Everyone had gone to sleep.
The dim light from the mobile screen was the only thing keeping me company as I lay there, staring at it.
I had already sent a simple "Hi" text to Aadhya, and now I was just waiting… waiting for her reply.
After a while, the reply came: "2 min, I will call."
My heart thumped harder.
I waited… seconds felt like minutes. Then the mobile rang.
I quickly lifted it to my ear.
Me: Hello?
Aadhya: Hi.
Me: Is Pavani also there?
Aadhya: No… why do you need her? (she teased)
Me: No, just asking if you're alone. That's it.
Aadhya: Yeah, I'm alone.
Me: Okay… now tell me everything. I'm still a little confused about all this.
Aadhya: (laughs) Okay, I'll tell. Actually, I have a photo of us… you, me, and Adithya. So Pavani knows you and your stupid face. After the first exam, she asked me to show that picture again and told me you sat beside her in the exam… and also forgot your watch. So I told her, "Try to take his number or ask him for a treat, then I will come." Are you there?
Me: Yeah, I'm listening.
Aadhya: Say something… I don't know if you're listening or not.
Me: Okay, okay.
Aadhya: So Pavani said she would try. Then the next day, you were the one who asked her for a treat. She got the chance and gave you the number.
Me: Yeah… I was actually wondering how this girl is so friendly.
Aadhya: Normally, Pavani is not that friendly with boys. She told me since she knows a bit about you, she didn't feel that awkward.
Me: What does she know about me?
Aadhya: You know… like we are…
Me: We are…
Aadhya: That we are friends since kids.
Me: Ohhh.
Aadhya: So I thought of surprising you like this on the first day itself. But when you told us you didn't have a mobile, I thought I'd meet you after the third exam… but you left early and didn't give Pavani a chance to say that I would meet you.
Me: Oh shit… that day I went to buy a mobile.
Aadhya: (laughed softly) Yeah… it's a good thing though. I had so much fun.
Me: So… I should have listened to Pavani that day. I thought of surprising her, but I got surprised at the end.
Aadhya: (teasingly) Yeah… I'll come there later. So, tell me… how was life?
Me: Good… so far. After joining the hostel, I lost a little interest in studies.
Aadhya: Why did you stop calling?
Me: I called… but you both went to hostels and not home.
Aadhya: (angrily) And then… what? You forgot me?
Me: No… But why didn't you both call me?
Aadhya: A lot happened, actually, after you left. Dad lost money in business, and we saw the worst days. But then, with the help of Mom, he got back into business, and now things are good.Still, for a whole year, Dad was in pretty bad shape. That's another reason we were sent to the hostel. Mom didn't want us to see him like that.
Me: Oh… sorry. I thought you both forgot me and didn't call.
Aadhya: I tried calling you, but your number wasn't working.
Me: Yeah… the number changed, I think I gave your dad the new number.
Aadhya: Oh… he might have forgotten.
Me: Oh… I will never forget you.
Aadhya: Okay… coming back to Pavani, why did you want to surprise her? Do you like her?
Me: No… nothing like that.
Aadhya: Then why are you flirting with her?
Me: That was just casually… Why are you feeling jealous now?
Aadhya: Why would I feel jealous? I'm just wondering what happened to that cute boy who once stopped me and couldn't say a single word about what he wanted to tell me.
Me: You said we would talk after your performance… and then…?
Aadhya: Yeah… I can never forget that day, Sid. I didn't know how to console you… I just cried with you.
Me: Yeah… leave it. So… let's meet after the next exam.
Aadhya: Yeah… the next exam is the last one, and then holidays. Are you planning to go home?
Me: Yeah… Grandpa will pick me up.
Aadhya: Oh… when will you come back? Are you planning to write the betterments?
Me: I wasn't actually planning to. I think I did well in the exams. But… I will come to Hyderabad.
