh pohoch hi jaati hoon,"
I told myself proudly, smirking into the mirror.
I finished my morning routine like I was on a mission, ran to my wardrobe, and threw on my light blue kurti with my trusty comfy grey jeans. I wore my favourite little white earrings and dashed downstairs like a Bollywood heroine on a deadline.
"Panchi banu udti phirun mast chaman mein----"
Ughhhh phirse galat lyrics ga diya maine.
"Panchi banu udti phirun mast gagan mein,
Aaj main aazad hoon duniya ke chaman mein"
I corrected myself dramatically, feeling like a musical rebel.
"Mammaaaa! Main agayiiiii!" I yelled, bouncing into the living room.
But silence.
The room was empty.
Only the faint clatter of utensils echoed from the kitchen. I followed the sound.
"Mamma? Where's Dishu? She usually comes by this time," I asked, frowning.
My mom turned to me with a confused look.
"Where are you off to all dressed up? Aur kyun ayegi aj Dishita?"
"What do you mean by woh kyun ayegi? We go to college together every day! And I got ready early because------
Ohhh shit! It's Suday! I totally forgot."
I stood frozen.
Sunday, Of course.
"And this is what happens when you stay glued to your phone all the time! You forget everything! All you do is read your silly stories and scroll scroll scroll ekdin hum logo ke sath sath khudko bhi bhul jaogi tum!"
She snapped, shooting daggers at me with her eyes.
"Why are you scolding her first thing in the morning?" Papa's calm voice drifted in as he walked into the kitchen.
"Why shouldn't I scold her? Har din ! Her whole life revolves around her phone and her imaginary tales! When will she study if this goes on?"
"She's right, beta," Papa added gently, turning to me.
"If you keep drowning in your stories and phone, when will you focus on your studies?"
I lowered my gaze, lips pressed together.
Then Mamma barked, "Ab ye plate leke ja aur khana khake mujhpe rahem kar!"
I quickly grabbed my plate of pasta and ran upstairs.
I sat by the window, quiet. Sunlight danced across my half eaten breakfast.
The gentle breeze kissed my face. And with a soft sigh, I picked at my pasta. Wishing my day had stayed inside the dream.
AUTHOR'S POV
In the past few weeks, Shanaya had completely forgotten about the guy she had bumped into in the washroom. His face? A blur. His eyes? A blank. It was like he had vanished from her memory without leaving a trace.
Her days drifted by like soft clouds filled with laughter from her gang, scattered with classes, lazy naps, reading sessions, studying and late-night phone scrolling. The usual rhythm of a college girl who had better things to do than obsess over a stranger.
RING.
RING.
Suddenly, her phone rang just as she was digging into her bowl of pasta. Her eyes lazily flicked toward the screen.
Satyam.
She sighed and picked up the call.
"Hello? Satyam?" she asked, still chewing.
"Yes, madam, it's me!" he replied with a hint of mock formality.
"So, tum toh shayad mujhe bhul hi gayi ho. No calls, no checkins, nothing," he added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh please! Tum khud hi humesha, actually har roz call karte ho. So, I don't need to call you, do I?" she replied coolly.
"Fine, tell me how's everything going?" he asked, sounding more casual now.
"Like always what else is new?" she shrugged, twirling her fork in the pasta.
Their conversations always flowed naturally no awkward pauses, no forced small talk. One topic would bleed into another seamlessly, like a calm river gently shifting course. There was never a shortage of words between them.
"Okay Shanaya, can I ask you something?" Satyam said, his voice calm as always.
"Don't you dare ask me that same question again," she warned, already rolling her eyes.
"Kya sahi mein mera koi chance nahi hai?" he asked softly.
"Satyam, you know my answer will always remain the same," Shanaya said, her tone firm yet not unkind.
"I know but it feels better to ask again and again. I've liked you since class 10. Keeping some hope alive it helps, you know?" Satyam admitted.
"I understand but there's no point in holding on to something that's never going to happen," she said honestly.
"I know," he said, his voice steady, "I told you the day I confessed when you said no that we'd still be friends. I'm not one of those dramatic guys who turn into strangers after rejection."
"You don't have to explain it again, I know," Shanaya replied gently.
They spoke for a little longer about college, family, and random memes before Shanaya finally hung up. Her pasta had disappeared during the conversation without her even realizing it. After the call, she dove into her books and studied until it was time for lunch.
