Chapter 21

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The evening had settled into a cool calm as Karan made his way to his parents' house. His mind, though, was far from peaceful. He couldn't stop thinking about the mystery girl, her voice still echoing in his mind. The night had taken on an unusual weight, as if it were pulling him in several directions at once.

When he arrived, he was greeted by his mother's warm embrace and his father's hearty laugh from the dining room. The atmosphere in the house was familiar, grounding, and yet, it didn't quiet the noise in his head.

"Finally decided to show up, huh?" his father teased from the dining table. Karan smiled, trying to shake off the distraction, though it wasn't as easy as he hoped.

"Traffic was a nightmare," Karan replied, his tone lighter than he felt. "Where's Priya?"

"She's upstairs, getting ready for some random college event," his mom said with a wave of her hand. "You're here for dinner, though, right?"

Karan nodded, pulling out a chair and sitting down at the table. His mother had already set the plates with his favorite food—spicy chicken curry, dal, and steamed rice. It was a comfort, the kind of meal that reminded him of home. But even as he reached for the food, his thoughts strayed again.

"So, son," his father began, glancing at him over his glasses. "Have you met anyone interesting lately?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly hinting at something.

Karan's fork paused halfway to his mouth. His father had a way of prodding into his personal life when he least expected it, and it always made him uncomfortable. "Nothing too exciting, Dad."

His mother chimed in with a warm smile. "Oh, we heard about that girl who keeps looking at you in class. Arjun mentioned it the other day."

Karan's hand froze. "What?"

Priya had just entered the room, overhearing the conversation. "The girl who keeps staring at you in class. Is she some new student?" she asked, her voice teasing.

Karan's mind immediately jumped to Anika, but something told him it wasn't her they were talking about. Anika had always been upfront with her interest, but this... this was different. He didn't even know who this girl was.

He cleared his throat, trying to deflect. "I haven't noticed anyone staring at me. Probably a misunderstanding."

His father raised an eyebrow, not buying it. "We don't need to get into it now, but just remember, son, if you're interested in someone, don't leave it too late to make a move."

Karan felt a flicker of annoyance rise in him. "I'm not interested in anyone," he muttered, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. But even as the words left his mouth, he knew they weren't entirely true.

His mind drifted back to the mystery girl. The one who had saved his life, and whose voice seemed to follow him everywhere. No, he wasn't interested in anyone else—not like this.

"Anyway, how was work, Dad?" Karan asked, eager to change the subject.

As his father started talking about his day, Karan let the words wash over him. He needed to clear his mind, to stop thinking about the girl and just focus on the present.

---

Later that evening, Karan stepped out of his house and decided to go for a walk to clear his head. The cool night air helped calm him as he wandered through the quiet streets. His mind wandered to Meera again, and he felt a pull towards her—towards something he couldn't quite define. But it wasn't her that he was thinking of when he suddenly heard a voice behind him.

"Karan?"

He turned, startled. Standing there was Meera, dressed casually in a denim jacket and jeans, her hair falling in soft waves around her face. She looked as aloof as ever, but there was something different in the air tonight—something unspoken between them.

"Meera," Karan greeted, his voice softer than he intended. "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged slightly, her gaze steady. "Just needed a walk," she replied. "You?"

Karan hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. Part of him wanted to ask her about the mystery girl, but he held back. Instead, he gave a small smile. "Same. Needed to clear my head."

Meera studied him for a moment, then glanced down at her phone. "I didn't know you were into walks at night."

"Everyone has their quirks," Karan said with a grin. "So, what's new with you? Anything exciting?"

Meera raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing his attempt to make small talk. "Not really," she replied. "But you seem... distracted lately. Something on your mind?"

Karan faltered for a moment. Was it that obvious? He didn't want to admit it—especially to her—but he found himself wanting to share. "Just... thinking about something," he said, his voice trailing off.

Meera didn't press, though. She simply nodded. "Well, you're not the only one. Sometimes we all get caught up in our heads."

Karan let out a small laugh, feeling an unexpected sense of comfort in her presence. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to forget about the mystery girl and just be in the moment.

"It's strange, though," Karan murmured, his mind drifting again. "I just... I keep thinking about this girl who helped me months ago. And I don't even know who she is, but I feel like I need to thank her. I can't seem to shake it."

Meera's expression remained neutral, but Karan noticed a subtle shift in her posture. She didn't say anything for a moment, just quietly listened.

"Well, maybe you'll find her one day," she said finally, her voice almost too casual.

Karan nodded, but deep down, he didn't feel convinced. There was something more about this girl, and he was determined to find out who she was. "Maybe," he said quietly.

After a few more moments of silence, Meera broke it with a slight smile. "Anyway, I should get going," she said, taking a step back. "Good luck with whatever it is you're trying to figure out, Karan."

"Thanks, Meera," he said, a small frown tugging at his lips as she walked away.

As Karan stood there watching her leave, he felt a sense of unease settle in his chest. There was something in Meera's words—something in the way she'd reacted to his mention of the girl—that didn't sit right with him.

However, he shrugged it off and made his way to his place. 

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