The next morning, Sidharth woke up with a sense of urgency he hadn't felt in a long time. His usual sluggishness at work was replaced by restless energy—every second felt like an eternity. He wanted to get through the day as fast as possible, his mind fixed on only one thing—Marine Drive.
By the time evening rolled in, he was already out of the office, barely aware of how he got through his tasks. He reached the spot earlier than yesterday, his heart pounding with anticipation. The sea was just as restless as he was, waves crashing harder against the shore, the wind carrying the scent of salt and something unspoken in the air.
His friend, Akhil, arrived soon after.
Akhil had been by his side since childhood. A kind-hearted, mature soul—someone who always looked out for Sidharth. But Akhil was sensitive too. He felt things deeply, even when he didn't say much. And today, for the first time, he was seeing Sidharth like this—restless, obsessed, almost not himself.
As they walked along the promenade, Akhil scanned the crowd, pointing at a few women.
"Is it her?" he asked, motioning towards a girl in a blue dress.
Sidharth shook his head.
"What about her?" Akhil pointed again, his brows furrowing as he watched Sidharth's reaction.
Sidharth barely responded, his eyes glued to the exact spot where the girl had been yesterday. He walked towards it and sat down. The city buzzed around him, but he was lost in his own world. He closed his eyes, replaying every second of their brief encounter.
Her hair, catching the wind like silk.
Her eyes, searching for something—or someone.
Her presence, so surreal, yet so real.
A sudden pat on his shoulder made him jolt back to reality.
Akhil was pointing at someone. "Is that her?"
Sidharth's eyes shot open, his heart leaping—only to crash the next second.
It wasn't her.
His stomach twisted in disappointment. The evening stretched into the night, and they waited, their eyes scanning every passerby, every shadow that flickered under the dim streetlights. Midnight came, and still, she never appeared.
Sidharth felt a strange emptiness clawing at him. He wasn't just upset—he was devastated. It made no sense, and yet, it was all that mattered to him right now.
Akhil, who had always known Sidharth's every mood, was at a loss for words. He had never seen him like this before. He didn't know how to console him.
Akhil sighed, watching the frustration in Sidharth's eyes. The waves continued their restless dance against the shore, but the night had grown quieter, colder.
"We'll come again tomorrow," Akhil said, trying to sound reassuring.
But Sidharth shook his head, his fists clenching. "What if we don't see her tomorrow either?" His voice was desperate, almost pleading. "What if she never comes back?"
Akhil placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll come every evening. We'll keep looking for her." He spoke gently, but there was a slight hesitation in his voice.
Sidharth exhaled sharply, his gaze fixed on the empty spot where she had stood yesterday. He didn't want to leave. It felt wrong, like he was giving up.
"Sid, let's go," Akhil urged. "It's late. We'll try again tomorrow."
Sidharth hesitated, but eventually, he gave in. He walked beside Akhil, his footsteps heavier than before, as if something inside him was sinking.
Akhil watched his friend closely. Sidharth had always been rational, always in control. But now, he was acting like a child who had lost his favorite toy—except this wasn't a toy. This was a woman he had seen for barely a few seconds.
And that's what unsettled Akhil the most.
This wasn't love. This was something else.
Something that scared him.