𝐈𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐪

𝟑𝟓 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗜'𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹'𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁🥲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲🙂 𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲🙏

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜'𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝘂𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 :)

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩:-

The sky was a brilliant blue, with the sun suspended in a cloudless sky. The scorching rays filtered through the thick canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The smell of sunscreen and freshly cut grass filled the air. It was one of those days meant for a pool party, and the shimmering turquoise water of the pool looked incredibly inviting.

Ruhanika sat on the edge, carefully keeping her distance from the pool. Watching her friends splash around and laugh in the water.

The rhythmic sound of their playful screams echoed around her, mixed with the faint rustling of leaves swaying in the wind. The scene was lively, full of energy, and filled with joy.

She smiled looking at her siblings and friends being all childish and playing in the pool.

Though, Ruhanika couldn’t swim. The thought of the water engulfing her made her uneasy.

Ruhanika had always had a strange relationship with water. As much as she admired the fluid beauty of pools, rivers, and lakes, a deep-rooted fear lay within her.

The thought of being submerged in water, the feeling of losing control, made her feel paralyzed. Her fear wasn’t something she openly talked about.

It had developed when she was much younger after a near-drowning experience, one that had left her shaken for years.

Since then, she had mastered the art of avoidance—staying close enough to appear like she was part of the fun but never daring to touch the water.

She sat on the poolside lounge chair, sunglasses perched on her nose, trying to seem casual, as though she was simply enjoying the sun.

The truth was, her heart raced every time she heard a splash or saw someone disappear beneath the surface, even for a second.

She tried to focus her attention elsewhere, and forced a smile whenever someone glanced her way.

Among the group was Devaansh, her secret. He was swimming with the others, casually laughing and joking, but every once in a while, his eyes would dart toward her, as if checking on her, making sure she was okay.

He got to know about her fear from Aditya. He respected it, never pressuring her into anything she wasn’t comfortable with.

But today, there was something in the air—a playful energy from her siblings and friends that made her nervous.

Priyanshu was the first to take notice of her sitting idly by the pool.

“Hey, Ruhu!” he called out from the water, grinning mischievously.

“Come on in! The water’s perfect!” Ruhanika gave him a tight-lipped smile and shook her head.

“I’m fine here.” She replied, trying to keep her voice light, hoping they wouldn’t push the matter further.