Age was the earth's greatest enemy, and the heart... its culprit, yet she fell in love... Why? What was it about the mischievous Sarvagy, younger than her, that made a mature girl like Dhara cross every limit in love? Was it just love... or an incomp... Age was the earth's greatest enemy, and the heart... its culprit, yet she fell in love... Why? What was it about the mischievous Sarvagy, younger than her, that made a mature girl like Dhara cross every limit in love? Was it just love... or an incomplete story, searching for a confession? Sarvagy insisted every day, and Dhara stopped herself every time. She kept saying 'no,' but her eyes screamed 'yes' every time. And perhaps, waiting for that one 'yes'... Sarvagy kept crossing every limit of love... But the question is... for how long? For how long will two hearts remain entangled like this, waiting for a confession?<br />
Page 1 of 7
They say some meetings are just meant to be. They don't consider time, place, or age gaps. And when they happen, the entire universe seems to come to a standstill, breaths are suspended, and the heart realizes in that moment that it was incomplete all along.
This is a story about a mischievous boy named Sarvagya and a simple girl named Dhara.
Sarvagya Yadav, a high school student, was a mama's boy and his brother's "little one." He lay sprawled on his bed as if he had nothing to do with the world. His light, curly hair was scattered on his forehead. His fair, glowing skin was kissed by the sun's rays.
"Saavre! Get up, beta, you have a chemistry test today!" Yamini's voice echoed through the room's walls. Her voice had a strange affection that couldn't hide her love even in a scolding tone. She always called him 'Saavre' - perhaps because of her special attachment to Kanha.
Sarvagya turned over. His sleepy eyes opened halfway, then closed again, struggling. "Mummy... five more minutes... please..."
His sleepy voice had such sweetness that anyone's anger would melt. Mummy pulled the sheet off. "Saavre! Not five minutes, look at the clock, it's eight! Are you going to get up or should I call your brother to pour water on you?"
Sarvagya opened his eyes listlessly. His face had a slight irritation, but his sleepy innocence immediately melted Mummy's anger. She knew - this boy was as lazy as he was sensitive.
"Arre Mummy, don't call Bhaiya, please! He'll tease me again by calling me 'Chhottu'!" Chitransh Bhaiya, who now worked, always lovingly called him "Chhottu." But Sarvagya didn't like the name.
Finally, he got up. He stretched, combed his hair, and headed to the bathroom. A while later, Sarvaga came out. He headed to the wardrobe where his school uniform hung, but his tie was missing.
"Mummy! My tie is not found!" He called out in a hurry.
"Keep your things in order, Saavre! I told you to manage your things." Mummy muttered and handed him the tie. "I have to run after you every time!"
Sarvagya carelessly wrapped the tie, which was completely crooked. He picked up his bag and ran outside. "Hey! Don't forget to have a snack!" Mummy called out.
"I'm late, Mummy!" He left, cycling quickly out of the alley.
The cold wind hit his face, but he didn't care. On his way to school, his bicycle chain creaked a bit, but he didn't notice. His mind was stuck on one thing - the chemistry test.
He muttered to himself, "What will be, will be."
As he turned the corner, he looked back. His mother was still watching him from the balcony. He smiled slightly, and his mother bid him farewell with a blessing-filled gaze.
Sarvagya didn't know that this morning was not an ordinary morning. This day would become the most memorable day of his life - a day that would change his entire life...
Sarvagy's bicycle was racing with the wind. The roads were lined with flamboyant flowers. The cold wind played with his hair, but his mind was preoccupied with the chemistry test.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar sound broke his thoughts. A faint cry seemed to come from somewhere. The voice was so sorrowful that Sarvagya's heart felt uneasy.
He stopped his bicycle and looked around. A strange pull was in his heart. He didn't understand why, but his steps moved towards the sound.
A little further, he saw a girl sitting under a tree. Her face was bent, and her shoulders shook slightly - perhaps due to crying.
She wore a light pink salwar suit, with one end of her dupatta falling on her lap. Her long, curly hair made a beautiful braid that flowed down her back.
She covered her face with her palms.
Sarvagya unknowingly approached her. "Hey... why are you crying?"
The girl slowly removed her palms from her face. Sarvagya's breath seemed to stop. He saw her face for the first time - fair skin like milk, big brown eyes, and something in those eyes that made Sarvagya's heart skip a beat. Her nose, which had turned slightly pink from crying, had a small, thin gold nose ring. And a small mole right in the middle of her chin.
The girl looked at him for a moment, her big eyelids rising and then lowering. Sarvagya's heartbeat quickened. He placed his hand on his heart, trying to calm himself.
The girl raised her eyelids again. "N... nothing..." she said, sniffling, and looked down.
Sarvagya quickly took off his bag, put his bicycle aside, and came closer to her. "Look, don't sit on the road and cry... someone will see, and it won't look good..."
His voice trembled unknowingly.
The girl pointed her shaking finger to her right. Sarvagya looked in that direction. A blue slipper lay broken, its strap torn.
The girl looked at the broken slipper and said softly, "It... it broke..."
A slight smile appeared on Sarvagya's face. He pushed his hair back and looked at her. "Just this?"
The girl looked at him as if she might throw the slipper at him. "Is it a small thing? You think it's a small thing? I have to go to college! I have a presentation today... and if I'm late, Mam will scold me in front of everyone... and... and... everyone will laugh at me."
Sarvagya scratched his head. "Yes, I have an idea!"
The girl looked at him in surprise.
Sarvagya pulled out a black thread from his bag - maybe left over from an old project. He sat on the ground.
The girl still looked at him in amazement. "What... what are you doing?"
Sarvagya said, "Just a minute, please put your foot forward. You have to go to college, and I have to go to school... we're both late, so I'll fix it quickly."
The girl hesitantly put her foot forward.
As soon as her foot appeared, Sarvagya's gaze stuck to her feet.
Soft, fair feet, slightly pink heels, and a thin silver anklet...
Sarvagya's heart seemed to stop for a moment. He shook his head, trying to snap out of it, but his eyes kept going back to the anklet, which moved slightly...
"Wow... these are so beautiful feet..."
The thought occurred to him unconsciously, and a long smile spread across his face.
The girl caught the direction of his eyes and raised her eyebrows. "What are you looking at?"
Sarvagya was embarrassed. "Nothing... I mean... I'm seeing where to tie the strap..."
He quickly looked down, but his heart still pounded.
Sarvagya quickly picked up the broken slipper, examined it, and started tying it with the black thread.
Then he put the repaired slipper on the girl's foot.
As his fingers touched her foot, both of their breaths stopped for a moment.
Sarvagya felt like a slight current had passed through his hands. His heart beat strongly, reminding him that he was alive.
The girl lifted her foot and looked at the slipper. The strap looked a bit crooked, but at least she could walk.
A smile appeared on the girl's face. "Thank you..."
Sarvagya said proudly, "No problem is too big to have a solution from Sarvagya..."
The girl asked curiously, "Sarvagya... means all-knowing?"
"Yes, I have answers to every question." Sarvagya said confidently, as if he could solve any problem in a moment.
Then he remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "By the way, will you tell me your name?"
"Dhara... Dhara Thakur."
"Dhara... means earth, i.e., Dharti!" He repeated the name, paused, and looked at her. "Then I will call you 'Thakurain' from now on!"
Dhara looked at him for a moment, then raised her eyebrows. "What? Thakurain?"
Sarvagya nodded and said innocently, "Yes, you are a Thakur... and anyway, your eyes are so authoritative, how can I not call you Thakurain?"
Dhara turned her face, but a slight smile couldn't hide.
Sarvagya caught her smile. "I saw, I saw! You smiled. That means you agreed, now you are my Thakurain!"
Dhara shook her head and tried to stand up, but stumbled while adjusting her slipper. Sarvagya quickly moved forward and held her.
"Arre, arre, Thakurain ji, be careful!"
Dhara jerked her hand away. "I don't need your help, understand? And I'm not Thakurain or anything!"
Sarvagya pouted. "Yes, yes, you're not Thakurain... but this name is stuck now. My tongue won't change it!"
Dhara stood up, put on her slipper properly, and started walking. Sarvagya watched her.
On her way, Dhara turned back, looked at him, and smiled slightly.
Sarvagya's heart stopped right there.
That was the first encounter between Dhara and Sarvagya...
Now, let's see - will this encounter turn into the knock of love?
To know what happens next, keep reading... If you liked the start of the story, let me know by reviewing.
It was evening. Sarvagya dropped his bag at home and sprawled on the sofa.
"Oh God! Today was really boring... The chemistry test just took the life out of me. And on top of that, that old hag... Uff!"
A strange smile flickered across his face, but then the doorbell broke his trance. The bell kept ringing.
"Who is it now? People don't even let you sit in peace!" he grumbled, moving towards the door.
As he opened the door, his senses reeled. Three girls from the girls' hostel stood there—their faces a storm of anger, as if they had just returned from a great war!
"You're the one with the slingshot, aren't you?" the first girl asked, glaring.
Sarvagya, feigning innocence, said, "Who... me? No! You must be mistaken."
"Don't lie! My bucket fell down today, and yesterday my friend's clothes that were drying also fell down. This is all your doing!" the second girl said angrily.
Sarvagya, thoroughly flustered, said, "Sister, I swear I came straight home from school. Ask Mom."
Just then, Yamini, his mother, came out from the kitchen. She was startled to see the girls.
"What happened, children? Is there a problem?"
"Auntie, your Sanwara is very naughty! He shoots down our clothes from above with a slingshot. Something or the other falls down every day. He acts all innocent, but he's very mischievous!" the third girl said immediately.
Mom looked at Sarvagya with anger, who was still standing there with his mask of innocence.
"Sanwara!" Mom's voice turned stern. "Is this true?"
"I just... hit it lightly, Mom, honestly! Not too hard..."
Just then, a voice came from above—"Chhotu-o-o-o!"
Sarvagya's senses reeled. This voice was none other than his elder brother, Chitransh, who was peeking down from the balcony of the first floor.
"Oh Mom, he's not innocent, he's the biggest rascal! Yesterday I saw him aiming with a slingshot myself. Arjuna didn't aim at the fish's eye as precisely as he aimed at the girls' buckets!"
"See, Auntie! Your innocent-looking Sanwara is not innocent at all. He's making the entire hostel miserable." the girls said sheepishly.
Mom's anger began to boil.
"Sanwara! I'll sort you out! You'll trouble girls? From now on, no mobile, no games, and no going out to play!"
Sarvagya said softly, "Mom... brother is lying."
Mom glared, "He's lying, yes? Good! And are those girls here to welcome you with Aarti?"
Sarvagya slowly lowered his head, "I just... hit it lightly, Mom, and that too in jest."
Chitransh called out again from above, "Oh Mom, what do you mean 'lightly'! He aimed so well that the clothes fell down, and along with them, the vegetable basket of the neighbor, Mrs. Billu, also overturned! Lockets and tomatoes were scattered all over the street. Mrs. Billu swore that if she sees him again, she'll chase him with a broom!"
The girls could no longer contain their laughter, but Mom's anger remained.
"Sanwara! I'll deal with you later. First, apologize to these girls!"
Sarvagya sniffled, lowered his head, and said softly, "Sorry sisters... I won't do it again."
The girls smiled at each other. One girl said, "It's okay, Auntie, just next time, leave the slingshot and focus on studies, otherwise, your trouble will be, not ours!"
Mom nodded her head in anger, "Next time, if I see this slingshot in his hand, I'll be the one to cause trouble for him!"
The girls left, laughing. Sarvagya breathed a sigh of relief, but then Chitransh peeked out from the balcony again and taunted—
"Hey Chhotu, now that you've said sorry, what's the next mission?"
Mom looked at Chitransh angrily, "You too, shut up! No need to spoil him!"
Sarvagya grumbled to his mother, "Scold brother too! He always adds fuel to the fire!"
Mom glared and said, "Chitransh, you come down, I have to settle accounts with you today too!"
Chitransh, laughing, disappeared from the balcony, calling out, "Oh Mom, I was just joking! I made Chhotu apologize, didn't I? My job is done!"
Sarvagya hit his forehead and muttered, "Brother... always gets me into trouble!"
Mom glared at Sarvagya and said, "I'll deal with you later. First, get ready! We have to go to Auntie's house for the night, and anyway, tomorrow is Sunday!"
Sarvagya's face fell.
"Mom, I just went there last week... and Auntie makes me do all the work. She says—'Sanwara, cut the vegetables, Sanwara, take off the clothes, Sanwara, do this, Sanwara, do that...' Mom, I feel like a servant there!"
Mom glared and said, "Oh really? So what is this kingly work you're doing, dropping girls' buckets with your 'slingshot express' every day?"
Sarvagya pouted, "But Mom, my ears start hurting from listening to Auntie. She always speaks ill of me—'Sanwara is very careless, doesn't know how to sit properly, doesn't even pick up his plate after eating. He's become completely useless'... Mom, do you know? Last time she even called me a 'donkey'!"
Mom smiled and said, "Then didn't she speak the truth?"
Sarvagya made a very hurt face and said, "Mom, you're also taking her side? Meaning, your son is getting ruined here, and you're playing on Auntie's team?"
Meanwhile... the room was slightly messy. Clothes and books were strewn on the bed, and in the middle sat her roommate, Kavya, who was packing her belongings. Dhara leaned against the door and sighed, looking at Kavya.
"So you're really leaving?" Dhara asked, a little sadly.
Kavya nodded with a smile, "Yes, man, this hostel is unbearable now. The food is bad, you can't even stand the warden's face, and they're looting us too!"
Dhara shook her head angrily, "Really, man! That warden looks at us as if we're not here to study, but to serve a sentence for a crime. And the food? Uff! Seeing that dal, it feels like they've given us boiled river water!"
Kavya laughed and said, "You're so right! I'm going to my sister's flat... and listen, you should leave this prison too. Shift to a good hostel."
Dhara lowered her head sadly, "But where will I go? I don't know any good hostels."
Kavya looked at Dhara. There was a strange emptiness in her large, innocent eyes. Kavya understood that Dhara couldn't stay alone. She was very innocent at heart—the kind of girl who trusted everyone, without thinking if the other person genuinely wanted good for her or not.
Kavya thought for a moment, then said, "There's a hostel in Sudarshan Mohalla—'Gulmohar Girls Hostel'. A friend of mine lives there. She said the atmosphere there is good, the food is like home-cooked, and the warden is also cool—meaning, she doesn't give off a Hitler vibe!"
A flicker of hope lit up in Dhara's eyes, "Really? You'll drop me off there, won't you?"
Kavya smiled, "Let's go tomorrow morning. You can see it too, and if you like it, stay. Anyway, I don't feel like leaving you alone, but going to my sister's is also important."
"You are my best friend," saying this, Dhara hugged Kavya tightly.
As soon as Dhara hugged Kavya, tears streamed down her eyes. She couldn't hold back.
"You are my best friend, Kavya... please don't go," Dhara's voice choked.
Kavya hugged her even tighter, as if wanting her hug to draw away all of Dhara's pain. But she also knew she had to go.
"Dhara, you silly! If you cry, I'll cry too... and if I cry, my sister won't let me into the room!"
Dhara smiled slightly, but her eyes were still moist.
"You're leaving, now who will be there for me?"
Kavya lightly patted her head, "Hey, I'm leaving, but I'll call you every day, I'll annoy you on video calls. And that new hostel is so close that you can come whenever you want, understood?"
Dhara wiped her tears and tried to smile, "You're truly very good, Kavya."
Kavya rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, yes, why didn't you understand this before? Now stop the drama, and make that Maggi for me one last time! After going to the flat, sister will put me on a healthy diet."
Dhara nodded with a laugh, "Yes, yes, I'm making Maggi... the last time!"
Kavya smiled, "Not the last time, in our friendship, there's no 'last', understood, silly?"
Dhara stared at her for a moment, then they both burst into laughter. The scattered belongings and the sadness in the room had vanished. Only their laughter echoed—the same laughter that perhaps, years later, would reside in Dhara's heart as a memory.
In the kitchen, Dhara was making Maggi. The pot was on the stove, and the water slowly began to boil. Dhara was lost in her own thoughts, perhaps feeling the void of Kavya's departure. Kavya looked intently at her sad face, then suddenly said in a playful tone—
"Hey, listen! Don't go anywhere alone!"
Dhara looked at her in surprise, "Meaning?"
Kavya said, becoming a little serious, "Meaning, do you even know how beautiful you are? All the boys here stare at you. You don't even care, but I see everything."
Dhara shook her head with a laugh, "Oh please! It's nothing like that."
Kavya rolled her eyes, "Yes, yes, you don't see anything! You consider every boy in the world your brother!"
Dhara laughed, "So what should I do? Suspect everyone?"
Kavya said, becoming a little serious, "Look, I'm not joking. Not just boys, some girls here are also jealous of you. I've heard many times, they say nonsense things about you. They even try to defame you, but you don't care!"
Dhara shrugged, "Why should I care? I know who I am. Whatever anyone says, what does it matter to me?"
Kavya sighed deeply, "You are very innocent, Dhara. Don't trust everyone."
Dhara looked at her, slightly surprised, then smiled, "Now you're getting too filmy."
Kavya pinched her nose, "Yes, yes, I'm getting filmy, but you understand what I'm saying! And listen..."
Dhara immediately said, "Man... I'm not a child!"
"Yes, yes, Madam has grown up! Come on, hurry up, give me the Maggi. I want to eat a stomach full of Maggi before going to sister's place!"
The next day... the morning sun peeked through the window with faint golden rays. Dhara's eyes were heavy—she had been talking to Kavya until midnight. They both knew this was the last night they were together in the same room.
Kavya had already woken up. She was packing her last bag. Dhara blinked her eyes, turned over, and said softly, "You woke up so early?"
Kavya said with a laugh, "Early? Silly, it's ten o'clock! Your sleep is never complete. Come on, get up, we have to go see the hostel too, right?"
Dhara sighed and got up reluctantly. She knew today was going to be a difficult day.
After some time... the two were sitting in an auto, heading towards Sudarshan Mohalla. Dhara was looking out the window, but her mind was in turmoil. Her best friend was leaving, and she herself was going to live in an unknown place.
"Dhara, why are you so quiet?" Kavya interrupted her.
"Nothing... just thinking, what if the new hostel isn't good?"
"Don't worry. If you don't like it, I'll bring you back to my flat, understood?" Kavya said, holding her palm with a smile.
In front of Gulmohar Girls Hostel... the hostel from the outside looked like a big, old mansion. Vines climbed the pink walls, and a large board hung above the gate—"Gulmohar Girls Hostel - Safe and Comfortable Accommodation."
"Man... this looks like a hostel from a movie," Dhara said with a strange expression.
Kavya laughed, "Let's go inside, maybe the atmosphere inside is good!"
As they entered the hostel, a strange coolness was felt. Old paintings were hung on the walls, and an middle-aged woman sat at the reception—perhaps she was the warden.
"Yes, child, whom do you want to meet?" the woman asked in a soft voice.
Kavya stepped forward and said, "Ma'am, I wanted to see a room for my friend."
"Name?"
"Dhara... Dhara Thakur."
The warden looked at Dhara closely. There was a strange sense of warmth in her eyes.
"Okay, there's an empty room on the second floor. Come, I'll show you."
Room number 208... the room was small but clean. A single bed, a table, and a small balcony corner near the window. Dhara peeked down from the balcony—in the garden, many girls were sitting and talking, laughing. The atmosphere truly seemed good.
Kavya nudged her elbow lightly, "So, madam, how did you like it?"
Dhara smiled slightly and nodded, "It's good... it's livable."
"That's it! So you'll stay here," Kavya said happily.
Dhara sat on the bed quietly and said, "Yes... perhaps."
"Listen, shift here today itself...!"
Dhara took a deep breath and looked at Kavya, "Should I go and submit the application to that Hitler right away?"
Kavya said promptly, "Absolutely! The sooner you get rid of her, the better. I'm leaving in the evening, by then we'll get all your luggage shifted here. You should stay here from today!"
Dhara became a little confused, "But... what if she doesn't accept the application?"
"Hey, why are you scared? You just have to submit an application, not write a love letter! And anyway, she's jealous of seeing you, so she barks more. Come on, I'll go with you. Let's see her face one last time, then we'll run away from here!"
Dhara nodded reluctantly, "Okay, let's go. Anyway, I can't tolerate that strict aunty anymore!"
At the old hostel... Dhara and Kavya walked slowly towards the warden's office. Seeing the two, the other girls started whispering.
"Kavya was already leaving, is Dhara also leaving?"
"Looks like these two have done some mischief together!"
"Yes, and that warden will tear them apart again!"
Dhara rolled her eyes at their words, but said nothing.
Reaching the office door, Kavya knocked lightly. From inside came the familiar, stern voice—
"Come in!"
Dhara took a deep breath and stepped inside. Kavya followed.
Warden Mrs. Tripathi sat at her desk, looking at files. She glared at Dhara over her glasses.
"Why have you come?"
Dhara said softly, "Ma'am... I want to leave the hostel."
The warden frowned, "Oh? Why now? You were supposed to stay here, weren't you? Why are you leaving so suddenly?"
Dhara tried to say something, but Kavya interrupted—
"Ma'am, the food here is bad, the atmosphere is bad, and your face also looks more like Hitler's day by day. What else can we say?"
The warden's eyes turned red with anger.
"Kavya! I cannot tolerate this insolence!"
Kavya said nonchalantly, "You don't need to tolerate it, Ma'am. We are leaving anyway."
Dhara quickly intervened, "Ma'am, please... just sign my formality application. I really can't stay here anymore."
The warden took a deep breath in anger, then flipped through a file and said reluctantly, "Okay. Write the application."
Dhara quickly took out a paper and started writing—
"To,
The Warden, XYZ Girls Hostel,
Subject: Request to leave the hostel."
As soon as Dhara wrote the application and handed it over, the warden signed it without looking.
"Go. And leave the room clean."
Dhara breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "Thank you, Ma'am."
The warden glared again, "Don't be too happy. You'll get a similar hostel there, not a five-star hotel."
Kavya ignored her words, pulled Dhara's hand, and came outside.
"Come on, silly, now you're free from this jail!" Kavya said happily.
In the evening... Dhara's luggage was all packed. Kavya helped her a lot. After packing, Kavya decided to drop Dhara at her new hostel—"Gulmohar Girls Hostel." Around four in the evening, the two took an auto and left the old hostel.
"Look, silly, there's no need to be afraid. Your new hostel will be a thousand times better than the old one," Kavya said with a smile.
Dhara nodded slightly, but she still seemed lost.
"And listen, the warden there also seemed soft-hearted. Absolutely no Hitler vibe," Kavya said, suppressing a laugh.
"Yes, that's true... but there's no one I know there, Kavya. I'll feel lonely, man," Dhara said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Hey, how long does it take you to make friends? You'll make a whole group of girls in just two days!" Kavya said, nudging her lightly.
In a short while, the auto stopped at the hostel gate. Pink walls, the board on the gate read—"Gulmohar Girls Hostel - Safe and Comfortable Accommodation"—seeing this, Dhara sighed.
"Come on, let's get your luggage shifted today itself. I'll leave in the evening, I'll get everything set for you before that."
As they entered the hostel, they met the warden with the same soft voice.
"Oh, child, you're here? I've got the room ready. You've brought your luggage, right?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Just need a little help with shifting," Kavya said with a smile.
The warden called a staff member and got the luggage sent up.
Evening was drawing in. Kavya looked at her watch, "Man, I have to leave now. It will be late at sister's place."
Dhara's face fell.
Kavya lifted her face, "Don't be sad, man, otherwise I really won't be able to leave. I'll call you every day, we'll chat on video calls, okay?"
Dhara nodded and hugged her tightly.
"You are the best, Kavya..."
"And you are the most emotional! Now be careful, and yes, if needed, definitely talk to Warden Ma'am, and yes, don't trust any strangers, understood?"
"Yes, Baba, I understand," Dhara said with a smile.
What happens next...?
On one side is the mischievous Sanwara... on the other is the innocent Dhara... both entangled in their own worlds... but will fate reunite them? If so, how?
To be continued
The next evening—
As Sarvagya reached his house gate after returning from Sarvagya Mausiji’s house, his mother’s voice could be heard from inside—
“Chitransh! Has that dark boy arrived? Today, he’s in for it…!”
Sarvagya’s heart skipped a beat. He slowly opened the door and began to tiptoe inside like a cat, but as he reached the door, he quietly entered and started heading straight towards his room. However, his mother’s lioness-like voice stopped him.
“Stop, dark boy! Come here for a moment.”
Sarvagya slowly turned his neck, “Yes, Mother?”
His mother stood with her hands on her hips, her face as stern as a detective watching a criminal. Behind her, Papa Nandan Ji was smiling secretly behind his newspaper.
“Mausi called. She said you created ‘mayhem’ at her house. What was this mayhem? Tell me in detail?” Mother glared.
Sarvagya immediately used his ultimate weapon—making his most innocent face, he said, “Mother, honestly, I was just joking. Mausi herself said the house had become too quiet, so I just added some liveliness.”
Mother glared angrily, “Added liveliness? Mausi said you put salt in her tea!”
Sarvagya immediately donned an innocent demeanor, “Oh Mother, that was a mistake… I went to add sugar, but both containers looked the same. You can’t trust your eyes, can you! I thought Mausi would be happy drinking sweet tea, but salty tea is also good for health. At least there won’t be any risk of diabetes!”
Mother stared, “And tell me, what other healthy deeds did you perform?”
Sarvagya quickly joined his hands, “Just Mother, honestly, I didn’t do anything. I was just helping Mausi!”
Mother stared again.
Seeing his mother’s staring gaze, Sarvagya blurted out, “Just Mother, it was only a little… I stuck Mausi’s bindi upside down, and I put a spoon in her mixer grinder—but Mother, I was careful, the spoon wasn’t steel, it was plastic!”
Papa burst out laughing, “Oh wow! Good job, my son is environmentally conscious!”
Mother glared angrily at Papa, “Nandan Ji, why are you laughing? This boy will bring disgrace to the entire family one day!”
Sarvagya quickly explained, “Oh Mother, the mixer was making a noise like a tractor starting, so I thought maybe the mixer was malfunctioning internally, so I put a spoon in to check if the noise would stop… But Mother, honestly, the noise did stop, didn’t it!”
Mother clutched her forehead, “The noise didn’t stop, the mixer stopped, you rascal!”
Sarvagya widened his eyes innocently, “Oh Mother, how much was the mixer even running? Anyway, Mausi was going to buy a new juicer machine… I just lightened the load of the old mixer.”
Mother’s anger had reached its peak, “Dark boy, I won’t let you off today!”
Sarvagya immediately looked at Papa, “Papa, save me!”
Papa smiled and said, “I want to save you, son, but even God can’t save you from your mother’s anger.”
Mother picked up a broom and said, “Today, just start running!”
Sarvagya quickly ran, “Mother! Forgive me! I’ll definitely become a good boy next time!”
His mother’s voice came from behind, “Good boy? Your being good is as impossible as your father reaching the office on time!”
Sarvagya shouted while running, “Papa, Mother is insulting you!”
Papa laughed, “Oh son, today your case is on trial, not mine. Save yourself first!”
Sarvagya ran with great agility and headed straight towards the courtyard. Mother chased after him with the broom, “Stop, dark boy! Today, I will set you straight!”
