When Eyes Meet

The rain had wrapped the city in silver mist. Soft droplets tapped against the glass doors of Sakshi’s balcony as the evening sky glowed with streaks of thunder and moonlight. The scent of wet earth filled the air, calm and intoxicating. Sakshi stood barefoot beneath the dim balcony lights, her fingers intertwined with Adit’s. Rainwater dripped from the edges of his dark hair while his eyes stayed fixed on hers — warm, nervous, and filled with something she had never seen before. The world around them faded. No traffic. No voices. Just the rhythm of rain… and their hearts. “Adit…” she whispered softly, her cheeks warming. He smiled, stepping closer. “You know,” he said, brushing his thumb gently across her knuckles, “I had a hundred plans for this moment.” Lightning flashed across the clouds behind him. “But the second I looked at you,” he continued, laughing quietly, “I forgot every single line.” Sakshi laughed too, the sound mixing with the rain. Adit reached into his pocket with trembling fingers. Her breath caught instantly. “Adit… are you serious?” Instead of answering, he slowly went down on one knee. The rain grew heavier around them, almost like the sky itself was celebrating. “Sakshi,” he said, looking up at her with eyes full of love, “You turned ordinary days into memories I never want to lose. Every moment with you feels like home.” Her eyes shimmered. “So… will you stay beside me forever?” For a second, Sakshi forgot how to breathe. Then, with tears mixing into the rain on her cheeks, she nodded quickly. “Yes.” Adit’s face lit up instantly. “Yes?” he repeated, almost unbelieving. She laughed through happy tears. “Yes, idiot.” He stood up immediately and pulled her into his arms. The rain soaked them completely, but neither cared. Slowly, gently, he lifted a hand to her cheek and leaned closer. Sakshi’s heartbeat thundered louder than the storm itself. Their faces an inch apart… His breath warmed against hers… And then— TRRNNG! TRRNNG! TRRNNG! Sakshi jerked awake. Her eyes flew open to darkness. The sound of her phone blared beside her bed mercilessly, shattering the dream into pieces. She sat up suddenly, breathing heavily, her heart still racing as if Adit had truly been there. Rain still poured outside her window. For a moment, she touched her fingers unconsciously… almost expecting his hand to still be holding hers. But there was nothing. Only silence. And the glowing phone screen flashing one name: Unknown Caller. The phone stopped ringing before Sakshi could even reach it. She stared at the screen in disbelief. “Seriously?” she muttered, annoyed. The room fell silent again except for the sound of rain outside her window. Her heartbeat slowly calmed, but the dream still lingered vividly in her mind — Adit’s smile, the proposal, the warmth of his hand… …and that almost-kiss. Sakshi groaned and threw herself back onto the pillow. “Of all the timings in the world…” She grabbed her blanket dramatically and covered her face. For a few seconds, she tried to force herself back into the dream, hoping maybe her mind would continue where it had stopped. Nothing happened. Only the ceiling fan spinning lazily above her. With another frustrated sigh, she checked the time on her phone. 7:15 AM. Her eyes widened instantly. “WHAT?!” She shot up from the bed so quickly that her pillow fell to the floor. Today was her induction day at Westford Institute of Media and Design — the first official day of her college life. The orientation program started at nine, and her mother had already warned her a hundred times not to be late. Sakshi stumbled out of bed, nearly slipping on the rug as she rushed toward the bathroom. “Great,” she mumbled while brushing her teeth hurriedly. “First a dream proposal, then an unknown caller, and now I’m definitely going to die on my first day.” From the kitchen downstairs, her mother’s voice echoed through the house. “Sakshi! Are you awake ?!” “I’m awake!” she shouted back with toothpaste foam still in her mouth. “Hm. Miracles do happen.” Sakshi rolled her eyes at the comment and quickly splashed water on her face. She paused for a second, staring at herself in the mirror. Why did that dream feel so real? Especially him. She had never even seen that man before… at least she didn’t think so. Yet his eyes felt strangely familiar. By 8:20 AM, Sakshi was finally ready. After changing outfits three times and arguing with herself in the mirror for ten whole minutes, she settled on a simple lavender kurti with white jeans. Her long hair fell neatly over her shoulders, still slightly damp from her rushed shower. “You’re getting late again,” her father called from downstairs. “I’m coming!” Sakshi grabbed her bag quickly and rushed down the stairs. Her father looked up from the dining table and smiled proudly. “First day already,” he said softly. “Feels like yesterday you were scared to go to kindergarten.” “Please don’t get emotional this early in the morning,” Sakshi replied dramatically while taking a sip of juice. He laughed. “Come on. Let’s go before your ‘top institution’ starts without you.” The drive to Westford Institute of Media and Design was filled with light rain and morning traffic. Sakshi sat near the window, watching raindrops race against the glass while her thoughts drifted back to the dream again. The proposal… The balcony… His eyes. She shook her head immediately. “Why am I even thinking about this so much?” “Hm?” her father asked while driving. “Nothing!” A few minutes later, the large campus gates appeared ahead of them. Srishti Institute stood tall and elegant in the middle of the city, its modern glass buildings shining under the cloudy sky. Students and parents crowded near the entrance, excitement buzzing everywhere. Sakshi stepped out of the car slowly, staring at the campus in awe. “Wow…” Her father smiled proudly. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” She nodded immediately. “Very beautiful.” Before leaving, her father placed a gentle hand on her head. “Study well. Make good friends. And call me if you need anything.” Sakshi smiled warmly. “I will, Dad.” After waving goodbye, she walked toward the main auditorium where the induction program was being held. Inside, hundreds of freshers filled the seats with nervous excitement. Some were chatting confidently while others sat awkwardly like lost tourists. Sakshi quietly found an empty seat near the middle row. The stage lights brightened a few moments later. A well-dressed man in his late forties walked onto the stage confidently as the microphone echoed through the auditorium. “Good morning, students!”