ABHIRA [ON HOLD]

CHAPTER 2: EK AJNABEE HASEENA SE YU MULAKAT HO GYI

After everyone had settled back into their positions, Arohi quickly checked her grades, and a small smile of satisfaction spread across her face. She was happy with them, but as she scrolled through her college group chat, a particular message caught her attention.

"Wow," Arohi murmured, her tone filled with astonishment.

Kairav, sitting beside her, glanced over. "What happened, Aru?" he asked, curious.

"Bhaiya, you know Abhimanyu Birla, right?" Arohi questioned, still staring at her phone.

"Yeah, Anisha's cousin. What about him?" Kairav replied, a bit confused by the sudden mention of Abhimanyu.

Arohi shook her head, amazed. "I was just going through the messages, and it turns out Abhimanyu is getting another award for his thesis. Do you know he was the state topper in his MD? I mean, how can someone be so perfect?" Her voice held a mix of admiration and disbelief.

Akshara, sitting nearby, perked up, eager to join the conversation. "Wow, Aru! This Abhimanyu sounds really smart!" she chimed in, her enthusiasm evident.

Arohi nodded, still in thought. "Yes, he is."

"Anyway, bhaiya, I'm going to the café nearby. Some of my classmates are meeting up there," Arohi said, standing up and grabbing her sling bag and car keys. With a quick goodbye, she headed out, her mind still partly occupied by the enigma of Abhimanyu's achievements.

***

After Arohi left, Akshara decided to reconnect with one of her favorite places in the city: the ghat. It was her sanctuary, a place that brought her both peace and happiness. Without wasting any time, she decided to visit it, her heart feeling lighter with each step she took toward the familiar spot.

Upon reaching the ghat, she made her way down the worn stone steps and sat close to the water's edge. The stillness of the river mirrored her inner calm, and she breathed in the air, letting the faint sound of temple bells in the background soothe her. This was home—the serenity she had longed for during the years she spent away.

Her tranquil moment was soon accompanied by the soft strumming of a guitar and the melodious notes of a song being performed by street musicians nearby. Akshara smiled, her heart swelling with joy as the music added a vibrant layer to the peaceful setting. Feeling the pull of the melody, she stood up, her feet instinctively moving toward the performers, hoping they would let her join in.

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu rode his bike through the streets, the wind rushing past him, drowning out the relentless voices in his head. The speed, although reckless, provided a temporary escape from the chaos in his mind. But as a doctor, he knew better than to push his limits for too long, so he slowed down just as the soft chime of temple bells reached his ears.

Being a devoted follower of Bolenath, Abhimanyu decided to stop by the nearby mandir. He parked his bike and began walking down the narrow streets that led to the temple. His mind was still buzzing with thoughts when a voice, so pure and melodious, cut through the noise. Everything around him seemed to pause—the world, his thoughts, the constant chatter in his mind. All that remained was that voice, the voice that felt like was speaking directly to his soul, caressing it gently.

Abhimanyu's feet moved on their own as he followed the voice, his heart beating faster with every step. The closer he got, the more he felt an inexplicable pull. He reached the bridge and looked down toward the ghat, spotting a group of performers. His eyes scanned them, searching for the source of the voice that had captured his soul.

And then he saw her.

A girl, dressed in white, with her back to him, singing with a voice so angelic it made his heart race. He stood there, breathless, praying she would turn around so he could see her face. But just as quickly as she had started singing, she stopped. A few seconds later, she walked away, disappearing into the crowd.