Papa chuckled from behind, “Run, dark boy! You’ve activated Mother’s rocket launcher!”
Sarvagya kept running, “Papa, save me! Mother has truly become Sachin Tendulkar, she’s swinging the broom like a bat!”
Sarvagya kept running, laughing. But then…
Time stood still.
Outside the girls’ hostel, a girl was standing. Wrapped in a light green suit, with a small bindi on her forehead, and a strange gentleness on her face despite her tiredness.
Dhara.
Sarvagya’s heart skipped a beat. It was her—the “Thakurain…”—the girl with the broken slipper from their first meeting.
Today, she stood quietly, talking to the hostel warden.
Her eyes were large, as if they contained the entire sky. A few strands of hair were falling on her cheeks, and she was repeatedly trying to tuck them back.
Sarvagya didn’t hear his mother’s voice. His eyes were fixed on one place—Dhara’s face.
“Is she here to stay?”
This thought flashed through his mind like lightning. He felt as if a sweet knock had sounded on his mischievous heart.
He froze in his place. His mother’s broom was waving in the air, but he couldn’t see it. Dhara turned her head slightly, but she probably didn’t see Sarvagya.
Her hair swayed in the wind, and her dupatta slipped from her shoulder and began to fall. She quickly adjusted it, and Sarvagya felt as if a corner of his heart had become silent.
“Dhara… Thakurain…?”
These words remained unspoken on Sarvagya’s lips.
Sarvagya was staring blankly at Dhara. Behind him, his mother stopped waving the broom. Her face showed more surprise than anger.
“Why has this boy frozen? He was running faster than the wind just now…” Mother muttered to herself, but Sarvagya couldn’t hear any sound.
Gulmohar Girls Hostel—this name was shining in golden letters, and the shine on Dhara’s face was even greater. She was asking the warden something.
This hostel was right in front of Sarvagya’s house. Meaning, he would be able to see Dhara every day now? The thought brought a faint smile to his lips.
Then, Dhara thanked the warden with a slight smile and turned around.
Sarvagya’s breath hitched.
Her eyes met his.
That moment… it was as if time had frozen right there.
Dhara looked at him for a few moments. There was a question, an entanglement in her eyes. Then, as if she remembered something, her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You… you are the one, aren’t you? The one who helped me?”
Sarvagya’s mind reeled.
“Oh my god! She recognized me!”
He stammered, flustered, “Uh… yes… yes… that… slipper… I mean… yes, it’s me.”
Dhara’s eyebrow rose slightly, but a faint smile appeared on her lips. She shook her head slightly, as if saying—"Fool!"
She turned and started to enter the hostel. But as she was leaving, his mother’s words echoed in her ears.
“Dark boy! Come inside….”
Dhara’s steps stopped near the hostel door. She turned slightly and looked at Sarvagya, and then her gaze shifted to his mother. For a moment, she seemed to be trying to understand something, then a faint smile bloomed on her lips.
“Dark boy…” she murmured to herself and went inside.
Sarvagya still stood there, like a statue.
So, they met again…
Now, the innocent Dhara lives right in front of the mischievous Sarvagya.
Now, let’s see—how will the beginning of this love be…
To be continued
To know what happens next, keep reading……
It was nighttime.
Dhara sat alone in her new room, 208. She looked a little tired. She didn't feel like unpacking her bags, so she took out her phone and called her mom. Dhara took a deep breath, then slowly took out her phone.
"Mamma's" number glowed on the screen. She called without wasting any time.
"Hello, Mamma?" Her voice had a slight hint of tiredness and sadness.
"Dhara, my child! How is my little doll? Did you shift to your hostel?" Hearing her mom's voice, Dhara's eyes welled up slightly.
"Yes, Mamma, I changed hostels... the room here is nice, and big too." Dhara tried to force a smile.
"Oh, wow! You did well. How is the warden there? Is the food alright?" Mom asked with a worried tone.
"Yes, Mamma... the warden is very nice, she spoke to me kindly." Dhara said with a fake smile, while her eyes felt the emptiness of the room.
"And Kavya? She didn't shift with you, did she?"
Dhara's throat tightened slightly.
"No, Mamma... Kavya has gone to her sister's flat. She left today. Now I am alone here."
"Oh, child, you are not alone, my Dhara. You make friends the fastest. See, in two days the whole hostel will be crazy about you!" Mom said with a laugh, as if trying to encourage her.
Dhara let out a light laugh and said, "Yes, Mamma, I will try."
"Dad is also asking how you are... he's worried because his darling is alone."
Dhara's heart filled with emotion.
"Mamma... tell Dad I am fine. Don't you both worry."
"We won't worry at all, child. Your happiness is all we want."
"Yes, Mamma... I will be happy."
After the call ended, Dhara sat silently for a while. The silence of the room seemed to gnaw at her.
She walked over to the window and stood there. The atmosphere outside was calm, but inside her, a storm was brewing.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door — "Knock... knock..."
Dhara was startled.
"Who could it be at this hour?" she muttered to herself.
She slowly opened the door.
A boy was standing there.
"Who... are you?" Dhara asked, a little scared.
The boy bowed his head slightly and said softly, "I live in the room opposite this one... 209."
Dhara looked at him in surprise. "But isn't this the girls' hostel?"
The boy replied with a slight smile, "That's the problem. I'm here... but nobody knows."
Dhara's heart started pounding.
"You... you're lying, aren't you?"
The boy made a strange, mysterious face and said, "Lies are for those who are afraid. I only show the truth... but you must have the courage to see it."
Dhara took a step back.
The boy extended a piece of paper towards her.
"What is this?"
"The truth about Room 208."
Dhara took the paper with trembling hands, and what was written on it made the ground disappear from beneath her feet.
"Last year, a mysterious fire broke out in Gulmohar Girls' Hostel, in which a girl died in the flames. But her body was never found..."
Dhara's eyes widened.
"What... what is this joke?" she asked, trembling.
The boy said in a deep voice,
"This is no joke. And the room you shifted into today... it was that girl's room."
The paper slipped from Dhara's hands.
The boy slowly stepped back and disappeared into the darkness.
Dhara closed the door with a shiver, her breathing quickening.
A terrifying silence fell upon the room.
Suddenly, the lamp light went out with a jolt.
"Knock... knock..."
The same knock came at the door again.
Dhara's heart skipped a beat.
Dhara's heart was pounding. Panicked, she looked towards the door.
"Knock... knock..."
The knock came again. Her breath caught in her throat. With trembling hands, she slowly opened the door.
The same boy was standing there... or perhaps he no longer looked like a boy.
Suddenly, a laughter came from behind.
"Hahaha... scared, were you?"
Dhara looked up, surprised. Three girls emerged from behind the door, all laughing.
One of the girls stepped forward and said, laughing, "Oh, sorry, girl... this isn't a boy, it's our friend — 'Riya'. She has a boy cut, that's why she looks completely like a boy."
Dhara looked at the "boy" with wide eyes, who was now smiling. Riya winked mischievously and said,
"You're new, so we thought we'd give you a unique welcome. Anyway, how did you like our horror prank?"
Dhara took a deep breath and said, composing herself,
"You guys nearly gave me a heart attack... I really thought it was a ghost!"
All the girls burst into laughter.
Another girl said, "Come on, now we're friends, right? By the way, I'm Kajal, this is Priya, and this is our 'ghost', Riya!"
Dhara smiled faintly and said, "Dhara."
A faint smile appeared on Dhara's face. The warmth of friendship after the fear brought her peace. The girls said, still laughing,
"Come on, it's very late, we'll meet in the morning... Goodnight, Dhara!"
"Goodnight!" Dhara replied with a smile.
The girls left the room. Dhara closed the door and took a long breath. The silence of the room no longer felt as frightening as before. She had just sat down on the bed when her phone vibrated.
"Mom's message"
"Are you asleep, child? If you feel lonely, talk to me... Dad and I miss you a lot. Stay happy, my child. Goodnight!"
Dhara's eyes welled up. She quickly typed a reply.
"Mom, I am absolutely fine. Everyone here is good. Don't you worry. Goodnight, Mom... Love you!"
As soon as she sent the reply, another notification arrived.
"Kavya's message"
"Hey, sorry, I left you behind... don't be bored alone there. Remember, your best friend will always miss you. I'll call tomorrow. Goodnight, silly!"
Dhara laughed. She immediately typed.
"You turned out to be a traitor, Kavya! And yes, I've made new friends... they're a bit spooky, but they're good... Goodnight, Kavya."
Putting her phone aside, she closed her eyes.
The soft morning sunlight peeked through the room's window. Dhara turned over and slowly opened her eyes. For a few moments, she lay there, a faint smile appearing as she recalled the fear and fun of the previous night.
"Uff... new place, new day!" she said to herself and got out of bed.
Dhara went into the bathroom, bathed, and freshened up. She opened her wardrobe and took out a white high-neck top with beautiful flowers embroidered in red thread. She paired it with a long red skirt.
Then, she braided her long, curly hair.
After getting ready, as soon as she reached the hostel mess, she saw Kajal, Priya, and Riya coming towards her.
Dhara had breakfast with the three of them.
After breakfast, everyone picked up their bags and headed for their respective colleges. As they reached the main gate of the hostel, they had to sign the register.
Warden Madam was sitting right there.
Dhara said softly, "Good morning, Ma'am!"
The warden looked up and said with a slight smile, "Good morning, child! And yes, be back on time."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Dhara replied with a smile.
The warden said in a loving tone, "Child, be back before 9 o'clock, the gate closes after 9."
Dhara nodded with a smile and went out.
Riya, Kajal, and Priya all had different colleges, so they went their separate ways, and Dhara took hers.
Dhara had only walked a few steps when a voice from behind made her stop.
"Thakurain"
Dhara turned to look — Sarvagya was coming towards her. In his school uniform, bag slung over his shoulder, and one hand resting on the handlebars of his bicycle. The same mischievous smile was on his face that she had seen yesterday.
Sarvagya stopped his bicycle, leaned slightly on the handlebars, and said with a smile, "Thakurain, please sit behind... I'll drop you at your college. It's a free ride!"
"No, no, you go to your school. I'll go myself."
"Oh, please sit, Thakurain! You don't get a free ride like this every day!"
"You go, Sanwre!"
Sarvagya was suddenly startled. He immediately looked up and asked,
"Sanwre? You called me Sanwre?"
"You are calling me 'Thakurain', so I will call you by your nickname too. Yesterday, your mom was saying – ‘Sanwre’... I heard it."
A long smile spread across Sarvagya's lips.
Sanwre...
For the first time today, this name sounded different in Sarvagya's ears. It was as if someone had dipped his name in sweet honey and called him. "Sanwre" – this was the name his mother always called him, either in anger or affection, but today this name stirred something in a special corner of his heart.
"Sanwre..."
As these words left Dhara's lips, Sarvagya felt as if a gentle cool breeze swirled around him. He smiled, but it wasn't just an ordinary smile. It was the kind of smile that naturally appears on your face when you smell the earth after the first rain.
A strange feeling arose in his heart – as if someone had sprinkled colors on his name. He wished this moment would last forever.
To be continued
"Savre, where did you get lost... Go, you'll be late..." Dhara said with a slight smile.
Sarvagya was startled, as if pulled out of a dream. He quickly composed himself, but the smile remained on his face.
"Oh, I don't get late, they start the school early because of me!" he said, winking, "By the way, Thakurain, you'll be late. Seriously, sit behind, my handle will also feel lighter."
Dhara shook her head and said, "No sir, I'll walk. And anyway, a free ride is only useful in trouble."
Sarvagya sighed dramatically and said, "Oh my god! Look, you're calling sitting on my bicycle trouble. You've broken my heart, Thakurain. Come on, at least talk to me all the way."
Dhara chuckled lightly and said, "If you want to talk, do it while walking. Let me see how much strength is in your words."
Sarvagya set up the bicycle stand, parked it comfortably under a tree, and started walking with Dhara, step by step, with a smile. Dhara walked with a slight awkwardness, but Sarvagya's face showed a distinct sense of familiarity—as if he had known her for years.
Dhara asked softly as they walked, "Savre, which class are you in?"
Sarvagya held his head high and said proudly, "11th! Science stream... plan is to become a doctor!" Then, winking, he added, "By the way, Thakurain, which college are you in and which subject have you taken?"
Dhara replied without stopping, with a bit of seriousness, "I'm in BA First Year... Hindi Honours. But my real dream is to open my own dance academy."
Sarvagya asked in surprise, "Dance academy? Do you want to become a professional dancer?"
Dhara replied with a slight smile, "Yes... dance is my life. Classical, contemporary, folk... I'm learning everything. My dream is to open my own dance academy one day. Where girls learn not just to dance, but also to believe in themselves."
Sarvagya smiled slightly and said, "Thakurain, what will be the name of your academy? 'Dhara Dance Hub' or 'Thakurain Dance Classes'?"
Dhara laughed and shook her head, "You're impossible! I haven't even thought of a name yet. I'll learn dance properly first, then I'll think of a name too."
Sarvagya said mischievously, "I'll think of the name... and remember, when the academy opens, I'll be the first admission!"
Dhara raised her eyebrows and asked, "You'll learn dance?"
Sarvagya smiled lightly and said, "Yes Thakurain, if you teach, I'll learn anything... from Ghoomar to breakdance!"
Dhara laughed and said, "You're impossible! Dance is not your thing."
Sarvagya took a deep breath and said, "You'll see, Thakurain... I want to dance standing next to you."
Dhara stopped abruptly. There was a hint of surprise in her innocent eyes.
Sarvagya asked with a slight smile, "Why did you stop, Thakurain?"
Dhara exhaled lightly and said, "You talk too much... do you ever stay quiet, or do you just keep blabbering?"
Sarvagya replied with a mischievous smile, "Oh, I'm talking less right now... to you!"
Dhara furrowed her brows and said, "But we've only known each other for two days. And we aren't friends either."
Sarvagya immediately replied, "Then let's become friends!"
Dhara shook her head and said, "Oh... I'm older than you!"
Sarvagya smiled without delay and said, "Oh Thakurain, friendship doesn't look at who's older or younger. And anyway, wise people say—friendship comes from the heart, not age!"
Dhara suppressed a slight laugh and said, "Your talk seems no less than a salesman trying to force-sell a friendship offer."
Sarvagya replied mischievously, "Then why don't you take this offer! It's a limited-time offer, Thakurain!"
Dhara stared at him and said, "I don't know why, but I feel if I become friends with you, I'll have to tolerate free nonsense every day."
Sarvagya said with a sparkle in his eyes, "You've caught on perfectly! But along with the nonsense, there's a full entertainment guarantee too."
Dhara shook her head and laughed, "You're crazy!"
Sarvagya smiled and said, "And you... are the dearest!"
Dhara stopped near the college gate. She looked at Sarvagya with a slight smile.
"Savre, do you know what friendship means?" she asked softly, as if probing for something in his answer.
Sarvagya scratched his head and said mischievously, "I know... but you should tell me your point of view, Thakurain. I was born to listen!"
Dhara suppressed a slight laugh and said, "Friendship means... supporting someone selflessly. When the other person is wrong, guiding them to the right path—not applauding their mistakes. And most importantly, friendship never involves lies."
Sarvagya smiled and said, "Yes Thakurain, friendship doesn't involve lies—but excuses are acceptable, aren't they? Like you're saying today that you like walking, but what if tomorrow you sit on the bicycle?"
Dhara rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, yes, if I sit tomorrow, then understand that I was really tired!"
Sarvagya sighed dramatically and said, "So does that mean I have to wait to tire you out every day?"
Dhara burst out laughing.
Sarvagya stood there watching Dhara go. There was a strange sparkle in his eyes—as if for the first time, someone's words had found a home in his heart. Dhara went inside the college gate, but Sarvagya's gaze remained fixed there until she completely disappeared from sight.
Sarvagya exhaled lightly, shook his head, and muttered to himself, "Thakurain... you are truly a different kind of trouble."
A little later...
Sarvagya reached the school gate running. One strap of his bag had slipped off his shoulder, his hair was flying in the wind, and he was panting as if he had just run a marathon. He looked at his watch—the first period had already started!
The guard standing at the gate glared, "Late again?"
Sarvagya flashed his teeth, panting.
The guard raised his eyebrows, but before he could say anything, Sarvagya had already rushed inside.
As he reached the classroom door, he saw—Mangal and Shridam were also standing outside!
Mangal said with his arms crossed, "So, here he is! And what's with all this sweat?"
Shridam also burst out laughing, "Looks like you came for running practice today!"
Sarvagya asked, panting, "Hey, what are you two doing here?"
Mangal said calmly, "Standing outside means we didn't go inside."
Shridam said with a serious expression, "And not going inside means we're late."
Sarvagya clutched his forehead, "So you two are also late?"
Mangal shrugged his shoulders, "Brother, how can a friend be late alone? I have to accompany you, right!"
Shridam added to his words, "We didn't come running like you, we came after leisurely eating samosas."
Sarvagya asked in surprise, "What! Samosas while coming to school?"
Mangal replied proudly, "We thought, if we have to be late, we might as well be late after eating something good!"
Sarvagya took a deep breath, "So, while I was running around, you guys were enjoying snacks?"
Shridam laughed and said, "Brother, there's no fun in being late on an empty stomach!"
Just then, the heavy voice of the Chemistry teacher came from inside, "Sarvagya, Mangal, Shridam! Are you sketching the classroom from outside?"
The three looked at each other.
Mangal whispered, "Brother, it's time for excuses!"
Sarvagya quickly replied, "Sir, actually..."
The teacher said angrily, "No actuals, no anything! Come inside, and sit straight in your seats!"
The three breathed a sigh of relief. Coming inside without much scolding was a big deal. As soon as they reached their seats, some children in the class smiled.
Mangal whispered, "Brother, mission successful again today!"
Sarvagya smiled and said, "As always!"
Shridam said softly, "Now we have to endure this Chemistry class!"
The three took a deep breath.
Mangal, leaning towards Sarvagya, asked, "Hey, why did you really plan to walk today?"
Sarvagya said philosophically, "Sometimes you have to feel life... the stones on the road, the dust, the pain in your feet..."
Shridam sighed deeply, "You're talking as if you came from a saint's ashram!"
Mangal laughed, "Brother, tell the truth, your bicycle tire got punctured, didn't it?"
Before Sarvagya could say anything, the teacher's eyes fell on them.
"What's going on back there?"
The three said in unison, "We are acquiring knowledge, sir!"
It was four o'clock in the evening at "Gulmohar Girls Hostel".
Dhara sat at her study table, looking out the window. A cool breeze was blowing, and the sunlight was slowly dimming.
She took a deep breath.
Until just a few days ago, she was in an old, boring hostel, where neither the atmosphere nor the people were good. The girls there kept to themselves, conversations were limited to necessities. No friendships, no jokes, just a boring routine. Only Kavya was good.
But here, everything was the opposite.
There were girls like Riya, Kajal, and Priya, who laughed openly, talked, joked, and turned the hostel into an entertainment zone rather than a horror house.
Dhara now realized that not just the place, but people also matter.
She thought and smiled slightly.
As she was lost in these thoughts, there was a sudden thudding at the door.
"Hey Thakur! Get out quickly!"
Dhara was startled.
"What happened?" she mumbled and opened the door.
Riya stood there, full of energy, and behind her were Kajal and Priya.
What could have happened that Riya, Kajal, and Priya stormed into her room like a whirlwind?
Wait for the next part to find out.
It was four in the evening at Gulmohar Girls Hostel.
"Hey Thakur! Get out quickly!"
Dhara jumped.
"What happened?" she mumbled, opening the door.
Riya stood there, full of energy, and behind her were Kajal and Priya.
"Golgappas!" Riya exclaimed happily.
"Now? But it's only four o'clock!" Dhara asked in surprise.
"So? Who decides the time for golgappas?" Kajal said, rolling her eyes.
Priya added, "Yes, you don't need hunger for golgappas, you need the mood!"
Dhara held her head. "You guys... I don't want to go, I'm too tired."
Riya quickly grabbed her hand. "That won't do! It's your first time going out with us!"
After Riya's announcement, Dhara knew there was no chance of escape.
"But I..."
"Shut up, Thakur!" Kajal interrupted. "It's your first time in the hostel, and you're making excuses for the first time!"
"Guys, why are you forcing me?" Dhara said with a pout.
Priya looked at her, then narrowed her eyes and said, "If you don't come, you'll get FOMO!"
"What's that?" Dhara was startled.
"It means you'll cry all night thinking, 'Oh, I wish I had gone!'" Riya said mischievously.
"Oh, off!" Dhara sighed and, giving in, said, "Okay, let's go!"
"That's the spirit!"
Riya dragged Dhara out, and the four of them laughed and left the hostel.
A little way from Gulmohar Girls Hostel, there was a cart vendor, surrounded by a crowd. The group of girls stood in a corner, happily eating golgappas.
As Riya, Kajal, Priya, and Dhara reached the stall, they surrounded the golgappa vendor.
"Bhaya, make it spicy!" Riya said loudly.
"Bhaya, I want more sweet!" Kajal immediately stated her preference.
Priya said laughingly, "Bhaya, I want it balanced... not too spicy, not too sweet!"
Dhara watched silently. She was slowly trying to blend into the atmosphere.
Riya looked at Dhara. "And you? How do you want it?"
Dhara smiled. "Give it however you guys say!"
Riya rolled her eyes. "Oh no! It's your first time eating here, so choose your own taste!"
Dhara fell into thought. She hadn't eaten golgappas in a long time. She used to eat them with her mother when she was little, but since coming to the hostel away from home, these small things had been left behind.
Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind—
"Dhara, eat quickly, or the water will spill!" her mother would say lovingly, and Dhara would quickly stuff golgappas into her mouth.
When she was little, she couldn't handle the spice. After every golgappa, she would scrunch up her face, and her mother would laughingly give her sweet water.
But now...
Dhara said with a slight smile, "Bhaya, make it extra spicy!"
Riya, Kajal, and Priya looked at her in surprise.
"Oh... Thakur has a spicy taste!" Riya said mischievously.
They all laughed.
As the first golgappa went into Dhara's mouth, the taste reached her heart. The spiciness of the water, the crisp puri, the subtle taste of boiled potato— everything seemed to melt together.
"Uff... this is really spicy!" Dhara said, closing her eyes.
Riya burst out laughing. "Want more?"
Dhara said, laughing, "Yes, I can't stop now!"
Kajal said, "Guys, I'm feeling so much fun in the hostel for the first time!"
Priya nodded. "Our gang of four is perfect!"
Dhara looked at all four of them. Just yesterday, they were strangers, but now it felt like a childhood friendship.
"Okay, last round, then we'll head back to the hostel!" Riya said.
After finishing the golgappas, the four girls were returning when Riya and Kajal got into an argument over something.
"You deliberately dropped my golgappa, didn't you?" Riya glared at Kajal.
"No way, your plate fell on its own!" Kajal replied.
"Don't lie! I saw it!"
"Then go report it to the police!"
Dhara and Priya looked at each other.
"Are these two going to fight now?" Dhara whispered.
"This happens every time!" Priya said boredly.
Riya and Kajal's argument got so loud that some people standing nearby started looking at them.
"Are you guys crazy?" Dhara intervened.
"Explain it to her!" Riya said, pointing her finger. "She's a huge cheater!"
"Hey, it was just your golgappa, not a property worth millions!" Kajal said irritably.
"Then admit you dropped it!"
"I didn't drop it!"
"You did!"
"I didn't!"
Priya looked at Dhara, bored. "Come on, let them fight. We're going to the hostel!"
Dhara nodded laughingly, and the two moved ahead, while the argument continued behind them—
"With a friend like you, who needs enemies!"
"Oh, get lost! You're the enemy yourself!"
Dhara and Priya had moved ahead, but the voices of Riya and Kajal's ongoing argument behind them showed no signs of stopping.
"I will never talk to you!" Riya said petulantly.
"Oh really? How many times has she said that, she's probably lost count!" Kajal rolled her eyes.
Dhara and Priya burst out laughing.
Dhara, Priya, Riya, and Kajal had just reached the hostel gate when there was commotion in the courtyard of the house opposite.
Sarvagya was running around excitedly, and his mother was chasing him with a broom in her hand.
"Sanvre! Stop..." his mother shouted.
"I don't want to stop!" he said, laughing, and jumped towards the gate.
At that very moment, Dhara's eyes met his.
Sarvagya froze. For a few seconds, they just looked at each other.
A slight crease appeared on Dhara's forehead, but before she could understand anything, Riya quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.
"Hey Thakur! Don't look at him, he's crazy!" Riya whispered.
"But he's so cute," Dhara said softly.
Hearing this, all three friends became alert. Kajal quickly said, "Dhara! Stay away from him. He's a big troublemaker."
Dhara asked in surprise, "Troublemaker? But he helped me. He seemed like a really nice boy."
Priya held her head. "Oh God! He's really fooled you. Dhara, do you even know who he is?"
Dhara looked at her questioningly. "Who is he? He seemed fine to me."
Riya sighed. "Seemed fine? You don't even know the whole story. That boy is infamous in the whole colony. You know, last month..."
Kajal quickly chimed in, "Didn't you hear that incident? He uses a catapult to knock down clothes drying on the roof. Half the aunties in the colony caught him."
Priya said laughingly, "And he's so cunning that even after being caught, he started crying— saying, 'Auntie, I just came to shoo away pigeons!' The poor pigeon also got a bad reputation that day."
They all burst out laughing, but Dhara was still confused.
"But... he really helped me," Dhara said softly.
Kajal nodded. "Dhara, this boy just acts innocent. He's in 11th grade, but he has connections in every big group. He makes fake IDs in girls' names and fools boys on Insta."
Dhara's face fell a little.
Kajal added, "Dhara, do you know? He looks naive, but he's very cunning. He's a bully at school. Just last month, he had a terrible fight with some boy at school— they clashed outside the classroom like movie villains. The teachers had a hard time separating them. When called to the principal, he acted innocent and cried— 'Sorry sir, he was going to hit me, I was just defending myself.' And guess what's funny?"
Dhara slowly shook her head, as if still unable to believe.
Priya quickly picked up, "His mother is infatuated with his innocence. Whenever there's a complaint about him, she always tells the teachers— 'My son is very sensible, someone must have framed him.' And Sarvagya? He acts so well that his mother is convinced her son is truthful and the world is false."
Riya said laughing, "Oh, last time he even fooled his own mother. He came home after a fight at school, his clothes were torn, and he went straight to his mother and said— 'Mom, those boys were jealous of my new shoes, so they beat me up. I didn't do anything.' His mother started crying and called the school authorities, saying— 'Why are you targeting my son? This is too much!' "
Kajal nodded. "Dhara, believe me, the farther you stay from him, the better. He befriends girls just for fun. You know, last year he proposed to a senior sister and then, on a dare from his friends, played a prank on her. The poor girl left school."
Dhara listened to all this silently. The same first meeting replayed in her mind— when Sarvagya had helped her. That innocent smile, that slight mischief in his eyes... "Is he really like that?"
A flurry of questions arose in her mind, but outwardly, she just sat quietly.
"Hey Thakur, why are you so quiet?" Riya asked, nudging her gently.
Dhara composed herself and tried to smile. "Nothing... I was just wondering if someone could actually be so smart that they can fool everyone?"
