In a dream, a young woman knelt on the ground, shivering, her wide eyes locked onto the collapsed remains of a grand building. The shattered arch above bore faint, broken letters— ".u.n .n.i.er.ty"—a haunting reminder of what once stood there. The air was thick with dust, the acrid scent of destruction still lingering, as if the tragedy had just unfolded.
A deep male voice cut through the silence. "Why are you here?"
A trembling female voice responded, barely above a whisper. "Eswar Uncle... Uncle, please tell me... Why did everything spiral out of control?"
Before an answer came, a voice interrupted—light, cheerful, and familiar.
"Anaya, wake up! Today's the singing competition!"
Anaya's eyes fluttered open, a small tear slipping down her cheek. But as reality settled in, she quickly wiped it away and returned to her usual composed self.
Inside their shared hostel room, the morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the space. Anaya's three roommates, including Riya, were already up, preparing for the day.
From behind the bathroom door, the sound of running water filled the air as Anaya enjoyed a refreshing bath. Meanwhile, Riya sat on the bed, rummaging through a small pile of clothes.
"Anaya, which dress are you planning to wear for the competition?" Riya called out, holding up two options—a simple yet elegant blue dress and a stylish white one.
Anaya's voice came from the other side of the door, muffled by the water. "Neither. I got a new dress for today."
Riya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A new dress? Since when do you go out of your way to buy something special?" she teased.
The sound of water stopped, and Anaya's voice carried a hint of amusement. "It's a special day, isn't it? Might as well dress the part."
Riya smirked. "You sure it's just about the competition and not for someone in particular?" she teased further.
Anaya opened the door slightly, just enough to glare playfully at Riya. "Don't overthink it."
Riya laughed. "Fine, fine. But I better be the first to see it when you step out!"
As Anaya finished up, the anticipation for the competition slowly built up in the room, an unspoken excitement lingering between them.
---
Anaya stepped out of the bathroom, drying her damp hair with a towel. The scent of fresh jasmine soap lingered around her, mixing with the faint fragrance of her new dress—a soft peach-colored outfit with delicate embroidery. As she adjusted the sleeves, she caught her reflection in the mirror. Her face had an unusual glow today, a brightness even she couldn't deny.
Her roommate, Riya, raised an eyebrow. "You're unusually happy today."
Another friend, Sneha, smirked, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "Yeah, I was going to say the same. Is this excitement for the singing competition... or for that guy? What was his name again?"
Anaya's hands briefly froze on the fabric of her dress. She glanced at Riya, who was grinning knowingly, then at Sneha, who was waiting for a reaction.
Before she could reply, Pooja, their third roommate, snapped her fingers as if she had just remembered something. "Oh, you mean that guy from the train?"
Anaya quickly looked away, acting as if she hadn't heard them. "I don't know what you guys are talking about," she muttered, pretending to focus on her hair.
Riya wasn't letting it go so easily. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "Hmm… I wonder if he's coming to the singing competition today."
That hit a nerve.
Anaya's fingers trembled slightly as she picked up her earrings. It was only for a second, but Riya caught it.
"Wait." Sneha's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why did you freeze just now?"
Pooja nudged Riya, whispering dramatically, "She totally wants him to come."
Anaya rolled her eyes, but her heartbeat had picked up speed. Was he really coming? She hadn't thought about it before, but now that the question was out there, she felt a strange anticipation bubbling inside her. Would she see him in the crowd?
She turned away from their prying eyes and focused on fixing her earrings. "You guys are overthinking."
"Oh, we are?" Riya smirked, sharing a knowing look with the others.
As they continued their teasing, Anaya couldn't help but wonder—if he did come, what would she even say to him?
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The morning air was crisp as Ayaan adjusted the collar of his shirt, checking his reflection one last time. His expression was calm, yet there was something different in his demeanor—something even he hadn't fully acknowledged.
Before stepping out of his room, he took a deep breath and turned toward the small altar in their home. Closing his eyes, he bowed slightly, whispering a silent prayer. Then, with a deep exhale, he walked toward the living room.
Tanvi, his mother, was seated on the couch, sipping tea. As soon as she saw him approach, she raised an eyebrow. "You're dressed up."
Without a word, Ayaan bent down and touched her feet for a blessing.
His mother was stunned for a moment before a soft smile graced her lips. "Stay safe and do well in whatever you're planning today."
Across the room, Rohan stared at the scene, puzzled. Ayaan was not the type to seek blessings unless it was something significant. "What's up with you today?" Rohan asked, squinting. "Why are you acting... weird?"
Ayaan smirked, ruffling Rohan's hair. "I just have a good feeling about today."
Rohan crossed his arms, clearly not convinced. "Are you sure this is about an event and not about someone?"
Ayaan rolled his eyes, ignoring his little brother's remark. Instead, he checked his watch and grabbed his phone. "I'm heading out."
As he stepped outside, Dev was already waiting near the gate, leaning against his bike. "Took you long enough."
Ayaan locked the door behind him. "Change of plans—you're coming with me."
Dev raised an eyebrow. "Where to?"
"The singing competition."
Dev blinked. "Wait... what? Since when are you into music events?"
Ayaan simply smirked. "Let's just say, I have my reasons."
Dev let out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, but I expect snacks in return."
With that, both of them hopped onto the bike and rode toward the competition venue—unknowingly heading toward a fated encounter.