Pragya's POV:
The moonlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the hotel room. The night before the Sangeet was calm, and the hotel was abuzz with excitement. My best friend, Shubhi, was fast asleep, leaving me with a chance to venture down to the storeroom and retrieve the novel I had brought along for this trip.
I moved quietly through the hallway, my steps barely making a sound as I approached the storeroom. My mother had placed the book there, so I couldn't spend my time reading and participate in the wedding functions, but no one could stop me from reading. With a deep breath, I pushed the door open, greeted by the musty scent that hung in the air.
As I scanned the shelves, searching for the familiar cover of my book, the door suddenly creaked and swung shut behind me. Panic surged through me as I realized I was trapped. My heart raced, and I rushed to the door, frantically trying to open it. "No, no, this can't be happening," I muttered in frustration.
Then, a voice broke through the silence from the shadows. "Well, this is unexpected."
I turned around slowly to see to whom this voice belonged, hoping that whoever that person was should be a relative or someone I know because I really didn't need anyone's company right now, especially not a stranger. But my luck had other plans. I didn't know this guy; he was not from our family. God, why does this always happen to me? What had I asked for, a peaceful night where I could read my book in peace? But no, it couldn't be that easy. I had also left my phone outside; how could I get out of here?
"Hey, I didn't expect to find someone else here," the boy said. I couldn't see his face properly because of the dim light in this storeroom. God, this 6-star hotel hasn't fixed the lights or the door properly.
"Um, yeah, same here. But right now, I'm more concerned about getting out of this room," I replied, checking the door for any means of escape. My introverted nature made me prefer solitude, and being stuck in a confined space with a stranger was far from ideal.
He smiled. Seriously, who smiles in this kind of situation?
"Looks like we are stuck here. Now, we might have to wait for someone to realize we're missing," he said, examining the door from behind me.
"Aghh!! No one's going to realize my absence!!" I replied with a sense of resignation and frustration, my introverted tendencies making the situation even more uncomfortable. "Great, just great. I came here for some quiet time, and now I'm stuck with a stranger," I added, irritation creeping into my tone.
My frustration was mounting as I realized the predicament I was in. It felt like a scene from one of those cheesy suspense movies, except this was real life, and I was stuck with a complete stranger.
We both attempted to open the door, but it seemed futile. The dim light in the storeroom did little to comfort me, and the thought of spending the night here made my heart race.
The stranger broke the silence once more, trying to maintain a calm demeanor, but I could sense the unease beneath his words. "Well, it seems we're in this together now. I'm Rishabh, by the way."
I glanced at him briefly, my annoyance still lingering. My introverted nature made it challenging to open up to new people. "Pragya," I replied tersely. I made myself comfortable on the floor. I was in no mood for introductions, especially given our current situation.
Rishabh sat beside me in some distance and gave me a faint smile, which did little to ease the tension in the room. "Pragya, I know this isn't ideal, but maybe we can make the best of it. Tell me, what's your favorite way to pass the time when you're not escaping storerooms?"
I sighed, realizing that arguing with him wouldn't change our situation. My introverted tendencies had always made it difficult for me to initiate conversations, but here, in this confined space, it seemed like a necessary evil. "Do we really need to make small talk in this situation?" I retorted, my tone rougher than intended.
Rishabh, undeterred by my response, tried to continue the conversation. "Well, it's better than sitting in silence, don't you think?"
Despite my rough reply, I decided to relent a bit. "I'm a literature student. I like books."
Rishabh's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "That's great. Any favorite author?"
I hesitated for a moment, my introverted nature causing me to give another rough reply. "Why does it matter?
Rishabh, undeterred by my response, flashed a patient smile. "Well, it matters because I'm genuinely interested in getting to know you, Pragya."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his persistence. "Fine, you win. We can chat, but make it quick."
"Okay, So Pragya what's your favorite book? Since you went to all this trouble to sneak in here for some reading, it must be something special." He asked.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, how do you know I'm here for a book?" I asked him, feeling nervous, because as far as I remember, I didn't tell him about my sneaking in here for the book.
He simply remarked, "Well, when someone walks in with a book in their hand, it's a safe guess. I hope I am right?"
"Ah, you got me," I chuckled in response feeling embarrassing. " Well, It's 'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah. The way she weaves the story of two sisters during World War II is just captivating."
"That sounds like a compelling read. I might have to check it out sometime. Thanks for the suggestions."he replied , looking genuinely intrigued by my choice.
Hours seemed to pass as we chatted about literature, university life, and our shared experiences. The storeroom, once a prison, now felt like a cocoon where an unexpected friendship was taking shape.
As Rishabh, the social butterfly, and I continued our conversation, the initial tension between us began to dissipate. It was strange how being trapped in that storeroom had led to a connection with someone so outgoing. I found myself opening up more, my introverted tendencies giving way to genuine conversation.
At last, as the night wore on, we heard voices approaching the storeroom door. Relief washed over me as the door creaked open, revealing the concerned faces of hotel staff.
"Is everything alright in here?" one of them asked.
Rishabh and I exchanged knowing glances before breaking into relieved smiles. "Yes, we're fine. Thanks for opening the door," I replied, feeling a sense of gratitude that I had never expected to feel towards a storeroom.
Our laughter echoed in the corridor as we made our way back to the festivities. Sometimes, life has a way of surprising even the most introverted souls when brought together with outgoing individuals like Rishabh, and in that moment, I was grateful for the unexpected connection that had formed in the most unlikely of places.
As we reached the main gathering area, we exchanged friendly goodbyes, our paths diverging in the midst of the joyous celebration. Rishabh, the social butterfly, and I, the introvert, may have been two different personalities, but for that brief encounter in the sto
reroom, we had connected in a way that neither of us had anticipated.