Priya burst out laughing. "Smart? He's not smart, he's a complete rogue! And don't be fooled by his innocent face!"
Kajal sighed. "Yes, and you know the funniest part? If any girl rejects him after knowing his true nature, he behaves as if it doesn't affect him at all."
"But..." Dhara said softly, "if he's really that bad, why didn't I feel it?"
Priya chuckled lightly. "Because you're only seeing his act now, not the real him!"
Kajal said seriously. "Dhara, you're new to this neighborhood, you'll understand his reality slowly. We've been watching him for the past 1 year."
Just then, Dhara's phone rang. Seeing "Mama" written on the screen brought a slight smile to her face. She quickly picked up the phone—
"Hello Mama!" her voice had the same chirpiness it always had when talking to her family.
"How is my doll?" her mother's sweet, soft voice came from the other side.
Dhara's throat tightened slightly. She missed her mother a lot while living in the hostel.
"I'm good, Mama... I just miss you all so much."
"Oh, my child... See, it's only been a month, and you're already missing home so much?" her mother said, laughing.
Dhara said in a slightly complaining tone, "Mama, don't you miss me?"
"Of course, I do, silly! That's why I call you every day. Okay, listen, how was your day?"
Dhara's gaze fell on her friends sitting in front of her, who were still engrossed in Sarvagya's stories. She said with a slight smile—
"It was good, Mama! My new friends are very nice."
"Oh wow! Who?"
"Riya, Priya, and Kajal. They're very nice, Mama!" Dhara said innocently.
"Hmm... that's good, friendships are important. But be careful, don't fall into bad company."
"Oh Mama! I'm not that foolish!"
"Not foolish, but very naive, my daughter," her mother said lovingly. "Don't trust anyone easily."
Dhara held her phone, recalling all the things she had heard about Sarvagya. Was he really that cunning? Or were her friends exaggerating?
"What are you thinking?" her mother's voice pulled her out of her confusion.
"Nothing, Mama... just like that. Okay, listen, where is Papa?"
"Papa hasn't come back from the office yet, but I'll make him talk to you when he comes. Now, eat your food, and don't think too much."
"Hmm, okay Mama. Love you!"
"Love you, dear, take care of yourself!"
The phone call ended. Dhara looked at the screen for a while, then took a deep breath and got up—
"Come on, guys, we've talked enough, let's go to the mess and eat something!" she said, looking at her friends.
"Yes! I'm very hungry!" Priya said.
To be continued
The next morning, Dhara was getting ready to leave the hostel for college when she saw the same scene again - Servajna!
He was running towards her, wearing his school uniform, with the same mischievous smile on his face, as if he had just done something new. He called out from a distance-
"Thakurain! Wait, I'm coming too!"
Dhara's footsteps slowed down slightly, but she didn't look back at him and continued walking.
Servajna's pace slowed down. He hadn't expected Dhara to ignore him like that. He adjusted his tie, smoothed his hair, and started walking alongside Dhara with long strides.
"Hey, listen!"
Dhara didn't respond.
Servajna looked a bit strange. He said again, "Hey, didn't you hear? I'm going in the same direction, let's walk together."
Dhara didn't say anything, she just quickened her pace.
Servajna furrowed his eyebrows and stood in front of her. "Thakurain, why this sudden behavior like a stranger?"
Dhara took a deep breath and looked straight into his eyes. "Saanvre, I'm late for college. Can you move out of the way?"
Servajna nodded his head. "Okay, I'll move. But first, tell me the reason."
Dhara remembered the things Riya, Kajal, and Priya had told her. She gave a slight smile and said, "Maybe I didn't know you properly yesterday."
Servajna looked at her with a raised eyebrow and smiled slightly. "Oh, so now you know me?"
Dhara took a cold breath. "Maybe yes."
Servajna nodded his head and said slowly, "And what did you find out about me?"
A slight irritation appeared on Dhara's face. "That you're a big troublemaker. You're infamous in the whole neighborhood, you do fake dramas, you bully people, prank girls, and then act innocent."
Servajna looked at her silently, then smiled slightly. "Wow, you found all this out in just one night?"
Dhara's irritation increased. "Yes! And that's why move out of my way!"
Servajna's face became a bit serious. He looked at her for a moment, then stepped aside. "Okay, Thakurain, it's your choice. But how can you be so sure that everything is true?"
Dhara didn't respond and continued walking.
Servajna stood there, watching her go, his smile now slightly faded. His eyes had a stillness for the first time. He was always a jolly person, but today... today his eyes had a hint of sadness.
He looked up at the sky, as if searching for an answer.
"Servajna!"
A familiar voice came from behind. He turned around - Riya, Kajal, and Priya were standing there, suppressing their laughter.
Riya teased, "Oh, what's wrong? Our naughty king has become sad!"
Servajna smiled slightly. "Oh, Riya didi, Kajal didi, and Priya didi! So this is all your doing, right?"
Riya said in a joking tone, "Yes! And we've also taken up the responsibility of reforming you!"
Kajal laughed loudly. "Anyway, the boy who pulled down the hostel girls' clothes deserves a lesson!"
Priya winked. "And this is just the beginning, naughty king!"
Servajna tried to smile, but it hurt him inside. He took a deep breath and walked a bit forward. "So, did Thakurain tell you all this?"
Riya proudly raised her head. "Yes, of course!"
Servajna opened his mouth to say something but stopped. His eyes had a slight unease. He was the boy who always joked and was full of mischief, but today... today he was quiet.
Riya, Kajal, and Priya looked at each other, then Riya asked, "Hey, what's wrong? Why are you not speaking? Why are you so quiet, naughty king?"
Servajna smiled slightly, but it wasn't the same smile as before - full of mischief and confidence. Today, his smile had some emptiness. He bowed his head, then walked towards college without saying anything.
"Hey! Oye! Where are you going like that?" Kajal called out.
But Servajna didn't respond.
"Has it hurt you?" Priya asked.
Riya said with a slight breath, "It will hurt, it's the first time someone has shown him the mirror."
Kajal nodded her head. "Yeah, but I've never seen him so quiet."
Servajna's footsteps slowed down. There was some turmoil inside him. This was the first time someone had accused him, and that too without solid proof.
"So did Thakurain really believe that I'm like that?"
He asked himself this question, but he didn't have the answer.
His mind drifted into the past...
(Flashback - 5 months ago, school library)
Servajna was taking out a book from the shelf when someone called out from behind-
"Servajna!"
He turned around, startled. It was his senior, Shruti didi.
He smiled and turned towards her. "Yes, didi?"
Shruti didi said with a slight smile, "I need to talk to you about something important."
Servajna closed the book and looked at her attentively.
"Yes, please go ahead."
Shruti didi looked around for a second, then said softly-
"Servajna, I love you."
The quiet air of the library seemed to stop for a moment.
Servajna felt like the air had stopped for a moment. He hadn't expected to hear something like that.
"Didi..."
Shruti didi looked at him with a slight smile.
"No compulsion, I just... wanted to tell you."
Servajna shook his head in denial.
Servajna's fingers were still on the pages of the book, but his eyes were fixed on Shruti didi. She was looking at him - with some hope, some nervousness, and a bit of hesitation.
Servajna put the book back on the shelf slowly and replied thoughtfully-
"But I don't feel anything for you..."
Shruti didi took a deep breath, then said with a slight smile-
"You are refusing because I'm older than you?"
Servajna smiled slightly, but his eyes had depth.
"No, didi. It's not about age; it's about the heart."
Shruti didi looked at him for some time.
Servajna continued-
"Age doesn't matter in love; I know that. But didi, I've always considered you like a sister. For me, you're not just a senior, but also like a guide."
Shruti didi's smile slowly faded.
"So, you're saying that you've never felt anything for me?"
Servajna shook his head honestly.
"No, didi, never."
There was silence for some time.
Then Shruti didi said with a cold smile-
"Okay, Servajna. It's fine."
But there was something in her eyes... a slight sadness? Or maybe some other emotion that Servajna couldn't read?
Servajna was shocked when two weeks later - in the school campus, he heard rumors-
"Servajna broke Shruti didi's heart!"
"Servajna is a cheater!"
"He had a fake Instagram ID and flirted with girls!"
Servajna laughed at first. He thought it was a joke.
But when girls started talking to him strangely, when his friends looked at him with suspicion, he realized it wasn't a joke - it was an accusation.
He went straight to Shruti didi, who was standing with her friends.
"Didi, what's going on?"
Shruti didi looked at him without getting perturbed and smiled slightly-
"What do you mean, Servajna?"
"You know very well. You spread the rumor that I cheated you."
Shruti didi's face had a momentary hesitation, then she said-
"I didn't say anything. People are intelligent enough; they believe what they see."
Servajna understood why it happened. She had spread the rumor because of her ego. She didn't want anyone to reject her. So, she made up the story that Servajna was the one who was wrong.
"And what about the fake ID?"
Shruti didi shrugged.
"Some girls were saying that someone was messaging them in your name, so I just listened."
Servajna realized for the first time how easily a lie could become the truth, and how weak the truth was.
He walked away silently.
Servajna hadn't thought that a simple 'no' would have such a severe punishment. For him, it was just a respectful rejection, but for Shruti didi? Maybe it was a blow to her self-esteem.
The fire of rumors didn't take much time to spread. Wherever he went, he faced taunts and whispers. Class girls started avoiding him, friends looked at him with suspicion. It got worse when school teachers also started looking at him differently.
"We never thought you'd turn out like this, Servajna!"
Servajna didn't understand how to prove himself innocent.
But then, one day, he saw a ray of hope - Mangal and Shriadam.
One day, when some boys and girls were staring at Servajna in the canteen, Mangal said irritatedly-
"What's wrong with you people? Don't believe hearsay!"
Someone taunted-
"Tell us, you're his friend! What guarantee do you have that you're telling the truth?"
Mangal smiled and said directly-
"Guarantee? Alright, let's find out the truth!"
Servajna was startled.
"What are you going to do?"
"There's only one way to find the truth - evidence!"
Shriadam and Mangal started talking to the other boys and girls in school. They asked everyone, "Who, where, and when did they receive a message from a fake ID?"
The strange thing was - no one could give a correct answer. Someone said, "A friend received it." Someone said, "I heard it, but I'm not sure!"
Slowly, everyone realized that it was just a rumor - which had no solid basis.
But the real twist came when Shriadam gave a shocking piece of information-
"Shruti didi was running a fake account!"
Everyone was stunned.
Shriadam had somehow found out that Shruti didi had created a fake account. She would chat with people herself, then take screenshots and spread them among other girls. So that people would believe that Servajna was a cheater.
"Why? Because Servajna rejected her."
When this truth came out in school, everyone was stunned. The girl who people thought was straightforward and innocent was behind this conspiracy.
A few days later, the news came - Shruti didi had transferred from school. Her father's transfer hadn't happened. Rather, her stay in school had become difficult. Girls who were once in her support now looked at her with hatred.
"What kind of girl she turned out to be!"
"Poor Servajna, it was so wrong to do that to him!"
Servajna felt a strange emptiness. He had won, but this victory didn't give him happiness.
"Everyone changes so easily..."
The people who were understanding him wrongly yesterday were now praising him. But Servajna knew - if there were no proofs, maybe he would have always been considered guilty.
To be continued.
Sarvajña slowly reached the school gate. Dhara's words were echoing in his mind.
"You bully people..."
"You play pranks on girls..."
"You pretend to be innocent..."
He smiled faintly and said to himself, "So, I am that bad?"
At that moment, as he entered the school gate, Shridam and Mangal approached him.
Sarvajña stood silently. He could hear Shridam and Mangal's conversation, but his mind was still entangled with Dhara's words. He had never thought anyone would see him like this... judge him like this...
"Hey! Where are you lost? Hurry up, or the teacher will shout!" Shridam gave him a light push on the shoulder.
Sarvajña took a deep breath, tried to shake off his confusion, and reluctantly took off his bag, placing it aside.
"Let's go," he simply said and moved forward.
Shridam and Mangal looked at each other, slightly surprised. Why was Sarvajña, who always joked around, never missed a chance to banter with teachers, so quiet today?
In the Physics Lab—
The teacher was already present in the lab. As they entered the classroom, he said, "Today we will do an experiment on vector dynamics. Sarvajña, you will start."
Sarvajña nodded slightly and moved forward silently. He didn't have the usual enthusiasm today.
He went directly to the apparatus table, where the "Inclined Plane with Pulley System" was set up.
Everyone in the class was surprised—Sarvajña didn't crack any jokes, didn't make any funny comments today. He was just quietly doing his work, like a different person.
Mangal whispered softly into Shridam's ear, "Brother, it seems like something is really wrong."
Shridam nodded, "Our mischievous prince is so calm... it means the matter is serious."
"So, what are we doing today?" the teacher asked.
Sarvajña said in a low voice, "Sir, today we will study Newton's Second Law in vector form, where a block will be placed on an inclined plane and connected to another block via a pulley."
The teacher nodded, "Okay, start the experiment."
Shridam whispered softly into Mangal's ear, "Brother, it seems like physics is his first love. Look how he's speaking like a teacher!"
Mangal smiled faintly, "Perhaps he got a lot to think about today."
The teacher noticed—
"Sarvajña, you are very quiet today. No jokes, no funny comments?"
Sarvajña gave a faint smile, but it wasn't the same one that always sparkled in his eyes.
"Sir, I'm just not in the mood today."
The entire class fell silent.
The teacher said softly, "Alright, today's experiment went well. The rest also have to do it in groups."
Sarvajña sat down quietly, but a question still lingered in his mind—"Am I really the way people perceive me?"
School had ended, but instead of going home, Sarvajña headed towards the park. He was looking for a quiet place to calm the turmoil within him, and this park was his favorite spot.
He went to a corner of the park, sat on a bench, and took out biscuits from his bag. Some stray dogs were already roaming there. As soon as he took out the biscuits, the dogs rushed towards him.
Sarvajña smiled faintly. "Come, come, I brought them for you!"
He threw the first biscuit, and one dog snatched it. He threw the second biscuit, and another dog pounced on it. He continued feeding them like this.
After a while, when the dogs sat by him, he said softly, "You know, for the first time, I'm feeling bad..."
The dogs stared at him as if they understood him.
Sarvajña chuckled, "I know, I am mischievous... I am a scamp too... but am I really that bad?"
He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "It's only been two days since I met Thakurain... she's so innocent... her misunderstanding is valid. But have others also seen me this way?"
He fell silent. A dog placed its paw on his knee and looked at him, as if offering comfort.
Sarvajña smiled faintly, "At least you guys give love without judging..."
Sarvajña gently patted the dog's head and looked somewhere far away in an unknown direction. There was a strange stirring within him, something he had never felt before.
"I don't care what the rest of the world thinks," he muttered. "But what Thakurain thinks, that matters... why?"
He asked himself, but the answer was hidden somewhere.
"Why do I care?"
His fingers idly drew lines on the grass. A cool breeze was blowing in the park, but the heat of his questions was increasing within him.
Just then, a dog barked softly, as if wanting to say something. Sarvajña smiled, "Do you know the answer?"
But the dog just sat there staring at him.
It did matter... and when he found out that Dhara was staying in the same hostel that was in front of his house, then... his heart suddenly started beating faster.
"I know she's two years older than me..."
But still... but still, this strange feeling wouldn't leave his heart.
Sarvajña shook his head, as if trying to pull himself out of this confusion. But the more he wanted to escape this feeling, the more it dominated his thoughts.
He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. The soft golden hue of the evening was now dissolving into blue ink.
"Thakurain... she's older than me, she's wise, she's seen the world... and me?" he said to himself. "I'm just... a mischievous boy who bothers everyone. Then why do I feel like I want to become something else in her eyes?"
He was trying to convince himself, but his heart refused to comply.
When he saw her crying for the first time...
Something strange happened then. As if someone had stirred up turmoil within his heart. As if an unseen, unspoken connection had awakened.
Why didn't I like seeing tears in her eyes?
Why did it feel like I had known her for years, when in reality we were strangers?
Why did it feel like I was incomplete, and seeing her made something complete?
Sarvajña slowly closed his eyes. The cool breeze hit his face, but somewhere within, a gentle warmth was rising—a feeling that couldn't find a name.
If this was just a fleeting moment, then why did this feeling sink so deep?
Why has her laughter now become my need?
Why does it feel like if she cries again, I won't be able to just stand by and watch...?
Sarvajña took a deep breath. There was something in his heart that wouldn't let him rest.
If this were just a common feeling, he would have left it behind long ago. But no... it seemed to deepen with every passing moment.
His fingers continued to draw lines on the grass, but his mind was entangled elsewhere.
"I don't care," he told himself. But it was a lie. It did matter... a lot.
"If she cries again, will I be able to stop myself?"
This question shook him. A strange restlessness started to surround him.
At that moment, Dhara was returning from college. When her eyes fell on the park bench, she saw Sarvajña.
Sarvajña's back was towards her, but his face was slightly tilted. He was talking to the dogs, laughing, and sometimes seemed lost in thought.
Dhara stopped. A question arose in her mind, but it didn't feel necessary to find an answer.
She walked away from there, with slow steps, towards the hostel.
Sarvajña didn't even know someone was watching him. But he suddenly felt a stir within his heart. As if someone had passed very close by.
His heart rate suddenly quickened. He turned. Dhara was leaving. Her back was visible.
Sarvajña just kept watching her. No conversation happened. Dhara only saw Sarvajña talking to the dogs. And Sarvajña only saw Dhara leaving. But even in not seeing, there was a lot.
Sarvajña slowly got up. He threw the last piece of biscuit towards the dogs and put his bag on his shoulder, standing there.
For a moment, he thought – should I call her? But no. He just stood silently until Dhara completely disappeared from his sight.
Then he took a gentle breath.
"It doesn't matter..."
But it did. A lot.
At night.....
Sarvajña was in his room. The window was open, and a cool breeze was coming in from outside. But there was a strange warmth within him—of thoughts, of confusions, of those feelings whose answers he didn't know himself.
Books were open on the table, but the pages lay as they were two hours ago. His gaze was fixed on the wall, but his mind was wandering elsewhere.
Just then, the door opened slightly.
"Sanvare..."
Hearing Yamini Ji's voice, he straightened up a bit.
"Here, I've made your favorite kheer."
She placed a bowl on his table and gently patted his head.
"Now don't say you're not hungry."
Sarvajña tried to smile slowly, but perhaps that smile wasn't very genuine.
Yamini Ji noticed.
"What happened? You don't seem to be in your playful mood today?"
Sarvajña was silent for a while, then said softly—
"Just... like that."
Yamini Ji looked at him carefully. She was his mother; she could read even the slightest crease on his face.
"Tell me, what happened?"
Sarvajña lowered his head.
"Sometimes I feel like I don't even understand myself. Am I really like people see me?"
Yamini Ji smiled.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning... that..." He paused. What to say? Talk about Dhara? Talk about the restlessness within him?
"Nothing, Mom. Just nonsensical thoughts were coming."
Yamini Ji affectionately ran her fingers through Sarvajña's hair and smiled.
"Sanvare, you are my mischievous son... and it doesn't feel good to see you sitting so quietly."
Sarvajña gave a faint smile, but his eyes still held some confusion.
Yamini Ji gently lifted his chin.
"I want your childhood playfulness back... the one that just had fun without any tension."
Sarvajña said, laughing, "So that you can beat me with a broom, right?"
Yamini Ji raised her eyebrows and said with mock anger, "Yes! And if you joke too much, this time it won't be a broom, but a rolling pin!"
Sarvajña burst out laughing, "Oh Mom! You're becoming very dangerous. You didn't even pick up the rolling pin in childhood!"
Yamini Ji smiled and gently patted his head, "Because in childhood, I felt pity seeing your innocent face. Now that you've grown up, your cleverness is starting to be caught!"
Sarvajña picked up the bowl and took the first bite of kheer.
"Uff... Mom! Where did you learn to make such tasty kheer?"
Yamini Ji said with a smile, "I learned to keep your father happy."
Sarvajña immediately said, "So, does that mean if I have to keep someone happy, I'll have to learn it too?"
Yamini Ji said, "Hmm... we'll think about that when someone 'special' comes into your life!"
Sarvajña's hands suddenly stopped. His gaze fixed on the bowl.
Yamini Ji looked carefully.
"What happened? Is there really someone?"
Sarvajña quickly shook his head, "Oh no, Mom! You too..."
But a faint blush appeared on his face.
Yamini Ji said with a smile, "Okay, okay! I won't ask. But whenever you feel like it, tell me. Anyway, I'll explain it to you with love, not with a broom!"
Sarvajña smiled. But somewhere in his heart, Dhara's face reappeared...
To be continued
It was 10:30 PM. The hostel room was dimly lit with a pale yellow light. Dhara was engrossed in her notes, her head bowed, trying to write something. But her attention kept drifting. The pen would often pause in mid-air, as if her mind was lost in other thoughts.
Meanwhile, Riya, Kajal, and Priya were comfortably seated on Dhara’s bed.
“Man, Sarvagya seemed really weird today…” Kajal said, rolling onto her pillow.
Dhara raised her eyebrows slightly but didn’t respond.
Riya tilted her head. “Honestly, I felt it too. I mean, the guy who’s always cracking jokes, acting silly, just left without saying a word today?”
Priya’s eyes widened. “Yeah! That’s something to think about. Sarvagya and quiet? Impossible!”
Dhara now paid attention, but remained silent.
Kajal sighed deeply. “Whatever we said in jest, maybe it was a bit too much. I don’t know, maybe he was genuinely hurt?”
“Hurt?” Dhara said softly, now showing interest in the conversation for the first time.
Riya shrugged. “Well, yeah! For the first time, we showed him the mirror without any jokes. Maybe he’s not as bad a person as we’ve made him out to be?”
The pen in Dhara’s hand paused slightly.
Dhara was now completely lost in their conversation.
“So… so he’s not a bad person?” she asked innocently.
Riya smiled. “We never really knew him. We just believed what we heard.”
Priya rolled her eyes. “And the most important thing, Dhara believed it too!”
Dhara looked up, surprised. “Me? What did I do?”
Kajal smiled. “Oh, you weren’t talking to him nicely at all today. You completely tore down his respect!”
Dhara’s face turned slightly pale. Had she really said too much?
She was very naive… and perhaps she didn’t understand that her words could hurt someone.
“But… I only said what you guys told me,” her voice trailed off.
Riya saw her innocence and smiled gently. “And what if what you were told wasn’t true?”
Dhara fell silent. A slight uneasiness began to stir within her.
Did I really say something wrong?
A soft silence fell over the room. The three friends were looking at Dhara, who could no longer concentrate on her studies.
She slowly put down her pen and looked towards the window…
Somewhere, in another room, Sarvagya might also be sitting silently, feeling isolated from his own world for the first time.
Dhara’s eyes were filled with confusion. For a moment she looked at her friends, and the next, she was peering out the window, as if searching for answers. Her mind was in turmoil.
“But… you guys said yesterday that he’s a terrible person, a scoundrel… the whole neighborhood is bothered by him… he puts on fake dramas, he’s a thug… he plays pranks on girls and then pretends to be innocent.”
Her voice grew softer, as if she couldn’t believe her own words.
Riya, Kajal, and Priya exchanged glances. Kajal bit her lip and clutched the pillow tightly.
“Man, we just told you what we heard… but none of us ever saw it ourselves,” Riya said softly.
“Meaning?” Dhara’s eyes widened.
“Meaning that…” Priya took a deep breath, “we just heard rumors, believed them, and told you the same.”
Dhara felt as if a heavy weight had been placed in her stomach. “So… is he really not like that?”
“We don’t know,” Kajal shook her head. “Maybe he’s really bad, maybe not. But what was in his eyes today… it wasn’t malice, Dhara.”
The events of that evening flashed through Dhara’s mind—when she had spoken to Sarvagya, or rather, had not spoken to him nicely at all.
“We just wanted to teach that mischievous boy a lesson…” Riya said softly.
“We saw you both going together yesterday. We thought since that mischievous boy has befriended you, he might change a bit when he sees your anger…”
Dhara thought for a moment. Yesterday…?
Yesterday, when she was going to college, Sarvagya had insisted on dropping her off on his cycle. And when Dhara refused, he started walking with her, cracking jokes the entire way. But he had no ill intentions.
“But… he didn’t do anything wrong yesterday,” Dhara said in a confused tone.
“Exactly!” Priya said, shaking her head. “We had only heard that he’s a big scoundrel, so we thought he might be bothering you. We instigated you against him, and he was surprised to see your anger.”
“You guys instigated me against him?” Dhara’s eyes showed a hint of disbelief.
“Man, don’t be offended, but yes… we did it for a little fun,” Kajal said, embarrassed.
Dhara fell silent. Had she wronged Sarvagya without thinking?
Sarvagya… the boy who always joked, who never seemed serious… was he hurt for the first time today?
The slight sadness in his eyes, was it because of Dhara?
Her heart began to feel heavy.
“Are you really feeling bad?” Riya looked at her.
Dhara nodded slowly. Yes, she was… and perhaps a lot.
A strange silence descended upon the room. A cool breeze flowed in from the window, and Dhara’s mind was filled with restlessness.
Kajal said with a laugh, “Hey, don’t think so much! Anyway, he’s just a kid, in 11th grade… he’ll forget! But we’re older than him, right? What difference does it make to us?”
Dhara looked at her slowly, but there was no hint of amusement on her face.
“It matters, Kajal,” her voice was soft but firm. “If we misjudge someone without knowing them, and they get hurt inside, isn’t it our responsibility?”
Riya sighed deeply. “Dhara, we thought this was just a small bit of fun. But perhaps we overdid it…”
Kajal bit her lip, her laughter now subdued. “But what can we do now?”
Dhara silently looked out the window. The cool night air gently touched her face.
It was 8 AM.
Sarvagya stood on his terrace, a slingshot in his hand. A cool breeze was blowing, but his intention was to play a warm prank.
Clothes were drying on the terrace of the girls’ hostel opposite— colorful dupattas, kurtas, salwars…
His gaze fell directly on Dhara’s pink kurta.
He smiled, but let go of Dhara’s clothes.
“No, not the ‘Thakurain’s’ clothes…” he told himself and aimed at the other girls’ clothes—
His eyes fell on Priya didi, Riya didi, and Kajal didi’s clothes—these were the three who were instigating Dhara against him!
“Today, I’ll silence them!”
“Priya didi… Riya didi… Kajal didi… your doom has arrived!”
He put a marble in the slingshot, closed his eyes, and *ping*!
First shot—Riya’s blue dupatta—it flew straight down and fell off!
Second shot—Kajal’s white chunni—it got stuck on the terrace wall!
Third shot—Priya’s skirt—it bounced in the air and got stuck at the edge of the terrace!
Sarvagya immediately put the slingshot in his pocket and ran downstairs.
In the kitchen—
“Mom, give me milk quickly, I’m getting late!”
His mom glared at him. “You don’t drink milk at night, and now you’re demanding it in the morning!”
Sarvagya made a cute face. “Mom, please!”
His mom quickly handed him the glass and asked, “By the way, what were you doing on the terrace so early in the morning?”
Sarvagya immediately replied, “Just getting some air!”
His mom looked at him suspiciously. “Were you getting air, or were you shooting something?”
Sarvagya immediately put on an innocent face. “Oh mom! I’m not like that!”
