CHAPTER 1 — The First Meeting!
Kavya had never been someone who visited people often.
Not because she didn't care.
Life simply had a way of keeping her busy, and distance had made ordinary meetings feel like special occasions.
But there was one person she always made time for—her younger sister, Meher.
Meher lived in a hostel several hours away from Kavya's home. They didn't meet often, so whenever Kavya came to visit, Meher treated the entire day like a celebration.
The moment Kavya entered the hostel, Meher ran toward her.
Meher: "You finally came!"
Kavya: "Of course I came."
Meher: "You said that last time too."
Kavya: "And I came last time too."
Meher: "After six months!"
Kavya: "Still counts."
Meher laughed and hugged her.
They spent the afternoon talking about everything—college, friends, teachers, hostel life, and all the little things Meher had been waiting to tell her.
By evening, Meher had already decided what they were going to do.
Meher: "We're going somewhere."
Kavya: "Where?"
Meher: "My favorite restaurant."
Kavya: "The momo place you've been talking about?"
Meher: "Exactly."
Kavya: "Fine. Let's go."
The restaurant was small and comfortable, filled with conversations and the smell of freshly cooked food.
Meher immediately chose a table.
Meher: "You have to try their momos."
Kavya: "I've eaten momos before."
Meher: "Not these."
Kavya: "Okay, expert. Order."
A few tables away, Kumar was sitting with a friend.
He wasn't looking for anyone.
He wasn't expecting anything unusual from that evening.
Then Kavya walked in.
He noticed her almost immediately.
She wasn't trying to attract attention. She wasn't doing anything extraordinary.
She was simply laughing at something Meher had said.
Yet Kumar's attention stayed on her.
Friend: "Kumar?"
Kumar: "Hmm?"
Friend: "I've been talking to you."
Kumar: "Sorry. What were you saying?"
His friend followed Kumar's gaze.
Friend: "Oh."
Kumar: "What?"
Friend: "Nothing."
Kumar looked away.
Kumar: "It's nothing."
Friend: "I didn't say anything."
Kumar: "Exactly."
His friend smiled.
Kumar tried to focus on the conversation again, but his eyes kept drifting toward the other table.
He didn't know her name.
He didn't know where she lived.
He didn't know what she liked.
He didn't even know whether he'd ever see her again.
Then Meher stood up to get some sauce.
Kavya remained at the table.
At almost the same moment, Kumar got up to leave.
They crossed paths.
Kavya stepped aside.
Kavya: "Sorry."
Kumar: "It's okay."
Two words.
That was all.
Kavya returned to her table without giving the moment another thought.
Kumar walked outside with his friend.
But before leaving, he looked through the restaurant window one last time.
Kavya was laughing with Meher.
He didn't know why he looked back.
He simply did.
Neither of them knew it then, but the evening had given them their first memory of each other.
They were still strangers.
And for now, that was all they were.
To be continued...
