Haari didn't smile. He stared at her, disappointed, a hollow crack forming in his chest.
"Then what's the point of all that wisdom you just dropped," he said quietly, "if you're not applying it to yourself?"
For the first time, Aya didn't have a ready answer. Her smirk faded. She looked away, her gaze fixed on the dark ocean beyond the glass. The silence stretched, until her voice emerged—softer, stripped of the usual armor.
"I miss the old days."
Haari blinked, stunned. He had expected deflection, another witty line—not that. Not honesty.
"You... what?"
Aya's lips curved—not in a smile, but something wistful, aching, full of memory. She looked back at him, her eyes distant.
"I would give up on everything, even on my life, " she whispered, " If I just to walk through our university gates one more time."
The air grew still. The waves outside kept crashing, unaware of the weight her words had just placed on the night.
Moment after
A comfortable silence settled between them, the night air cool against their skin. Aya let out deep breath, hummed, her expression unreadable. " Are you in touch with the others?"
"No," Haari admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "It's been too long since I last talked to any of them. Even running into you here was completely unexpected." He glanced at her, curiosity flickering. "Back then, you said you were going to Hyderabad. What are you doing in Goa?"
Aya tilted her head back, staring at the star-studded sky, the city lights reflecting in her eyes. "Yeah, I did go there. But I didn't like it much, so I tried a few other places. Eventually, I landed here," she said, her tone reflective, a recounting her journey.
"What about the others? Aren't they with you?" Haari asked, his voice softer now, the weight of their shared past settling in.
Aya's smile faded slightly, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "Pram stayed in Hyderabad. And Nitin… well, he joined the army." Her words hung in the air, a quiet reminder of how time had scattered their once-tight group, the PC café laughter now a distant memory.
"We used to be together all the time, pulling off crazy schemes, making impossible dreams… Back then, we thought we'd always stick together," he said, his voice softening, a ache threading through his words. A small, wistful smile crossed his lips, his messy black hair catching the breeze. "I wonder… if we could ever have one last gathering, like the old days."
Aya let out a dry chuckle, but when she spoke, her words were like ice, cutting through the warmth of Haari's nostalgia. " We can only hope for that, but it will never come true."
Her words settled between them like a quiet funeral for the past, the air heavy with the weight of what could never be. For the first time in a long while, Haari had nothing left to say, his steady nature silenced by the harsh truth. The city below hummed on, oblivious to the death of their shared dreams, and Haari's grip on the can tightened, the cold metal a small anchor in the storm of his thoughts.
Next day in the morning.
Aya stood by the Haari bed, her arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently on the floor. Her expression was a mix of irritation and amusement, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared down at Haari. She leaned forward slightly, her shadow falling over him.
"Wake up, you idiot," she said, her voice sharp but laced with a playful edge. "Are you going to sleep the whole day?"
Haari groaned, his voice muffled by the pillow. He shifted slightly, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. "Just a little more," he mumbled, his words slurred with sleep.
Aya's eyebrow twitched, and she let out an exasperated sigh. Without warning, she lifted her foot and kicked him—hard. The force jolted him awake, and he let out a yelp, " Enemies attack " his eyes snapping open as he scrambled to sit up.
"Wake up, you cubber!" she barked, though there was a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "We don't have the whole day, you know."
Haari blinked, disoriented, his hair sticking up in every direction. He rubbed his eyes, squinting at Aya as she stood there, hands on her hips, looking far too put-together for someone who had just woken him up with a kick.
It was then that he noticed her outfit. She wore a sleek black maxi skirt that flowed gracefully around her legs, the fabric soft and elegant. Her linen blouse was relaxed but neatly tucked in, giving her a polished yet casual look.
Her hair, freshly washed, cascaded over her shoulders, and he could catch the faint scent of flowers—maybe jasmine or gardenia. A pair of designer sunglasses rested atop her head, completing the effortlessly chic ensemble.
Haari stared at her for a moment, his brain still catching up. "Huh?" he finally managed, his voice rough from sleep. "What's with the getup? Are you going somewhere?"
Aya rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement in her expression. She reached out and flicked his forehead, making him wince. "Yes, genius. And you're coming with me. So get your lazy corp out of bed and get ready."
Haari groaned again, flopping back onto the bed. "Do I have to? Can't you just go without me?"
Aya's smirk widened, and she leaned down, her face inches from his. "Nope? So quit whining and move it."
A few moments later, Haari emerged from the bathroom, dressed in the clothes Aya had laid out for him. He looked down at himself, running his hands over the fabric. "Wow, these clothes are so comfortable," he muttered, impressed. "I should buy a pair of these before I go back."
Curious, he pulled out his phone and searched for the brand. His eyes widened as he scanned the prices. "Are you freaking kidding me? Two and a half lakh just for this shirt?" he exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief.
He quickly searched for the rest of the outfit he was wearing. "Seven lakh?! Are these clothes made of gold or something?"