“Exactly like that!” His mom lightly tapped his head and handed him the glass of hot milk.
Meanwhile…
Chaos had erupted on the girls’ hostel terrace!
“Where did my dupatta go?”
“Hey! My chunni is hanging from the wall!”
“Oh no! My skirt is stuck at the edge of the terrace!”
The three girls were running around, some peering down, some trying to climb onto the terrace.
Sarvagya took the glass of milk and gulped it down quickly.
“Now run to school, or someone might come to beat you up!”
But as he turned to pick up his bag—
Dhara was standing at the door!
Sarvagya’s hands froze.
Dhara narrowed her eyes and said sternly—
“Sanvre, I need to talk to you!”
Sarvagya immediately responded with an overdose of innocence—
“Oh, Thakurain! Why are you so angry this early in the morning? Did you eat anything?”
Dhara wasn’t fooled by his words.
“What were you doing on the terrace?”
Sarvagya quickly replied—
“Getting air!”
Dhara folded her arms and asked—
“And the slingshot?”
Sarvagya widened his eyes innocently—
“Slingshot? Which slingshot? Thakurain, you’re talking as if I’m some mischievous boy!”
Dhara pointed to his pocket—
“And this?”
As soon as Sarvagya looked down, the handle of the slingshot was peeking out of his pocket!
“Caught!”
Mom came out of the kitchen…
“Beta, what happened?” Mom asked, then stopped seeing Dhara. “Oh, are you new? I’ve never seen you!”
Sarvagya seized the opportunity—
“Yes, Mom, she’s brand new! She came to the opposite hostel a few days ago!”
Dhara glared, but said nothing in the presence of Mom.
Mom said lovingly, “Okay, okay, that’s great! Beta, the girl is visiting for the first time, don’t just stand there, offer her a seat!”
Sarvagya’s face lost its color— “Oh no, Mom, they don’t like to sit, they’ve come to scold me!”
Mom looked at Dhara in surprise— “Scold?”
Dhara quickly joined her hands— “No, no, Auntie, it’s nothing like that!”
Sarvagya immediately retorted, “See, Mom? They’re badmouthing me for no reason!”
Mom said with a slight smile, “Alright, I’ll go do my puja, you guys can talk then!”
Sarvagya started sweating!
“Now Mom is gone, and my doom is about to arrive!”
As soon as Mom left, Dhara immediately put her hands on her hips and glared—
“Now tell me, what were you doing on the terrace?”
Sarvagya cleared his throat— “Getting air!”
“With a slingshot?”
Sarvagya replied with an innocent face— “The wind was very strong, so I thought I’d balance it with the slingshot!”
Dhara raised her eyebrows— “Sanvre, your explanation is making me dizzy!”
Sarvagya smiled— “Oh, so that means you’re worried about me?”
Dhara was annoyed— “I’m not worried, I’m angry!”
Sarvagya took the slingshot out of his pocket and said, “Look Thakurain, my intentions weren’t bad, I didn’t touch your clothes!”
Dhara narrowed her eyes— “And the other girls’?”
Sarvagya immediately replied— “They all instigate you against me! So, it was necessary to teach them a mild lesson!”
Dhara smacked her forehead— “Oh God! It’s useless arguing with you!”
Sarvagya said with a smile, joining his hands— “Then don’t argue, just look with love!”
Dhara glared at him, then turned to leave.
As she left, she said, “By the way, Sanvre! Sorry for yesterday…”
Sarvagya was shocked.
He quickly stepped forward and blocked Dhara’s path—
“Wait, wait, wait! Thakurain, what did you just say?”
Dhara rolled her eyes— “Didn’t you hear? Sorry for yesterday!”
Sarvagya cleared his throat. “So, does that mean we can be friends now?”
Dhara raised her eyebrows— “Absolutely not!”
To be continued
"Listen, Thakurain, are you coming with me today?" Dhara raised her eyebrows and glared at him. "Where?" Sarvagya scratched his head and said with great innocence, "Oh, your college and my school are on the same route... so together..." Dhara said nothing. Without giving any reply, she quietly walked towards her hostel gate and picked up her bag. Sarvagya narrowed his eyebrows. "Oh Thakurain..." Dhara turned her head slightly and gestured him to follow her with her eyes. Sarvagya's face lit up! Now both were on the same road, but Dhara was ahead, and Sarvagya was two steps behind. Dhara cast a fleeting glance, "Why are you walking behind?" Sarvagya replied with great innocence, "I am your bodyguard, Thakurain!" Dhara stopped, and Sarvagya stopped too. Dhara narrowed her eyes and glared, "Sanvre, if you are so keen on walking with me, then walk beside me!" Sarvagya immediately took a long stride and came up to her level. Now he was walking step by step with Dhara. Sarvagya asked curiously, "By the way, where did you live before?" Dhara adjusted her dupatta and replied, "I used to live in the hostel in Keshav Nagar before." Sarvagya raised his eyebrows, "Oh! The one that's a bit inside the lane? Okay, then how did you come here from there?" Dhara sighed softly and said, "The warden there was terrible... an absolute Hitler! Constantly interfering in every little thing, scolding without reason, treating hostel residents like prisoners..." Sarvagya looked with sympathetic eyes, "Oh, so she troubled you a lot?" Dhara nodded, "Yes, but then my friend Kavya's sister's flat was ready, and Kavya was going to move there. That's when she told me about Gulmohar Girls Hostel... so I came here." Sarvagya widened his eyes, "Meaning, your friend left you behind?" Dhara said with a slight smile, "It's nothing like that, she lives nearby. I can meet her anytime." Sarvagya let out a long 'Hmm' and then said in his style— "Good, Thakurain, because even if your friend left you, you've found a new bodyguard!" Dhara glared at him, "When did I say I needed a bodyguard?" Sarvagya shrugged, "Now, I've already taken responsibility for your safety. Whether you want it or not, what difference does it make?" Dhara shook her head in mild annoyance and then started walking ahead with quick steps. But Sarvagya was not one to back down; he started walking step by step with her again. On the way, they came across a tea shop where some boys were standing and passing unnecessary comments on people passing by. As Dhara passed by, one of the boys smiled slightly and was about to open his mouth to say something when— "Hey!" Sarvagya's voice echoed. Without saying anything, Sarvagya gave the boy such a stern glare that he immediately moved from his spot, and the rest of the boys also fell silent. Dhara saw all this but said nothing. She just continued to walk ahead quietly. After some time, Dhara's college arrived. As their paths were about to split in two directions, Dhara turned her head slightly and said softly— "Thank you..." Sarvagya was startled. "For what?" Dhara moved forward without saying anything. Sarvagya also started walking towards his school, smiling and jumping along. As soon as Dhara reached inside her college, she accidentally bumped into a boy. The boy, trying to regain his balance with annoyance, stepped back. Dhara immediately apologized, "Sorry!" and without stopping, moved forward while adjusting her bag. The boy started to say something, but Dhara didn't notice him at all. She was lost in another world, as always, just lost in her own world. The boy was from her class, but Dhara never paid much attention to anyone, especially people she didn't want around her. The boy muttered, "This Dhara, always lost in her own world!" The boy left with a grimace, and Dhara proceeded towards her class without any hindrance. As soon as she entered the class, her gaze fell directly on the spot where she always sat. All the other students were slowly taking their seats, but Dhara's attention was elsewhere. She slowly sat down in her seat and started taking out books from her bag. Her eyes were not on the books, but on the thoughts running in her mind. Amidst the college routine, she was somehow remembering that road, those conversations, and the words she had spoken with Sarvagya. It was evening. The sun was casting a soft red glow, and the basketball court in Sudarshan Mohalla was resounding with noise. Under the orange setting sun, some boys were playing basketball, and the noisiest among them was Sarvagya. He was in full swing, tossing the ball in the air, taking two steps back, and then jumping to put the ball in the basket. "Wow! That's the way!" he exclaimed, pulling his t-shirt collar while playing, as if congratulating himself. Laughter echoed from the boys on the basketball court. Sarvagya laughed, tossed the ball in the air, and spun to catch it. And then, at that very moment... "Hey, watch out!" Someone's foot came in front... perhaps by mistake... And in the next moment— Sarvagya stumbled. His knee hit the ground, and as he steadied himself, he felt a sharp burning sensation. Blood was dripping. Sarvagya looked at his knee, then laughed carelessly. "Hey, my knee is scraped!" he grimaced at his injury, as if it were a minor thing. His friends helped him up, someone wanted to support him, but Sarvagya waved his hand away and said— "Oh man, it's just a little scrape! Nothing big!" But the truth was... the injury wasn't minor. Blood was still flowing, but what worried him more was that if his mom saw it, she would raise hell at home! "You wait, I'll drop you home..." a friend said. "Oh come on, I'll go! It's not the end of the world!" Saying this, Sarvagya quickly left the ground and headed straight for the back path of the house, so that no one would see him. Sarvagya dragged his leg slightly and decided in his mind—he had to go by the back path of the house! He made a silent promise to himself—"Mom must not suspect anything at all!" But... perhaps fate wanted to have some extra fun at his expense! On the other hand... Dhara and Kajal were returning from the market. The smell of pakoras was mixed in the air along the roadside, and the streetlights were flickering softly. Kajal was chatting— "Man, that blue kurta was much better! You should have bought that!" Dhara nodded listlessly. Her attention was elsewhere... and then... She saw— Sarvagya! He was walking with a slight limp. His t-shirt was soaked with sweat, his face still had that mischievous smile... but blood was flowing from his knee! Dhara's heart seemed to stop for a second. "Sanvre!" As Sarvagya turned, his steps automatically halted. Dhara was coming towards him from the front, and Kajal was with her, but at that moment, Sarvagya could only see one face—his Thakurain. Dhara moved forward quickly, and her gaze fell directly on his bloody knee. "Sanvre!" Sarvagya felt as if she hadn't called his name, but something else—something that touched the most tender part of his heart. But the next moment, seeing the lines of worry on Dhara's face, Sarvagya adopted the same carefree demeanor. "Oh Thakurain, you? Why are you so worried?" He flashed the same old smile, but this time there was a hint of nervousness in it. Dhara glared. "What have you done to yourself? Blood is flowing, and you're joking?" Sarvagya quickly tried to hide the blood by running his hand over his knee. "Oh, it's just a minor scratch! You're acting like I'm in the hospital ICU!" Dhara's anger grew. "Oh, so in your opinion, the injury is minor?" Kajal also said, suppressing a laugh— "Oh yes Dhara, he's Superman! It's not blood, but strength that comes out of his body!" Dhara took a deep breath and took out tissues from her purse without saying anything. "Sit!" "What?" "Sit here on the steps!" Sarvagya quietly sat on the steps, but his heart was now beating fast. Dhara knelt down and started cleaning his wound with a tissue. As her fingers lightly touched near Sarvagya's wound, his heartbeats went out of control. "Oh God, what is happening?" he asked himself. He used to be the most carefree boy in the neighborhood. Carefree, mischievous, jovial. But today... Today, his heart was feeling a strange, deep restlessness. There were faint lines of worry on Dhara's face, a strange mix of anger and concern in her eyes. But then... "Sanvre!!!" Yamini mommy arrived... and the storm too! Sarvagya felt as if doomsday had arrived. Hearing his mother's voice, his mind raced—"Is there any way to escape?" But there was no chance. To be continued
But just then...
"Sanwre!!!"
Yamini Mummy arrived, and with her, a storm! Sarvagya felt as if the end of days had arrived. Hearing his mother's voice, his mind raced—"Is there any way to escape?" But there was no chance.
Yamini Mummy, gathering her sari, went straight to him. As soon as she saw his injury—
"Oh God! How did this happen to you?! Didn't I tell you not to play?!"
Sarvagya tried to say something, but Dhara had already poured fuel on the fire.
"Aunty, look at him... he was saying the injury was minor, but it was bleeding!"
Yamini Mummy's face was a dangerous mix of anger and concern.
Sarvagya glanced at Dhara, who had, with complete innocence, informed his mother that he considered the injury minor. And now... now Yamini Mummy's entire attention was on his injured leg.
"Oh Mummy, nothing has happened! It's just a slight—"
"A slight?!" Yamini Mummy glared at him, "Your bleeding is a slight matter?! How many times have I told you not to get so excited! Today, I'll tell your father and get basketball banned forever!"
Sarvagya's eyes widened. Basketball banned? He hadn't even thought of that!
"No Mummy! There's no need for that, look... it's not even bleeding now, see?" he said in a panic and quickly started wiping the blood near his knee with a tissue.
But Yamini Mummy was unfazed. She was paying more attention to Dhara than to Sarvagya's words.
"Child, what did you say your name was?" Mummy looked towards Dhara.
Dhara faltered slightly, then lowered her head and said, "Dhara."
"Oh... Kajal knows me, but you've just come here, haven't you?"
Dhara nodded, and Sarvagya cursed himself inwardly—"Damn it!"
"Oh yes! You came to our house this morning, didn't you?" Mummy asked with some suspicion.
Sarvagya's breath hitched.
Dhara cleared her throat slightly, and Sarvagya thought of helping her—
"Yes Mummy! She just... came by..."
Yamini Mummy's eyes narrowed further.
"Just came by? Girls don't just go to someone's house, child!"
Sarvagya tried to force a smile—"Oh Mummy, it's nothing... she's just come to stay in the opposite hostel, so I..."
"You what?" Mummy immediately shot back.
Sarvagya started sweating.
"What did you, Sanwre?"
"Mummy, it was just a normal conversation!"
"Oh, really? So normal that it started this morning?"
Mummy's eyes held a whole list of questions, and Sarvagya felt he was done for. He looked at Dhara—perhaps she could salvage the situation, but Dhara averted her gaze, as if saying—deal with it yourself now!
"So, child?" Yamini Mummy raised her eyebrows. "Are you going to tell me, or should I start the interrogation myself?"
Sarvagya gave a weak smile. "Mummy, you're asking as if I've committed a theft!"
"Not a theft yet, but mischief, right?" Mummy asked, hands on her hips.
Dhara, coughing slightly, said, "Aunty, he actually..."
Sarvagya immediately cut her off, "Yes Mummy, he actually...!"
Yamini Mummy's suspicious gaze was fixed on both of them. Sweat broke out on Sarvagya's forehead. He looked at Dhara with a helpless smile, as if conveying with gestures—"Save me, yaar!"
But Dhara cleared her throat slightly and averted her eyes.
"This is too much, Thakuran!" Sarvagya muttered inwardly.
Mummy asked again, "Yes, so, actually what?"
Sarvagya thought, if I don't say anything now, Thakuran will surely reveal everything!
"That Mummy... actually, Thakuran and I were just talking this morning, I mean, normal things..."
Mummy pursed her lips—who is Thakuran?
Sarvagya was trapped again!
He cleared his throat lightly and said softly, "Oh Mummy, Dhara! I call Dhara ji Thakuran... just like that, affectionately!"
Dhara intervened, "Aunty, my surname is Thakur, so that's why... he calls me Thakuran!"
Sarvagya breathed a sigh of relief—Great, Thakuran! You saved my life!
Yamini Mummy still had a hint of suspicion on her face, but she seemed somewhat satisfied with Dhara's answer. She looked at Sarvagya—"Come home!"
Sarvagya felt as if the court's verdict had been announced—going home now meant appearing in court!
He looked at Dhara for a moment, as if saying inwardly—"Thakuran, save me now!" But Dhara lowered her head slightly, as if saying—"It's difficult for you to be saved now, Sanwre!"
Yamini Mummy cast a stern glance and then moved forward. Sarvagya, resigned, followed her. Kajal and Dhara stood there. Kajal, suppressing a smile, said—
"Best of luck, Superman!"
Sarvagya made a face—"Damn it!"
As soon as he stepped inside the door, Sarvagya felt the storm had arrived! Yamini Mummy immediately pulled a wooden stool kept near the temple and gestured with her hand—"Sit!"
Sarvagya took a deep breath, as if preparing himself for a great war, and slowly sat on the stool.
"Extend your knee!" Mummy ordered.
"Mummy, I'll do it myself... no need—"
"Sanwre!" Mummy glared, and Sarvagya obediently extended his knee.
Yamini Mummy immediately went inside and returned with turmeric, neem leaves, and coconut oil. Sarvagya's eyes widened—"Mummy! Turmeric and neem? I'm not a living stale roti to have all this applied!"
"Sit quietly!" Mummy took out a spoonful of turmeric and poured it directly onto the wound.
"Ouch!" Sarvagya jumped. "Mummy! A little gently!"
"Gently? If you didn't feel pain when you fell, why are you feeling it now?" Mummy said while rubbing the turmeric.
Sarvagya made a face. "Oh Mummy, I was just playing basketball... I didn't commit any major crime!"
"Didn't commit a major crime?!" Mummy glared. "Should I call your father?"
"N-no! There's no need for that!" Sarvagya straightened up immediately. "Look, it's not even bleeding now... I'm perfectly fine!"
Yamini Mummy looked him up and down, then sighed and said, "You'll be perfectly fine only when a little sense is filled in your brain!"
When Chitransh Bhaiya returned from the office, there was a hint of tension along with tiredness on his face. As soon as he stepped through the door, he loosened his tie and closed his eyes, collapsing onto the sofa. But there was no chance of sitting in peace. From inside, Yamini Mummy's sharp voice came—
"Sanwre! Now sit still, don't say later that I applied too much turmeric!"
Hearing this, Chitransh understood everything. He pressed his forehead and thought—"This boy will never improve!"
Then, a faint groan came from the room—
"Mummy! A little slower!"
Chitransh Bhaiya got up and went inside. He saw Sarvagya sitting on the stool in utter helplessness, and Yamini Mummy rubbing turmeric on his knee.
"What has he done now?" Chitransh asked.
Yamini Mummy said angrily, "He was playing basketball and busted his knee!"
Chitransh shook his head and looked at Sarvagya—"Chhotu, how many times have I told you to play carefully!"
Sarvagya said sadly, "Bhaiya, I was just playing lightly!"
Yamini Mummy glared—"Yes, playing lightly, you busted your entire knee!"
Chitransh smiled slightly, but the smile quickly faded from his face. There was a different kind of restlessness in his eyes.
Sarvagya didn't take long to notice this. He asked softly, "Bhaiya, is everything okay?"
There were faint lines of worry on Chitransh's face, but he tried to force a smile—"Yes, yes, everything is fine."
But Sarvagya didn't think so.
Yamini Mummy applied turmeric and then coconut oil and said as she got up, "Now sit still. Don't move until it dries!"
Then she looked at Chitransh—"And you, why are you sitting like this after coming from the office? Will you eat something or just sit with your tie loosened?"
Chitransh gave a slight smile—"No Mummy, I'm not hungry yet."
Yamini Mummy found it a bit strange, but she didn't pay much attention and headed towards the kitchen.
Now only Chitransh and Sarvagya were in the room.
Sarvagya gently removed the tissue from his knee and said, "Bhaiya, you're hiding something, aren't you?"
Chitransh blinked, then said laughingly—"Hey, since when did you become so sharp?"
"Since you started lying!" Sarvagya replied directly.
Chitransh took a deep breath and leaned his head against the sofa's backrest.
"It's nothing, yaar, just a little tension at the office."
"Lie." Sarvagya immediately said.
Chitransh raised his eyebrows—"Hey, are you my elder brother?"
"No, but even a younger brother understands that the matter isn't about the office!"
Chitransh remained silent for a few moments, then said in a low voice, "Someone came to meet Papa."
Sarvagya shook his head—"Oh, so what? Many people come to meet him every day!"
"But she was different."
There was a strange heaviness in Chitransh's voice.
Sarvagya became a little serious—"Different how? Who was it?"
Chitransh didn't reply for a while, then said slowly—
"Chetana... Chetana Tiwari."
Sarvagya's whole body froze for a second.
To be continued
A silence fell over the room.
Sarvagya's eyes widened. He repeated softly—
"Chetna Tiwari?"
Chitransh nodded slightly, but said nothing. His face held a strange confusion—a confusion of old memories, buried with great difficulty, which had suddenly surfaced today.
Sarvagya said softly, "Bhaiya… Chetna Di… why has she come now?"
Chitransh took a deep breath.
"I don't know. She came to see Papa, but actually… she wanted to see me."
Now Sarvagya sat up straight. The pain in his turmeric-stained knee seemed to have vanished.
"Then?... Did you talk?"
Chitransh's lips trembled slightly, then he lowered his head.
"Yes… but I couldn't say much. She just appeared suddenly, so… I just stood there."
Sarvagya didn't know what to say. He knew that Chetna Bhabhi… no, Chetna Di, had been his Bhaiya's first and perhaps deepest love. But the day she was supposed to come into this house as a bride, she had run away with her boyfriend.
And now, two years later, when Chitransh had moved on with his life… when he was engaged to Keshvi… Chetna had returned?
"Bhaiya… did she say anything?"
Chitransh lowered his head with a sad laugh.
"Yes… she only said one thing…"
Sarvagya's heart began to beat faster.
"What?"
Chitransh said in a low voice—
"Forgive me, Chitransh."
Silence descended upon the room.
Sarvagya composing himself said, "And you… what did you say?"
Chitransh gave no answer. There was just a strange weariness in his eyes.
Sarvagya began to feel scared. He asked softly—
"Bhaiya… you haven't… still…"
But before he could finish, Chitransh looked at him and smiled faintly.
"No, Sarvagya… not anymore."
Sarvagya felt relief, but not entirely.
"Then why… such restlessness?"
Chitransh raised his head and looked at the ceiling, as if lost in his own thoughts.
"Bhaiya… are you okay?"
Before Chitransh could say anything, there was a sound of someone approaching the door.
Yamini Mummy stood there, a cup of tea in her hand.
Her eyes held a question—"What's going on?"
Chitransh quickly gathered his emotions and said with a smile— "Nothing, Mummy, just explaining to little brother to wear a helmet while playing basketball next time!"
Yamini Mummy glared—"Don't try to fool me. I'm a mother, I know how to read faces."
The smile on Chitransh's face faded.
Yamini Mummy said sternly— "You're lying to your mother now?"
Chitransh's smile vanished from his face. He knew his mother caught lies very quickly. Sarvagya also averted his gaze, but his curiosity remained.
Yamini Mummy walked slowly into the room and placing the tea cup on the table, looked directly into Chitransh's eyes.
"What is it, beta?" Her voice had that motherly sternness that understood her son's pain without him having to say it.
Chitransh thought about evading the conversation for a moment, but then he took a deep breath and said softly—
"Mummy… Chet… Chetna came."
Yamini Mummy's hands paused for a moment. Her face hardened, but she composed herself and asked—
"Why?"
Chitransh rubbed his hands lightly before answering, as if thinking.
"To ask for my forgiveness."
Yamini Mummy gave a bitter laugh—"Now? When everything is over?"
Sarvagya watched them both silently.
"So what did you say?" Mummy asked directly.
Chitransh looked into her eyes, then said in a low voice—
"Nothing. I just looked… and quietly came away."
Yamini Mummy tried to find something in his eyes, then said directly—
"Your heart hasn't wavered, has it?"
Chitransh replied quickly—"No, Mummy. I've moved past that phase now."
The mother looked at him for a while, then taking a deep breath said—
"That's good. Because beta, some wounds, even if they heal, leave scars that don't fade. Don't forget what Chetna did… but don't stake your present for her past."
Chitransh nodded slightly. "Mummy, I'm not that weak anymore."
Yamini Mummy looked at him lovingly, then patted his back. "Alright, now drink your tea and rest a bit. Keshvi called, she wants to talk to you."
Hearing Keshvi's name, Chitransh's attention shifted from Chetna to his present.
Chitransh nodded with a slight smile and picked up the phone. Hearing Keshvi's name, some relief appeared on his face, but somewhere Chetna's shadow was still lingering in his mind. He composed himself and received the call.
"Yes Keshvi?" His voice held a slight weariness.
"Are you alright?" Keshvi's worried voice came. "Mummy Ji was saying you seemed a bit troubled."
Chitransh glanced around—Yamini Mummy had always informed Keshvi about everything. Sarvagya also smiled slightly, finding all this amusing.
"Nothing much… just some old memories came back," he said evasively.
"What old memories?" Keshvi's tone was gentle, but curiosity was clearly evident.
Chitransh was silent for a moment. Should he tell her about Chetna's visit? But then he stopped himself. It wasn't necessary.
"Just household matters," he said softly. "How are you?"
Keshvi felt he was hiding something, but she didn't press further.
"I'm fine, but you take care of yourself," she said in a slightly complaining voice. "Besides, after marriage, I'll have to take care of you, so I'm starting my practice now!"
Chitransh smiled faintly. "Then start taking care of me from today itself."
"Oh really?" Keshvi asked playfully. "So should I make your favorite rabri tomorrow morning and send it over?"
"Why send it, come yourself!"
Sarvagya, hearing this, chuckled playfully and coughed slightly, making Chitransh jump.
"Oh wow, Bhaiya! So much love?"
Chitransh glared at him, but Keshvi laughed.
"Is Sarvagya nearby?"
"Yes, and he's listening very attentively to our conversation!" Chitransh said deliberately loudly, making Sarvagya laugh even more.
"Oh wow, then tell him to talk to me too!"
Sarvagya immediately snatched the phone and said, "Hello Bhabhi Ji, how are you?"
"Very well! How are you?"
"Just bothering Bhaiya, everything else is fine!"
Chitransh tried to get the phone back, but Sarvagya ran away.
Yamini Mummy stood at the doorway watching all this. She nodded with a faint smile—perhaps she was reassured that her son's life was now stabilizing. Chetna's shadow might have appeared, but it couldn't linger now.
Chitransh took the phone back and talked a bit more with Keshvi, then cut the call.
The next morning…
Sarvagya had just gotten out of bed when he heard Mummy's voice—
"Sarvagya, you're not going to school today!"
Sarvagya, who was half-asleep, was shocked. "Why Mummy? What happened?"
Yamini Mummy put her hands on her waist and glared—"Your knee is injured, and you should rest."
Sarvagya looked at his leg—"Oh Mummy, it's fine now!"
"Yes, yes, very fine, you didn't remember it was fine when you were groaning in pain last night!" Mummy taunted.
Sarvagya quickly tried another tactic—"Mummy, they're teaching a very important topic at school today. If I miss it, it will be a problem!"
Yamini Mummy looked at Sarvagya's eyes with suspicion. "If it's that important a topic, then get the notes, no need to go anywhere!"
Sarvagya sighed a long sigh in his mind—"Now what do I do?"
"But Mummy, there's a practical at school today too!" he made a new excuse.
Mummy frowned, "Last night you were saying there were no practicals this week!"
Sarvagya didn't know what to say now. He muttered in his mind—"Why does Mummy need such a sharp memory?"
"Look, your game of making excuses won't work with me!" Mummy warned. "Today you will rest, that's all!"
Sarvagya conceded defeat. He sat quietly on the bed, but his mind was elsewhere—"Now Thakurain will go alone…"
A little later, Sarvagya suddenly ran towards the balcony and leaning on the railing, looked towards the Gulmohar Girls Hostel opposite. His eyes eagerly searched for Thakurain, meaning Dhara. "If only I could see her, just a glimpse…"
A few moments later, the hostel gate opened, and Dhara stepped out, adjusting her dupatta. In a white kurta and blue jeans, a bag slung over her shoulder, she was heading quickly towards the road.
