Bade Sapne

◇ Part 1 ◇

Ishan's POV

Vira, Vira, Vira. Din-Raath mein sirf tumhare bare mein sochu. Mere dil mein aur kuch nahi, tujh mein hi sukoon milta hai.

Oh, ye kya hai, you must ask. This is the thoughts of a man in love. Poetry, even. Day and night, only her. So, to see her beautiful face first thing in the morning, my day was brightened instantly. Her soft smile, her hair gently falling past her waist as she leant down, her chocolate brown eyes gazing into mine. God, ye kitni sundar hai... And then I woke up. 

Urgh. Why couldn't that be real? I'm bored. I pulled out my phone, turned on the torch, and put it on my chest, shining the light on the ceiling, and making shadow puppets with my hands. 

"Ishan?"

My eyes darted towards the sweet voice, where I was happy to see Vira standing by the door. Her eyes were on me, and she had a soft blush on her cheeks. I had been lying on the bed, using my phone's torch to make shadow puppets on the ceiling. I guess I was just enjoying a bit of childish fun.

Before I could fully process her presence, she leaned on the door. The sudden pressure made it swing open, and she tumbled to the floor with a surprised yelp. I couldn't help but laugh at the comical sight. She looked up at me, a mix of embarrassment and frustration on her face.

"You okay?" I asked, still chuckling as I hurried over to help her up.

"Yeah, yeah. Just thik thak," she replied, brushing herself off with a slightly pained but good-natured grin.

I couldn't resist teasing her. "Kya yaar? Bohot funny tha, ab mein kya karun," I said, trying to suppress another laugh. Her glare only made it harder to keep a straight face.

She quickly gave up the glare as I cracked a smile and she also smiled, saying, "Shubman says ki you need to get ready."

"Oh ok."

"I'll go outside so you can change."

"Thik hai."

She gave me a bright smile, but I felt like something was off about it. It seemed almost forced, as if she'd just had a bad dream and had to put on the act of pretending to be happy. I decided not to probe, not wanting to scare her.

I quickly hopped into the shower. I felt the hot water cascade down my body, as steam rose all around me. The whole time, I couldn't stop thinking about Vira and her seemingly forced smile. Was I being pushy? Does she not like me? Is there something stuck between my teeth??

These thoughts flowed through my head, like the streams of water that adventured down the contours of my body. Vira's face kept popping up into my head like the overdone Indian serials, with the unnecessarily dramatic music, and about a dozen different camera angles.

I imagined a scenario where I would comfort her, make her smile, make her happy. I would hold her gently in my arms while she cried in my shoulder about her nightmares, placing a light kiss on her forehead. But alas, these were all just dreams.

I turned off the water, grabbing the bar of soap. As I lathered it in my hands, the scent of Pears soap filled the air, a temporary escape from the confusion swirling in my mind. I tried to focus on the simple act of washing, hoping it would distract me from the turmoil within.

But Vira's image refused to fade. Her forced smile, her distant eyes—they haunted me. Was there something I had missed? Some subtle cue that had gone unnoticed? The more I thought about it, the more uncertain I became. Did something happen last night? 

Rinsing off the soap, I let the water carry away my doubts, if only for a moment. I stepped out of the shower, shivering slightly as the cool air outside the shower cubicle hit me and wrapped myself in a towel, the fabric absorbing the moisture from my skin. I wiped the steam from the mirror, my reflection staring back at me, just as puzzled and concerned. Kya chal raha hai tere dimag mein, Vira? I sighed, running a hand through my wet hair in frustration. Did I do something wrong? Ye meri galti hai kya? Woh thik hai, na?