#1 in Tainted Series
"Love, Heartbreak, and Redemption"
In this two-part tale, Amaira's life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Reyansh, best friend of her brother Arjun, suddenly breaks up with her without explanation. As she struggles to mo...
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The energy on campus was electric with excitement. The college festival had finally arrived, and while everyone else was caught up in the fun of performances and events, I had something else in mind. Sure, the festival was going to be a blast—music, dance, and laughter all around—but what really intrigued me was the possibility of discovering him. The mysterious voice I had been hearing for days.
It all started by accident. One late afternoon, I was wandering around after classes when I heard someone singing. The voice was so raw, so mesmerizing that it stopped me in my tracks. I followed the sound, but by the time I reached the source, whoever it was had left. Since then, it became a part of my routine—staying back after college hours, hoping to hear that voice again. I had no idea who he was, but his music... it spoke to me. It was like his voice carried emotions I couldn't put into words. And every time I heard him sing, I left him a note. Just a small compliment, telling him how his music made me feel. I didn't think it was wrong to express admiration, especially for something as magical as that.
Now, with the festival in full swing, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd finally see him perform. The idea excited me more than I could admit.
But there was a knot of frustration tugging at me. Ishika and I had been practicing for our dance performance for weeks. Dance had always been my escape, my first love. But lately, his voice had taken up a special place alongside it. As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my outfit, I realized something was off. My bangles. I didn't have the perfect bangles to complete the look. I had my heart set on a pair of limited-edition diamond bangles, but they had sold out before I could get them. It felt like my entire look was incomplete without them.
"Avyaan, Ishika, help me!" I groaned, pouting at my reflection. "I can't find the right bangles!"
Avyaan, as usual, chuckled at my dramatic outburst. "Ira, you'll look stunning no matter what. But hey, if it bothers you so much, we can check out another store."
I shook my head. "You don't get it, Avyaan. They were the bangles. Limited edition. I really wanted them for tonight."
Ishika, always the creative one, placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay, Ira. We'll make do. We can even make some DIY bangles. Add some sparkle, and no one will know the difference."
I knew they were both trying to cheer me up, and I appreciated the effort. "Thanks, guys," I said, managing a small smile. But deep down, I was disappointed. Those bangles were meant to make the night perfect.
Before we could get into full DIY mode, my phone buzzed. It was a call from Mumma. I hesitated for a second before picking up.
"Hi, Mumma," I said, trying to keep my voice upbeat.