Sarvagya's heart began to beat faster. "If only I were in college too… I'd sit in class with Thakurain, share her notes, and when the teacher asked a question, I'd be the first to answer and impress her!" He smiled inwardly.
But then he returned to his reality—"I'm stuck in my school for now… and today Mummy didn't even let me leave the house!"
Dhara had now come out of the hostel and onto the road.
Sarvagya started feeling uneasy. "She's going alone… I wonder if something bad will happen!"
Just then, Dhara looked up casually, her gaze fell on the balcony, but there was no one there. "Strange… Sanwre isn't visible today!" she thought to herself. "She got hurt yesterday… maybe that's why!" Smiling slightly, she moved on.
Meanwhile, Sarvagya was hiding in the corner of the balcony. "Phew! I'm saved…" he breathed a sigh of relief. "If Thakurain had known I was watching secretly, she would have thought wrong of me!"
Sarvagya again held onto the balcony railing and watched. Dhara was now crossing the road. Just then, a fast-moving bike sped towards them and passed close to Dhara—
"Thakurain!"
Sarvagya blurted out in panic, but he couldn't stop himself.
Dhara stopped abruptly, stumbled, but steadied herself. She immediately turned and looked back.
In the balcony, Sarvagya was still standing, without caring that she had seen him.
A hint of annoyance flickered in Dhara's eyes, but then she smiled.
"So this gentleman didn't go to school and is hiding here?" she thought to herself, twisting her lips slightly.
Sarvagya was flustered. "Now what do I do?"
Dhara gestured, asking—"What happened?"
Sarvagya said softly—"Nothing…" then, feeling a bit shy, added, "Uh… just like that…"
Dhara couldn't stop laughing. "Completely mad!" she shook her head and moved on.
Sarvagya was still standing in the balcony, Dhara's laughter echoing in his ears. He didn't know if it was good or bad—Dhara had smiled, but she had also caught him!
"Now Thakurain will definitely tease me!" He clutched his forehead.
Just then, Mummy's voice came from behind—"Who are you talking to?"
Sarvagya turned around abruptly, "No… no one!"
Yamini Mummy glared at him, "You think you're very clever! Go, lie down on your bed now—and don't go near the windows or balconies!"
Sarvagya thought in his mind, "Now Thakurain has gone to school, I'm confined here, and on top of that, Mummy's guard duty… uff! I had to see this day too!"
On the other hand…
Dhara was walking down the road, but something strange was going through her mind.
"It feels so boring today… If Sanwre were here, he'd be chattering away, saying something or other… that mad person!"
She smiled faintly, but then chided herself, "Dhara, are you out of your mind? You used to get annoyed by his chatter every day, and now you're missing it?"
As she walked on, she passed by a roadside tea stall. Some boys were standing there, with tea cups and cigarettes in their hands. They saw Dhara and nudged each other.
"Oh wow! Madam is going alone today!" one boy said softly, but loud enough for Dhara to hear.
"Yes brother, looks like the boy who accompanies her every day isn't here today!" another boy said, laughing.
Dhara ignored their conversation and started walking faster. But the boys slightly blocked her path.
One boy stepped forward and blocked her way, saying, "Hey, what's the hurry? Sit down, let's have some tea!"
Dhara's eyes widened in fear. Her hand started sweating. She was about to say something when…
"Hey!!!"
A loud voice echoed.
Everyone turned to look—Sarvagya!
He stood there, panting, filled with anger. He was wearing a loose t-shirt and track pants, his hair disheveled, and fire in his eyes.
"Get out of here!" he said through clenched teeth.
The boys looked him up and down, then burst out laughing. "Here comes the boy playing hero!"
But before they could say anything else, Sarvagya directly grabbed one of the boy's collars—"Watch your tongue, understand?"
Dhara stood there dumbfounded. "Sanwre…?"
The boys on the other side probably didn't expect this reaction. But then the other boys surrounded him, "Hey, leave him!"
As one boy was about to raise his hand—
Thump!
Sarvagya's fist landed directly on his face. He staggered and fell.
Dhara gasped—"Oh God!"
Things had heated up. The other boys also tried to attack Sarvagya, but Sarvagya was ready.
A punch here, a kick there!
The boys were flustered. No one could understand how this thin-looking boy was so strong!
"Will anyone else say anything now?" Sarvagya asked, looking around.
All the boys were silent!
They looked at each other's faces and then quietly started to move away.
Dhara breathed a sigh of relief. But her attention immediately went to Sarvagya.
"Sanwre!" she ran towards him.
Sarvagya's lips were bleeding slightly, and there were marks of injury on his fingers.
Dhara immediately grabbed his hand, "Are you okay?"
Sarvagya looked into her eyes and smiled, "Oh Thakurain, I'm here… nothing will happen to me!"
Dhara's heart began to beat faster.
"But… but how did you get here?" she asked, surprised.
Sarvagya lowered his head, "I slipped past Mummy… thought Thakurain was going alone, in case something happened!"
Dhara kept looking at him. She couldn't say anything.
"You mean, you were so worried about me?"
Sarvagya felt a little shy, "N-no, nothing like that…"
Dhara lightly punched his arm, "Don't lie, Sanwre!"
Sarvagya smiled, but then he clutched his hand in pain.
Dhara immediately took his hand, "Come, we need to clean your wound first!"
"But Thakurain, college…"
"No college, nothing! You are coming with me now!"
Sarvagya looked into her stubborn eyes, and then smiled— "As you command, Thakurain!"
Dhara made Sarvagya sit on a nearby bench. He sat down immediately, but his eyes remained fixed on Dhara's face. Dhara's face was very serious as she took out a first-aid box from her bag.
"Put out your hand," she said without looking at him.
Sarvagya silently extended his hand. As Dhara placed the cotton on his wound, Sarvagya's breath quickened with a slight sting.
"Oh! Does it hurt?" Dhara immediately looked into his eyes.
Sarvagya smiled faintly, "N-no, Thakurain, if you are doing it, then why would it hurt?"
Dhara glared at him, "Don't lie!"
She carefully cleaned the blood with the cotton and then began to apply ointment. Her fingers were very soft, but when her fingers touched Sarvagya's skin while applying the ointment, Sarvagya's heartbeat quickened.
His attention was on Dhara's face—long curly hair falling near her face, that tiny mole between her chin, and her eyes, now focused with complete concentration on his wound.
"Why did you start fighting so much?" Dhara asked, a slight concern in her voice.
"Because…" Sarvagya held his breath for a moment.
Dhara looked at him, "Because what?"
Sarvagya said with a faint smile, "Because they were bothering you."
Dhara's hand stopped.
Dhara said sternly, "Don't speak, just sit quietly!"
Sarvagya gave a faint smile, "Thakurain, who can disobey your command!"
Dhara glared at him but moved on without saying anything. Now her gaze fell on the slight blood trickling near Sarvagya's lips.
"You're hurt here too…" she murmured.
Sarvagya looked into her eyes—deep concern, care, and something he couldn't understand.
"Sanwre, straighten your head," Dhara said softly.
Sarvagya silently obeyed. He sat with his head straight, but his gaze refused to leave Dhara's face.
A lock of Dhara's curly hair kept falling on her face. Sarvagya's gaze was fixed on that lock.
Fair-skinned Dhara, her soft hands, a cute frown on her forehead, and that mole between her chin… it was as if time had stopped.
Dhara took out a clean handkerchief from her bag, wet it slightly, and gently applied it near Sarvagya's lips.
As her soft fingers touched near Sarvagya's lips, a shiver ran through his body.
Sarvagya involuntarily closed his eyes.
Dhara slowly began to clean the blood from the corner of his lips. Her fingers were very light, very soft, but for Sarvagya, that touch was like electricity.
Dhara's heart also started beating faster. She bit her lip lightly, a strange flutter in her mind.
"Done," Dhara said in a low voice.
Sarvagya slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was fixed on Dhara—her face was very close, her breath lightly touching his cheeks.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
Then, Dhara suddenly realized how close she had gotten. Her fingers were still near Sarvagya's face.
"Uh… Oh!" she quickly pulled back and stood up.
Sarvagya felt as if he had been jolted from a dream. He composed himself, but there was a faint smile on his lips.
To be continued.
Dhara glanced at the clock and her eyes widened—11:30!
"Oh God! What's the point of going to college now..."
Sarvagya looked at her face and smiled. "What happened, Thukurain?"
Dhara took a deep breath, looking at him. "Look at the time, I'm late. Even if I go now, the class will be half over."
"So what should we do, Thukurain?"
Dhara glared at him. "Nothing! Let's go home first, this slight injury must be hurting you!"
Sarvagya joined his hands and said, "Oh no, no, if Mom finds out, I'm doomed!"
Dhara glared at him, then folded her arms and said, "And you? You came here by deceiving Mom, right? What if she finds out you're not at home?"
Sarvagya let out a long sigh and scratched his head. "Hmm... that's true, but..."
Then he came closer to Dhara and said in a low voice, "If I get caught, won't Thukurain save me?"
Dhara's eyes widened. "Me? Why me?"
"Because you are my friend!"
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "Hey! When did I become friends with you?"
Sarvagya shook his head slightly, placed one hand on his waist and touched his chin with the other, saying with great seriousness, "Oh Thukurain, we became friends long ago, you just didn't realize it!"
Dhara pursed her lips. "Really?"
Sarvagya nodded mischievously. "Absolutely! And one never refuses a friend's request, so let's go now!"
Dhara interrupted him. "But I didn't understand this friendship story!"
Sarvagya took a deep breath, then said playfully, "Okay, so tell me, do I insult you?"
Dhara shook her head. "No!"
"Do I pull your leg?"
Dhara shook her head again. "No!"
Sarvagya asked the next question with a smile. "And do we tease each other about everything?"
Dhara smiled slightly and said, "Yes, but that's..."
Sarvagya raised a finger. "That's it! That's what friendship is, Thukurain!"
Dhara took a deep breath and glared at Sarvagya. "Oh? So, according to you, people who tease each other are friends?"
"Absolutely! And the one who teases the most is the best friend!"
Dhara narrowed her eyes. "So that means you are being a very good friend?"
Sarvagya raised his head proudly. "Absolutely! And I am fulfilling my duty perfectly!"
Dhara sighed deeply and bowed her head. "Oh God! Arguing with him is useless!"
But then Sarvagya placed his hand on his stomach and said with complete innocence, "First, food!"
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "Meaning?"
Sarvagya rolled his eyes, as if about to say something profound, and then said innocently, "I'm hungry, Thukurain!"
Dhara stifled her laughter and looked at him. "Oh, so you're hungry now! Just a while ago you were acting like a big hero, and now?"
Sarvagya bowed his head dramatically. "Even heroes are human, Thukurain! And humans get hungry!"
Dhara shook her head. "Then go, eat something from somewhere!"
Sarvagya immediately put on a naive expression and said, "But it won't be fun eating alone..."
Dhara glared at him. "So?"
Sarvagya said with a mischievous smile, "So, let's go to my favorite dhaba!"
Dhara looked up at the sky, as if asking God for help, then said, "You are very naughty, Saanvre!"
5 minutes later
Dhara and Sarvagya were now sitting at a dhaba. Dhara poured water into a glass and looked at Sarvagya. His fingers were still hurting slightly, but he was sitting happily, as if nothing had happened.
"You're hurting, aren't you?" Dhara asked directly.
Sarvagya immediately shook his head. "Oh no! I am very strong!"
Dhara rolled her eyes. "Oh? Then what is this you keep pressing your fingers?"
Sarvagya blushed slightly. "That... that's just... "
Dhara put the glass down and leaned in, taking his fingers.
Sarvagya's heartbeat quickened.
"You fool! If it hurts, why don't you admit it?" Dhara said with mild annoyance.
Sarvagya kept looking at her. The care in her voice silenced him for a moment.
Then, Dhara gently caressed his palm and said softly, "Are you still going to be stubborn?"
Sarvagya took a deep breath, as if he were in a very difficult test. Then he said with a slight smile, "Thukurain, if you hold my hand like this, not just the pain, but my heartbeat will also quicken!"
Dhara immediately let go of his hand and raised her eyebrows. "You talk too much!"
Sarvagya nodded mischievously. "Absolutely! And I can't stay without talking!"
Dhara shook her head and called the waiter. "Brother, bring the food quickly!"
Sarvagya said enthusiastically, "Yes, yes, and for me, my favorite—"
The waiter interrupted with a smile. "Yes, for you, the usual—Paneer Paratha and Lassi!"
Dhara looked at the waiter, then at Sarvagya. "Oh, so you come here this often?"
Sarvagya said with a smile. "Oh yes! This dhaba is my second home!"
Dhara rolled her eyes. "Now I understand why you are always so mischievous!"
Sarvagya said dramatically. "Mischief is another name for life, Thukurain!"
Dhara sighed deeply. "Enough, enough! Eat first, then give blessings!"
After some time, the food arrived. Sarvagya took the first bite and said with closed eyes, "Wow! Thukurain, eat it once, you'll love it!"
Dhara took a bite with a slight smile and said, "Truly... this is very delicious!"
Sarvagya said proudly. "Didn't I tell you! Now tell me, aren't friends good?"
Dhara said, looking at him. "Sometimes they are okay, but when they start talking too much, they become a headache!"
Sarvagya said with a laugh. "Then, get used to living with a headache, Thukurain!"
Dhara nodded with a laugh and started eating.
After a while…
Sarvagya slowly looked at Dhara. She was just eating, without caring how deeply the boy in front of her was gazing at her. Her every gesture, every laugh, every whim—everything was giving Sarvagya immense peace.
"What are you looking at?" Dhara suddenly looked at him, and Sarvagya panicked.
"Nothing! The food is very delicious, I was just praising it!"
Sarvagya quickly lowered his gaze and took a sip of his lassi. But his heart... it was stuck on Dhara.
Dhara said, putting a morsel in her mouth, "I have never seen a madman like you!"
Sarvagya burst into laughter. "Mad? Yes, perhaps... but isn't it necessary to be mad for someone?"
Dhara looked at him strangely. "Meaning?"
Sarvagya smiled and nodded. "Nothing, just like that..."
But there was a stir in his mind. Dhara had no idea yet what effect her every small action, her every innocent word was having on Sarvagya's heart. She considered him just a friend, but Sarvagya... he had long ago made a place for Dhara in his heart.
"May I ask something, Thukurain?"
"Hmm, ask?"
But the next moment, as if he realized his mistake, Sarvagya quickly shook his head. "Nothing, forget it."
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "Oh no, tell me now!"
Sarvagya took a sip of lassi and forced a smile. "Just like that... it wasn't anything special."
Dhara looked at him suspiciously, but said nothing.
After eating, both of them came out of the dhaba. Dhara adjusted her dupatta and looked at Sarvagya. "Where to now, Mr. Headache?"
Sarvagya sighed deeply and smiled. "Now I have to drop you home, Thukurain, otherwise Mom might come looking for us."
Dhara laughed. "You're right! Anyway, you yourself are enough to be scared of your mother!"
Sarvagya bowed his head slightly. "Hey! Who isn't afraid of Mom? But the most is..." he stopped.
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "The most what?"
Sarvagya looked at her, there was something unspoken in his eyes. Then he suddenly changed the subject with a laugh. "Oh nothing, let's just go."
Dhara pursed her lips. She found something strange about Sarvagya's behavior.
On the road, Dhara was walking briskly, but Sarvagya was following her in his usual carefree stride, swinging her bag in his hand.
"Saanvre, I told you, give me my bag!"
"Oh brother, we don't make girls carry heavy things, your ancestors must have said this too!"
"Oh, so you consider yourself my ancestor?"
"N-no, I am that protective hero who carries his heroine's bag!"
"Uff! Why are you being so dramatic?"
Dhara tried to snatch the bag, but Sarvagya quickly lifted it up.
"Just look at this! You can't even snatch the bag from me, and you were telling me I could carry it myself!"
Dhara looked at him with burning eyes, then suddenly had a cunning idea. She stopped and smiled innocently.
"Okay, thank you! Now give it to me..."
Sarvagya said skeptically, "You agreed so easily? Something is wrong!"
"No! You had to help me, and you did... now give me the bag!"
Sarvagya softened a bit, he was about to lower the bag when Dhara quickly grabbed it. But as she pulled the bag, Sarvagya also playfully tugged... and then...
'Thapp!'
All the contents of the bag scattered on the road! Books, pens, a chocolate, and... a pink diary!
Sarvagya, startled, picked up the diary and said, "Oh! What is this? Secret things?"
"No, that... just like that..."
But there was a mischievous smile on Sarvagya's face. He opened the diary and pretended to read—
"Dear Diary, today I saw a very handsome boy..."
"Are you crazy! Nothing like that is written!"
"Then what is written? Come on, tell me!"
Dhara immediately snatched the diary and put it back in her bag. Her face turned red, but Sarvagya just smiled.
"Haha! I was just saying that, but it seems something is really written!"
Sarvagya was still smiling, but seeing the slight pinkish hue on Dhara's face, his smile deepened. He knew he had teased her, and that was his real intention.
Dhara started walking forward angrily, but Sarvagya again started following her.
After a while, Dhara stopped in front of the hostel and took a deep breath. She turned and looked at Sarvagya, who was now preparing to turn into the alley behind his house.
She had just entered the gate when a voice came from behind—
"Hey, listen!"
Dhara turned and looked. Sarvagya was standing at the corner of the alley, the same mischievous smile on his face.
"What?" Dhara asked, raising her eyebrows.
"It's okay if you don't write my name in the diary... but at least don't forget to mention me on today's page!"
Dhara clenched her fists in anger. "Are you crazy? Get out of here, your mother will catch you!"
Sarvagya laughed, saluted her, and headed towards his house, where he had to enter through the back door.
Dhara took a deep breath and went inside. As soon as she reached her room, she threw her bag down, took out the diary, and stared at it for a while.
Then, with a slight smile, she opened the page and wrote—
"Today was a very strange day… and a little special too.
Saanvre today again… again did what he did in our first meeting—helped… and made me laugh, teased me, and then said something as he left that got stuck somewhere deep in my heart.
‘At least don't forget to mention me on today's page!’
Crazy fellow!
For some reason, his words are echoing in my heart. It's like an unseen thread that is tying him to me. No, no… this is just a joke. Right?"
Dhara stopped writing and chided herself. "What am I writing?"
She abruptly closed the diary and put it under her pillow. But an unconscious smile appeared on her lips.
Meanwhile, Sarvagya was looking at the hostel from his room window.
He said to himself, "This is all I wanted… for my name to appear in her diary."
Then he closed his eyes and smiled.
To be continued
(Please follow me)
It was nighttime.
A light, cool breeze was blowing on the highway. It was dark all around, but the light from the lamps lining the road occasionally flashed on the car windows. Chitransh was driving silently, while Keshavi sat beside him, glancing at him with soft eyes.
Keshavi sensed that Chitransh was still somewhat lost in thought. There was a slight weariness in his eyes, but he was trying to smile forcibly.
"Are you thinking about something?" Keshavi asked softly.
Chitransh gave a faint smile. "No, just... like that..."
Keshavi looked at him intently, then with a slight mischievous smile, she said, "Don't lie. I know something is up."
Chitransh looked at her, then fixed his gaze on the road and nodded slightly. "Nothing, really. Just feeling a little tired."
Keshavi looked into his eyes and said softly, "So, shall I tell you a way to get rid of the fatigue?"
Chitransh asked with a faint smile, "What?"
The next moment, without saying anything, Keshavi leaned forward slightly and imprinted her soft, warm lips on his cheek.
In that moment, it was as if everything stopped.
Chitransh's fingers, holding the steering wheel, tightened slightly, his eyes widened, and his heartbeat momentarily paused before racing ahead. The air was still the same, the highway was still the same, but that feeling had changed the entire world.
The car's speed automatically reduced. Chitransh braked abruptly and pulled the car over to the side of the road. His hands were still on the steering wheel, but his attention was elsewhere—only on Keshavi.
He slowly looked towards her. Keshavi was smiling faintly, but there was an unspoken question in her eyes—had she done something wrong?
Chitransh still couldn't believe it. That moment, that touch, that feeling... it was completely new to him. A faint sparkle appeared in his eyes, as if he had found something he had been searching for but had never realized.
"K... Keshavi?" His voice had become a little husky.
"Hmm?" Keshavi replied softly.
Chitransh took a deep breath, the racing of his heart still present. "You... just now...?"
Keshavi chuckled, "Yes... why? Didn't you like it?"
Chitransh looked at her for a few moments, and then there was something in his eyes that Keshavi couldn't quite decipher—surprise, happiness, or something else?
Then suddenly, he averted his gaze, shook his head slightly, as if trying to compose himself. But the faint blush on his face said it all.
"No... I mean yes... I mean..." He tried to gather his words, but seeing Keshavi's smile, he himself started to laugh.
"Meaning?" Keshavi asked, leaning towards him mischievously.
Chitransh took a deep breath, then smiled and said, "Meaning... I hadn't even thought of this!"
Chitransh's heart was still beating furiously. His breaths had become a little deeper, as if he had just finished a race. He could hear his own heartbeat—fast, impatient, and uncontrollable.
For a moment, he removed his fingers from the steering wheel and rubbed his palms together, as if preparing himself for this new sensation. But the warmth of that light touch still lingered on his cheeks, sending an electric current through his veins.
Keshavi watched him silently. She lowered her eyes slightly, but her smile remained.
Chitransh slowly ran his fingers over his temple, as if convincing himself that this had all actually happened. The sound of his own heartbeat still echoed in his ears—uncontrolled, uncontrollable.
Keshavi tilted her head slightly and whispered in her soft voice, "What are you thinking so much about?"
Chitransh took a deep breath and then looked at her. There was still a hint of surprise in his eyes, but also something else—a deep, unspoken feeling.
"You know..." His voice was low, but there was something in it that seemed to hang in the air. "You've just made my heart beat a thousand times faster."
Keshavi smiled faintly, then leaned closer to him and said softly, "And... what if I say I did it intentionally?"
Chitransh's breathing quickened again. His gaze fixed on Keshavi's eyes, which were deep, shining, and mysterious.
"Intentionally?" he asked softly.
Keshavi nodded slightly, then slowly placed her fingers on his palms. Her touch was soft, but there was a tremor in it that shook Chitransh's entire being.
"Yes..." she said, smiling. "Because I wanted to know how fast your heart could beat... for me."
Chitransh looked into her eyes, then smiled faintly, as if trying to compose himself.
"So then?" he said in a deep voice. "Do you know now?"
Keshavi removed her fingers from his palms and lightly placed them on his chest, where his heart was still creating a storm.
"I'm still trying to find out..." she said mischievously.
Chitransh took a deep breath, then placed his palm over hers.
"Then listen carefully... because now these heartbeats are only for you, Keshavi."
A faint smile graced Keshavi's lips, but her eyes were still lost in feeling Chitransh's heartbeats. Beneath her palm, Chitransh's heart was beating furiously—impatient, eager, and incredibly fast.
The air was still the same, the highway was still the same, but that feeling had changed the entire world.
Chitransh gently took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Now?" His voice was soft, but there was a strange pull to it—as if someone was feeling their emotions for the first time.
Keshavi smiled faintly and tightened her fingers in his palms. "Now... can I make it even faster?"
Chitransh looked into her eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath and said, "Keshavi, I don't know what you're going to do, but if my heart beats any faster, I might not be able to handle myself."
Keshavi laughed softly, then leaned towards him gently and whispered near his ear, "Then... don't try to handle it."
Chitransh's heart seemed to truly stop for a moment. His breaths deepened. His fingers gripped Keshavi's fingers tightly.
For a while, there was a deep silence between them—a silence filled only with the sound of feelings.
Then suddenly, Chitransh smiled slightly and said, "You know, Keshavi..."
"What?"
"Now, whenever my heart races, I'll know for sure that you're somewhere nearby."
Keshavi smiled faintly and tightened her fingers on his. "And I want these heartbeats to always quicken in my name."
The car was still parked by the roadside. The road was deserted, the breeze was blowing gently, and the sky had a faint shimmer of stars.
For a while, there were no words between them, only the gentleness of feelings and the beats of their hearts.
But out there... somewhere in the darkness, there was someone else.
Someone who was watching their every closeness.
Someone whose eyes held anger.
Someone in whose veins burned jealousy...
It was morning.
The soft morning sunlight was scattered across the balcony of Gulmohar Girls Hostel. Dhara's eyes opened with great difficulty.
"Oh shit!"
She looked at the clock and immediately jumped out of bed. She had overslept despite her alarm.
Quickly, she rushed into the bathroom and finished bathing. Then, without thinking, she pulled out her black t-shirt and black jeans, threw on a pink long jacket, and put on black shoes. She hastily tied her hair into a high ponytail.
Then, without looking at anyone, she ran straight to the hostel mess.
She ate two bites of bread, took a sip of juice, and as she stepped out, she muttered—
"Oh God! Ten minutes late! I have to go full speed today!"
But as soon as she stepped outside, her feet stopped upon seeing someone in front of her.
Sarvagya, dressed in school uniform, leaning against his bicycle.
"Sanvre! You haven't left for school yet?" Dhara asked in surprise.
Sarvagya suppressed a smile and said, "Thakurain, I was waiting for you!"
Dhara narrowed her eyes. "Me? Why?"
Sarvagya smiled as he sat on the bicycle seat and said, "Oh, sit down first, Thakurain, you'll be late... and so will I!"
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "But I didn't ask you to wait for me?"
Sarvagya rolled his eyes. "Oh, no, you didn't say it, it's just my kindness!"
Dhara took a deep breath. "Firstly, I don't need your kindness! And secondly, I'm not sitting on your bicycle!"
Sarvagya shook his head. "Think about it! You'll reach college quickly!"
Dhara glared at him, then looked at her watch—she was indeed getting late.
"Absolutely not!" Dhara replied quickly and started to move forward.
Sarvagya turned his bicycle and started to walk alongside her.
"Thakurain, think about it! Otherwise, you'll keep melting in the sun, and my bicycle will go coolly through the fresh breeze!"
Dhara quickened her pace, but Sarvagya increased his cycling speed.
"Okay, forget it, I'm leaving!" He turned his bicycle.
Dhara checked her watch—it was really very late now.
"Wait!"
To be continued.
Dhara looked at her watch—it was really late now.
"Wait!"
Sarvagya's smile widened. "So, you'll sit?"
Dhara took a deep breath...
As soon as Dhara sat on the carrier, Sarvagya's heart suddenly pounded!
He put his feet on the bicycle pedals, but his mind was elsewhere—Dhara was sitting behind him! Really!
A light, cool breeze blew, and Dhara's loose hair touched his shoulder.
"Oh my god!" Sarvagya thought to himself, "What is happening to me?"
He wanted to ride the bicycle normally, but his hands and feet were moving completely differently!
Dhara jostled him from behind. "What are you doing? Ride straight!"
Sarvagya immediately came to his senses, "Y-Yes, yes! I'm riding straight!"
But still… his mind was completely short-circuited!
The bicycle slowed down considerably.
Dhara said impatiently, "What are you doing, Saanvre? I'm getting late!"
Sarvagya panicked. "Y-Yes, just… checking the brakes!"
Dhara rolled her eyes. "Oh, for heaven's sake! Please ride at full speed!"
"Full speed?" Sarvagya felt that if he increased the speed, his heart would start honking on its own!