Haari took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He stepped out of the room, only to find the house eerily quiet. "Huh? Where did she go?" he called out, his voice echoing through the empty hallway. "Aya? Where are you?"
Just then, he heard the sound of a car horn blaring from outside. He followed the noise, stepping out into the driveway. His eyes widened as he saw Aya sitting in the driver's seat of a sleek, high-end racing car. The car gleamed under the sunlight, its polished surface reflecting the world around it. Aya looked at him with a grin, her sunglasses now covering her eyes.
"Wait, is that…?" Haari's voice trailed off as he recognized the car. His face softened as memories flooded back. "Aya…"
"Come on, what's with that face? Let's go for a quick ride," Aya said, patting the passenger seat.
Haari hesitated for a moment before climbing in. The engine roared to life as Aya hit the gas, and they speed off down the long, empty highway. The wind whipped through their hair as the car accelerated, the scenery blurring past them.
"Woohoo! This is amazing!" Aya shouted, her laughter ringing out.
"Aya, slow down! This is too fast!" Haari yelled, gripping the door handle tightly.
But Aya didn't listen. She kept the car at full speed, her laughter growing louder. Haari glanced at her, noticing the way her eyes sparkled with excitement. But beneath the surface, he sensed something was off. Her laughter felt forced, her joy a little too exaggerated.
As they drove, Haari's mind raced. The racing car, the private pool, the massive house, the garage full of luxury vehicles—it all seemed too much for one person. And then there were the rooms in the house, each strangely decorated. One had a gaming setup, and another had sports equipment.
The room he had stayed in was packed with expensive clothing collections. It was as if the house was a museum of dreams, each room representing a different aspiration.
Haari's eyes widened as the realization hit him. He looked at Aya with soft eyes, his voice barely above a whisper. "Aya…"
Flashback: University Days
The memory came rushing back. They were all on a bus, traveling together after a long day party. Aya sat beside Haari, her eyes shining with excitement. Pram, and Nitin, stood nearby, holding onto the overhead rails.
"Just you wait, guys," Aya said, her voice filled with determination. "When I grow up and become successful, I'm going to buy the most expensive racing car. And then we'll all go on trips together, traveling to all the places we've ever wanted to visit, without worrying about money."
Pram chuckled. "You dream big, Aya."
"I'm not dreaming," Aya replied, her tone firm. "I'm going to make it happen. What about you guys? You must have dreams too, right?"
Nitin laughed. "What's the point of dreaming about things we can't afford?"
"Come on, it doesn't hurt to dream," Aya insisted. "Tell me, Nitin. What do you want?"
Nitin thought for a moment. "Well, if I could have anything, I'd want a room with a gaming setup so I can play any game I want."
Everyone burst out laughing. "Can't you think of anything else besides gaming?" Pram teased.
"Nope," Nitin replied, grinning.
Aya turned to Pram. "What about you, Pram?"
Pram smiled. "I'd want a modern, expensive house with everything in it—from a car garage to a private pool, and also I would like to have all the suports equipment, so I can play any supots game any time."
The group laughed again, but Aya's eyes were serious. "And you, Haari? What's your dream?"
Haari hesitated. "I don't have anything specific in mind."
"Come on, don't hide it," Aya urged. "Everyone has something they want. Tell us."
Haari sighed. "Well, if I had to say something… I'd like to try wearing expensive clothes, like celebrities."
There was a moment of silence before everyone burst into laughter.
"What kind of dream is that?" Nitin said, wiping tears from his eyes. "I want to wear clothes like celebrities?"
Pram joined in. " Our Haari wanna look like a celebrity? hahaha"
"Hey, you asked for my dream," Haari protested, his face turning red. "I just said whatever came to mind. I don't have anything specific."
"At least make up something sensible," Nitin teased.
Back to the Present
Aya pulled the car over to the side of the road, her expression unreadable. The engine idled softly as she stared straight ahead, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. A single tear slipped from her eye, tracing a path down her cheek.
"Aya…" Haari said softly, his voice filled with concern.
"I miss everyone," Aya whispered, her voice breaking. She looked down, her shoulders trembling. "Why did it turn out like this? I have everything we dreamed of, but… I don't have the people I dreamed with. Why did everyone leave like this?"
Tears streamed down her face as she finally let her guard down. Haari reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. He didn't say anything—he didn't need to. In that moment, he understood.
The house, the cars, the clothes—it was all a monument to the dreams they had shared. But without the people who had made those dreams meaningful, it felt hollow.
"Aya," Haari said gently, his voice steady. "You're not alone. I'm here."
Aya looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and gratitude. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to be vulnerable. And in that moment, the weight of her loneliness began to lift, just a little.
She wipe out her tears and looked at Haari " Their is so many places I want to show, wanna explore them."
Haari smiled " Why not "
They go to so many tourist sight of goa even in other city, in parks, aquarium, on beach, in expensive restaurants. After long time Aya again felt like she came back to life.