1.1 : The Reserved Boy and the Digital Spark
Sawood was never one to demand attention. In a room full of voices, he was usually the listener—observant, cautious, and intensely private. Moving from his hometown to work in Coorg was a leap outside his comfort zone. In the misty, slow-paced town of Madikeri, his world was intentionally kept small.
His only true outlet was Gulnaz. Living in Karimnagar, Telangana, she had been his emotional anchor long before Coorg entered the picture. For an introvert like Sawood, opening up to people in person was daunting, but with Gulnaz on late-night video calls, he could drop his guard, laugh freely, and share his unfiltered thoughts. She knew his quiet nature better than anyone.
That guarded world changed on a rainy afternoon at the Madikeri footwear store. Sawood was working under Azad, an outgoing, boundary-crossing store manager who often took advantage of Sawood’s quiet, agreeable demeanor. When a customer named Divya walked in with her daughters, Aarushi and Ruchi, she left her contact number with Azad for updates on new sandal stock. But when Aarushi casually mentioned her Instagram handle instead of a phone number, Azad tried and failed to track her down.
Handing the search over to Sawood, Azad said, "You know these apps better. Find her for me."
Sawood was generation-smart on social media, but his introverted nature made him hesitant. Instead of handing the handle back to his manager, he took a quiet, private chance and messaged her himself. What started as subtle DMs evolved into hours of late-night texting—a medium where an introvert like Sawood could express the depth he usually kept hidden.
The turning point arrived late one night when a notification flashed briefly on Sawood’s screen: "Goodnight, My Prince."
Before he could process the rush in his chest, she deleted it instantly to surprise and tease him. But behind his quiet smile, Sawood knew the truth—she had fallen for him, and despite his guarded nature, he had fallen completely for her.