Still, he pedaled, and the bicycle picked up speed.
But then…
Dhara suddenly leaned forward slightly and bumped lightly against his back!
"Thud!"
Sarvagya's heartbeats started racing at triple speed!
"Oh dear! The 'Thakurain' bumped against my back! God save me!"
His grip on the handlebars started to loosen.
Dhara didn't even realize it, but Sarvagya's mind had gone completely numb!
"Saanvre, why is this bicycle jerking?" Dhara asked suspiciously.
Sarvagya somehow managed to compose himself, "That… that the road is bad!"
"Road?" Dhara looked down—the road was perfectly smooth!
"Something is wrong!"
As soon as Dhara opened her mouth to question him—
Sarvagya immediately changed the subject—"Oh, Thakurain, your hair is so long!"
Dhara was taken aback, "What?"
"Yes, yes, I mean, it's flying in the wind, looking like a scene from a movie!"
Dhara quickly adjusted her hair. "Are you riding carefully?"
Sarvagya quickly nodded. "Yes, yes! I'm riding very carefully…"
"Thud!"
Dhara leaned forward slightly again, and Sarvagya's heart leaped again!
"God! This girl will turn my heartbeat into a space rocket!"
Now the situation was such that Sarvagya himself didn't understand if he was riding the bicycle or the bicycle was riding him!
Dhara asked again, "Are you really normal?"
Sarvagya forced a smile, "Absolutely! I'm fine! Perfectly calm!"
But the reality was—
Drums were beating in his heart!
Sarvagya's heart was going haywire!
As Dhara leaned forward a little more, Sarvagya's ears turned hot.
"Oh God! Does the Thakurain know that this short journey is no less than an earthquake for me!"
The more he tried to appear cool, the stranger he felt.
And then—
The bicycle wobbled slightly!
"Whoa!" Dhara quickly grabbed his shoulder!
Sarvagya felt as if someone had given his heart a 440-volt shock!
Sirens started blaring in his mind—
"Warning! Warning! The Thakurain has grabbed your shoulder! Please maintain your composure!"
But where was his composure?
Dhara asked nervously, "What are you doing? Ride straight!"
Sarvagya panicked, "Y-Yes! I'm riding straight!"
But his mind had completely flown away!
Dhara was still holding his shoulder lightly, and Sarvagya was in a state as if someone had restarted his brain!
He was trying his best to look normal, but his breathing was so fast that he could hear it himself!
"God! This girl will ruin my nervous system!"
Meanwhile, the college gate came into view.
Dhara said, "Stop! I'll get off!"
Sarvagya immediately applied the brakes—but a little too quickly!
"Thwack!"
The bicycle stopped with a slight jolt, and Dhara suddenly bumped against his back!
Sarvagya's eyes widened!
"Oh Mahadev! The Thakurain has decided today that she will send me to heaven!"
Dhara said impatiently, "Saanvre! What are you doing?"
Sarvagya composed himself, "Oh, it was a mistake! The brakes applied a bit too hard!"
Dhara glared at him, then slowly dismounted.
But…
As soon as Dhara got off, Sarvagya felt—
The journey was too short!
Just a few minutes, but he felt as if his whole world had been turned upside down!
Dhara, adjusting her bag, said, "Thanks, now go! You must be getting late for school too!"
Sarvagya nodded slowly.
Dhara entered the college gate, and Sarvagya stood there for a moment.
Then he took a deep breath, turned the bicycle, and headed towards his school.
But still…
He could still feel the faint touch of Dhara on his back.
His heart was still pounding!
Sarvagya felt as if the journey had become too short!
After dropping Dhara at college, when he turned his bicycle and started on his way to his school, he felt a strange sense of emptiness in his heart.
"The journey ended so quickly?"
The dusty road ahead, the cool shade of the trees, the school gate visible in the distance—everything was the same, but something also felt different.
Dhara's smiling face, her sweet scolding, and that slight bump—everything was still swirling in his mind.
"Oh my god! What am I thinking?" He jolted himself.
But still… the bicycle slowed down a bit.
Every day, this route felt long to him, but today?
Today, this route felt incredibly short, as if something incomplete had been left behind.
Sarvagya reached school, but his heart was still standing outside the college!
Dhara's touch… her voice… her piercing eyes…
Everything was still swirling in his mind.
"Oh Mahadev! This girl has become the enemy of my nervous system!"
As he parked the bicycle in the stand and walked inside, Shridam and Mangal stood there with folded hands.
"Great! These two CID agents are ready to interrogate me again!"
Shridam saw him from afar and narrowed his eyes.
"Oh boy... your face is glowing today as if someone has made you 'Laddu Gopal'!"
Mangal also noticed quickly, "Yes, man! Your ears are red too! Tell me, who was it?"
Sarvagya immediately stood straight, "Uh… who was it? I was just… coming to school!"
Shridam said, resting his chin on his hand, "Yes, yes! And the wind on the way stole your heart!"
Mangal winked, "Brother! This wasn't wind, it was an angel! Tell the truth, who was it?"
Sarvagya quickly slung his bag over his shoulder and walked away, "You two have too much free time! I'm getting late for class!"
But Shridam and Mangal understood his trick.
Mangal immediately blocked his way, "Hey, tell me first! You came by bicycle, so why are you looking so nervous?"
Shridam said with a smile, "And why are your ears so red?"
Sarvagya took a deep breath and said reluctantly, "Thakurain…"
Mangal and Shridam were both shocked!
"Thakurain???"
Mangal asked in surprise, "Who is she, man?"
Sarvagya said softly, "Dhara…!"
Shridam immediately blurted out, "You mean our Bhabhi???"
Sarvagya bowed his head, "Hmm…"
Now Shridam and Mangal were stunned!
Shridam was flabbergasted, "Wait! You and Thakurain together???"
Mangal quickly asked, "Where did you meet? What happened? How much happened?"
Sarvagya said irritably, "Hey! What do you mean 'how much happened'? Don't calculate!"
Mangal rolled his eyes, "So, things are settling down?"
Sarvagya quickly replied, "For now, just… the Thakurain touched me!"
Now Shridam and Mangal's eyes seemed about to pop out!
"Touched me???"
Mangal dramatically put his hand on his forehead, "Oh God! Our Bhabhi even touched this romeo!"
Shridam immediately said with a mischievous laugh, "Hey! Tell the truth, did Dhara Bhabhi slap you or touch you affectionately?"
Sarvagya took a deep breath and smiled slowly, "She was on the bicycle… she stumbled… grabbed my shoulder!"
Now Mangal and Shridam were completely beside themselves!
Shridam loudly put his hand on his shoulder, "Brother! This is a double attack!"
Mangal immediately said, "Meaning… she touched you, and your heart too!"
Sarvagya glared, "Hey! It wasn't that big a deal!"
But Shridam and Mangal were now looking at him as if he had achieved something extraordinary!
Mangal said laughing, "Hey! Now forget school, start preparing for the wedding directly!"
Sarvagya slapped his forehead, "Oh God! Whom have I befriended!"
But…
No matter how much his friends teased him…
The same pounding was still echoing in his heart…
Sarvagya, somehow composing himself, stepped into the class, and as soon as he entered…
…Shridam and Mangal followed him in.
"Hey man! We've come to class, let it go now!" Sarvagya said irritably.
Mangal whispered with a mischievous smile, "Hey! First, confirm if Dhara Bhabhi even remembers your name or not!"
Shridam nodded, "You're right! It's possible you've taken it to heart, and there, the Thakurain calls you by some other name!"
Sarvagya took a deep breath, "Are you mad? They know my name!"
Mangal raised his eyebrows, "So how does she call you?"
Sarvagya said with some hesitation, "Saanvre…"
"Ayyo!" Shridam and Mangal exclaimed in unison.
Sarvagya's heart was still pounding. After the word "Saanvre," Shridam and Mangal's reaction was as if they were going to bring the sky down.
Suddenly, Shridam and Mangal burst out laughing. Mangal even bent down and held his knees while laughing, "Hey! That's the same name your mother calls you!"
Shridam wiped his eyes unnecessarily and said, "Meaning, the Thakurain is giving you the same feeling your mother gives you?"
Sarvagya frowned, "Hey! Don't mess with my mind! Her 'Saanvre' and my mother's 'Saanvre'… there's a world of difference between the two!"
Mangal put his hand on his cheek, "There must be a difference, brother! Your mother calls you lovingly, and the Thakurain… uff!" He dramatically put his hand on his chest, "What a scene!"
Sarvagya shook his head and said reluctantly, "Listening to you two, it feels like I'm not in class, but at a tea stall!"
Shridam shrugged, "Whether you're at a tea stall or in class, the point is the same—your heart is now pounding in the name of the Thakurain!"
Sarvagya held his head, "Oh Mahadev! These two aren't friends, they're Bollywood scriptwriters!"
But…
But before he could say anything to his friends, the Hindi teacher had arrived in class. Everyone sat down in their places. But Shridam and Mangal were still staring at him as if they had caught him doing something wrong.
Everyone sat down in their places.
The teacher opened the book and said, "Okay children, today we will read Premchand's story—'Namak ka Daroga'."
The commotion in the class reduced, but Sarvagya's mind was still wandering.
"Saanvre…"
Dhara's voice was still echoing in his ears. He started writing this name on his notebook with a pen, but as soon as he looked up, Shridam and Mangal were staring at him and smiling.
Mangal whispered softly, "Missing Bhabhi?"
Sarvagya glared, "Hey! Study!"
Shridam said with a smile, "Oh, we're studying Hindi, aren't we? Love will awaken from Premchand's story of 'Love'!"
Before Sarvagya could retort, the teacher looked at everyone.
"Whose 'love' is awakening?"
The entire class laughed.
Sarvagya quickly opened his book, "N-No sir, nothing!"
The teacher raised his eyebrows, "Pay attention to the class, or I'll write your story instead of Premchand's!"
Now Shridam and Mangal also fell silent.
To be continued…
To find out what happens next, just keep reading……
It was evening.
Dhara was returning from college. The day was drawing to a close, and a light, cool breeze was blowing. She held a packet of biscuits in her hand, eating some herself as she walked. Her gaze fell upon the park along the way, where little puppies were playing.
She smiled.
She was afraid of animals, but these little puppies looked so adorable that she decided to gather her courage and go closer. She carefully took out a few biscuit crumbs and placed them on the ground.
The puppies ran towards her and happily began eating the biscuits. Dhara felt good.
But then, her eyes landed on a large dog standing nearby, watching her slowly.
Dhara's heart started pounding.
"What should I do now?" she thought to herself. Her feet froze in place.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind—
"Thakurain, he won't do anything to you... You are afraid for no reason."
Dhara quickly turned around.
Sarvagya stood there, a faint smile on his face, as if he had already sensed her fear.
"He... he really won't do anything?" Dhara asked in a low voice, her eyes still fixed on the large dog.
Sarvagya nodded, then stepped forward and gently petted the dog's head. "See, he's very sensible. He doesn't scare anyone unnecessarily. It's just that if you get scared, he'll also consider you a stranger."
Dhara was still a bit nervous, but there was something in Sarvagya's words that reassured her. She mustered her courage and took a step forward.
"Not like that," Sarvagya said, stopping her. "Gently, without rushing."
Dhara took a deep breath and moved forward again. She held the last remaining biscuit in her hand.
"Offer it like this," Sarvagya gestured.
Dhara gently extended the biscuit towards the dog. The dog hesitated for a moment, then slowly moved forward, sniffed the biscuit with its nose, and then gobbled it up in one gulp.
Dhara's eyes sparkled. "He ate it!"
Sarvagya chuckled. "Absolutely! See, there was no need to be afraid."
Dhara looked at Sarvagya. There was something in his laughter that Dhara had never experienced before.
"How do you understand animals so well?" Dhara asked.
Sarvagya shrugged. "I like them. They don't judge."
Dhara gave a slight smile and then looked back at the little puppies, who were still looking at her, as if expecting more biscuits.
Sarvagya reached into his school bag and pulled out a packet of bread. "Would you like to feed them a bit more, Thakurain?"
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "Sanvre! Where did you get bread?"
Sarvagya smiled and said, "I always keep it. They are my friends; it doesn't feel right if they stay hungry."
Dhara nodded slightly and began giving small pieces of bread to the puppies. Soon, all the puppies were around her. She wasn't scared at all anymore.
Dhara was now completely at ease. The little puppies came and nuzzled her feet, and she gently stroked their backs with a faint smile. Seeing her so relaxed, a soft joy spread across Sarvagya's face. He watched her without speaking, as if wanting to capture the moment in his eyes.
Dhara caught his gaze. "What?"
Sarvagya lowered his head slightly, the same familiar smile on his lips. "Nothing, just seeing that Thakurain is not scared anymore."
Dhara rolled her eyes. "Sanvre... what is it about your words that I trust you, knowingly or unknowingly?"
Sarvagya remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "Perhaps because my heart knows that I can never hurt you."
Dhara looked at him. There was something in his eyes—a familiarity, a gentleness—that gave her a strange feeling. Whenever she felt lost, Sarvagya seemed to effortlessly show her the way.
After a while, Sarvagya shook his head slightly, as if dismissing an unspoken feeling. "Let's go, Thakurain, it's time to go home. Otherwise, if it gets late, you'll start getting scared again, won't you?"
Dhara looked at him with slight annoyance. "Sanvre! I'm not that timid anymore!"
Sarvagya smiled and clasped his hands in apology. "Forgive me, Thakurain. Shall we go to my home and then to your hostel?"
Dhara started walking without a word. As they walked, with the cool breeze flowing between them, Dhara noticed that Sarvagya was walking alongside her. As always...
She didn't know what this companionship meant to her. But there was something in the peace on Sarvagya's face and his care that made her feel at ease every time.
Sarvagya looked at Dhara. "You're thinking, aren't you?"
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "About what?"
Sarvagya smiled faintly. "About what I am, ultimately?"
Dhara couldn't say anything. The wind just blew, and their footsteps continued side-by-side...
The wind was cool, raising goosebumps on her skin. But Dhara didn't know if it was the cold or the effect of Sarvagya's smile that made her heart beat a little faster.
"How do you understand everything beforehand?" Dhara asked softly.
Sarvagya gave a faint smile, his hands in his pants pockets.
"Because I listen."
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "What?"
"People often don't listen; they just wait to reply. I listen, so I understand."
Dhara watched him for a moment.
"Don't be a philosopher, answer directly."
Sarvagya chuckled lightly. "The direct answer is that whatever you're thinking is clearly visible in your eyes. I just read it."
Dhara immediately looked away.
"Oh? Then what am I thinking right now?"
Sarvagya watched her for a moment, then smiled.
"That I'm telling the truth."
Dhara, annoyed, walked ahead.
"This boy, he thinks he's so smart!" she thought to herself.
But she herself didn't realize when her annoyance had given way to a smile.
Sarvagya shrugged. "Not smart, but yes... I can't go wrong in catching your thoughts."
Dhara looked at Sarvagya in surprise. "How do you know? I was only thinking this in my mind!"
Sarvagya smiled faintly, as if he had expected her question. "Because your eyes speak, Thakurain. And I understand the language of your eyes."
Dhara immediately averted her gaze.
"Arrogant, you are!" she muttered.
Sarvagya, suppressing a light laugh, asked, "Did you say something?"
Dhara shook her head. "No!"
Even though Dhara said "no," Sarvagya's smile deepened.
He leaned slightly as he walked beside her and whispered, "Lying is not good, Thakurain."
Dhara looked at him sharply. "I didn't lie!"
Sarvagya nodded. "Really? Then what were you muttering in your mind just now?"
Dhara pursed her lips. It was impossible to hide anything from this boy!
"What's it to you?" she said with a pout.
Sarvagya tilted his head slightly, as if revealing a secret. "It matters to me... because you yourself say that I think I'm very smart. So it's my responsibility to understand your every thought correctly."
Dhara took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. "Oh God! Arguing with you is like inviting trouble!"
Sarvagya chuckled lightly but said nothing this time.
As the hostel drew closer, Dhara quickened her pace.
"I don't want to hear any more nonsense," she thought to herself and hurried towards the gate.
Sarvagya smiled faintly at her speed.
"Thakurain, why are you running away?" he called from behind.
Dhara replied without turning, "To escape from you!"
Reaching the gate, Dhara stopped. She cast a quick glance at Sarvagya.
"Now what?" Sarvagya raised his eyebrows.
Dhara was about to say something, then stopped abruptly. "Nothing," she said, opened the door, and started to go inside.
But then Sarvagya's voice came from behind, "Thakurain?"
Dhara instinctively turned to look. Sarvagya was still standing there, hands in his pockets, but his eyes held the same mischief that always confused Dhara.
"What?" Dhara asked irritably.
Sarvagya smiled faintly. "Nothing!"
Dhara glared. "If nothing, then why did you call?"
Sarvagya shrugged. "Just like that... I wanted to see if you would stop or not."
Dhara glared at him angrily, then yanked the door open and went inside.
Upon entering...
The hostel corridor was empty. Dim lights cast long shadows on the floor. Dhara took a slow breath and walked towards her room.
Opening the door, she dropped her bag and collapsed onto the bed. But her mind was still restless.
"Does this boy really read my thoughts?"
She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.
But the next moment...
"Uff! Why does he even bother me!"
She got up abruptly, drank some water, and went to the balcony.
The cool air hit her face. There was a slight bustle on the road below, but her gaze was elsewhere.
Sarvagya was still standing in the same spot!
Hands in his pockets, looking up at the sky... as if lost in thought.
Dhara's heart fluttered strangely.
"Is he crazy? Why is he still standing there?" she muttered.
She admonished herself. "What's it to me? Let him be! Whether he stands there or goes home, what difference does it make to me?"
But deep down, she knew she was lying to herself.
Because it did make a difference... and perhaps Sarvagya knew that too.
Dhara tried to freshen herself by washing her hands and face, but her mind was still tangled. Splashing water on her face, she looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath.
"Don't be silly now, Dhara! This boy will drive you crazy!"
Scolding herself inwardly, she shook her hair and walked out of the room.
Towards Rhea, Kajal, and Priya's room.
As soon as Dhara reached their room and stood at the doorway, surprise flashed across her face.
The room was a complete mess! Books were scattered everywhere, clothes hung from chairs, and pillows lay on the floor.
Dhara stepped inside abruptly. "Oh God! What have you guys done to this room? It's so dirty!"
Rhea, Kajal, and Priya, who were lying on the bed, turned their heads simultaneously towards Dhara.
Then suddenly...
All three bared their teeth in a synchronized smile!
Dhara recoiled in shock. "Hey! What are you three doing?"
Priya winked. "Oh, girls' rooms are like this!"
Rhea nodded. "Yes! And what's your problem? Your room is clean and tidy, isn't it?"
Dhara said irritably, "You three have lost your minds! I mean, there's no space to put a foot here, and you don't care?"
Kajal lazily picked up a pillow, put it under her head, and said with half-closed eyes, "Oh Dhara, relax! We're allergic to cleaning. And besides, this is part of our creativity!"
Dhara clutched her forehead. "Creativity? Unbelievable! Your room looks like a disaster area!"
Rhea sat up, laughing. "Not an earthquake, you can call it a storm. And why are you getting so worked up?"
Dhara took a deep breath and braced herself.
"This room will be cleaned now!" she said, pulling back her hair and yanking a bedsheet.
Rhea, Kajal, and Priya looked at her in disbelief.
"Oh Dhara, have you gone mad?" Rhea exclaimed in shock.
Dhara glared. "Yes! And seeing this mess is making me crazier!"
She quickly started clearing things. She picked up scattered books and put them in the cupboard, straightened the pillows, and tossed the clothes into a corner.
Priya yawned. "Wow, she's actually getting to it!"
Kajal whispered softly, "Now what should we do?"
Rhea shrugged. "Nothing! As long as Dhara is here, the cleaning will happen!"
But the next moment—
"Rhea! Pick up this packet of chips!" Dhara commanded.
Rhea pouted. "Now?"
"Yes, now! And Kajal, fix these water bottles!"
Priya sat up. "Okay, so now you're making us work too?"
Dhara smiled and waved her hand. "Absolutely! Everyone has to lend a hand here."
The three exchanged glances and got up with a sigh.
In a short while, the room began to sparkle.
Dhara clapped her hands. "See, it looks so much better now!"
Rhea, Kajal, and Priya collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.
Dhara took one last appreciative look around the room and sighed with satisfaction.
"Well, now the room looks fit for humans!" she said with a smile.
Rhea, Kajal, and Priya lay listlessly on the bed.
"I'm feeling hungry now," Kajal said, rubbing her stomach.
Priya yawned. "Yes, we need to replenish the calories we burned cleaning!"
Dhara raised her eyebrows. "Oh madam, what did you even do?"
Rhea raised her hand. "We provided moral support!"
Dhara nodded and walked towards the door. "Come on, let's go to the mess. Otherwise, all the food will be gone!"
The three immediately jumped up, put on their slippers, and followed Dhara.
In the Mess—
The four girls were in the food line. The hall was buzzing with activity—some were laughing and joking, while others were arguing about food.
Dhara picked up a tray and looked at the menu. "What's for today?"
Rhea peeked ahead. "Aloo paratha and curd! Well, tonight should be good."
Priya made a face. "Ugh, just looking at the mess's paratha makes my appetite disappear. Half raw, half burnt!"
Kajal laughed. "Yes, and the curd on top is so bad, you can't tell if it's sour or sweet!"
Dhara said as she took a paratha in her tray, "Whatever it is, we have to eat it. Otherwise, we'll starve!"
The four picked up their trays and went to sit at a corner table. As soon as they took the first bite, Priya reacted immediately. "Oh God! It will take a lifetime just to chew this paratha!"
Rhea laughed. "I thought eating would give me energy, but all my energy will be spent just eating this!"
Dhara shook her head. "Come on, eat quietly. The more you think about it, the worse it will taste."
Kajal whispered softly, "Listen, look over there, what's happening at the next table?"
Everyone looked eagerly. A group of girls at the next table was having a heated argument. One girl stood holding a paratha and was saying something angrily.
Priya laughed and said, "Looks like her paratha turned out too burnt!"
Rhea smiled and said, "And maybe she didn't get extra curd either!"
The argument at the next table was escalating. The girl, whose paratha was more than half burnt, was telling off the mess staff angrily.
"Brother, is this paratha meant for eating or for collecting coal?" she said, slamming her tray down in anger.
The mess staff replied wearily, "Sister, food in the mess is not for taste, it's to stay alive!"
Priya covered her mouth, suppressing laughter. "Brother, he's telling the truth!"
Kajal said, laughing, "Actually, the food is usually good, but it's just that some people have a habit of complaining about everything!"
Dhara also nodded, "True! If you put Shahi Paneer in front of these people, they'll say—'The paneer is good, but there's a little less salt in the gravy!'"
Kajal tilted her neck with fake hauteur, "And then they'll say—'If the paneer were a little softer, it would have been more enjoyable!' As if the mess staff are running a five-star hotel for them!"
Rhea scraped curd from her spoon and said, "Those who complain find nothing perfect. Even if God himself cooked for them, they'd say—'It's a little cold, God!'"
The four burst into hearty laughter.
Just then, the angry girl turned and walked towards their table. "Are you guys eating this paratha too? Tell me, is this edible?"
Dhara rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Look, we come to the mess not to eat, but to survive!"
Priya sighed deeply. "Hunger is a powerful thing, sister! A person can even chew stones!"
The angry girl looked at their plates and then made a face. "So, you mean you guys will eat this coal... I mean, paratha?"
Rhea also joked, "Of course! Brother burnt it with effort, now it's our duty to digest it!"
The angry girl said, "Forget the paratha, look at this curd! Who knows if it's curd or white water... it seems like its dream of becoming lassi remained unfulfilled!"
Just then, the mess staff, who had been listening all along, came closer and said wearily—
"Sister, you should be happy! Eating mess food means you can diet and become strong too!"
The angry girl raised her eyebrows. "How so?"
The mess staff said innocently, "Because either you'll become strong by eating it, or your jaw will break from chewing, and you'll naturally be on a diet!"
Priya said, laughing, "Brother, this is too much now!"
Rhea said seriously, "No, no, he's right! Look, the paratha is so tough that eating it guarantees strong teeth!"
Kajal also looked at the tray with suspicion and said, "And the curd is so thin that after drinking it, your throat might even clear up!"
The mess staff said boredly, "Sister, here we don't try to taste the food, we just try to survive."
The angry girl held her head. "I'm going to the roti section now, maybe I'll find something better there!"
Dhara said to the mess staff, "Brother, tell me, if we survive this food today, will we get something better tomorrow?"
The mess staff replied in a very tired tone, "Yes, tomorrow's menu is new... 'Aloo Puri'!"
Dhara's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Oh wow! Aloo Puri tomorrow! That means a little spicy, a little oily, and a lot of hope that this time our stomachs will be filled!"
Priya immediately replied, "And a little acidity will also come free!"
Kajal asked with fake innocence, "Brother, will we get anything sweet with the puri? Like halwa...?"
The mess staff scratched his head and said, "In the name of sweets, we are shown the dream of Gulab Jamun tomorrow... but whether we get it or not, that will depend on the kitchen's mood."
Rhea made a face.
Hearing about the kitchen's mood for Gulab Jamun, Kajal and Rhea's eyes lit up. They looked at each other, and it was as if a file of old stories instantly opened.
Kajal taunted, "Yes, yes, but I'm telling you beforehand, if there's only one Gulab Jamun tomorrow, I'm taking it!"
Rhea raised her eyebrows. "You're taking it? Even on your birthday, I shared my Gulab Jamun with you!"
Kajal said thunderously, "You didn't steal it from me, you gave it willingly, out of love!"
Rhea clapped her hands and said, "Yes, and in return, you stole my barfi! I remember everything!"
Kajal put on a falsely innocent face and said, "I swear, it wasn't me! It was Priya!"
Priya, who was silently struggling with the remaining curd in her tray, was suddenly surprised. "Hey! When did I steal barfi? I don't even have a photo with Gulab Jamun!"
Dhara said, laughing, "You two started again? They fight over food every time. Last time they even blocked each other over mango shake!"
Priya said, laughing, "Really! And then they were caught brushing their teeth together the next day!"
Dhara and Priya's eyes met. Both smiled.
Meanwhile, Kajal and Rhea were still arguing—
Rhea: "Look, I'll get in line first tomorrow, understood?"
Kajal: "Yes, and I'll push from inside the line and get ahead, what will you do?"
Rhea: "You'll get ahead in line and eat Gulab Jamun too? I won't let you this time!"
The mess staff was completely fed up now, and his eyes had the same sparkle that Arjun got after Lord Krishna's sermon on the battlefield. He tightened his lungi and roared throughout the hall...
"Enough! That's too much! Since I've been here, complaints about parathas, jokes about curd, dreams of Gulab Jamun being traded... and now preparations for pushing in line? Oh sisters! This is a mess, not Kurukshetra!"
Silence fell... Kajal and Rhea's mouths were shut. Everyone else stopped even their spoons. The girls were looking as if Lord Krishna himself had appeared to stop Draupadi's disrobing.
The mess staff continued his dialogue, "Have you ever thought about the penance behind this burnt paratha? How much effort we put into burning it so that every corner offers a crispy experience!"
Priya whispered softly, "Experience, not accident, brother!" But she kept quiet.
