How Raya Ended Up With Zhou Cheng

Prologue

Raya Armarkar, a 23-year-old from Pune, Maharashtra, was an energetic young woman with a passion for painting. She had an infectious enthusiasm for life that reflected in her vibrant canvases. One warm evening, she strolled through the bustling night market with her friends, enjoying the cacophony of sounds, the colorful stalls, and the mouthwatering aroma of street food.

"Raya, look at this beautiful scarf! It would look great on you," her friend Priya exclaimed, holding up a vividly patterned scarf.

Raya smiled, examining the scarf. "It's lovely, Priya, but I think I'd rather save my money for more paint supplies. I've been inspired to start a new series of landscapes."

Priya laughed. "Always the artist, huh? Well, don't let me stop you from creating another masterpiece."

As they moved through the crowd, Raya suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She grabbed Priya's arm for support.

"Whoa, Raya, are you okay?" Priya asked, concern etched on her face.

Raya shook her head slightly, trying to clear the fog. "I don't know, Priya. I just felt really dizzy all of a sudden. Maybe it's the heat or something I ate."

Her other friend, Sameer, looked worried. "Do you need to sit down for a bit? There's a bench over there."

Raya took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. "No, I think I should just head home. I probably need some rest. You guys stay and enjoy the market. I'll be fine."

Priya frowned. "Are you sure, Raya? We can come with you."

Raya smiled weakly. "Thanks, but I'll be okay. I just need to lie down for a while."

After a few more moments of reassurance, Raya bid her friends goodbye and made her way home. As she walked through the familiar streets of Pune, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The dizziness had left her disoriented, and a sense of foreboding gnawed at the edges of her mind.

When she finally reached her apartment, Raya quickly changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. She glanced at her easel, where a half-finished painting waited for her touch. "Tomorrow," she promised herself, "I'll finish you tomorrow."

As she lay in bed, Raya couldn't help but feel a strange sense of detachment, as if she were drifting away from herself. The room seemed to spin around her, and she closed her eyes, hoping to dispel the disorientation. But instead of finding relief, she felt as though she were being pulled into a deep, dark abyss.

She tried to fight the sensation, but her strength ebbed away, and she slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep, unaware that her life was about to take a turn she could never have imagined.