Chapter -1
“I’m one of those people who like to live quietly. My days are simple—school, home, studies, and a little time with my own thoughts. I don’t have a big circle, and I never really felt the need for it. Noise, drama, unnecessary people… I always kept a safe distance from all of that.
My world was small, but it was peaceful. Predictable. I knew what each day would look like, and honestly, that comforted me. Life felt easier when nothing unexpected happened.
But life doesn’t ask for permission before changing, does it?
I never imagined that one ordinary day, a stranger—someone I didn’t even know, someone who appeared for just a moment—would quietly shift something inside me. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but real. Like a tiny ripple on still water… a sign that my quiet world was about to feel different.
It was 20th September 2023, a day buzzing with the colors and sounds of our village’s traditional function. I went there with my father, heading straight to a relative’s house. As I entered, I noticed a group of boys at the gate — him and his friends. But at that moment, I barely paid attention. My phone was about to die, and all I could think of was getting it charged. I quickly rushed to the room to borrow a charger.
I sat in the drawing room, the hustle of the function going on outside, people coming and going. After some time, they walked in and sat right opposite me. I glanced at him properly this time but didn’t pay much attention. While he was eating, I noticed them joking with one of their friends. I couldn’t help but record a little video and sent it to my cousin, teasing, “Look at them, so rude! No shame at all, eating so quietly.”
After they finished eating, they went outside. A little while later, when my phone had enough charge, I stepped out as well. I noticed two boys from their group standing outside, but I thought nothing of it. Vartika and I decided to go downstairs where the main function was happening.
I was enjoying the function when I bumped into my friend Vartika. We chatted and laughed, soaking in the festive vibes. Soon, the main part of the function began, probably around 2 to 2:30 in the morning. The energy, the music, the crowd — everything felt magical.
Amidst the crowd during the main part of the function, I caught a glimpse of him one last time. And just like that, to me, he was just another stranger — a fleeting face in the crowd.
He disappeared into the crowd, and I didn’t see him again. But somehow… I knew our paths were far from over. The echo of that brief encounter stayed with me, tugging at something deep inside. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
I didn’t think much about the incident afterward; it seemed like the story of a stranger boy had ended before it even began.
We'll see what happens next.
Maybe the answer is in the next chapter.