Mess Staff: "And this thin curd? To make it, we missed so many breakfasts so that you could enjoy a liquid diet at lunch! And the dream of Gulab Jamun... we dream of that too, sisters, but not every dream comes true!"
By now, the entire mess was listening.
The mess staff stepped forward, pointing to his tray, and said:
"Look, food is not a matter of taste, but of sentiment! If you eat with your heart, even a burnt paratha will remind you of your mother's hands. And if your mood is bad, even Shahi Paneer will taste like boiled gourd!"
Dhara started clapping, and the other girls also started laughing, but they seemed a little impressed too.
The mess staff delivered his practiced final blow, "So, my humble request is... eat the food, don't complain. Otherwise, next time the menu will be – Blessings and Fasting!"
Kajal and Rhea were now silent. Priya said softly, "Brother has recited the entire Gita."
Dhara said, laughing, "And we all became disciples... Victory be to Sankat Mochak Bhaiya of the Mess Gita!"
Rhea slowly picked up the paratha and said, "Let's just eat it... who knows, maybe we'll find salvation in it!"
The mess staff bowed his head and left with a smile.
To be continued
To know what happens next, keep reading......
The morning sun was shining gently. A light, cool breeze was blowing, and the Sudarshan neighborhood was buzzing with activity.
Sarvagya had quickly gotten ready. He looked at himself in the mirror—his eyes were slightly puffy, perhaps from studying late into the night. But his face still held that familiar smile, the one that stayed even without a reason.
As he took out his bicycle, he checked his watch—it was time for Dhara to leave her hostel.
"My lady should have been here by now!" he thought to himself and started looking towards the gate.
Then, Sarvagya closed his eyes, as if wanting to rest for a moment. The wind blew rapidly across his face, and his hair scattered on his forehead, as if he were lost in deep thought.
And then...
Dhara emerged from the hostel gate. Her bag slung over her shoulder, the same confidence on her face, and that same steady gait. As the faint rays of sunlight fell into her eyes, she slightly lowered her head and covered her eyelids.
As soon as Dhara's gaze fell on Sarvagya in front, she began to walk towards him with slow steps.
Sarvagya sensed someone approaching, but he kept his eyes closed, so as not to get any hint of Dhara's arrival.
Then suddenly—
"Bhaaaavvvv!" Dhara shouted loudly, coming close to Sarvagya.
Sarvagya was startled and quickly opened his eyes. He suddenly heard Dhara's voice. As his eyes opened, he was shocked and started looking around frantically, as if his attention was elsewhere, but he knew Dhara was nearby.
Dhara watched his state with a tinkling laugh. Her laughter was such that it seemed to contain the whole world.
Sarvagya felt his heartbeat, as if his heart had suddenly quickened. His gaze fixed on Dhara's laughter; there was something in her laughter that seemed to be pulling him beyond his world.
Sarvagya blinked, and his heart seemed to stop for a moment. The whole world seemed to freeze.
"Sanware... where were you lost?" Dhara said, barely controlling her laughter.
Sarvagya's smile widened. But he said nothing, because he could still hear the echo of his lady's laughter.
Dhara looked at him. Then, she brought her face close to his and said, "Sanware, you look different today!"
Sarvagya's heart skipped a beat. Sarvagya's pulse suddenly quickened. Dhara was looking at him so closely, her faint fragrance, her deep eyes... for a moment, he couldn't understand anything.
"D-different? Meaning?" He gripped the handlebars of his bicycle tightly.
Dhara narrowed her gaze and said, "Your eyes, Sanware... they're puffy!"
"Th-that..." He quickly composed himself. "I have an exam today, so I was studying late into the night!"
Dhara raised her eyebrows slightly. "Oh! Is that why you look like this!"
"Okay, now sit, or we'll be late!" he said, controlling his racing heart and avoiding her gaze.
Dhara looked skeptically. "Again? I rode on your bicycle yesterday too, and today as well?"
"So? Ride every day, get used to it!" Sarvagya's eyes twinkled.
"Unbelievable!" Dhara shook her head, adjusted her bag on her shoulder, and reluctantly sat on the carrier of the bicycle.
Sarvagya's breath hitched.
Dhara's hand lightly brushed his waist.
"Oh God!" Sarvagya thought to himself. "This girl will kill me before the exam!"
He quickly started pedaling, but his mind was completely shaken.
"Sanware, drive carefully! Don't drop me!" Dhara warned.
Sarvagya took a deep breath. "Yes, yes, absolutely!"
The bicycle gradually picked up speed. But as the wind picked up, Dhara's hair flew and brushed against Sarvagya's back!
Sarvagya's grip on the handlebars began to loosen.
"My lady, could you manage your hair a bit?" he said softly.
Dhara heard him but ignored him.
A light, cool breeze was blowing along the way. A conversation also started between the two.
Dhara's gaze was now ahead, but her slight smile was still increasing Sarvagya's heartbeat.
After a few moments, the gate of Dhara's college appeared. The bicycle's speed slowed down, and as they reached the gate, Dhara slightly adjusted her bag and said while getting off the bicycle, "Best of luck! Give your exam well, Sanware..."
Sarvagya nodded with a smile.
Dhara turned to leave, and Sarvagya also headed towards his school.
The next moment...
Dhara took a few steps forward, but her heart was beating lightly. There was a strange feeling that she couldn't understand.
"What was that?" she thought to herself.
The wind was still cool, but now there was something else in it... like a sweet echo that had settled in her mind. She gently placed her palm on her chest—her heart was pounding, but she couldn't understand why.
"Perhaps because of the cold..."
She tried to convince herself. But it wasn't the cold; it was something else... something unknown, something new.
She reached the college gate and looked back.
Sarvagya, sitting on his bicycle, turned once more as he rode away and smiled faintly.
Dhara's heart fluttered again.
She quickly averted her gaze and scolded herself mentally, "Hey, focus! It's late for class!"
But somewhere, deep inside, a question still lingered—what was this strange feeling?
In the college corridor...
When Dhara reached her class, her friends were scattered as usual. Some were in group discussions, while others were flipping through notes in a hurry.
Dhara took her seat and was just taking out her notes from her bag when a boy stopped beside her.
"Dhara, your notes are very good... can I borrow them? I missed yesterday's lecture."
Dhara knew very well that her notes were the neatest and most understandable. She had no problem helping anyone. Without thinking, she smiled and handed her notes towards him.
"Yes, yes! Take them, no problem!"
The boy quickly grabbed the notes. "Thank you so much! I'll return them by evening!"
Dhara nodded and started looking for other books in her bag. But she had no idea that this trivial matter would bother someone else...
Dhara was engrossed in her books, but she had no idea that Uday, sitting in a corner of the classroom, was watching her.
There was still some time before the class started, so she began organizing her notes.
"Dhara!"
She was startled and looked up. Uday was standing in front of her—tall, with a light beard, and a peculiar sparkle in his eyes.
Uday... the same boy who had accidentally bumped into Dhara yesterday. But even after their eyes met just once, his gaze refused to move away from Dhara.
"Yes?" Dhara said in a normal tone.
Uday smiled slightly, "Nothing... just like that."
Dhara looked at him in surprise. "Oh? Just like that? Was there something you needed?"
Uday quickly shook his head, "No... I mean, yes, I just wanted your notes... if you could give them to me?"
Dhara found it strange, "I've already given them to someone."
"Oh..." Uday's face fell slightly. But he composed himself, "No worries, I'll take them later."
Dhara gave a faint smile and then started searching for something in her bag. She didn't pay much attention to such things. Her interactions with boys were limited to necessity, and she had never been interested in such matters.
But for Uday, it was a little different... he liked Dhara.
Whenever Dhara spoke in class, Uday would listen to her silently. Whenever Dhara laughed, Uday's heart would beat faster. But innocent Dhara had no idea about this...
It was evening. Dhara's three friends—Riya, Kajal, and Priya—were comfortably sprawled in her room.
Riya was lying on the bed, eating chips, while Kajal was getting annoyed by her actions.
"Hey, you finished the whole packet by yourself! Give me some too!" Kajal tried to snatch the chips from Riya.
Riya immediately pulled the packet towards herself and said playfully, "Sorry, too late! There's only air left in it now." Laughing, she tossed the empty packet towards Kajal.
"You're so mean!" Kajal said angrily and threw a pillow at Riya.
Dhara watched the scene, laughing. Priya had started gently braiding her long, curly hair.
"Dhara, you know, your hair is so beautiful?" Priya said, running her fingers through her hair.
"Oh? Then you'll have to braid my hair every day!"
"Absolutely not! I'm just in the mood today, that's why I'm doing it!"
Just then, Kajal said enthusiastically, "By the way, Dhara, didn't you once say that you love dancing and want to open your own dance academy in the future?"
A faint smile appeared on Dhara's face. "Yes, dancing is not just a hobby for me, it's a passion. I want to have my own dance academy someday, where I can teach dance to children."
Riya immediately clapped and said, "Wow! Then why don't you show us now? We want to see!"
Dhara hesitated, "Now? So suddenly?"
Kajal insisted, "Yes, yes! Now! We want to see your dance!"
Priya also supported, "Please, Dhara! Anyway, today is a day for lighthearted fun."
Dhara thought for a moment, then stood up from her place. She took out her mobile, opened the music playlist, and played a melodious but energetic song.
As the music started echoing in the room, Dhara closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She made space for herself, adjusted her feet, and closed her eyes. The noise of the room began to fade in her ears.
Dhara took her first step with the music, her arms swayed in the air, and her feet adjusted to the beat.
"Hamsters of the night, tired, heading home..."
The lyrics of the song gently echoed in the room, and Dhara's movements flowed with those words.
Her long, curly hair flew around her face, and her eyes were filled with deep emotions. She was performing one graceful move after another. A unique passion was evident in every step.
"As long as the moonlight is in the night, you will keep accompanying me..."
Her steps were light yet impactful. Sometimes her hands rose towards the sky, sometimes she knelt down expressing emotions. Her facial expressions were so effective that Riya, Kajal, and Priya watched her mesmerized.
Riya said softly, "Man, she looks like a professional dancer!"
"We will never be, far from you, my love..."
Her entire body followed the music, as if she and the music had become one.
The song was reaching its climax—
"May the springs pass, may the sights fade, may love remain..."
With her final move, Dhara struck a beautiful pose, and the song slowly ended.
For a moment, silence fell in the room. Riya, Kajal, and Priya's eyes widened.
Then, the very next moment—
"Wow! Dhara! What a dance!" Priya was the first to clap.
As soon as Dhara's performance ended, Riya said mischievously, "Now it's our turn!"
She quickly picked up her mobile and opened the playlist of Bhojpuri songs.
"Lollipop Laage Lu..."
As the first beat of the song played, Kajal jumped up, joined her hands, and started dancing as if dancing at a wedding procession.
Priya teased, "Hey! What's this? Did you jump from classical dance straight into a wedding procession?"
Riya wasn't one to be left behind! She covered her mouth with a dupatta and slithered on the ground in a snake-like style.
Dhara, laughing, fell down clutching her stomach, "Stop it, my stomach hurts from laughing!"
But Riya and Kajal were now in a mood for full-on fun.
"Jab tu lagaavle lu lipstick..."
Priya immediately picked up a pillow, made it into a microphone, and started singing in a filmy style.
"Dhara ji, please come on stage and surprise us with your moves!"
"No, no, leave me alone!" Dhara started backing away, laughing.
But Riya and Kajal grabbed her hand and pulled her.
"Satela e Raja Ji Satela..."
Now, Dhara also gave up and joined the fun.
The three friends were rolling with laughter, copying Bhangra style, snake dance, and Bhojpuri steps.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door—
"What kind of stage show is going on inside?"
Everyone froze...
Suddenly, silence descended upon the room.
"What kind of stage show is going on inside?"
Hearing this voice, Priya quickly turned off the mobile volume, and Kajal quickly threw the pillows over herself, as if pretending to be asleep.
Dhara and Riya were in the worst state—both were frozen in awkward poses in the middle.
The door slowly opened, and Madam Warden entered!
Madam glared and surveyed the entire room. Pillows scattered on the bed, chips scattered on the floor, and above all, the innocent expressions on the faces of the three girls, clearly saying, "We don't know anything!"
"Very nice! Did a hostel disco just open here?" the Warden said sarcastically, folding her hands.
"N-no, ma'am, we were just... just..." Priya tried to say something nervously.
"Just what?" the Warden looked with sharp eyes.
Just then, Riya, with her killer innocence, said, "Ma'am, Dhara's dance is very good, so we thought we should promote talent!"
"Oh? And was it necessary to turn the hostel into a wedding procession to showcase talent?"
"N-no ma'am, we were just... doing some light exercise, for fitness!" Kajal quickly made an excuse.
"For fitness, or to turn the hostel upside down?"
Dhara nudged Riya gently, "What do we do now?"
Riya whispered, "Just stay quiet, maybe they'll scold us less!"
But looking at the Warden, it seemed like scolding was definitely in store.
"Is the dancing and singing over? Now do the cleaning step too!" Madam Warden said in a cold voice, with her hands behind her back.
The three friends looked at each other in shock.
"Tomorrow morning at five o'clock, you four will clean the hostel garden!"
"F-five o'clock?" Riya's eyes widened.
"Yes! If you have so much energy at night, you should have it in the morning too!"
Dhara, Riya, Kajal, and Priya slowly looked at each other—now it was a disaster!
"Yes, and it won't be enough to just sweep. You will also be responsible for tending to the grass, removing dry leaves, and watering," the Warden said sternly.
Kajal blurted out, "But ma'am, early in the morning?"
"Any problem?" the Warden glared.
"N-no..." Kajal immediately lowered her head.
"Then fine. Meet in the garden tomorrow at five in the morning, and yes, if anyone comes late, they will have to do this job every day until next week!"
The Warden said this and walked out.
As soon as her footsteps faded—
"Gone?" Kajal whispered softly.
"Yes!"
Dhara threw a pillow at her face, "We're dead, man!"
Priya let out a long sigh, "At five in the morning, I'm usually in the seventh heaven of my dreams!"
Riya fell into deep thought, "I swear, if I pick up a broom tomorrow morning, my self-respect will itself throw slippers at me!"
Kajal held her head, "Man, what kind of trouble have we gotten into! Waking up at five in the morning means my inherent rights are being violated!"
Riya said with a pout, "You'll see, tomorrow morning my soul will leave the hostel and go to heaven for rest!"
Priya also joined her hands and said, "Oh goddess of the hostel, deliver us from this curse! More than us, the hostel broom will be happy that such noble hands will touch it for the first time!"
Kajal said, holding her forehead, "My soul is saying—'Daughter, your deeds have fallen so low that now dry leaves have become your destiny!'"
Dhara, lying on the bed, also said, "Tomorrow, when I sweep the garden, my soul will leave me and say—'Be happy with your deeds, I'm going into another body!'"
To be continued
The next morning, Sarvagya stood outside his house, dressed in his school uniform, a chemistry notebook in his hand. A faint smile played on his lips, but his heart was filled with a strange tension as it was his chemistry exam today.
Just then, Dhara appeared in front of him. She was wearing a light pink suit, her hair let loose, and a water bottle in one hand.
As soon as her gaze fell on the notebook in Sarvagya's hand, she smiled and said,
"Oh… it's your chemistry exam today?"
Sarvagya immediately put his book in his bag and replied,
"Yes, Thakuran… I am a little tense, but now that I've met you, everything will seem easy."
Dhara smiled, but then her gaze suddenly fell on Sarvagya's shoes—one of his laces was untied. She immediately bent down and said,
"Wait, Sanvre!"
Sarvagya didn't understand. "What happened?" he asked, looking around.
But before he could say anything more, Dhara quickly sat down and began tying his shoelace without a word.
Sarvagya was stunned. He immediately pulled his leg back and said,
"N-no, no! Don't you do it… I'll tie it myself!"
Dhara looked at him—her eyes held a hint of annoyance and a sweet reprimand.
"Be quiet! You can hold books, but you can't tie your shoes?"
Sarvagya was flustered.
"But Thakuran, you sitting down—"
"Now be quiet!"
She pulled his foot forward again and began tying the lace.
Sarvagya didn't want his Thakuran to touch his feet, but he couldn't say anything against Dhara's insistence. His heart was pounding. His Thakuran was in front of him… sitting on the ground, neatly tying his shoelaces.
Dhara's face was bowed, her hair touching her cheeks, and a stray strand on her forehead kept moving. Sarvagya averted his gaze, as if he were ashamed of himself.
"This isn't right…" he mumbled to himself.
But then, Dhara looked into his eyes and said—
"Everything is fine for you, understand? If I can clean your wound, then tying this lace is no big deal. And anyway… when someone is dear to you, it's not wrong to bend for them."
Sarvagya's eyes paused for a moment.
"Dear…" these words seemed to knock gently in his heart and settle in.
Dhara finished tying the lace and glanced at him, smiling.
Sarvagya had just grabbed the bicycle handlebars when Dhara asked with a smile,
"So, do you intend to send me walking today, Sanvre?"
Sarvagya laughed.
"What are you saying, Thakuran… The ride will go with you as usual today."
He gently patted the back seat of the bicycle with his hand,
"Come, Huzoor, your ride is here."
Dhara unhesitatingly put the water bottle in her bag and sat on the bicycle.
"But ride a bit faster today, my college lecturer is very strict, he strikes names off if you're late."
Sarvagya replied with a smile,
"At your command, Thakuran, I would even fly the cycle."
The bicycle started. Gentle rays of the sun were scattered on the road, and the familiar noise was in the air.
"Sanvre, listen…" Dhara said softly.
"Hmm?" Sarvagya replied, his eyes fixed on the road.
"If the paper goes well today… will you treat me to a kulfi?" Her voice held a mischievous sweetness.
Sarvagya smiled and said,
"Just kulfi? I'll treat you to the entire shop."
Dhara lightly patted his back,
"You're unbelievable, Sanvre!"
The bicycle was racing with the wind… and the heart with its beats… Sarvagya, with a faint smile, tucked Dhara's pat onto his heart. The bicycle was moving on the road, but Sarvagya's heartbeats were faster than its speed. Dhara was sitting behind him, but the gentle warmth of her breath was touching Sarvagya's neck.
He slightly turned his neck and said,
"By the way, Thakuran… your fragrance seems particularly good today…"
Dhara, surprised for a moment, asked,
"What did you say?"
Sarvagya laughed and said,
"Nothing, the wind is strong perhaps… your fragrance is drifting to me."
A slight blush crept onto Dhara's cheeks, but she changed the subject and said,
"Don't talk nonsense, ride the cycle straight, look, a turn is coming!"
Sarvagya laughed and steered the cycle through the turn,
"Not the cycle, Thakuran… it's hard to control the heart…"
Dhara lightly held his waist and said,
"Then don't fall anywhere… and don't let me fall either, Sanvre!" There was a childlike concern in her words. Sarvagya held his breath for a moment.
"Thakuran…" he said softly.
"Hmm?"
"Whatever happens with the chemistry paper today… but this morning time, this journey… I will remember it all my life."
Dhara fell silent. Her grip on Sarvagya's waist tightened slightly. She said softly,
"There are some moments, Sanvre… that aren't written in papers, but they always remain in the copy of the heart."
A hint of moisture welled up in Sarvagya's eyes, but he tried to appear stern and said,
"Now, if you make me so emotional, I'll fail before the exam."
Dhara laughed,
"I won't let you fail… my Sanvre will not only pass, but top!"
At the very next turn, Dhara's college arrived. Sarvagya stopped the bicycle. As Dhara got off, she said,
"Best of luck, Sanvre… and yes, remember the kulfi, right?"
Sarvagya looked into her eyes and said,
"Yes, Thakuran…"
Dhara smiled, looked at his face, and then turned and walked away, but Sarvagya stood there until she disappeared beyond the college gate. He took a deep breath…
"Come on, Sanvre… now meet chemistry… you meet Thakuran every day."
As soon as Sarvagya entered the school and parked his bicycle, someone pulled his bag from behind.
"Hey, Sarvagya! Where were you until now? We thought you'd take a holiday today!" The voice was Mangal's, who was always hyper in his style.
"Oh, calm down, Mangalacharya! I've just arrived," Sarvagya said, laughing, "And anyway, I don't take holidays, I arrange them!"
Sridam jumped in, "You're right, Guru, but if Chemistry makes you take a holiday today… you'll have to go offer prayers at Baba's hermitage!"
Sarvagya laughed and said, "Tell me about your preparation first, then try to scare me."
Sridam took a deep breath and said,
"Brother, my preparation is only this much: if the paper asks 'What is Chemistry?', I will confidently write—'Chemistry is a subject that gives pain in test and tension in rest!'"
Sarvagya and Mangal both burst into laughter. Mangal said,
"Hearing your definition, the teacher will faint!"
Sridam smiled,
"Not faint, brother… she'll pass me! Out of pity."
Just then, the bell rang. Seriousness returned to everyone's faces. Sarvagya tightly placed his notebook in his bag and said,
"Come on, friends… it's time for battle."
Mangal jokingly put his hands over his eyes and said,
"Oh, God of Chemistry! We are coming to present ourselves at your door… please bestow your grace!"
By the time they returned from school, the afternoon had deepened. The faint sunlight in the sky was beginning to turn golden, and the shadows of the trees along the roadside were lengthening. Dhara had left college early. She was standing by a Gulmohar tree outside the college—swinging her water bottle, her gaze repeatedly drifting towards the turn from where Sarvagya would come. Her face was tired, but her eyes held an eagerness. As if waiting for someone… for someone dear.
And then… from a corner of the road, Sarvagya's bicycle emerged. The white shirt, the blue tie now a bit loose, a drop of sweat on his forehead, and that same old smile on his lips. Dhara saw him from afar, and a relieved smile spread across her face.
The school exam had gone reasonably well. But only one thing was revolving in his mind—Dhara had said she would wait. And truly… under the old neem tree near the college, the same light pink dupatta… the same open hair… and the same water bottle in hand… Dhara was standing.
As soon as Sarvagya's gaze fell on her, his heartbeats quickened again. He slowly rode the bicycle closer. Dhara was lost in thought, perhaps about the college lecture or some household chore, but she didn't know yet that someone was looking at her with a gaze… in which the whole world seemed to stop.
"She's right there… my Thakuran… waiting for me."
As the bicycle approached, Dhara said with a slight pout,
"So, how did the paper go?"
Sarvagya smiled, but said nothing. He just parked the bicycle to one side and rested both hands on the handlebars, looking at Dhara—exactly as one would read a book… his favorite book.
Dhara furrowed her brows,
"Are you listening, Sanvre?"
Sarvagya nodded slightly,
"I am listening… and looking too."
"What?" Dhara asked.
Sarvagya said in a lost voice,
"That pink suit, that water bottle, that neem tree… and you… everything."
Dhara's face grew a little warm, but she quickly composed herself,
"Still, you didn't answer… you didn't answer the paper!"
Sarvagya took a deep breath,
"The paper was alright… I wrote as much as your smile gave me courage."
Dhara pursed her lips slightly,
"Meaning, you'll top?"
"I don't know," Sarvagya said, "but if you say I should top… I can."
Dhara remained silent, but a sweet smile bloomed on her lips. Sarvagya was still gazing at her. Dhara could feel the intensity of his gaze. She narrowed her eyes,
"Why are you looking like that?"
Sarvagya quickly averted his gaze and said, "Uh… nothing… that… I was saying… that… Thakuran, let's go! Let's head towards the kulfi shop."
Dhara immediately got up. The next moment, they were walking along the roadside, both with their bicycles. Sarvagya had one hand on the bicycle's handlebars, and the other in his pocket… but his eyes kept darting to Dhara walking beside him. Dhara was lost in her own thoughts. Her hair was blowing in the wind, and the pink dupatta would sometimes rest on her shoulder, sometimes fly away.
Sarvagya said softly,
"Thakuran… you walk very fast."
Dhara smiled and looked at him,
"So what should I do? The kulfi shop is approaching… I'm so eager!"
Sarvagya noticed for the first time—there was a special sparkle in Dhara's eyes for kulfi. She was happy with a childlike innocence.
Slowly, the kulfi shop came closer. Sarvagya observed carefully—Dhara's gaze was fixed directly on the kulfi cart where kulfis of different colors were displayed. Saffron, pistachio, rose, mango…
Sarvagya rolled up the sleeves of his shirt slightly, and placing his hand on the bicycle handlebars, said,
"Thakuran, let's go… now only kulfi will bring coolness to this hot afternoon…"
Dhara smiled slightly, "Yes… bring it quickly… I'll see which one you bring!"
Sarvagya was a little taken aback. 'Which one?' A hint of worry appeared on his face. He didn't know which kulfi Dhara liked… this was the first time he was going to bring something for her himself. But he didn't let the expression show on his face—"Which kulfi would Thakuran like?"
Matka? No… Saffron-pistachio? Yes, but she doesn't eat too much sweet… Rabri? No… then what? Just as Sarvagya was thinking this, the bicycle suddenly jolted and stopped.
"What happened?" Dhara asked.
"Nothing, the brake slipped a little."
Dhara laughed, "Or is your mind stuck on some other brake?"
Sarvagya waved it off with a light laugh. The kulfi shop had arrived.
"You sit here," Sarvagya said, "I'll bring it…"
Dhara narrowed her eyes, "See… if I don't like it, I won't eat it."
Sarvagya walked towards the shop with a smile… and then, as soon as he reached the kulfi cart, he hesitated for a moment. His eyes darted around—Matka, Saffron-pistachio, Rabri-malai, Rose, Chocolate… everything was in front of him, but his heart and mind were tangled.
"Which one should I give her? What does she like? It's the first time I'm bringing something for her myself… and what if I make a mistake?"
He asked the kulfi vendor,
"Brother, which flavor is the most in demand?"
The kulfi vendor smiled, "Mango and Matka sell the most."
Just as Sarvagya was thinking something…
"Mango kulfi for me…!"
The same voice came from behind… soft, playful, and perfectly recognizable. Sarvagya turned and saw—Dhara smiling and looking at him. A deep sense of relief spread across Sarvagya's face.
"You make my difficulty easy every time…"
He immediately took out two mango kulfis—one for her, one for himself. Paid the money, and turned back… with the same smile that was not from his lips, but from his heart.
Dhara had now sat down under a neem tree. Her gaze was in front, but her attention was solely on Sarvagya. Sarvagya's gait had changed now… as if he were returning victorious.
As he approached, Dhara asked playfully,
"So, you brought it!"
Sarvagya bent down, offered the kulfi to her, and said,
"Here, Thakuran, your request – Mango kulfi, special… for you."
Dhara took the kulfi and stared at it in one gulp,
"If you speak too sweetly, I'll throw this kulfi right at your face, even your own kulfi!"
Sarvagya laughed.
"Oh… so kulfi has become a weapon now?"
Dhara took a bite and closed her eyes.
"Uff… this kulfi… I could fall in love with it!"
Sarvagya said to himself, "And I with you…"
Dhara's face froze. The piece of kulfi seemed to forget to melt on her tongue. She slowly raised her eyes… Sarvagya was no longer looking at her. He was looking somewhere in front, at children laughing in the shade of the kulfi vendor. But his face… something else was written on it. Perhaps what he had just said.
Dhara asked, not quite understanding,
"Sanvre… did you say something just now?"
