Chapter 1
658 Words
Here is chapter 1:
The aroma of freshly brewed chai filled the Malhotra household as the first rays of the sun peeked through the curtains. The sound of temple bells and the faint hum of a morning aarti echoed from the nearby temple, mixing with the chirping of birds. Saanvi Malhotra, dressed in a simple cotton kurti, stood in front of the small temple in their home, her hands folded, eyes closed, whispering a silent prayer.
"Hey Bhagwan, sab kuch accha rahe... bas aaj bhi bhaiya ki daant na pade," she mumbled, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Agar tum pooja kar rahi ho, toh mann laga ke karo, warna drama mat karo," came a teasing voice from behind. It was her brother, Vivan Malhotra, dressed in a crisp white kurta, smirking as he adjusted his watch.
"Bhaiya!" she huffed, turning to glare at him. "Main sach mein pooja kar rahi hoon."
"Haan haan, mujhe sab pata hai," he chuckled, patting her head. "Chalo, nashta karo. College bhi jaana hai."
Haan haan, mujhe sab pata hai," he chuckled, patting her head. "Chalo, nashta karo. College bhi jaana hai."
Saanvi rolled her eyes and walked toward the dining table where her bhabhi, Ishita Malhotra, was serving hot aloo parathas with homemade butter. Ishita, always the calm and composed one, smiled as she placed a plate in front of Saanvi.
"Aaj jaldi uth gayi? Koi khaas baat?" Ishita teased.
"Nahi bhabhi, bas aaj mann kiya jaldi uthne ka," Saanvi replied, avoiding eye contact. She couldn’t possibly tell them about the strange excitement bubbling inside her, the feeling that something unusual was about to happen today.
After finishing breakfast, she rushed upstairs to get ready. She picked out a simple yet elegant navy blue salwar kameez and tied her long hair into a loose braid. As she grabbed her bag, her phone buzzed.
Reyansh: Oye, kahaan ho? Rohan aur main raste mein hain, tujhe pick karna hai ya nahi?
A smile crept onto her lips as she quickly typed back.
Saanvi: Haan, bas do minute. Mat jao bina mujhe liye!
Rushing downstairs, she waved goodbye to her brother and bhabhi before stepping outside. The air was crisp, the roads buzzing with morning activity. Just as she reached the gate, a familiar black car stopped in front of her.
The window rolled down, and there he was—Reyansh Khanna, her best friend. Dressed in a casual white t-shirt and jeans, his hair slightly ruffled, he had his usual mischievous grin on his face.
"Madam, hamesha ki tarah late ho gayi," he smirked.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai! Tumlog jaldi aa gaye," she defended herself as she slid into the backseat.
Rohan Mehta, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around with a grin. "Chhod Reyansh, aadat pad gayi hai."
Reyansh shook his head, laughing as he drove toward college. The ride was filled with their usual banter—Rohan teasing Saanvi about her obsession with chai, Reyansh arguing over the best Bollywood movie, and Saanvi rolling her eyes at their endless discussions.
As they reached college, the three of them met their usual group near the parking lot—Ishaan Kapoor, Kabir Singh, and Aisha Kapoor.
"Saanvi, tu aaj extra sundar lag rahi hai," Aisha teased, winking at her.
"Oh please!" Saanvi playfully pushed her. "Aaj koi special din nahi hai."
"Pakka? Kyunki kisi ka mood bohot accha lag raha hai," Kabir smirked, nudging Reyansh, who just rolled his eyes.
As they walked toward their classes, something unusual happened. Saanvi felt a strange sensation, as if someone was watching her. She glanced around but saw nothing suspicious. Shaking off the feeling, she followed her friends inside.
The day went on as usual—lectures, canteen gossip, and last-minute assignment discussions. But Saanvi couldn’t shake off that feeling. It wasn’t fear, but something unsettling, something unspoken.
Was it just her imagination, or was something about to change in her life?
To be continued.....
- Writer
