[ Inaaya's pov]
My phone rings right after I arrive in Hyderabad- the city of my dreams.
"Hello?" I say when I answer the phone.
I hear a voice behind me at the same moment.
I freeze for a moment. I'm not sure if the noise is coming from behind me or from my phone.
When I slowly turn around, they are there. Kriti Auntie and Mohit Uncle.
Have you ever seen someone after so many years, and your heart still recognises their warmth? Fifteen years have passed. Fifteen damm years. However, everything feels the same right now.
Kriti Auntie approaches me and hugs me.
Not just a hug; it is more than that. It makes me feel safe and reassured. It feels exactly like my mother's hug, even when I am in a new city far from home.
I was only nine when I last saw her.
And now, after all these years, she still holds me as though nothing has changed.
"You have finally arrived, Bacha," she murmurs. "I won't let you leave now that you're here. Don't worry, we are here for you.
I look at Uncle.
"Tum bhi hamare bachhe jaise hi ho jeysa Darsh hai humare liye," uncle says
["You are our child, just like my son Darsh," he says with a smile and a gentle pat on my head.]
I have already decided to rent an apartment with a roommate, so Uncle and Auntie are going to drive me there. I watch the city move by while sitting quietly in the car.
The city is chaotic, and everything feels strange and beautiful at the same time. I feel a spectrum of emotions at once, which include excitement, anxiety, happiness, and an unknown soft ache.
Auntie gently puts a tiffin box in my hands. With a warm voice, she says, "Take this." "I prepared your favourite dish, Appam, chutney and puri - amras."
I look at her, a bit surprised.
Through the rearview mirror, Uncle smiles and says," She gets up early to prepare all of your favourite meals. We hope you will enjoy it."
My heart tightens.
Fifteen years. It has been that long. They still recall Something so small, but so personal. I'm not sure why, but right now it feels like the warmth of my own people, which I didn't expect in this new city. I grip the box tightly, as though it holds more than just food. "You have to finish it, okay?" Auntie says, grinning at me.
I nod, but I don't say anything. I'm worried that if I talk, my voice will break in emotion.
Time passes slowly. The car slows down and comes to a stop in front of my apartment.
I raise my head.
A new location.
However, it doesn't feel lonely for the first time.
I step out slowly from the car. Uncle and auntie step out with me.
The air feels different now. Everything around me carries an overwhelming sense of hope. This is where I am going to start again.
Uncle quietly opens the trunk and takes out my luggage. I can feel their pure love in every small action.
Before I can say anything, Auntie pulls me into a warm hug again. This time, I hold her a little bit tighter.
"This Sunday, you're coming to our house," she says quietly.
I look at her, slightly surprised. "This Sunday?"
She gives me a soft smile. "There are still a few days. You can complete all of the requirements for college admission in these days, and you will be a little free then". "After that, you can come to our home."
"I will come to pick you up for college tomorrow," Uncle continues.
I give a quick shake of my head. "No, no, it's alright, uncle and aunt. My college is just nearby, don't worry, I will manage myself, Auntie.
But Auntie looks at me with the same warmth and care mixed with a love that will not take no for an answer.
"You still let us know if you need anything," she says. And you are coming this Sunday. We will have dinner as well as a family lunch.
She gives a slight smile. "Darsh will drop you back, so don't worry. Everyone will be together because it's his holiday as well.
I just stand there for a little while.
"Okay, auntie," I reply softly.
I walk in and take a look around.
It seems a bit too quiet.
I am aware that my roommate has not yet arrived. Her table is spotless, and her bed is untouched, as if no one had come before me.
It's just me, then.
I inhaled deeply before beginning to unpack. I set my bags down and start carefully unpacking everything. My dresses go into the wardrobe, my books go on the shelf, one by one, as if I'm trying to settle myself.
After some time, I stop and take another look around.
I know I need to clean the room, fix the bed, and arrange everything properly to start fresh.
However, I grab my phone first.
I stand near the window and click a picture-the outside view from my room-the sky, the streets, the unfamiliar world that is now mine.
Without thinking much, I post it on my social media.
Finally, I freshen up and sit on my bed, feeling a little tired but peaceful. I open the lunch auntie gave me and start eating slowly.
At the same time, I scroll through my Instagram.
Scene Shifted to Darsh's office,
[Darsh's POV]
A large room. A quiet room.
