Having finally set up his new flat, Hanley collapsed wearily onto the sofa. He took a long sip of water, feeling a small sense of relief as the cool liquid washed away some of the exhaustion.
The living room felt increasingly suffocating as the light began to fade, casting long shadows across the room. Reaching for the remote, he pressed the button that controlled the curtains. Slowly, they parted, revealing the full glass wall that stretched across the entire side of the room.
Hanley stood up and walked toward the window, his gaze fixing on the sprawling city below. His flat was perched on the top floor of the Marine One building, located along Marine Drive. From this height, the entire expanse of Kochi lay before him—a sprawling cityscape bathed in the soft twilight, its rhythm palpable even from afar.
A quiet sigh escaped his lips as he stood there, lost in thought. After a moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a worn wallet. With a careful hand, he retrieved a small photograph—an old, passport-sized photo of Bella. It had been taken nearly ten years ago, capturing her youthful face in a moment frozen in time. Holding the photo in his hands, he stared at it for a long while, his thoughts drifting to the past.
Certainly! Here's a rewritten version that maintains the original tone but with a more refined and elegant touch:
That morning, Hanley's mind drifted back to the brief, unforgettable moment he had seen Bella in Edappally. He had noticed a car ahead, weaving unsteadily, the driver clearly unfamiliar with the road. Assuming the person needed help, he had instinctively leaned forward, preparing to step out of the car. But it was then that Bella, after colliding with the signal board, suddenly leaped from her vehicle.
For a split second, Hanley's heart froze. It felt as if the world itself had come to a halt. The bustling sounds of the street faded into a dull hum, and everything around him seemed to lose its color, like a photograph left too long in the sun. He had convinced himself that their paths had irrevocably diverged, that he would never see her again. Yet, there she was—her face, untouched by time, still carrying that same youthful innocence.
The fear in her eyes spoke volumes, her lips, trembling with uncertainty, carried an expression that tugged at something deep within him. No matter how many times he had encountered her, it never seemed enough—he couldn't pull his gaze away.
As his car slowly drifted past hers, he instinctively lowered the window, desperate for another fleeting glimpse, to drink in her presence as if he could never quite quench the thirst. The sight of her, so raw, so vivid, ignited a swirl of emotions—confusion, longing, and a deep ache. It was as though a door had opened to a past he could never fully grasp, yet in that moment, it was more real than anything else.
When he saw her grasping the signal board like a child, a soft chuckle escaped him. But as if sensing his gaze, she looked up, their eyes meeting for an instant. Panic surged through him, and he quickly rolled up the window. He watched her chase after the car, her hurried steps echoing in the silence. He couldn't help but wonder if she had recognized him. And if she had, would she remember? And if so, how would he bear the bitterness in her eyes? The thought left him feeling vulnerable, stripped of courage.
"But she hasn't changed… still the same clumsy girl," he whispered, his gaze lingering on the photo of her. A gentle, wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips, as if the memory of her, both distant and achingly familiar, offered a fleeting warmth that stirred something deep within him.
The relentless blare of the alarm dragged Bella from her deep sleep.
"Who set all these alarms on my phone?" she muttered, her voice thick with sleep as she rubbed her eyes and sat up. Reaching for her phone, she switched it off, only to glance at the time—7:00 AM. The alarms had been ringing since 6:00.
"I must have set them myself... how could I forget?" she asked quietly, a hint of confusion in her voice.
As she sat there, a thought suddenly struck her—today, she is not simply a woman retreating into the quiet cocoon of her personal world anymore, from today she is a professional— web toonist at one of Kochi's premier entertainment companies,
Suddenly, Bella felt a rush of energy, as if something inside her had shifted. Everything happened in a flurry after that. She brushed her teeth, took a quick shower, and moved with an unexpected sense of purpose. As she opened her wardrobe, she was met with a surprising sight—Lala had rearranged it. Her old clothes were neatly rolled in one corner, while her new office wear hung perfectly in place.
