Chapter 1: First Glance, Not Love
Delhi ka October tha. Thodi thandi hawa, thodi garmi ka leftover… aur pura sheher ek ajeeb si rush mein.
Aarav metro station ke bahar khada tha, phone haath mein, par attention kahin aur.
"Bhai tu aa raha hai ya main chala jaun?" usne phone pe irritate hote hue bola.
Tabhi uski nazar padi.
Ek ladki. Simple white kurti, messy bun, aankhon mein thakan… par phir bhi kuch alag.
Woh kisi se argue kar rahi thi.
"Bhaiya, main kal hi payment kar chuki hoon, aap check kar lo na ek baar properly!"
Auto wala typical tone mein: "Madam mujhe nahi pata, aapko abhi dena padega."
Aarav normally interfere nahi karta. Par pata nahi kyun, usne approach kiya.
"Kitna hai?"
Ladki ne uski taraf dekha. Pehli baar.
Aur honestly… us moment mein Aarav ko samajh nahi aaya kyun usne help offer ki.
"200."
Aarav ne bina kuch bole paise de diye.
Ladki ne turant react kiya, "No, it's okay, main de dungi."
"Already de diye," Aarav ne casually bola.
Thodi awkward silence.
"Thanks… but main return kar dungi," usne kaha.
"Kar dena," Aarav halka sa muskura ke bola, jaise usse pata ho woh kabhi nahi milegi wapas.
"Waise naam?"
"Tum paise return karne wali ho ya friendship start karne wali ho?" Aarav ne tease kiya.
Ladki ne aankhein thodi narrow ki… phir halki si smile di.
"Ananya."
"Nice name. Aarav."
Aur bas. Dono apni directions mein chale gaye.
Par kahani wahi khatam nahi hui.
Kyuki kabhi kabhi… ek random encounter hi sab kuch change kar deta hai.