New Beginnings, Different Worlds
492 Words
Mussoorie, India
Life never stops for anyone.
While Hania was building a new life in Malaysia...
Life in Mussoorie continued.
Singh House
Shanya had started the first year of her Journalism degree.
Assignments.
Interviews.
Photography.
Article writing.
Every day brought something new.
She loved every minute of it.
One evening, she sat in the living room typing furiously on her laptop.
Colonel Arvind looked over his newspaper.
"Writing another article?"
"Yes, Papa."
"On what?"
"Why local journalism matters."
He smiled proudly.
"Good."
Just then, Isha entered carrying a plate of samosas.
"Take a break."
"Maa, deadline hai."
(Mom, I have a deadline.)
"No arguments."
Shanya sighed dramatically.
"This family doesn't respect journalists."
Everyone laughed.
Army Base
Hundreds of kilometers away...
Captain Eshaan Singh was leading a field training exercise.
"Squad Alpha!"
"Move!"
"Cover the eastern ridge!"
His commanding voice echoed through the training ground.
The young soldiers immediately followed every instruction.
His mentor, Brigadier Kabir Rathore, watched from a distance.
After the exercise ended, Kabir walked toward him.
"Good leadership."
"Thank you, Sir."
"But..."
Eshaan looked up.
"You've become too serious."
"I've always been serious."
Kabir smiled knowingly.
"No."
"You used to smile more."
Eshaan didn't reply.
Kabir laughed.
"Go home on your next leave."
"Why?"
"Your mother complains you work too much."
A faint smile appeared on Eshaan's face.
"She always does."
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Meanwhile...
Hania's university life had become busier.
Research projects.
Laboratory practicals.
Presentations.
Late-night study sessions.
She loved every second of it.
Inside the research laboratory...
Hania carefully adjusted a microscope.
Her research partner, Zara, leaned against the table.
"You've been here since seven in the morning."
"I know."
"When did you eat?"
Hania froze.
"...Breakfast?"
Zara folded her arms.
"Question mark?"
Hania smiled sheepishly.
"I forgot."
Zara sighed.
"I knew it."
She placed a sandwich in front of Hania.
"Eat."
Hania grinned.
"You're starting to sound like my Ammi."
"And?"
"And that's dangerous."
Both girls laughed.
Later that evening...
Amina entered their hostel room carrying two shopping bags.
"Hania!"
"Hmm?"
"I bought mangoes."
Hania's eyes widened dramatically.
"Mangoes?"
Amina laughed.
"Yes."
Hania picked one up before suddenly stopping.
She smiled to herself.
"What happened?" Amina asked.
"Nothing."
"You're smiling."
"I just remembered..."
"The first time I got into trouble because of mangoes."
Amina looked confused.
"That's a story I definitely want to hear."
Hania laughed.
"You'll laugh too much."
"I promise I won't."
"You definitely will."
That night...
After finishing her assignments, Hania opened the photo gallery on her phone.
Photos of Mussoorie.
Her parents.
Little Aashi.
Shanya making funny faces.
Family dinners.
Mountain sunsets.
She smiled.
Softly.
Then she whispered,
"I miss home."
At that exact moment...
Miles away in India...
Eshaan stood outside the officers' mess looking up at the same moon.
Neither of them knew...
That although they were living in different countries...
Fate had not forgotten either of them.
It was simply waiting...
For the right time to bring them together again.
- Writer
