The news that Inder, Seraphina, and Mr. Pathak were coming to Manali spread like wildfire. But to them, it was nothing new. As celebrities, every move they made turned into headlines. Wherever they went, the media was sure to follow.
For Inder, though, this trip carried something new - he had caught wind that Yash might be hiding out in Manali. Thanks to a few persistent journalists, the theory that Yash and Rajesh were one and the same had surfaced. The fact that Shanaya was living with "Rajesh" fueled the speculation. Maybe the two of them had been close for years. Maybe they shared more than just a past. But what baffled Inder was how this revelation took nine years to come to light.
Still, with the trip to Manali already in motion, Inder decided that maybe he'd get the answers he was looking for. Manali held the keys to many mysteries, and perhaps this trip would finally reveal the truth. Yet, amidst all of his thoughts about Yash, Inder found his mind drifting back to Seraphina.
He couldn't help but chuckle to himself whenever she crossed his thoughts. There was something about her that made him light-hearted, a rare feeling in the serious world he lived in. Without thinking much, Inder grabbed his phone, opened the notepad app, and began typing an essay - an essay that poured out the emotions he'd been carrying for some time.
He started writing, the words flowing as naturally as his feelings for her.
---
Title : If Only My Heart Could Speak
There are moments when I wish my heart could speak aloud. If only it could express the feelings that I have locked inside. I find myself sitting quietly, imagining the words it would say if it had a voice. It would start with this confession : I love you.
Strange, isn't it? That we carry so many feelings inside of us, emotions we never voice. If my heart could tell you, Seraphina, how much I adore you, it would speak endlessly. It would tell you how I am captivated by your laughter, how your voice lingers in my mind long after our conversations have ended.
There are so many things I wish I could express. Like how the time we spent together-those fleeting moments-were worth more than anything else to me. I often find myself replaying them in my head, memorizing the way you smiled or how you looked at me, even for a second.
If I could, I would ask time for more. I would ask for more time to be with you, to see you again. Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to have more of those moments. Would I get to know you better? Would you share your secrets with me? Would we laugh at things only we find funny?
But in reality, time is cruel. It moves forward, and I am left with nothing but memories to cherish. Still, I smile when I think of you. I smile because, even though we are apart, I am grateful for every second I've had with you. I smile because I can't help but remember those moments with you, and each one brings a warmth I didn't know I could feel.
If my heart could speak, it would say this, plain and simple: I want to know you more. I want to spend more time with you. I want to see where this feeling goes.
But for now, all I can do is carry these feelings with me, hoping that one day, perhaps, I will get the chance to tell you. Maybe one day, I'll have the courage to let my heart speak.
Until then, I'll keep smiling. I'll keep thinking of you. And I'll keep wondering what it would be like if I could simply say the words aloud.
---
Inder stared at the screen for a few minutes after finishing the essay. He knew he wouldn't send it to Seraphina directly. Instead, he did what anyone else might do when they wanted to express something without fully revealing their feelings : he took screenshots of the essay, carefully adjusted them for Instagram, connected to the Wi-Fi, and posted them.
It didn't take long for the post to catch fire. Within hours, speculation ran rampant across social media and news outlets. Fans and reporters alike were abuzz, trying to figure out whom Inder's heart belonged to. The cryptic nature of the essay only fueled the rumors. Was it a celebrity? Someone from his inner circle? The theories seemed endless, each more outlandish than the last.
Among those hearing the news were, of course, Seraphina and Mr. Pathak.
---
Seraphina was in her studio when she heard about Inder's essay. One of her close friends had sent her the post, teasing her about how romantic it was. Seraphina read it through slowly, feeling her heart skip a beat. The words were beautiful, deeply personal, and familiar in a way she couldn't quite place. She couldn't help but wonder: Could this be about me?
But Seraphina shook her head, pushing the thought aside. Inder was charming, yes, but they had never had that kind of connection - at least not openly. Still, she couldn't deny the warmth the essay brought her. She smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe, there was something more between them than she had realized.
---
Mr. Pathak had always been amused by the media's fixation on his and Inder's personal lives. So when the essay hit the headlines, he chuckled to himself. He read it carefully, a small smile tugging at his lips. Inder had always been poetic in his way, and Mr. Pathak couldn't help but wonder if this was more than just a creative exercise.
The two of them had shared many conversations about love and life, but Inder had never been one to openly express his feelings - until now. Mr. Pathak found it curious that Inder had chosen to be so vulnerable on such a public platform. Perhaps there was more to this than met the eye. He made a mental note to tease Inder about it the next time they met.
---
Meanwhile, far away in Manali, Yash and Shanaya stood side by side when they stumbled across the news on social media. When Yash saw the post making headlines, and a slow grin spread across his face.
"Well, well," Yash said, turning the screen toward Shanaya. "Looks like Inder's finally showing his romantic side."
Shanaya leaned in, reading the post before raising an eyebrow. "So, his heart's gone soft, huh? Who do you think it's about?"
Yash chuckled, shaking his head. "Could be anyone. Knowing Inder, it could even be about a book he's reading."
They both laughed, but there was a shared understanding between them. The world might be watching Inder's every move, speculating about his love life, but here in Manali, the stakes were different. Yash had his own decisions to make - whether to keep running from his reality or finally embrace it.
Shanaya smiled softly, nudging him. "Looks like everyone's got some big decisions to make, huh?"
Yash sighed, glancing down at his phone once more. "Yeah. And I guess it's time we stop running and face ours."
As they stood there together, with the mountains of Manali stretching out before them, it became clear that change was coming - not just for them, but for everyone.
