The Heart's Unexpected Twist

•||CHAPTER 4||•

As the first rays of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, Shruti found herself entangled in a heated argument with her siblings. What had begun as harmless banter had escalated into something more intense, leaving her mood dampened and her appetite lost. The warmth of the sunrise contrasted sharply with the chill that now lingered in her heart. Skipping breakfast, she chose to retreat into the quiet corners of her thoughts, hoping to shake off the lingering frustration that clouded her morning.

In a different part of the city, Sahil's day unfolded with the steady rhythm of his routine. He welcomed the morning with a refreshing workout, his muscles awakening to the new day's energy. This was followed by a productive session of online classes, where his mind danced between concepts and ideas. Yet, amidst the productivity, a small corner of his mind remained tethered to Shruti. The absence of her usual morning message gnawed at him, each passing minute deepening his concern. His thoughts began to spiral, wondering what could have kept her from their customary exchange.

Unable to shake off the unease, Sahil decided to reach out. He crafted a simple message, "Hey, everything okay?" hoping it would pierce through the silence that had settled between them.

Hours passed before Shruti finally came online. Her mood was still subdued, but the sight of Sahil's message brought a soft warmth to her heart. His concern was like a gentle balm to her bruised spirit, and as their conversation began to flow, she felt the weight of the morning slowly lifting. Sahil, with his gentle inquiries, coaxed her back into the light, each question a subtle invitation to leave her frustrations behind.

Sensing the shift, Shruti decided to steer their conversation into deeper waters. There was something comforting about Sahil's presence, something that made her want to share more, to understand more. "Okay, so I have three questions for you," she began, her curiosity laced with genuine intent. "First, what's your passion? Second, what's one moment in your life that you will always cherish? And third, what's that one thing or person that no matter what happens, is forever valuable to you?"

Sahil took a moment before responding, aware that her questions were not mere small talk but a window into a deeper connection. He chose his words carefully, knowing that this was a chance to share a piece of his soul. "My passion is technology and gaming," he began, his voice steady. "I've always been fascinated by how things work, by the blend of creativity and logic that technology demands. And gaming... Well, that's where I find my joy, my escape."

He paused, allowing the memories to surface before continuing. "One moment I'll always cherish," he said, "was the first time I built my own gaming PC. I was 17, and I'd saved up for months to buy all the parts. The moment I put it all together, and it worked perfectly, it felt like magic. It was then that I knew my love for tech and gaming ran deeper than just a hobby."

As for something forever valuable, he spoke with quiet conviction, "I'd say my values. They guide me, anchor me, even when everything else feels uncertain. And of course, my love for gaming-that's something that's always been a constant in my life."

He then turned the spotlight back to Shruti, asking her to share her own answers to the questions she had posed.

Shruti smiled softly as she thought of her passions. "My passion is dancing and reading," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "Dancing brings me peace, a sense of freedom. It's like a conversation with my soul. Reading, on the other hand, is where I find myself, lost among the lines, as if a part of me lives within those words."

Her hobbies, she explained, were painting and writing. "Painting helps me express myself through the lens of nature," she said, her tone contemplative. "Each stroke on the canvas is like a whisper of my thoughts. Writing, well, it helps me understand myself when I see my feelings laid out in words."

Reflecting on a cherished moment, Shruti recalled a memory that made her heart swell with pride. "It has to be when I represented my state in a spell bee competition," she began, her eyes shining with the memory. "I was so nervous, but when I stood on that stage and spelled the final word correctly, the pride I felt was overwhelming."

As they shared these intimate parts of themselves, they realised how similar they were, despite their differences. Both cherished the values they held close, both found solace in their passions-whether it was the thrill of building a gaming PC or the serenity of a dance routine. Their hobbies, though different in form, were expressions of their inner worlds, revealing how deeply they both valued creativity and self-discovery.