COMPLETED [EDITED]
This is a story of two souls bound by fate, destined to cross paths in ways neither could have imagined.
Love-a word that holds a universe of emotions within it. For some, it is everything, a guiding light in the darkest times. Fo...
The alarm buzzed beside the bed, and within seconds, a pair of veiny hands shut it off. The person stirred awake, turning off the alarm. It was none other than AVYAAN RAICHAND!
He made his way to the gym by 5:00 AM, completed his workout, had his breakfast, and drank his protein shake. As he was returning to his room from the gym, a voice called out to him.
His mother.
"Beta, ho gaya gym?" (Son, are you done with the gym?)
"Haan maa, bas ho gaya," (Yeah, mom, I'm done,) he replied, giving his mother a quick side hug.
"Aaja, parathe bana deti hoon," (Come, let me make you parathas,) she insisted.
He smiled and responded, "Maa, maine protein shake pe liya, that's my breakfast. Main sirf dinner karta hoon, aapko toh pata hai, phir har baar ek hi sawal." (Mom, I had my protein shake; that's my breakfast. I only have dinner with you, you know this, yet you ask the same thing every time.)
"Haan, pata hai... har baar puchti hoon, yeh umeed mein ki tu kha le mere banaye parathe," (Yes, I know... but I ask every time, hoping you'll eat the parathas I made for you.)
"Maa, I'm getting late," (Mom, I'm getting late,) he said, his expression shifting to urgency.
"Haan, okay, jaa. Jaldi ready ho ja, aaj se college shuru hai, na?" (Okay, go on. Get ready quickly, today is the first day of college, right?)
"Haan, main aaya, ready ho ke," (Yes, I'll be there, after I get ready,) he replied, rushing off.
After having a heartfelt conversation with my mom in the lobby, I quickly got ready for the first day of my fourth year at college. The excitement mixed with a bit of nervousness was palpable. It felt like just yesterday when I stepped into my first year, unsure and full of expectations. And now, four years later, I was ready to dive into the final stretch.
I gave myself one last look in the mirror, smoothing out the creases on my shirt. "Let's do this," I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath.
Time to make this year count.
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Avyaan's Look
As I was heading downstairs, my elder sister Kyra Raichand walked in with my younger brother Vivaan Raichand.
"Bhai, ruko ruko!" (Brother, wait, wait!)
"Vivaan, jo bolna hai jaldi bol, mujhe late ho raha hai!" (Vivaan, hurry up if you have something to say, I'm running late!)
"Avyaan, use mat daat! Humein tujhe kuch puchna hai," Kyra interjected, trying to calm the situation down. (Avyaan, don't scold him! We need to ask you something.)
"Dii, yaar, acha puch lo," (Sis, come on, just ask!) I replied, getting impatient.
"Mujhe ladke wale dekne aane wale hain bohot jald... mummy bata rahi thi. Toh before that, I wanna know—what is love? Aap hi kuch bata do," Kyra said, her emotions a mix of nervousness, excitement, and a slight blush. (I have the boy's side coming to see me soon... Mom told me. Before that, I want to know—what is love? You tell me.)
I couldn't help but chuckle at her curiosity. "Tumhe pata? Mujhe kaise pata? Tumhare liye pyaar kya hai, mujhe kaise pata hoga?" (You know? How would I know what love is for you?)
They both looked at me with a 'really?' expression, their patience thinning.
"Kya yaar, bhai. Acha batao, what is love for you?" Vivaan asked. (What, bro? Come on, tell us, what is love for you?)
"Love... Love is just a chemical reaction in the brain; it's not real," I said casually.
They both stared at me in disbelief, clearly unimpressed.
"Toba toba, sara mood khatam kar diya yaar bhai," (Ugh, you've ruined the mood, brother,) Vivaan said, shaking his head.
"Ye science student aise hi hote hain. Chhodo inhe. Chal, apan Preet ko puchte hain," Kyra teased. (This is how science students are. Leave him, let's ask Preet.)
"Maine kya galat bola?" (What did I say wrong?) I asked, genuinely confused.
"Sab kuch!" (Everything!) they both said in unison, walking away before I could protest.
Maine kuch galat bola kya?? (Did I say something wrong??)
I shrugged it off and went downstairs. My Chachu (uncle) was sitting in the living room, waving me over.
"Come beta, come..." he said warmly.
(Come, son, come...)
"Good morning, Chachu."
"Good morning, come have breakfast."
"No, Chachu, I'm fine. I'm leaving for college."
Chachu nodded, clearly understanding my rush.
I walked into the kitchen, where Mom was already busy with her chores.
"Maa, zyada kaam mat karna, ghar mein servants hain, na? Toh kyun itna kaam kar rahi ho?" (Mom, don't overwork yourself; we have servants at home, right? Why are you doing all this?)
"Iss se kam kehte hain apne ghar ka khana banaana ya koi bhi kaam karna, kam nahi hota aur mujhe acha lagta hai yeh," (This is just how we do things; cooking our own meals and taking care of things makes me happy.) Mom replied with a smile.
"Maa, aap ye roz bolti ho," (Mom, you say this every day,) I teased.
"Sach hi bolti hoon... Tu college jaa, achi padhai kar aur jaldi waapas aana," (I'm speaking the truth... go to college, study well, and come back soon.)
"Ha, jaa raha hoon, par aap zyada kaam nahi karogi, promise me." (Yes, I'm going, but you promise me you won't overwork yourself.)
"Ha ha, nahi karungi. Ja, tu." (Haha, I won't, now go.)
"Okay, bye Maa."
"Bye."
I left the house, called Yash—who had already reached college—his excitement for the year contagious, as it was every year. We're in the same class, studying neurosurgery in our fourth year.
I met him on the first day of college, where I helped him out of a tricky situation with some bullies. After I saved him, he looked at me and said, "Bro, that wasn't necessary. I was handling it (really), but thanks! Friends?"
And that's how we became friends.
I grabbed my bike from the basement and reached college in 10 minutes.
At the college gate, I noticed a girl standing there, probably waiting for someone. She was standing right in the middle of the gate—typical!
I rode my bike next to her, and to my surprise, she shot me a glare as if I had committed a crime!
She was wearing a white T-shirt, with a cardigan over it, paired with jeans. She looked perfect and cute—wait, Avyaan, take a break!
Dil baat na keh paaye the hum, Jab tak na tum samajh paaye the hume
Tumse hi roshni thi meri raat ki,Aur tumse hi khud ko paaye the hum.
(We couldn't express what was in our hearts, Until you finally understood us. It was through you that my nights shone, And it was through you that I found myself.)
That's it for this chapter!Thanks for reading!Follow me on Insta: @mysticsanaa
