Yalini feels as if she is standing inside a dream—right in the middle of the Sakura Festival.
For a moment, she forgets everything about her real life—her office, her responsibilities, even herself. It feels like she has stepped into a different world altogether.
A soft, cool breeze brushes against her face, carrying with it the delicate fragrance of fresh flowers. The air feels lighter than usual, almost magical, as if every breath she takes fills her with a quiet happiness she cannot explain. There is a softness in the atmosphere that makes her shoulders relax without her even realizing it. It is the kind of peace she has never felt before. As she slowly lifts her head, she sees countless cherry blossom trees all around her—branches filled with pink and white blooms, as if the sky itself has descended onto the earth. The colors are so soft, so unreal, that for a moment she wonders if she is even awake. It almost feels like she has stepped into a painting rather than a real place.
Yalini starts walking. Dry petals crunch softly beneath her feet, and with every step, it feels like she is walking on a soft pink carpet. She slows down, almost afraid that if she walks too fast, the moment might break. There is a strange hesitation in her steps, as if she wants to hold on to every second for as long as possible. She even takes a deep breath, trying to memorize the scent of the air. When she looks up, she sees petals gently falling—so slowly, so gracefully, as if time itself has paused just for this moment. One petal lands lightly on her hand, and she stares at it, mesmerized by its fragile beauty before it slips away. She instinctively tries to hold it, but it disappears, reminding her how delicate everything here is. That small moment leaves a quiet ache in her heart.
In the distance, she notices people sitting with smiling faces—some enjoying picnics, some taking pictures, some simply lying under the trees, lost in their own peaceful worlds. A faint laughter echoes, but even that sounds soft, like a melody blending into the surroundings. Even the children running around seem quieter here, as if they too understand the calmness of this place. It feels like everyone here is connected by the same silent happiness. Yet strangely, everything feels calm, as if even sound speaks softly in this place. Walking along the side of a river, she sees pink petals floating on the water—like tiny boats drifting silently, carried away by a gentle current. The reflection of the blossoms dances on the water, making it look like a moving painting. For a moment, she watches the ripples, completely lost in their rhythm, as if time has truly stopped for her alone.
Yalini stops. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the trees and falls on her face. She closes her eyes for a second, letting the warmth settle into her skin. The warmth feels comforting, almost like a gentle embrace. It reminds her of something she cannot quite name. The light and the colors of the blossoms blend together, turning the whole world into something dreamlike. It feels as if she is truly in a quiet corner of Tokyo, perhaps inside Ueno Park. A peaceful silence wraps around her, making her feel safe, as if she belongs here. For the first time in a long while, her mind feels completely free of worries. She wishes, even if just for a second, that this moment could last forever.
She just stands there… breathing, feeling, living the moment. And then she realizes this place is not meant to be seen—it is meant to be felt. Because here, every petal seems to whisper that beauty is never permanent, and that is what makes it so precious. A strange emotion fills her heart—half happiness, half sadness—because she knows moments like this don't last forever. And maybe that is why it feels so special. She quietly smiles, though her eyes hold a hint of emotion.
Suddenly, Yalini hears someone calling her name—
"Yalini… Yalini… Wake up! How long will you sleep? It's already 9! Aren't you going to the office? Come on, get up!"
The voice grows louder, breaking through the silence like a crack in glass. The dream begins to fade, the colors slowly dissolving into darkness. The petals, the trees, the river—everything slowly disappears, as if it was never there.
With a jolt, Yalini wakes up. She opens her eyes to see her mother standing in front of her. The soft pink world disappears, replaced by the familiar walls of her room. Looking around, she realizes she is in her own room. The quiet beauty of the dream is replaced by the usual morning rush.
Her expression immediately changes. The calmness fades, replaced by a quiet disappointment. She understands—it was just a dream.
In her mind, she sighs, "Ugh… my dream of going to Japan and seeing the Sakura Festival will probably remain just a dream." She stares at the ceiling for a few seconds, as if trying to hold onto the last fragments of that dream before they disappear completely. But slowly, even those memories begin to blur.
Her mother says, "I'm sure you were dreaming about that Sakura again. Did you forget you have to go to the office?"
Yalini doesn't reply. She quietly walks toward the washroom, her mind still stuck somewhere between dream and reality. Even as she washes her face, she feels like she can still see those falling petals for a brief second.
After getting ready, she rushes to the office without even having breakfast. Even on the way, while crossing busy streets and hearing the usual city noise, her thoughts keep drifting back to those falling petals and that peaceful river. The honking cars, crowded roads, and hurried people feel completely opposite to the calm world she just left behind.
Yalini works at a big news channel company. Her father is Indian, and her mother is American—who came to India, to Kolkata, out of love. Her father owns a small antique shop—that's their life. Growing up, Yalini often heard stories from her mother about different countries, different cultures—and maybe that's where her dream of Sakura first began. Those stories had painted pictures in her mind long before she ever saw them in her dreams.
At the office, Yalini focuses on her work, but today her concentration feels weaker than usual. She finds herself staring at the screen, lost in thought more than once. Sometimes her fingers pause over the keyboard, as if she forgets what she was about to type.
Soon, it's lunch break.
Yalini goes to a café downstairs with her colleague and best friend, Reha.
They order some light snacks, and while eating, Reha notices that Yalini seems distracted.
"What's wrong? Late again today? Did you see that Sakura dream again?"
Yalini replies, "Forget that. Tell me about you."
"What about me? I'm doing great—living carefree."
Yalini asks again, "Don't you have any dreams in life?"
"What dreams? I just want to get married, have a family, take care of kids—that's it."
"And what's your biggest dream, Yalini?"
"Sakura."
Yalini doesn't take even a second to answer. Her voice is calm, but her eyes reveal how deeply she means it. There is a quiet determination hidden behind that single word.
Reha asks, "What if you can never fulfill that dream someday? What will you do then?"
The question lingers in the air. For a brief second, Yalini's smile fades slightly—but before she can answer, the lunch break ends. She stands up quickly, almost as if avoiding the question.
"Let's go, Reha."
Reha follows her.
After lunch, the company owner calls everyone together to share an important announcement.
Everyone gathers. Then the boss arrives.
"Listen, I want to make an announcement. This year, our company is going to cover something new and unique—something no Indian news channel has ever done before. I want to assign this to three people. They will go there, attend a tourism conference, and cover the entire festival. The company will bear all expenses for 7 days."
"But those three people haven't been decided yet. You'll be informed later."
Everyone asks, "Sir, where will this take place?"
"Sakura Festival, Japan."
The moment Yalini hears these words from her boss, they begin to echo in her ears.
The sound doesn't just stay in her ears—it travels through her mind, repeating again and again, as if refusing to fade away.
Everything around her seems to freeze.
The voices of her colleagues, the movement around her, even the ticking of time—all of it feels distant and unreal, like she has been separated from the world for a moment.
Her heartbeat grows louder, her fingers slightly tremble, and for a second, it feels like she has been pulled back into that dream again. Her mind flashes with images of falling petals, soft light, and that peaceful river. The same breeze, the same silence, the same feeling—it all comes rushing back to her at once, blurring the line between dream and reality.
After the boss leaves, everyone returns to work—but Yalini remains standing there, stunned.
It's as if her feet are rooted to the ground, unable to move, as though one single word has completely taken over her world.
Reha is saying something to her, maybe calling her name, maybe asking something—but it doesn't reach her ears.
Her lips move as if she is trying to respond, but no words come out. The world around her continues, yet she feels completely still.
She can hear only one word—
A word that feels closer than her own breath, louder than every sound around her.
"Sakura."