She went downstairs, where the comforting clatter of plates and cutlery filled the air.
Shanaya was very close to her family. No matter how chaotic the day got, they always ate lunch and dinner together. That small tradition held them like invisible threads.
"Baba, who's your favorite character in the Mahabharat?" Shanaya asked curiously as she sat down.
"Shakuni," her father replied without hesitation.
"Why him?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Because he was sharp. Apart from Krishna, he was the cleverest one," he replied with a sly smile.
"Well of course you'd like him. He's basically your twin in attitude," Shanaya's mother muttered, taking a bite of her food.
Her father let out a hearty laugh.
"And Maa? Who do you dislike the most?" Shanaya turned toward her mother.
"Dhritarashtra," her mother answered firmly.
"Why him? He's pretty much like you," her father teased with a smirk.
"I swear to God, I'll throw this entire plate at you if you say one more thing like that!" her mother shouted, glaring daggers at him.
"Mamma! Why are you reacting like this? It was just a joke!" Shanaya said, trying to calm her.
"Yes Mithu, come on. That was a harmless joke take it as one," her father added lightly.
"You all know I don't like these so-called jokes! Phir tum log aise mazak karte ho har time, sab kuch tumhari galti hai. Har baar tum kuch aisi baat bolti ho jiski wajase hum dono bich ladai hoti hai. Tum hum dono ke bich ati kyun ho baat karne? Tumhe janam de ke meri zindagi kharab ho gayi!" Her mother shouted on her, eyes burning with anger.
"I didn't even say anything! I just asked Baba a harmless question. And Maa if you can't take a joke, then maybe don't make one either," Shanaya replied.
"Aap isko chup rehne ke liye boliye warna main ye sara khana phek dungi" her mother yelled again.
"But I-" Her father silently gestured to her to stop. She caught the sign. And said nothing more.
She quietly resumed eating, her face now emotionless, her eyes are now blank. The laughter from earlier was long gone, replaced by silence and cold air.
She finished her lunch, washed her plate and hands, and walked back upstairs without a word.
As soon as she reached her bed, she picked up her phone and called Dishita.
"Hey Dishu, are you free? Want to go out around 4 today?" Shanaya asked.
"Umm....actually....aj main gharpe nahi rahungi. I'll be going out with Maa in a bit," Dishita replied, clearly hesitating.
"Oh, okay then," Shanaya said softly, masking the slight disappointment in her tone.
"Achha main phone rakhti hoon. Maa bula rahi hai." Dishita's voice came through, and before Shanaya could respond, the call ended.
Shanaya stared at the phone screen for a moment and sighed. The silence in her room suddenly felt louder. She sat there quietly for about ten minutes, thinking of what to do. Then, with a sudden shift in energy, she picked up her phone and dialed her cousin Aniket.
"Hello, Ani?" she said. "Woh main puch rahi thi aj 4 baje walk pe chalega?"
(I was asking if you want to go for a walk at 4 today.)
"Haan, chal, mujr koi problem nahi hai."
(Yeah sure, I'm free.)
"Wait, let me ask Rittika di and Swarup da if they're coming too."
"Cool. Then let's meet around 4," she said and hung up the call.
Later that afternoon.
They all met as planned and decided to take a walk around the lake-park near their homes. It was a local favorite a massive lake situated at the heart of the city. It acted as a connector to many places, giving it a comforting sense of familiarity.
The atmosphere was peaceful, soaked in golden sunlight and birdsong. Tall trees lined the borders of the lake, their branches forming a soft green canopy overhead. Benches were placed facing the water, and couples, kids, and elderly folks could be seen scattered across the space, soaking in the serenity.
As they walked along the stone paved path that curved around the lake, Shanaya's eyes drifted to one of the benches.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Two very familiar figures sat there, laughing softly, Dishita and Malvika.
"Dishu? Malvika?" Her brows furrowed.
"Didn't Dishita say she was going out with her mom? What is she doing here then?" Shanaya stared for a few seconds, processing the sight.
"Maybe her plan with her mom got cancelled and Malvika dragged her out instead," she thought, brushing away the sting that rose in her chest.
After a long walk of 2 hours, scattered conversations, and laughter with her cousins, Shanaya felt lighter. A subtle calm had returned to her, like a sigh of relief after holding your breath for too long.
She returned home just before dusk. The house was quiet. She walked into the kitchen, found the leftover plates from lunch still lying on the counter, and silently started clearing them. Once done, she went to her room and sat down at her study desk.