Bella ran her fingers over the fabric of each dress, savoring the textures. Her eyes landed on a sky-blue dress, and she moved to the mirror, holding it up to her. After a brief assessment, a sense of satisfaction washed over her. Without further thought, she slipped it on, layering it with a white t-shirt underneath and a smart, tailored coat on top. She paired it with white jeans and matching white shoes—simple, yet polished, a look that felt just right."That's more like it! If anyone sees you now, they'll think you're a professional worker in an office," Bella thought, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she admired her reflection in the mirror. She picked up her glasses, grabbed her phone, and slid her laptop bag over her shoulder before stepping out. Her footsteps led her straight to her mother's room.
The moment her mother saw Bella in her new look, she froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. She stared at her daughter, a mix of surprise, admiration, and something else—almost as if she couldn't believe the transformation.
"Well, well, don't I look stunning?" Bella teased, her voice light with playful curiosity, watching her mother's reaction.
Bella glanced back at herself in the mirror. "I did tell Lala I didn't need any of this," she said softly, a hint of a smile curling her lips as she remembered her earlier reluctance.
Before she could say anything more, her mother was already there, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Oh my God, my little girl, all grown up!" Her voice trembled with joy, unable to contain her emotions.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Bella chuckled, trying to wriggle free but smiling, enjoying her mother's reaction. "You're going to crush me at this rate!"
Her mother finally pulled back, still grinning, a tear escaping her eye. "You look so beautiful, sweetheart," she whispered, brushing it away.
"Alright, that's enough now," Bella said, shaking her head with a grin. "I really have to go. Bless me, Mom," she added, bowing her head in mock seriousness.
Her mother's smile softened, but her concern didn't fade. "Are you sure you won't have anything before you leave?" she asked, her voice tinged with motherly care.
"Ah, I'm not going anywhere where food isn't available, am I?" Bella said, grabbing the helmet from the table and heading out, her mother following closely behind.
"Oh no! I still haven't gotten the scooter back from the workshop. How am I supposed to get around now?" Bella groaned, running a frustrated hand through her hair.
"Why don't you just take the car, dear?" her mother suggested, pointing to the small Maruti car parked nearby.
"Which one? Dad's old car? After yesterday's drive, I'm still in shock. I don't even want to take the chance," Bella sighed, casting a doubtful glance at the car.
"Well, then just take the bus. It's always a reliable option," her mother offered.
Reluctantly, Bella agreed, knowing she had no other choice. She handed the helmet to her mother and stepped outside into the yard.
She opened the gate and stepped out onto the road. It had been so long since Bella had stepped out with such determination. Standing there, she felt a quiet surge of pride stir within her.
She walked towards the bus stop, the familiar sights of the trees lining the roads, the birds chirping, the vast sky above, and the drifting clouds. Yet today, everything seemed new, as if she were seeing it all for the first time. Bella took in every detail with a sense of wonder as she entered the bus stop's waiting area. She had no idea which bus to take, or even which route to follow. Who could she ask? She glanced around nervously, feeling a bit lost.
There was only one other person there—a little girl in a school uniform. Bella's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then a memory came rushing back. She recalled the lesson Lala had given her just yesterday: "Smile at everyone you meet, no matter what." She had spent half an hour in front of the mirror, perfecting the art of a smile. Bella couldn't help but smile at the thought. Maybe it was time to give it a try. A simple smile couldn't hurt, after all.
With a determined thought in mind, Bella turned her attention to the little girl and, though it took some effort, managed to offer a smile. The girl, uncertain at first, returned a shy smile of her own.
But Bella didn't stop smiling. As the girl continued to look at her, Bella's grin only widened, perhaps a little too much. The girl, now visibly uncomfortable, suddenly turned to her mother, her eyes wide with fear, and began crying out in alarm, "mommy mommy!" Her voice rang out with genuine distress. Her mother, who had been in a nearby shop, dashed over to her daughter in an instant.
"What happened, my dear? Why are you crying?" the woman asked, concern written on her face as she knelt beside the little girl.
"Mommy, that auntie is scaring me!" the girl exclaimed, pointing at Bella with a trembling hand. Bella froze, looking behind her to see if someone else was nearby, but there was no one. It became clear that the girl was indeed referring to her.
