Anushka returned to the quiet of her two-bedroom apartment.
Because of her family's wealth she was able to afford it. It was a space that was entirely hers, yet the silence of the large rooms often felt heavier than she expected.
Glancing at the clock, she realized she was behind schedule. She rushed through a shower and pulled on a black tank top over a blue baggy jeans-a look that felt like her and also comfortable.
Standing before the mirror, she flicked her jhumkas, watching them dance against her neck.
She caught her own gaze, clenching her fists until her knuckles whitened.
"I'm going to show them," she whispered to the empty room, her resolve hardening. She grabbed her bag, locked the door, and headed out to face the day.
Prateek pushed open the door to his modest 1 RK. It was a typical bachelor's pad, yet strikingly different from the usual clutter; not a single speck of dust sat on the surfaces. Every item had its place.
After a quick, efficient bath, he dressed for the office. He tucked in a crisp white formal shirt, cinched his belt over black trousers, and strapped a leather watch to his wrist. With a final pass of the comb through his hair, he grabbed his bag and hurried down to the main entrance where Harshit was already waiting.
By 8:00 PM, the weight of the day had finally settled in. It had been grueling for Anushka.
After classes, she had gone straight to a film audition, only to face a rejection. Her body ached as much as her pride.
"My shoulder still hurts... I should probably get some painkillers," she muttered to herself, rubbing the sore muscle.
She stopped at a pharmacy near her building. As she stepped back out into the humid night air, medicine in hand, she nearly collided with a familiar figure.
"Hey, it's you!" Prateek said. His face lit up with immediate, boyish excitement before he paused, tilting his head. "Wait, what was your name again?"
Anushka gave him a dry look. "I never told you my name."
She noticed a lollipop stick poking out of his mouth. His shirt, once pristine, was now messy and untucked. He looked nothing like the "Golden Boy" from the park this morning; he looked like someone who had been through a war.
She couldn't help but tease him. "Are you actually a child? First, I see you playing games, now you're eating lollipops... and did you get into a fight on the way home?"
Prateek grinned, the expression reaching his eyes. "You think so? Do you want one?"
"As if I'd eat a lollipop," Anushka scoffed. Then, after a beat of silence, she looked at his pocket. "What flavors do you have?"
Prateek laughed, as if he'd expected the reversal. "Orange or litchi."
They fell into step together, realizing they were headed in the same direction.
They exchanged brief introductions, but mostly, they walked in a comfortable, sugary silence, both focused on their lollipops.
The silence lasted until their feet stopped simultaneously in front of the same apartment complex.
They turned to each other, speaking in unison: "Do you live here, too?"
Prateek let out a bright laugh. "What a coincidence!"
Anushka rolled her eyes, though a tiny, involuntary smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Great. I guess I'll be seeing you around more often then," she said. She sighed. "Don't you ever get tired of laughing all day?"
Without waiting for an answer, she disappeared into the lobby.
The moment the glass door closed behind her, the light vanished from Prateek's face. The smile dropped instantly, replaced by a look of profound exhaustion-as if the grin was a heavy costume he had finally been allowed to take off.
He stood there for a moment, staring up at the distant, cold stars, before he followed her into the building.
To be continued..
Write a comment ...