Falling Destiny

Episode 1 : "Two Souls"

(3 Years Later)

New Delhi

The soft morning light spilled through the worn-out curtains of a small apartment tucked in the heart of a buzzing city. Birds chirped softly beyond the glass, as if whispering the world awake. Inside, however, one girl remained untouched by the stir of morning.

Neha lay curled beneath a faded but much-loved blanket, her chest rising and falling gently with sleep. A small smile graced her lips, and her fingers twitched ever so slightly—gracefully, like they were dancing. Of course they were. In her dreams, she was spinning freely beneath stage lights, surrounded by her first love: dance.

She looked peaceful, like the world had finally allowed her a moment of quiet.

Beside her, on the same bed, another girl stirred. Disha blinked her sleep away only to be jolted fully awake by an unexpected slap across her cheek—delivered unintentionally by Neha’s dreaming hand.

“Ouch!” Disha shrieked, rubbing her cheek with mock indignation. “Yeh ladki kabhi nahi sudhregi…”

She stared at her best friend with disbelief before chuckling under her breath. “Ms. Nacho is clearly lost in la-la land again,” she muttered to herself, trying to shake her awake.

“Neha!” Disha shook her shoulder harder. “Wake up, crazy girl! You’ve started dancing in your sleep again—on me, this time!”

Neha stirred slightly and grumbled without opening her eyes, “Ugh… chudail, let me sleep… stop shouting…”

Disha rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the affection that softened her face. She folded her arms and smirked, ready to play her trump card.

“Okay then, keep dreaming, Ms. Daydreamer. But it’s already eight o’clock. I guess you don’t mind missing your class and facing a thirty-minute scolding from Mrs. Bansal?” she said teasingly, leaning in closer.

Neha didn’t move.

“Hmm… and what about those cute little students of yours? Those sweet, bright-eyed babies who wait every morning for their beloved teacher to teach them a new dance step?”

At once, Neha sat up straight like she’d been struck by lightning.

“No! No no no, my babies—I'm coming!” she cried out in panic and rushed straight toward the bathroom, nearly tripping over her slippers in the process.

Disha burst out laughing. Her laughter filled the small apartment like sunlight, echoing off the walls and warming the air.

Moments later, the sound of the shower running and Neha muttering to herself echoed from the bathroom.

The morning unfolded as it always did—filled with the small, comforting rituals of their shared life. After freshening up, both girls settled at their tiny kitchen table with mismatched mugs of tea and plates of buttered toast.

Disha crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “You know, it was your turn to make breakfast today, Miss Nacho. But someone decided to sleep through half the morning instead.”

Neha looked up from her plate, blinking with innocent, puppy-dog eyes. She pressed her palms together in mock apology and gave her a sweet, pouty look.

“I love you, na chudail?” she said in a sugary tone.

Disha pretended to be unimpressed but couldn’t keep a straight face. She let out a dramatic sigh.

“Ugh… fine. Love you too, Miss Nacho. But now you have to make dinner when you come back from the academy. No excuses.”

Neha grinned and reached across the table to hold her hand for a moment. “Promise.”

They shared a quiet moment—one filled with years of unspoken understanding, of battles fought side by side, and dreams protected like fragile glass. They weren’t sisters by blood, but what they had was something deeper: a chosen bond, built in the ashes of abandonment and warmed by the fires of shared love.

After clearing their plates and grabbing their bags, the two girls stood at the door, ready to part ways for the day.

They hugged briefly, tightly.

“Take care,” Disha said softly.

“You too, chudail,” Neha smiled.

And just like that, two souls stepped out into the world—holding onto each other like home.

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