She opened her books and studied with focus for about three hours. The world outside faded. Her thoughts, her earlier confusion, even the feeling of being left out they were tucked away somewhere behind the pages of her textbook.
Later in the evening, she finally picked up her phone, curious if Dishita had texted her. As she scrolled through her notifications, her father stepped into her room.
He noticed the phone in her hand and sighed.
"Shanaya, why are you always on your phone?" he asked in a disappointed tone. "Kya abhi ye time hai phone chalane ka? Thoda toh padhle beta." Her father said with a disappointed tone.
"I swear, I was studying. I just picked it up now," Shanaya replied quickly, trying to explain.
"Don't lie to me, beta. Lying won't help," he said sternly. "If you don't study well now, you won't get good marks. And without good marks, how will you ever land a good job?"
"But I---"
Her father didn't let her finish.
"There's no point in arguing. Deep down, you know exactly what you're doing," he said, his tone sharp but not cruel.
With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Shanaya sitting in silence.
She stared at the closed door for a long second, then at her phone. The screen was still on. Dishita hadn't messaged.
Not even once.
Shanaya sat on her bed quietly, staring at the ceiling with a heavy heart. After some time, her mother called her down for dinner. She ate in silence, barely tasting her food, and then returned to her room.
She finished her nightly chores, changed into her comfy nightwear, and lay down under the covers.
Fifteen minutes passed.
She was still wide awake.
Her face remained blank, but her eyes shimmered. Tiny drops of unshed tears welled up, clinging stubbornly to the corners.
"Am I that bad?" she wondered.
"Will Dishita leave me too? Just like all the others did?"
"Am I going to end up alone again?" She thought to herself.
Shanaya had grown up in a big, joint family. She had always loved being around people cousins, aunts, uncles, laughter, noise. But as she got older, it felt like everyone around her was slowly drifting away.
She was scared of being alone. The kind of fear that doesn't shout but whispers in the dark when no one is watching.
And with those heavy thoughts circling her heart, Shanaya slowly drifted off to sleep.
The next morning.
It was barely 9 AM when Shanaya woke up unusually early for her. She got up, freshened up, took a shower, and wore the same sky blue kurti from the day before, pairing it again with her favorite little white earrings. With everything done, she went downstairs for breakfast.
The table was quiet.
Dishita wasn't there yet. Shanaya pulled out her phone and called her.
"Hello? Aren't you coming today?" she asked.
"Hmm? Oh no, not today. Baba will be dropping me off at college," Dishita replied, her tone brief. "Okay, Baba's calling me. I have to go." And just like that the call ended.
Shanaya didn't even get a chance to respond. She stared at her phone screen for a few seconds, trying to brush off the growing knot in her chest. Then she quietly ate her breakfast and left for college.
When she reached her classroom and stepped inside, she saw Dishita already sitting with Malvika, chatting and laughing like nothing had happened.
Shanaya silently walked over and sat beside them. The first class passed quickly. She didn't speak much just observed.
Before the second class could begin, an announcement echoed across the hallway.
"All participants for the upcoming function, please report to the cultural hall for rehearsal."
Shanaya and Dishita got up and made their way to the cultural hall.
As they entered, they noticed Anurika and Anushmita standing by the entrance, calling out names and collecting final signatures to confirm participation.
The hall was buzzing people were laughing, talking, scrolling through their phones, sharing snacks. The usual pre-rehearsal chaos.
Shanaya and Dishita stood in one corner, talking and observing everything from a slight distance. But suddenly the atmosphere shifted.
It was as if someone had pressed a mute button. The room turned silent. Almost eerie.
Everyone stopped speaking, glancing in the same direction.
Shanaya leaned closer and overheard a girl whispering behind her.
"Dude! That's the senior I was telling you about! He's in 4th year and damn, look at him. So handsome, right?"
Shanaya heard the comment but didn't react. She didn't even bother turning around to see what the fuss was about.
Instead, she stayed where she was chatting casually with Dishita, pretending the tension in the room hadn't wrapped itself around her.
Then Anurika called out their names.
"Shanaya? Dishita? Come sign here."
They walked over.
Shanaya took the pen from the desk and leaned forward to sign her name.
And that's when it happened. Her eyes met the boy.
Across the room, standing effortlessly tall with that unbothered expression, leaning on of the pillars.
Him.
It was him.
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