The drive to The Daily Insight was painful. The roads were choked with traffic, even worse than usual. Cars honked aggressively, rickshaws weaved through impossible gaps, and pedestrians seemed more impatient than ever. But what struck Sidharth most was the conversations he overheard. Everyone was talking about the star.
"…It vanished just like that?"
"They say it's a sign, something ancient."
"Scientists have no explanation…"
But there was another conversation brewing beneath the surface. People were whispering about how the media and political parties were using this celestial anomaly as a distraction from the real issues—especially unemployment, which was at an all-time high.
"Convenient, isn't it?" one man muttered to another near a tea stall. "People are starving, jobs are vanishing, and all they want us to talk about is some glowing dot in the sky."
Another voice joined in. "It's always the same. They give us something to chase, something to fear, so we forget to ask real questions."
Sidharth's journalist instincts kicked in. Could this whole star phenomenon be more than just an astronomical mystery? Was it being used as a smokescreen to shift the public's focus? He made a mental note to dig deeper.
When he finally reached the office, he barely had time to set his things down before Mehta's voice rang out.
"Sidharth. My office. Now."
Mehta's tone was firm, as always, but there was something else beneath it—curiosity, maybe even urgency.
Sidharth stepped into the office, where the older man sat behind his massive desk. Shelves lined the walls, filled with old newspapers, books, and a few framed photographs. One of them caught Sidharth's eye—the picture of Mehta's family. His wife, his son, and Akhil.
Mehta wasn't just his boss. He was the closest thing to family Sidharth had in Mumbai. When he had first arrived, uncertain and lost, it was Mehta who had given him a place in the newsroom. Over time, their bond had grown beyond professional—it was one of trust, mentorship, and an unspoken understanding.
"You've been looking into that star," Mehta stated.
Sidharth nodded. "Yes. No scientific explanation so far. It appeared two nights ago, stayed for a few hours, then vanished."
Mehta leaned back, rubbing his chin. "People are spooked. But there's more, isn't there?"
"There is," Sidharth admitted. "Some believe it's a sign of reincarnation, a shift in fate. But others… they think the government is using it to cover up the unemployment crisis. The economy is bleeding, and this mystery is the perfect distraction."
Mehta sighed. "Politics and fear always go hand in hand. Is there any random articles or interviews we should take regarding the star?"
"I don't think it is necessary, Everyone is saying random things only. It's the sign from someone who is warning us about our sins.... we need to take care of our nature, they are giving us signs that our world is gonna get destroyed soon. THE END IS NEAR.... It's something that the god released to save the earth from the negative energy which is spreading now....They want it to be related to religion in one way or other. " Sidharth replied.
Mehta leaned back, rubbing his chin. "You think there's something to it?"
"I don't know yet. But people aren't just talking about it like some random celestial event. They're worried, sir. Scientists and Astronomers can't explain it, but ancient texts can. There are rumors—some ancient belief about it being a sign of something… bigger."
Mehta raised an eyebrow. "And what do they say?"
Sidharth hesitated, but then leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. "It's called the 'Soul's Lantern' in old Sanskrit scriptures. The Persians called it Ruh ka Sitara—the Star of the Soul. It appeared five hundred years ago, just once, and then disappeared. Back then, it was followed by the birth of a man whose influence shaped history. Some believe it signifies reincarnation. The return of an unfinished soul."
Mehta sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "That's what we need to figure out. Get me something concrete."
Sidharth nodded, making a note. "On it."
There was a brief silence before Mehta's lips curled into an amused smirk.
"So… Akhil tells me you're in love."
Sidharth froze, his pen slipping slightly. "…What?"
Mehta leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Akhil. Your dear friend and my dear relative. He says you've been acting like a lovesick fool for two days."
Sidharth glared at the door as if Akhil would magically appear so he could strangle him. "That idiot—"
Mehta chuckled. "So? Who's the girl?"
Sidharth sighed, running a hand over his face. "It's not—sir, it's not like that."
Mehta raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Akhil made it sound like you saw her once and now you can't breathe without thinking about her. I thought that kind of thing only happened in movies."
Sidharth groaned. "Can we focus on the star?"
Mehta grinned. "No, no. The star can wait. This is more interesting." He leaned back, enjoying himself far too much. "So? Who is she?"
Sidharth hesitated, knowing he'd get no peace until he answered. "…I don't know."
Mehta blinked. "Wait. You don't even know her?"
"I saw her. At Marine Drive."
Mehta stared at him. Then burst out laughing.
"Wait. Hold on." He wiped at his eyes. "You mean to tell me you're losing sleep over a stranger?"
Sidharth gritted his teeth. "It's… complicated."
Mehta shook his head, still grinning. "My boy, this isn't love. This is madness."
Sidharth slumped in his chair, regretting every decision that led to this conversation.
Mehta finally calmed down, though his amusement didn't fade. "Alright, alright. Fine. Get back to your star mystery. But let me know when you do find her, huh? I'd love to meet the girl who turned my most serious journalist into a hopeless romantic overnight."
Sidharth muttered something under his breath, but Mehta only laughed harder.
As he left the office, Sidharth knew one thing for certain.
Between the mystery of the star and the teasing about her—he was never going to hear the end of this.