Bella stood there, caught off guard, unsure of how to react. She gave an innocent, wide-eyed look, trying to play it off. "I didn't mean to," she whispered to herself, shaking her head slightly. She couldn't help but remember Lala's advice: Smile, always smile—but why was she the one making the girl scared?
The woman pulled her daughter closer, giving Bella a hard, skeptical look, as if she was ready to jump to conclusions. Just as Bella prepared for an awkward confrontation, fate intervened—just at that moment, a bus sped down the road and screeched to a halt at the bus stop, snapping the tension in the air and giving Bella a moment to escape the growing discomfort.
Bella boarded the bus without even glancing at the route board, choosing an empty seat near the back. She sank into it, taking a deep breath and feeling the tension slowly melt away. The bus lurched forward, and only after a few minutes did the conductor approach to collect tickets. Bella fumbled through her bag, found the loose change, and handed it over.
"Where to?" the conductor asked with a casual smile.
"Vaitila," Bella replied, still a bit distracted by the bus's motion.
The conductor looked at her with a playful grin. "This bus goes to Ankamali, sister," he said, his tone light-hearted.
"Sister?" Bella blinked, surprised by the word. She hadn't heard it used in so long. It was strange hearing it now. She realized it had been years since she last took a bus like this, back when she was still in school. Was she really at the age where 'sister' felt more natural than she thought? For a moment, she wondered if she was still young enough for the term to fit her.
"Come on now, where exactly are you headed?" The conductor waved his hand in front of her, snapping her back to reality.
"No problem, just take the route through that way," Bella said, adjusting her glasses with a small, knowing smile.
"Listen, sister," the conductor said with a smile, "if you're headed to Vaitila via Ankamali, you'll have to change buses at Ankamali to get back to Vaitila. That's the opposite route from here."
Bella nodded, understanding at once. She glanced around the bus and noticed several passengers trying to suppress their laughter, while others were quietly chatting among themselves.
A woman sitting nearby leaned over and, with a teasing smile, asked, "Not too familiar with buses, are you?"
Bella smiled awkwardly and shook her head. "Not today, apparently." She rose from her seat and pressed the stop button, signaling to the driver..
"I'm getting off here," she called out, lifting her hand. The conductor immediately blew his whistle, and the bus slowed to a halt.
"From where all these people coming from?" a man muttered as he glanced her way, clearly puzzled.
As Bella stepped off the bus and onto the sidewalk, a sudden realization struck her. She hadn't received her change from the conductor. The thought hit her only when the bus began to pull away, and she stood there, watching it disappear down the road. The small amount of money seemed so insignificant, yet it lingered in her mind.
For a moment, she considered running after the bus or calling out to the conductor, but then she paused. It wasn't worth it, was it? The change was a minor thing, something she could easily forget. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was one more thing that had slipped through her fingers today.
Lala's words lingered in her mind, but instead of offering comfort, they only seemed to magnify her frustration. She had expected the day to flow easily, but everything felt off-kilter now.
In a burst of irritation, Bella kicked a nearby tree. The sharp pain that shot up her leg made her wince, intensifying her frustration. She paused for a moment, letting the anger ebb away with a long breath. Standing still, though, seemed pointless. There was still a destination ahead—Vaitila—and she couldn't afford to waste time.
Looking ahead, Bella reminded herself that she wasn't pressed for time. She had set out early enough. But now, she had to find a way to keep moving forward. Waiting around wasn't an option.
Bella flagged down a taxi and made her way back to Victoria Entertainments. This time, she was prepared—Google Maps was open on her phone, ensuring she wouldn't make any mistakes along the way.
As the taxi cruised through the streets, Bella took in her surroundings with fresh eyes. Every sight, every sound felt unfamiliar yet strangely exciting. It was as though she was seeing the world for the first time, and it made sense to her. She was embarking on a new journey, a new chapter in her life. The thought gave her a surge of energy and purpose.
When they reached Idappally, memories of meeting Hanley the day before suddenly resurfaced. But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Bella remembered Lala's words and quickly pushed the memory aside. It had been nothing more than a hallucination—she was certain of it now. She promised herself she would never allow thoughts of Hanley to cloud her mind again. Her focus was on the future, and she was ready to move forward, leaving the past behind.