Faith is the light that guides you through the darkness.

AAKASH

It had been years since I last set foot in India. My family still lived here, but my life—the one I had carefully crafted—was in New York. I thrived on the anonymity the city gave me, the freedom to be whoever I wanted, to do as I pleased without anyone watching, commenting, or expecting something from me. It was a life of solitude, but it was mine.
So when Prateek asked me to come along to India for his cousin’s wedding, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it. I hesitated, even though our group of friends was eager for a reunion. It seemed harmless enough, and I finally convinced myself there was no reason to refuse. What was a few days, after all? But now, standing here in Mumbai, surrounded by the familiar rush of heat and the chaos of the city, I realize just how much I’ve missed this place. It’s woven into me in ways I had long forgotten.
What I hadn’t expected—what I never could have imagined—was seeing Ananya again. Prateek’s little sister. The quiet, nerdy girl who used to sit at the back of the class, always with a book in her hands, who barely spoke above a whisper. I almost didn’t recognize her when she appeared at the airport to greet us.
The woman standing before me was a far cry from the girl I remembered. She had grown into herself in a way that caught me completely off guard. Dressed casually in denim shorts, her long black hair tumbling effortlessly down her back, she carried herself with a confidence that hadn’t been there before. Her eyes—sharp, intelligent—met mine, and in that moment, something in me shifted.
I felt a pull toward her, an attraction that was impossible to ignore. It unsettled me. Prateek was my friend, my business partner. There were lines that couldn’t be crossed, no matter how much my pulse quickened at the sight of her. The last thing I wanted was to complicate things, to risk jeopardizing what I’d built with Prateek by letting my feelings for Ananya get out of hand. I couldn’t afford that.
So, as much as I might want to get closer, I know I have to keep my distance. This trip will be brief—just a few days, a wedding, and then I’ll be back to New York. Back to my life. My freedom.
And yet, standing here now, with her laughter lingering in the air, I wonder if that will be enough to make me forget her.

Ananya
Yesterday was a whirlwind. It took me four hours to finish shopping, followed by a long lunch, and by the time we got back, it was already evening. While everyone else was busy with wedding preparations, I retreated to my room, finished an assignment, had dinner, and went to bed early. I knew I’d have to wake up at the crack of dawn for our temple visit.
Waking up early is something I absolutely loathe. My alarm went off at 6:00 AM, and now, at 6:15, I’m still sitting on the bed, trying to summon the energy to get up.
Suddenly, my door burst open, jolting me awake. Of course, it was none other than my beloved brother barging in without knocking. "Ananya, you’re not ready yet! Hurry up, we need to leave in 30 minutes!" he yelled.
"Good morning to you too, brother," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
He shot me a withering glare, but I merely smirked in response, refusing to let his impatience rattle me. Reluctantly, I dragged myself to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the last remnants of sleep. After drying off, I slipped into a soft blue kurti that hugged my figure in all the right places. The fabric was light and airy, perfect for the warm morning ahead. I paired it with delicate pink earrings that added just a touch of femininity and a pair of sleek black heels that gave me an extra boost of confidence.
I decided to leave my hair down, allowing it to cascade over my shoulders in loose waves, adding a hint of effortless elegance. For makeup, I kept it simple—just a swipe of lip gloss to add a subtle sheen to my lips and a quick flick of eyeliner to define my eyes. The result was understated yet polished, exactly the look I was going for.
When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t help but feel satisfied. Everything was perfectly in place, and I was ready to face whatever the day had in store.
When I went downstairs, only my brother and his friends were there. "Thank God you’re here. Everyone else has already left, so let’s go, quickly," my brother urged.
As I headed towards the door, my eyes landed on Aakash. He was wearing a yellow kurta, and I couldn’t help but stare. I’d never seen him in traditional clothes before, and he looked undeniably handsome.
Oh God, he looks good in anything. I should ask him how he manages to pull off every look so effortlessly.
Before I could catch myself, my brother grabbed my arm and started dragging me towards the car. Seriously, I can walk on my own, but no, he had to drag me because I was too busy checking out that jerk. Ugh!
"Why on earth are you daydreaming? I told you we’re running late," my brother snapped, practically shoving me into the passenger seat.
"Sorry, Bhai," I mumbled, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes. He just sighed and started the car.
It hasn’t even been a week, and I’m already feeling this pull towards Aakash. I need to get a grip before my brother starts noticing. He knows I had a crush on someone back in school, but he has no idea that it was Aakash—his business partner. And I intend to keep it that way. There’s no way I’m letting him find out.