Aitai : I want to see you.

luminary

Sidharth arrived in Allahabad, a city that felt both familiar and distant. The streets were as busy as ever, filled with the usual honking of rickshaws and the hum of everyday life. He made his way to his father’s house, a modest home tucked into a quiet lane. The house had seen better days, with its peeling paint and worn-out furnishings, but to Siddharth, it was still home. The familiar scent of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air, bringing a sense of comfort.

He spent the next few days with his father, sharing unhurried conversations and enjoying the simple routine of their time together. Mornings were spent with tea on the verandah, afternoons with home-cooked meals, and the evenings slipped by in peaceful quietness. There was no rush, no demands just the ease of being present. For Sidharth, these small moments, though simple, were enough to make him feel grounded.

But his work demanded more of him now, and it was time to move closer to his office. Siddharth had recently shifted to a small flat, just two days ago. It wasn’t far from his father's home, but it was closer to his workplace, a practical decision that saved him the time and effort of commuting. His new flat, though small and simple, was enough for one person and suited his needs perfectly. By coincidence, it happened to be near the University of Allahabad, though this fact wasn’t of much significance to him. The proximity to the university created a subtle link between his life and Shehnaz’s, though their paths remained separate.

Sidharth’s new routine was different—his days now filled with the increasing demands of his job. He often worked late into the evening, returning to his flat, exhausted yet content with the progress he was making. The flat offered solitude, a place where he could unwind after long hours, but it lacked the warmth of his family home. Sidharth was still adjusting to this new phase of life, balancing the growing responsibilities of his career with the quiet independence his flat provided.

Meanwhile, Shehnaz, absorbed in her academic duties, lived on campus. Her life was a steady rhythm of work teaching, meetings, research, and solitary hours spent in her office. She lived in faculty quarters, just a short walk from her daily responsibilities, which made it easier for her to manage the demands of her career. Unlike Sidharth, Shehnaz had long embraced a life that revolved around her work, finding fulfillment in her independence.

Shehnaz enjoyed the structure of her days and rarely sought fulfillment outside of her work. In the evenings, when the campus grew quiet, she would take slow walks through the peaceful surroundings or sit by her window, appreciating the stillness that followed the busy hours of her day. Though her world was small, it was hers, and she found contentment in it. The campus, with its intellectual energy and quiet spaces, was where she felt most at home.

Both Sidharth and Shehnaz were deeply focused on their respective careers, navigating the demands of work in their own ways. 

Shehnaz had been living in the city for over three months now. In the beginning, she had explored a few places, trying to settle into this new environment, but lately, she found herself preferring solitude after long days of work. Her routine had become predictable, often filled with back-to-back lectures and meetings. After work, she typically headed back to her quiet quarters on campus, but tonight was different.

Shehnaz decided to step out for some shopping after work, something she hadn’t done in a while. It was around 6:30 in the evening when she reached the mall, thinking she would quickly pick up a few essentials. But as she wandered through the stores, she found herself drawn to a section she’d never paid much attention to before the sarees.

She had always preferred wearing suits, comfortable and practical for her day-to-day life, but something about the sarees intrigued her. The soft, flowing cotton fabrics and the elegance they seemed to carry tempted her to try something new. After spending time browsing, she finally picked out a few cotton sarees, a simple yet bold change for her.
It was already late 9:48PM and shehnaz had decided to indulge in a bit of shopping after a tiring day at work. She made her way to a nearby mall, eager to escape of her routine. Shopping alone had its own charm, a rare opportunity for her to unwind and explore with distractions.

As she wandered through the stores, her arms filled with bags. A couple of cotton sarees caught her attention, tempting her to try something new. She had always preferred wearing suits, her go to attair for both his evening. Along with the sarees, she picked up a few night suits, hoping they would offer much needed comfort after her long workdays.

When she finally stepped out of mall, shehnaz caught an auto to head back to campus. The streets were quieter now, the evening rush having passed, and the city had begun to settle into the night time. She asked the driver  to drop her off at the university residence, he stopped just short of the entrance, a little further away then she had hoped. Annoyed, shehnaz stepped out, still juggling her shopping bags, and began walking the rest of the way.

The uneven pavement wasn’t kind to her. One misstep, and her heel caught on a stone. She yelped as her foot twisted, causing her to lose her balance. A sharp sting of pain hit her leg as her heel slipped off, and one of her shopping bags dropped to the ground. She cursed under her breath, a string of Punjabi swear words spilling out in frustration as she tried to compose herself. The mix of exhaustion, pain, and annoyance made it all the worse.

Sidharth had just finished a late evening at work. He was on his way back to his flat, riding his bike down the same road when he noticed a familiar figure up ahead. For a brief moment, he didn’t recognize her, but as he slowed down, he realized it was the girl from the library—the one he had noticed a few times before. Shehnaz, with her flustered expression and shopping bags, was clearly struggling.

It took him another moment to process the scene her saree was slightly crumpled, her heels had come off, and she was visibly irritated. Sidharth pulled over, removed his helmet, and stepped off his bike. He walked toward her with a sense of purpose, his expression softening as he approached.

"Need some help?" Sidharth asked, his voice calm, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he saw her wrestling with the bags and the misplaced shoe.

Shehnaz looked up, still muttering under her breath, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a familiar face. For a split second, she recognized him too the guy from the university area. Before she could react, he bent down, picked up the fallen bag, and handed it to her. Without hesitation, he grabbed a few more of her shopping bags.

"Let me carry these," Sidharth offered, his tone casual yet kind. Shehnaz, still slightly irritated by the whole situation, gave a resigned nod. With her hands finally free of the weight, she put her shoe back on and straightened up.

As they walked toward the university residence, an odd silence lingered between them. Sidharth didn’t push for conversation, and Shehnaz, grateful for the help but still wrapped in her own thoughts, quietly kept pace. The night air was cool, and in the quiet moments, Sidharth found himself glancing at her, wondering what had brought them into this small, shared moment.