The ride back to Sidharth's flat was silent. The city outside was still alive—cars honking, neon signs flickering, people laughing in the distance. But inside the cab, it was just the two of them, and the heavy weight of Sidharth's obsession.
Akhil had seen Sidharth upset before, had seen him frustrated over work, had seen him heartbroken over past relationships. But this—this was different. It was irrational, intense, and unlike anything he had ever seen in his friend.
When they reached the flat, Akhil made a quick decision—he wasn't leaving Sidharth alone tonight.
"Give me your spare key," Akhil said casually as he kicked off his shoes. "I'm staying over."
Sidharth didn't argue. He just nodded and collapsed onto the couch, running a hand through his hair. His mind was still at Marine Drive. His chest ached with longing, and he hated how powerless he felt.
Akhil, meanwhile, was determined to lift his friend's spirits, or at least bring him back to reality.
First, he ordered food—Sidharth's favorite, even though he had barely eaten earlier. "You need to eat," Akhil insisted when the food arrived, shoving a plate in front of him.
Then, he tried to distract him—playing some old movies they used to love as kids, cracking silly jokes, even forcing Sidharth into a quick game of FIFA on the PlayStation.
For a while, it worked. Sidharth even smiled a couple of times. But then, the moment there was silence, his mind drifted back to her.
Akhil noticed the shift in his expression—the way Sidharth's face darkened, his brows furrowing as if he was somewhere else entirely.
With a sigh, Akhil sat down beside him. "Listen, Sid," he said softly. "I know you feel something strong for this girl. And I know you think this is something special. But you don't even know her yet. What if she was just passing through? What if you never see her again?"
Sidharth flinched at the words, his jaw tightening. "I have to see her again."
Akhil exhaled, rubbing his temples. He had to approach this differently.
"Call your mom," he suggested suddenly.
Sidharth blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"Call her. Talk to her. You always say that no matter what's happening in your life, talking to your mom makes you feel better," Akhil reasoned. "She'll ground you. She'll remind you of what really matters."
Sidharth hesitated, but then slowly reached for his phone. His mother always had a way of bringing him back to reality, of making him feel like everything would be okay.
As Sidharth made the call, Akhil sat back, watching his friend. He didn't know if this girl was just a passing stranger or something more. But what he did know was that Sidharth was slipping into something dangerous.
And Akhil would do whatever it took to pull him back.
Akhil leaned back against the couch, watching Sidharth with a serious expression. "Sid, call her again."
Sidharth frowned. "What? I just talked to her."
"Yeah, but you didn't tell her what's really going on."
Sidharth sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Akhil, no. I don't want to worry her. She doesn't need to know about all this."
Akhil shook his head. "She's your Ma, Sid. She's your comfort, your safe place. If anyone can make sense of this, it's her."
Sid hesitated. His mother was the only person in the world who had ever truly understood him. She had been there through every high and low, through every heartbreak. But this? This was different. He wasn't sure she'd understand an obsession over a stranger.
But after a long pause, he exhaled heavily. "Fine," he mumbled, picking up his phone again. His heart pounded as he pressed the call button.
The phone rang once before she picked up. "Sidharth? You just called, beta. Is everything okay?"
He swallowed. "Ma… I need to tell you something."
"What is it, my child?" Her voice was instantly full of concern.
Sidharth took a deep breath, his fingers gripping the phone tighter. "I saw someone, Ma… a girl."
There was a pause. "A girl?"
He nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Yes. I saw her at Marine Drive yesterday evening. She was… she was sitting alone, looking at the sea. And I—" he stopped, trying to find the right words. "I don't know why, Ma, but I felt something. Something I've never felt before."
His mother stayed silent, letting him speak.
"I was about to go talk to her, but Akhil distracted me for a second, and when I turned back… she was gone." His voice was quieter now, almost as if he was confessing something forbidden. "I went back today, but she wasn't there. I waited for hours."
His mother finally spoke, her voice as gentle as always. "And this is troubling you, isn't it?"
Sid let out a bitter chuckle. "Ma, it's driving me crazy."
She hummed softly, thinking. "You've had relationships before, Sidharth. Why does this feel different?"
"That's just it, Ma. I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair. "I've never even spoken to her. I don't even know her name. But it feels like… like I have to find her."
His mother was quiet for a long time. Then, she said something that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Maybe she's looking for you too."
Sidharth froze. "What?"
"If this feeling is so strong, if it's truly meant to be, then maybe… she's waiting for you somewhere too."
Sid's breath hitched. He had been drowning in his own obsession, so lost in his own desperation that he hadn't even considered that possibility.
"But, beta," his mother continued softly, "sometimes, things happen for a reason. If she's meant to come back into your life, she will. And if not… then maybe she was never meant to stay."
Sidharth's heart clenched at her words. He didn't want to believe that. He couldn't.
But his mother's voice soothed him, as it always did. "Don't let this consume you, my child. Follow your heart, but don't lose yourself in the process."
Sid closed his eyes. "I just… I just need to see her one more time, Ma."
"Then go, beta. Keep looking. But remember—some love stories are written in the stars… and some are written in the wind, only to be carried away."
As the call ended, Sidharth sat in silence. His mother's words echoed in his mind.
Akhil watched him carefully. "What did she say?"
Sidharth let out a slow breath. "She told me to keep looking." He met Akhil's gaze. "And that maybe she's looking for me too."
Akhil exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Great. Now you're going to be even more obsessed."
Sidharth smirked slightly, but the determination in his eyes was stronger than ever.
Tomorrow, he would go again.
And this time, he wouldn't leave without finding her.