Sarvagya immediately lowered his gaze.
"Me? No… I didn't say anything," he hurriedly put a large piece of kulfi in his mouth, as if trying to lock his tongue.
Dhara looked at him with suspicion,
"Oh, perhaps I was mistaken."
Sarvagya immediately shook his head,
"Perhaps I was praising the kulfi… anyway, in such cold kulfi, how can truth remain? Everything will melt away."
Dhara slightly raised her eyebrows at his words… then looked at the kulfi, took another bite… and smiled.
"Okay, I believe you… you didn't say anything." Her voice still had a subtle layer of doubt, but her face was the same innocent one – that held the innocent stubbornness of accepting Sarvagya's lies as truth every time.
Sarvagya breathed a sigh of relief, but his eyes were still entangled in Dhara's smile. The sun had dipped further, the shade of the neem leaves had grown denser. The sweetness of kulfi had mingled with the air… and a soft silence had settled between them.
As Sarvagya picked up the next piece of kulfi… it fell directly onto his white school shirt.
"Oh, brother!" he panicked.
Dhara's gaze immediately fell on his shirt—the orange kulfi, right in the middle, as if a child had drawn on it.
"Oh dear, oh dear!" Dhara quickly stood up and, without thinking, rubbed the corner of her dupatta on his shirt.
"Thakuran! Oh, leave it, the shirt will get wet!" Sarvagya stammered.
"Be quiet!" Dhara said irritably, "How can you be so shameless that you dropped kulfi and now you're worried about the shirt? What if the color is gone?"
"I'm shameless?" Sarvagya widened his eyes.
"Hah!" Dhara glared at him as if she would slap him, "Look here, is it fallen anywhere else…"
Sarvagya fell silent now. Dhara was bent over his shirt, and her face was very close. Sarvagya's breathing quickened. He could feel the strands of hair flying on her forehead, the movement of her eyelids… everything.
Dhara was now slowly wiping his collar with her dupatta… but suddenly her hands stopped. She slowly raised her eyes… their gazes meeting this time was not the same as before. It was something else—as if time had stopped right there.
Just as Sarvagya was about to say something, Dhara quickly turned her face.
"It's done… it looks fine now." There was a slight nervousness in her voice.
"Thank you, Madam Ji." Sarvagya said with a laugh.
After a while, Sarvagya said,
"So, shall we go, Madam Ji? Otherwise, even the sun will say that these two are burning more than us!"
Dhara glared at him,
"You're being very polite today… Come on, get the bicycle."
Sarvagya picked up the bicycle and blew some dust off the back seat, cleaning it,
"Here, Thakuran Ji's throne is ready."
Dhara threw the empty kulfi stick in the nearby dustbin and then adjusted the bag slung over her shoulder.
Dhara's face steadied for a moment… then a smile suddenly appeared on her lips, she sat behind without saying a word.
As Sarvagya grabbed the bicycle, his gaze once again peeked back at Dhara—she was completely unaware, as if conversing with the wind. Her hair was blowing gently, her eyes were lost in the blue sky… and on her lips was that same unspoken smile. But for Sarvagya, all this was saying a lot.
He gently pedaled—the bicycle started. The wind was not strong now, but his heartbeats certainly were… Sarvagya's eyes were in front, but his attention was focused on the girl sitting behind him, for whom he had brought something himself for the first time… and perhaps felt something for the first time without saying it.
The road was straight, but the path had become something else. Dhara was carefree… but for Sarvagya, every moment was 'love' wrapped in 'concern'.
He kept cycling… but in his every action, there was a hidden care—turning slowly if there was a jolt, bending slightly if he saw a stone on the road, slowing down at the sound of a vehicle coming from behind… so that Dhara wouldn't feel anything… but he would remain completely attentive.
Dhara suddenly said,
"Sanvre…"
"Hmm?" Sarvagya said without looking back.
"Why are you so quiet?"
Sarvagya smiled,
"Quiet? No… I'm just saving you from falling…"
Dhara burst into laughter,
"Oh dear! Don't think that much… I'm not a child, am I?"
Sarvagya smiled slightly…
"Absolutely not… but I can't bear to see you in trouble."
He said this only in his mind… not out loud. The road was now taking a slight turn… the hostel wall was visible ahead.
Dhara asked softly,
"You'll leave me like this every day, won't you?"
Sarvagya did not reply… just bowed his head slightly… and kept pedaling. Dhara didn't ask again… just smiled and looked at the sky. Sometimes, some answers are not found in words… but in speed, in the way of riding… and in the slowing down of the bicycle.
To be continued
Sarvagya slowly stopped the bicycle near the hostel gate.
As Dhara was about to get down, her gaze went forward—a tall, sharp-eyed boy stood in the courtyard of Sarvagya's house. Dressed in a suit, very gentlemanly, with a mobile in his hand and his eyes fixed directly on Sarvagya.
Dhara paused for a moment. As soon as Sarvagya saw her gaze, he too turned back.
"Bhaiya…?" it escaped his lips softly.
Chitransh bhaiya was standing in the courtyard.
Chitransh called out from a distance—
"Chhotu…!"
Dhara's steps suddenly halted. A smile flickered across Sarvagya's face.
"Thakurain, these are my elder brothers… Chitransh bhaiya," he said softly.
Dhara turned to look… Chitransh had now come near the bicycle. There was a little surprise on his face, but his gaze remained courteous.
"Chhotu, so now you even drop girls?" Chitransh asked with a slight smile.
Sarvagya said hesitantly, "No bhaiya… I mean… just like that, the hostel is nearby, so…"
Chitransh's gaze now fell on Dhara.
Dhara slightly bowed her head and greeted, "Namaste, bhaiya…"
Chitransh nodded slowly, "Namaste… You?"
Sarvagya fumbled, "Bhaiya, this… Thakurain… I mean Dhara. My friend."
Chitransh looked at Dhara for a moment—a simple girl, confidence in her eyes, innocence on her face.
"Oh… good that you told your name," Chitransh said, "otherwise I was thinking, which mysterious shadow is hovering behind Chhotu, who gets a lift on the cycle every day."
Dhara suppressed a laugh. She lowered her gaze, while Sarvagya, rubbing behind his ear, said,
"Bhaiya, you say anything… Our classes have the same timing, so…"
"Yes, yes," Chitransh said, enjoying himself, "Same classes, same route, same neighborhood, and now, may hearts also become the same, right?"
Sarvagya's face changed color. Before he could say anything, Chitransh, laughing, said to Dhara,
"Forgive me, I tease him a bit too much."
Dhara said with a slight smile, "It's okay, bhaiya… he deserves this naughtiness."
Chitransh laughed.
"Wow! So now his complaints have also started. Chhotu, be careful…"
Sarvagya interrupted, "Bhaiya! Let's go now… Mummy must be waiting."
Chitransh widened his eyes and said, "Yes, yes… Mummy is always waiting."
Dhara immediately said, "Okay, bhaiya, I'm leaving now… otherwise the warden will lock the gate again."
Chitransh said with a smile, "Absolutely… and then Chhotu will have to stay in the hostel with the bicycle."
Dhara laughed. Sarvagya was now genuinely annoyed, "Bhaiya… stop it now…"
Dhara greeted and turned towards the hostel gate. As she walked away, she glanced back once… Chitransh bhaiya was now saying something with his hand on Sarvagya's shoulder… and Sarvagya smiled for a moment, then lowered his eyes.
A faint smile spread across Dhara's lips.
For the first time, something fluttered in her heart… something strange, unsaid… perhaps… this was a beginning.
Chitransh and Sarvagya were now slowly riding towards home on the bicycle. There was silence for a while on the way. Sarvagya knew—Bhaiya is quiet, which means a storm is coming.
As they entered the house gate, Chitransh stopped the bicycle by holding the handlebars.
"Get down, Chhotu," he said—but there was that sweet seriousness in his voice, enough to scare any younger brother.
Sarvagya slowly got down. "Bhaiya…"
Chitransh put the bicycle aside, then turned towards him. "You've become very generous towards girls these days, haven't you?"
"Oh bhaiya…"
"Come on, Chhotu, let's go inside!"
Sarvagya fumbled, "Oh bhaiya… if Mummy says something then…"
"Before Mummy, I am going to speak to you. Come on!"
He dragged Sarvagya from the drawing-room and made him sit in his own room.
Chitransh took off his coat, his watch, and his face became serious.
"Now tell me… what is this new drama of yours? Who is this Dhara?"
Sarvagya looked directly into Chitransh's eyes and said, "Friend!"
"Friend?" Chitransh paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and said, "You are even insulting the word 'friend'. Do you remember you gave a lizard as a birthday gift to your classmate Gungun?"
Sarvagya burst out laughing, "Oh, that was just a joke!"
"Yes, and after that joke, she trembled for two months. And Tanuj? You stuck chewing gum in his hair with a kite."
"Bhaiya…" Sarvagya got a little nervous, "Enough now… Mummy will hear…"
"Yes, Mummy will hear," Chitransh suddenly raised his voice and stood in front of him angrily, "But first, you tell me! Where did you get this misconception that you have a license to mess with every girl?"
Sarvagya's eyes widened, "Bhaiya… what happened? Why are you so angry?"
"Because I know you, Chhotu…" Chitransh's voice deepened, "And if you remain like this… one day you will become someone who plays with hearts…"
Suddenly Chitransh gave a jerk as if he was about to slap Sarvagya. Sarvagya closed his eyes tightly…
But instead of a slap… only a finger lightly touched his nose.
Sarvagya opened his eyes—a mischievous smile was on Chitransh's face.
"Scared, Chhotu?"
"Bhaiya…!" Sarvagya said exasperatedly, "You… I was scared."
"That's all I needed," Chitransh said, putting his hand on his shoulder, "You are playful, but your heart is pure. But this world doesn't see hearts, it only sees actions… understood?"
Sarvagya nodded his head.
Chitransh continued, "Today, for the first time, I've seen you so comfortable with a girl. So quiet… so calm… and most importantly—hesitating to explain yourself for someone."
Chitransh's face had now softened completely.
"Tell me the truth… do you like her?"
Sarvagya first remained silent for a few moments, stared at the ground… then slowly said,
"I don't know, bhaiya… it's just that when she's with me, I feel something strange. Good, and also scary. I feel like talking to her… but I'm also afraid she might drift away…"
Chitransh was now smiling.
"Oh wow… Chhotu has started talking philosophy now! The fear is true… but that fear is called love, my brother."
Sarvagya looked up, "Meaning… you really think that…"
"I don't need to think anything, I am seeing… and what I am seeing is that you are growing up now, Chhotu."
Sarvagya asked slowly, "But bhaiya… I am two years younger than her… if she finds out, maybe… she will laugh… or then… she will never talk to me…"
Chitransh put his hand on his shoulder and pressed it lightly.
"Love is not measured in years, Chhotu. And anyway, the two-year difference is in age… not in thinking. The truth in your words is something that even older people sometimes don't understand."
Sarvagya was still confused.
Chitransh continued with a smile,
"When people walk in the rain, they don't think about how beautiful the rain is… they only worry about their clothes getting wet. If life is lived according to people's fears, what will be left for yourself?"
Sarvagya quietly lowered his head.
Chitransh said with a laugh,
"Look, Chhotu, I'm not saying you should go propose to her now… but cherish this feeling. Don't ignore it… and most importantly—give respect to that feeling. The time will come when she will herself understand what you are to her…"
There was now some relief in Sarvagya's eyes… and some trust as well.
"And yes," Chitransh said with a laugh, "if you ever don't understand something, remember your elder brother. You are younger, but you have become big-hearted, Chhotu…"
Sarvagya said with a slight smile,
"Thank you, bhaiya… I thought you would be angry… but you…"
"I was angry… but with love!" Chitransh said, lightly tapping his neck, "Now come on, Mummy must be waiting."
Chitransh thought to himself—
"Perhaps… his heart has truly settled somewhere now… and if that settlement is Dhara, then I will stand by him myself… but before that… Chhotu will have to have a few more lessons."
Both of them walked out of the room… but Sarvagya's mind was still there—in that moment, in that smile, and in his Thakurain…
Dhara had entered the hostel gate, but her mind had stayed outside.
Holding her bag strap, she sat by the lawn for a while. Chitransh bhaiya's words… and Sarvagya's shyness… everything was echoing in her mind.
"May hearts also become the same…"
These words lingered in her ears for too long.
She stopped the smile spreading on her lips, but her eyes betrayed her—somewhere, her heart too was sitting on the back of that bicycle… with Sarvagya.
Nandan Ji was sitting at the dining table with a serious expression. Hot rotis and sabzi were kept on the plate in front of him, but his attention was more on thinking about something else than eating. Yamini Mummy glanced at him, then looked at Sarvagya and Chitransh, who were now pulling chairs to eat.
"Where were you two?" Yamini Mummy asked with slight displeasure.
Chitransh replied with a smile, "Just Mummy, I was talking to Chhotu a little."
Sarvagya also nodded his head with a smile.
Chitransh then suddenly said, "Mummy, let him drink milk today… love reduces both hunger and thirst!"
Sarvagya quickly said, "Bhaiya…!"
Nandan Ji, startled, took off his glasses and said,
"What do you mean, Chitransh, what love?"
Chitransh with a mischievous smile,
"Oh Papa, nothing… just like that… Chhotu has grown up a bit, now he has started having conversations about friendships."
Nandan Ji took off his glasses, placed them on the table, and said with slight anger,
"Chitransh, tell me clearly what is going on?"
Sarvagya immediately put on an innocent expression, with that same innocent look on his face, said,
"Papa, you tell me… I am the youngest in the house, the most simple and straightforward… can you imagine that I could do something like this?"
Yamini Mummy immediately nodded her head,
"Absolutely not! My Sanwara is still a child."
Sarvagya immediately bowed his head, and said with a slight tremor in his voice,
"And besides, bhaiya is always jealous of me… he is just looking for an excuse to accuse me."
Chitransh's eyes widened,
"Oh you, Chhotu! Jealous of you? That's too much!"
Nandan Ji now turned completely towards Chitransh, raising his eyebrows,
"So, does that mean you were forcing him and teasing him?"
Sarvagya acted a little like a sob,
"Mummy, look… bhaiya always jokes with me like this. Today he was saying I love someone, tomorrow he will say I am getting married!"
Yamini Mummy's face flushed with anger,
"Chitransh! What childishness is this? Don't tease your younger brother."
Chitransh held his forehead. Seeing the hidden mischief on Sarvagya's face, he understood that he had trapped himself in his own web!
Nandan Ji also nodded and said,
"You are absolutely right, Yamini! Chitransh, this much teasing of your younger brother is not right."
Sarvagya celebrated his victory inwardly and looked at Chitransh innocently, as if saying—
"Bhaiya, now try to escape!"
Chitransh looked at Sarvagya in annoyance, then laughed and shook his head.
"Son, today you have won by the name of innocence… but next time, I will be ready!"
Sarvagya bowed his head with a mischievous smile and started eating.
That night, Sarvagya couldn't sleep. In his eyes, Dhara's smile, the slight fear in her eyes, and Chitransh's words echoed. He thought moment by moment, is this true?
"Is this true?" he asked himself, then hugged his pillow with a slight smile.
"Have I truly fallen in love with Thakurain?" his heart was pounding, as if this question was repeatedly holding him captive.
There was a strange feeling in his mind. The way he sat with Dhara, it was as if all the happiness of the world was there. Whenever he was near Dhara, he felt like thinking about her more than himself.
"Is this that feeling?" He closed his eyes, and the cold wind coming from the window made him feel it even more deeply.
"Sometimes I feel as if she is sitting behind me on the bicycle, listening to my every word, laughing at my every prank…" he said softly to himself, and his heartbeat quickened.
"Sometimes she is engrossed in her questions, sometimes she smiles mischievously… is this love?"
He started thinking, "Is this that feeling? That strange fear that creates turmoil in the heart. That happiness when Dhara is near him… and that silent smile when both can't say anything to each other, just understand in silence…"
He remembered when Chitransh had said, "When people walk in the rain, they don't think about how beautiful the rain is… they only worry about their clothes getting wet."
Sarvagya was now feeling it completely… Yes, it is true… this feeling… this feeling… this is love.
To be continued
Sunday morning was abuzz throughout the house. The clatter of utensils in the kitchen and Yamini Ji's sharp voice echoed together.
"Sanvre, get up! The milk is kept, drink it quickly!"
Sarvagya was still buried in his quilt. Half-asleep, he rubbed his eyes lazily and turned over. Yamini Ji entered the room, gently stroked his head, and said with a smile, "Just let your exams finish soon, then you can enjoy. It's Chitransh's wedding after two weeks, lots of guests will come. So much work is left!"
Sarvagya nodded his head drowsily. Just then, a laughter came from outside, "He wakes up as slowly as a tortoise!"
Keshvi stood at the door, holding her bag.
"Bhabhi Ji, it takes a drumbeat, not an alarm, to wake him up!"
"Keshvi Bhabhi, you?" Sarvagya's sleep vanished instantly. He quickly sat up and chirped, "When did you arrive?"
"Today we are going to the market for shopping, that's why Keshavi beti has also come, but you have exams, you stay home!"
"Oh, why does this always happen to me? This is the disadvantage of being the youngest! Whenever there's a chance to have fun, my exams arrive!" Sarvagya said dramatically and then suddenly smiled, "But it's okay! I have to look the most handsome at the wedding! After all, I am the younger brother, style will suit me!"
Keshvi laughed, "Oh! So, sir is already planning?"
Sarvagya ran his hand through his hair in the mirror with a mischievous look, "Absolutely! New clothes, good perfume, and a hairstyle that keeps everyone's eyes on me!"
Yamini Ji listened to him, nodded her head, and said with a smile, "First go brush your teeth and drink your milk, then you can talk about all these big things!"
Sarvagya took a deep breath and said,
"Bhabhi, bring something nice for me from the market, otherwise I'll sit around sulking!"
Yamini Ji interrupted,
"Oh, finish your milk first!"
Sarvagya quickly picked up the milk.
Just then, Yamini Ji called out to Keshvi,
"Beti, tell Chitransh to get ready, it's getting late."
Keshvi smiled and, adjusting her bag, slowly walked towards Chitransh's room. As she reached the door, she paused for a moment. A slight smile played on her lips, but then she took a deep breath and went inside.
Chitransh was sitting at his table, writing something. His back was towards the door; perhaps he hadn't sensed her arrival. Keshvi walked slowly towards him and stood lightly behind his chair.
"Are you so engrossed in your studies that you don't even notice anyone coming and going?"
As soon as he heard her voice, Chitransh looked up and said with a slight smile,
"Oh, when did you arrive?"
Keshvi said with a faint smile,
"Just now… Mummy Ji was saying that you also have to go to the market, and your things need to be bought too."
Chitransh closed the book and said,
"Oh, I am already ready!"
Chitransh closed the book and pushed his chair back, standing up. As his gaze fell on Keshvi, he smiled faintly.
"So, you came to call me?"
Keshvi adjusted her dupatta and replied with a slight hesitation,
"Yes, Mummy Ji said to call you, it's getting late."
"Oh, so you didn't come on your own?"
Keshvi blushed slightly and lowered her gaze.
"It's nothing like that... you get ready quickly, everyone is waiting." She tried to end the conversation quickly.
Chitransh liked her hesitation. He leaned slightly towards her and said softly,
"What if I say that I was waiting for you to come?"
Keshvi's breathing quickened slightly. She quickly looked towards the door and, stepping back a little, said,
"You... why do you always talk so much?"
Chitransh laughed.
"Because I like to see your innocence!"
Keshvi quickly opened the door and said,
"I'll wait outside, come quickly!"
Saying this, she hurried out, and Chitransh began to take out his clothes with a smile.
As Chitransh got ready and came out, he saw that the entire house was filled with commotion. Nandan Ji was sitting on the sofa, watching TV, where a political debate was on the news channel. He had a cup of tea in his hand and was muttering something to himself, nodding occasionally.
"These politicians only know how to talk, no one talks about anything productive!" he said a bit loudly, so that the people sitting around could also hear his opinion.
Yamini Ji was in the kitchen, but Nandan Ji's voice reached her. She said with a hint of annoyance, "Dear, leave the news and help me a bit! It's a wedding house, and you're not free from this TV!"
Nandan Ji took the last sip of his tea and adjusted his glasses, saying, "Oh brother, I was just thinking about which politicians to invite to the wedding!" He said it jokingly and laughed.
"Your jokes never end! Come here and see if the list of sweets is complete. I also have to call the confectioner," Yamini Ji ordered.
Meanwhile, Keshvi came into the kitchen and said with a slight smile, "Mummy Ji, shall I help you?"
"Oh no, daughter, all the work is done... we should just leave quickly."
Keshvi smiled and nodded her head and came out of the kitchen. As she came out, her gaze fell on Chitransh, who was standing near the door, his eyes searching for Keshvi.
The moment Keshvi's eyes met his, she paused for a moment. Her breath slowed, and her heart beat faster. Chitransh always looked handsome, but today... today he looked exceptionally good.
Chitransh looked different today—a deep black shirt, light grey pants, a black belt neatly cinched at his waist, and a shining watch on his wrist.
Keshvi remembered that when she first met Chitransh, he was also wearing a black shirt. That first meeting was also special... but today, for some reason, her heart was beating a little faster.
Chitransh looked at his watch with a faint smile and said,
"Shall we go?"
But Keshvi... Keshvi was still gazing at Chitransh. There was a strange sparkle in her eyes, as if she were lost in a dream. Chitransh looked at her face with a slight smile, came a little closer, and whispered softly,
"Don't look so much, you might fall in love."
Keshvi suddenly startled, as if someone had woken her from a dream. She nervously lowered her gaze and began to adjust her dupatta. But the pink blush on her cheeks told everything. Chitransh sensed her hesitation and said with a slight laugh,
"First, let's do one thing, you look at me to your heart's content, then we'll go."
Keshvi looked up into his eyes. There was the same mischief in Chitransh's eyes that always bothered her.
Keshvi only looked into his eyes for a moment, then as soon as she understood Chitransh's words, her face turned even redder. She looked around nervously and, without saying anything, turned and fled quickly towards the hall.
Chitransh laughed at her action.
"Hey, why are you running? I just spoke the truth!" he called out.
But Keshvi was as if flying. Seeing her brisk walk, the other people in the house were also surprised.
A little later... in the market...
The shop was decorated with colorful lehengas. Sparkling clothes everywhere, dupattas with heavy embroidery, and various designs.
They all entered a showroom, and Keshvi started looking at one beautiful lehenga after another. With a bit of playfulness at each design, she said to the shopkeeper, "Brother, show me something a bit more sparkly... no-no, even better than this!"
Yamini Mummy went to look at sarees on the other side, where she was asking the shopkeeper to show different colored sarees. "Oh brother, take out that pink one... no-no, the one with the blue border... yes, this one!"
Meanwhile, Keshvi was still engrossed in the lehengas. She would pick up one, then another. Chitransh just stood aside, smiling.
"Chitransh?"
A familiar voice echoed.
Chitransh's steps faltered. He turned slowly and saw— Chetna.
Chitransh's face became stern.
Keshvi immediately sensed the situation. Without thinking, she grabbed Chitransh's arm with a slight smile and said in her playful voice, "Baby, how will this lehenga look?"
Chitransh saw a strange unease in Chetna's eyes.
"Baby?" Chetna's face showed slight hesitation.
"Yes, baby," Keshvi said emphatically and rested her head on Chitransh's shoulder with a smile. "Our wedding is about to happen, isn't it, baby?"
A strange displeasure emerged on Chetna's face. She fixed her eyes on Chitransh, but Keshvi's carefree demeanor further irritated her.
"So... this is your fiancée?" Chetna said sarcastically, crossing her arms.
"Yes!" Keshvi replied quickly and, in a mischievous tone, grabbed Chitransh's arm even tighter. "It's me... Mrs. Soon-to-be-Chitransh!"
Chitransh knew Keshvi's playful antics well, but this 'baby' act...? This was too much! He couldn't believe Keshvi had said all this with such confidence in front of Chetna.
Meanwhile, the expressions on Chetna's face were changing. There was a time when she was the center of Chitransh's world, but after what she did... Chitransh never looked back.
Keshvi noticed the slight tension on Chitransh's face. She lightly pressed her fingers on his wrist, as if to say— I am here!
Chitransh's gaze was fixed on Chetna, but he still hadn't said a word.
Chetna brought a slight smile to her lips and said, "So, Chitransh... your choices have changed quite a bit. Earlier you preferred quiet and sensible girls, but now..."
Keshvi interrupted, "Oh! So you mean I am not sensible?" She raised her eyebrows with a faint smile. "By the way, one can judge your taste by your dress, so your judgment will be the same."
A sharp smile appeared on Chetna's face. "Amazing! I was just talking, but you didn't need to get defensive so quickly."
Keshvi shook her head and said, "Oh no, no, I don't get defensive at all! I was just clarifying things." Then, looking at Chitransh, she said, "Isn't that right, baby?" and lovingly held his arm.
Chitransh took a deep breath and nodded, suppressing a slight laugh. He was now finding Keshvi's drama amusing.
Chetna looked at Keshvi with cold eyes and then turned directly to Chitransh and said, "By the way, does she even love you, or is it just a show?" There was a slight sarcasm in her voice.
Keshvi immediately replied, "Oh sister, the love is so much that it's immeasurable. And anyway, showing off is out of fashion now, it's all about open and clear love stories!" Then she winked at Chitransh.
Chitransh widened his eyes and then bowed his head so his laughter wouldn't escape. But the seriousness on Chetna's face had increased.
"Well," Chetna said, shrugging her shoulders, "I thought you would have matured a bit, but it seems you are still the same."
Keshvi feigned surprise and said, "Oh! So you mean maturity is boring? No, no! My baby doesn't like a boring life, that's why he chose me!"
Chetna stomped her foot in anger and walked out, but Keshvi was even more amused by her tense back. She flicked her dupatta and looked at Chitransh with great innocence,
"Baby, your ex was very cute, wasn't she?"
Chitransh said, "Aren't you angry with me?"
Keshvi replied with a laugh, "Why should I get angry... Oh, there's no benefit in being jealous of an ex, rather we should show them how happy we are!" She picked up another lehenga and looked at Chitransh. "Tell me, baby, how is this one?"
Chitransh looked into her eyes, and for the first time, he realized that he was moving towards the right decision in his life.
Just then, Yamini Ji, who had been on the other side until now, returned.
"Did you like anything?" Yamini Ji asked.
Keshvi pointed to a beautiful bright red lehenga. "Yes, this one!"
"It's very beautiful," Yamini Ji complimented. "Now let's go, we have other shopping to do."
Chitransh glanced at Keshvi, who was still happily looking at the lehenga she had chosen. There was innocence in her laughter, a sense of belonging.
He started thinking about how time had changed. There was a time when Chetna was an important part of his life. Her every word, her every preference, her every decision... everything mattered to Chitransh. But when it mattered, that same Chetna had left him incomplete.
Chitransh made up his mind—no more past, no more regrets... just this present, and Keshvi.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Sunday afternoon...
Sunlight pierced through the window curtains and entered the room. There was a slight cool breeze, but the room was filled with a stifling silence.
Dhara had just woken up. Her eyes were half-open, and her face was a bit sluggish. She had just stretched when her face suddenly contorted.
"Uff..."
To be continued...