Aadhya: (softly) Oh… I wish I could take you home after the last exam sid, but Grandpa and Grandma don't know about you. I don't know what they will say… If Mom was there, I could have taken you.
Me: Yeah… I also wish I could spend some time with you. And I really want to meet Adi.
Aadhya: Adi will be in Mumbai only. I'll also leave for Mumbai in three days. I'll be back for the betterments.
Me: Okay… I think it's getting late. We'll meet at the exam then.
Aadhya: Yeah… good night.
Me: Good night.
Just before the call ended, Aadhya's voice came softly, almost like a whisper.Aadhya: I missed you, Sid.
Me: I missed you too.
The phone call ended, leaving a quiet warmth in my chest. I hid the mobile and let sleep take over.
The next day was filled with endless study sessions. That night, Naveen and Deepak used the mobile.
When the exam day finally arrived, I finished it faster than expected. I turned to Pavani, who was sitting beside me.
"Shall we go?" I asked
pavani said, "You go first. I'll come later… I have a small work".
Without waiting for more, I ran toward the place where we first met.
And there she was—Aadhya, already waiting.
I slowed down as I approached her, my breath catching slightly.
"Hey… you're already here," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Yeah," Aadhya replied softly.
"So… what now?" Her voice was gentle.
"Should we ditch the bus and I'll drop you at your college, and then I'll leave for mine?" I asked.
She thought for a moment, then nodded.
"That sounds fine," she replied. "My grandpa will pick me up in another three hours, and I already packed. So… we have three hours."
"Mine comes at night," I added, "he has some work here, it seems. So… shall we watch a movie or something?"
Aadhya raised an eyebrow, playful but curious.
"Which movie?" she asked.
I glanced around at the movie posters plastered on the walls of the café.
"I want to watch Arya 2," I said, "but I don't think it's there anymore. So… let's watch Arundhati."
Aadhya's eyes lit up. "Ohhh, horror! I like it. Let's go," she said, clearly excited.
We ordered some snacks, settled into a corner, and let the movie begin. The performaces, the actors, the occasional jump scares… it was a nice. Its was our first picture alone and felt special. We laughed at some parts, got startled at others, but slowly, the tension of exams, expectations, and unspoken emotions seemed to melt away.
"Thanks, Sid," she said as we walked out.
I dropped her off, and we exchanged one last smile before I left for my own hostel. My mind still lingered on her presence, the way her eyes sparkle, and that gentle, teasing tone.
Later that night, my grandpa arrived.
He greeted me with a tired smile, loaded my small bag into the trunk, and we set off towards my hometown.
[Present in Metro]
I was so deep in thought, replaying those moments, letting nostalgia wash over me, that I barely noticed the world around me anymore.
I was about to get lost deeper into memories, my eyes caught something sharp on the phone of the person sitting next to me.
An Instagram news headline: "CEO of Adithya Tech accused of killing his girlfriend — On the run."
My breath hitched. My heart skipped again.
I remembered that father and son pair I saw earlier they had recognized me.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
Without thinking twice, I stepped off at the next station. The metro doors slid shut behind me.
Arun's house was nearby. Maybe I could just walk there…
But then, suddenly, I felt dizzy.
Why am I feeling so weak?
Then I realized—I didn't eat anything today.
This morning, I went for a jog and left my phone in the car.
When I came back, I saw several missed calls.
I tried calling Aadhya, but she didn't pick up and then… the memory hit me all over again. Her standing on the edge, and the way she jumped.
Stress, hunger, dehydration… it all came crashing at once.
I stumbled forward, my vision blurring.
Nearby, there was a small shop. I managed to get there and found a bottle of water.
My hands were shaking as I picked it up, opened the cap, and drank deeply.The cold water felt like a small relief against the dryness in my throat.
I sat down in the corner behind the shop, trying to catch my breath and regain my strength.
With every sip, I felt a bit better.
But my mind wouldn't stop racing.
The memories, the news, the faces…Everything.
I just needed a moment… to gather myself.