The year 2020 marked the beginning of a time that no one could have predicted. The world came to a standstill, and life as everyone knew it was turned upside down. Schools, offices, and public spaces were shut down indefinitely. For a girl named Rose, who had just entered her teenage years, the lockdown meant more time at home and fewer distractions from the outside world. But it also meant something more exciting—her very own mobile phone.

Rose had never owned a phone before. She had always borrowed her mother's when she needed to make a call or check something online. But with online schooling now a necessity, her mother decided it was time Rose had her own device. Rose's heart leapt with excitement when her mother handed her the sleek new smartphone.

"Take care of it, Rose," her mother said with a hint of caution. "This is for your studies, remember."

Rose nodded, barely hearing her mother's words. She was already lost in the world of possibilities that the phone offered. Her fingers danced across the screen as she set up her accounts, one of which was Instagram. She had heard her classmates talk about it endlessly, and now she could finally see what the fuss was all about.

After setting up her profile, Rose's phone buzzed with a notification. It was from Momo, her best friend who was like a sister to her. Momo wasn't her real sister, but their bond was stronger than blood. They had grown up together, shared secrets, and had each other's backs through thick and thin.

"Hey, Rose! I added you to a group on Instagram. Everyone's super cool. You'll love it!" Momo's message popped up.

Rose's excitement grew as she opened the group chat. The group was buzzing with activity. People from all over the world were talking, sharing memes, and discussing random topics. But there was one problem—everyone was speaking in English. Although Rose had studied English in school, she wasn't very confident in speaking or understanding it. The rapid flow of messages in the group left her feeling lost and overwhelmed.

She quickly sent a private message to Momo in Hindi: "Momo, yeh sab kya bol rahe hain? Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha." (Momo, what are they saying? I can't understand anything.)

Momo replied, "Arey, chill! Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. Just go with the flow."

But Rose couldn't shake off the feeling of being out of place. She kept scrolling through the messages, trying to catch up, but the more she tried, the more frustrated she became. Just when she was about to give up, she noticed a new message from someone named Mikey.

"Hey, Rose," the message read. "I saw your message to Momo. I'm Mikey. I'm also from India. Where do you live?"

Rose hesitated for a moment before replying. "Hi, Mikey. I live in Mumbai. What about you?"

"I'm from Delhi," Mikey responded almost instantly. "Nice to meet you! How old are you? Which class are you in?"

Rose relaxed a little. Mikey's questions were simple and straightforward, and she appreciated that he was trying to make her feel comfortable. "I'm 15, and I'm in 10th grade. What about you?"

"Same here! We're the same age, and I'm in 10th grade too," Mikey replied. "Looks like we have something in common."

As the conversation continued, Rose started to feel more at ease. Mikey had a laid-back attitude that made her feel comfortable, even though she was still struggling with the language barrier. What surprised her even more was how quickly they clicked. They both had a sarcastic sense of humor, and their exchanges soon became filled with playful banter.

Mikey: "So, are you as bored with online classes as I am?"

Rose: "Totally. I thought I'd be excited about studying from home, but it's just so boring."

Mikey: "Tell me about it. I keep pretending to pay attention, but I'm usually playing games on my phone."

Rose: "Same here! I tried to listen at first, but now I just mute the mic and do my own thing."

Mikey: "Haha! We're such rebels."

Rose smiled as she read Mikey's messages. It felt good to talk to someone who understood her frustrations. But beneath the surface, there was something else. Something that neither of them acknowledged openly—a shared sense of isolation that came with the lockdown. They were both stuck in their homes, cut off from the outside world, and finding solace in each other's company.