The sound of keyboards fills the air as people are occupied at their desks. I am sitting in front of my laptop, working. After some time, I take off my glasses and try to reduce strain by closing my eyes for a moment. Then I roll up my sleeves and reach for my phone. Usually, I avoid using my phone at work.
However, I do today.
I open it and begin to scroll.
A new story.
I open it.
It's just a simple picture, a view from a window. Trees, buildings, soft light. Nothing extraordinary.
But I keep looking at it.
Zooming in, zooming out again and again.
Something about it holds me there.
"Brother," a voice breaks in.
I look up.
Kavi, my best friend, my colleague, is staring at me.
"Why are you zooming in and out on a picture of nature?" he says, in a confused tone. "Someone just posted a random window view, right?"
I try to shift the topic. "Are you done with your project?"
He sighs. "No. Still a lot left. I don't even like this work anymore."
I nod, but my eyes drift back to the picture.
Kavi leans closer. "What's so special about this? Isn't this Hyderabad?"
I look at him instantly. "Wait, what did you say?"
"I think it is," he shrugs. "I've seen something like this place in Hyderabad. I just can't remember exactly where"
I look at him and ask him. "Tell me. Do you know this place?"
"This, I don't think this is Hyderabad. I must have misunderstood ."Kavi says.
I ignore that and give him a direct look. "Did you follow my instructions?"
A tiny smile appears on his face. "That girl is my sister-in-law, correct?"
He giggles softly.
You know, it's crazy. The most attractive and outstanding man in this city is completely obsessed with a girl he hasn't even met.
Do what I asked, please. Do not overthink it. I say
Kavi raises both hands. "All right, all right. The manager who set up that fan meeting was the one I called. But," he pauses.
My fingers tighten slightly.
"The girl left the city," she says. Her whereabouts were unknown. She cut off all communication after she stopped writing. She seems to have vanished.
"Where are you?" I whisper.
I can't even tell for a second whether I am asking her or myself.
I breathe slowly.
"All right, I'll wait."
[ Inaaya's pov]
The doorbell of my room rings, and I get up from the bed. I walk over and open it.
There she is.
My new roommate.
Aria.
She owns a café, her own little world in this city. We met online when she was looking for a roommate, and somehow, I ended up here. Just like that.
As she enters, her eyes immediately find me.
"You are Inaaya, right?" she asks, and before I can respond, she hugs me.
I freeze for a second,
She continues, chuckling softly, "I thought I would come first." Even though you are the one travelling from a different city, you arrived before me. And I am the one who lives here. I am still late. "Wow."
I cannot help but smile.
She asks, "Did you have lunch?"
"Yes," I respond
"Well. I also baked some cupcakes and regular pancakes. fresh ones. You should give them a try. This recipe is new. I plan to add them to the menu starting tomorrow.
Something about her is so simple.
I don't expect someone to speak to me like this on my first day here, as if we already know each other.
But for some reason, as soon as I get to this city, everything seems easy.
There's no pressure. I don't have to pretend.
I feel like this place and these people just accept me for who I am.
We're heading to her café this evening at around four. She needs some assistance with the décor.
"Can you help me out a bit?" she asks.
And I instantly say "yes." "Obviously. Why not?
We are now going to her café together.
I also bring my laptop. Perhaps now is the ideal time to resume my writing.
I would like to give it a shot just to see what happens.
I will most likely stay there all evening.
AT 5:40 PM
At last, all of the decorations are finished.
I am so tired that the first thing I do is ask, "Can you make me a cappuccino? And that chocolate brownie, too."
Laughing, she goes inside.
I move to a seat and take a deep breath before settling in. Next, I turn on my laptop.
After a moment of staring at the screen, I begin typing.
At first, my words come slowly, but I keep going.
Next-
The door opened softly.
I take a quick look back. Just a customer.
His face is not clearly visible to me.
A man enters, places an order, and then waits.
I am not very attentive. I continue typing because I am now concentrating on my writing.
He eventually walks away.
A few seconds go by.
Something makes me look up again.
I watch him leave through the glass window.
All of a sudden, he feels familiar.
It's too familiar.
My fingers come to a stop on the keyboard.
I feel as though I have seen him before.
Like that man I once ran away from, the one I accidentally crossed paths with.
However, that is not possible.
How on earth is he here?
I gently shake my head.
I say to myself, "I am just overthinking."
But I can't stop watching him disappear.
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