The air hummed with a different kind of anticipation now. Priya (Naina) felt a genuine thrill, a bubbling excitement that had been absent for so long. She was going to college! Her family's beaming smiles, their pride radiating around her, fueled her own joy. The dream of becoming a computer programmer, a path that led to one of Mumbai's best colleges, was finally within reach. It was a fresh start, a new identity she had meticulously built.
A few days later, the morning of her first college day dawned bright and clear. She was up early, a nervous flutter in her stomach, managing a quick breakfast before heading out. The orientation hall was bustling with fresh faces, all mirroring her own blend of excitement and apprehension. It was there, amidst the sea of new beginnings, that she met three other girls. They were all freshers, just like her, and within hours, a comfortable camaraderie had sparked between them. They attended a few classes together, shared nervous laughter, and by the time the day ended, Priya (Naina) felt a sense of belonging. Reaching home, she recounted every detail of her first day to her eager family, their shared happiness a warm balm to her soul.
Days turned into weeks, then months, as college life settled into a comfortable rhythm. Priya (Naina) thrived, immersing herself in her studies and cherishing her newfound friendships. Then came a bombshell: one of her friends announced she was getting married. It was sudden, a complete surprise.
"So soon? Why?" Priya (Naina) had asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Her friend, however, offered no explanation, only a hurried, almost evasive, "I need to go home. My engagement is in two days, and the wedding in ten." The abruptness left Priya (Naina) with an unsettling feeling, but she pushed it aside, focusing on her friend's happiness.
The days flew by. Her friend's engagement was a beautiful affair, full of laughter and celebration. Priya (Naina) reveled in the festivities, genuinely happy for her friend. Then came the mehndi ceremony, a riot of color and music. Priya (Naina) joined in the jubilant atmosphere, allowing intricate henna designs to adorn her hands. She admired the beautiful patterns, her mind momentarily drifting, before remembering she needed her mobile. It was in her friend's bedroom.
She made her way through the bustling house, through a maze of joyful guests, until she reached the door to the bedroom. Just as she pushed it open, she collided with someone. A tall figure, solid and unyielding. The impact made her stumble, and a gasp escaped her lips as she looked down at her hand. Her fresh mehndi, still damp, had smeared, leaving an ugly blotch, some of it even printing onto the unknown person's pristine kurta.
"Hey!" Priya (Naina) exclaimed, her voice sharp with annoyance. "Look what you've done! My mehndi is ruined because of you!"
The unknown person, equally unyielding, retorted, "You don't see where you're going! You just walk right into people!"
"I was looking!" Priya (Naina) shot back, frustration mounting. "You weren't! Ugh. I need to get my mobile. If I had time, I'd show you. Just stay out of my way next time, okay?"
She stormed past him, into her friend's bedroom and directly to the washroom. The beautiful mehndi, now smudged and ruined, had to be washed off. Her mood soured, she grabbed her mobile, called her mother, and told her she was coming home.
The next day's haldi ceremony passed smoothly, a vibrant, happy blur. Then came the Sangeet night, a crescendo of music and dance. And it was there, amidst the swirling lights and cheerful melodies, that Priya (Naina) came face-to-face with the "unknown person" again. He was her second friend's cousin, and shockingly, the groom's cousin brother – the son of the groom's mother's sister. And his name was Manik.
Priya (Naina) felt a cold dread settle in her stomach. The boy who had haunted her memories, the one who believed she was 'his girl,' was here. The air between them crackled with an unspoken tension, an undercurrent of animosity.
Later, during a group dance, she found herself forced into a formation with Manik, the groom's second cousin brother, and his wife, her second friend, and her future husband. They danced, a forced smile plastered on Priya (Naina)'s face, but her movements were rigid. She and Manik moved with an almost aggressive attitude, their gazes locked, a silent, furious challenge passing between them, as if they would kill each other given the chance.
Despite the unsettling presence of Manik, her first friend's wedding proceeded beautifully, a grand and proper celebration.
Days passed, blurring into the routine of college life once more. Then, her phone buzzed. An unknown number. Priya (Naina) hesitantly answered. A voice, familiar and chillingly distinct, spoke on the other end.
"Priya? It's Manik Malhotra."
She froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. Surprise, shock, and a wave of fear washed over her. Why? Why would he be calling her?