Chapter 1 - Ajnabi Par Ashna

The wedding was in full swing, the air alive with laughter and the rhythm of music. The rituals had gone off without a hitch, the family beaming with joy, and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. The women, adorned in colorful attire, swirled through the Sangeet, singing and dancing to the beat of traditional songs. The room was filled with the warmth of shared happiness, a celebration of love and life.

The girl, dressed in a loose salwar kameez of soft pink, quietly observed the festivities. Despite the joy around her, a sense of unease lingered in her heart, hidden beneath the smile she wore. Her mind was preoccupied with the constant questions and expectations that came from family—about her future, about marriage. But for now, she allowed herself to simply watch, to enjoy the music, the colors, the energy of the evening.

She moved through the crowd, a soft hum of conversation surrounding her, when she accidentally bumped into someone. A young man, tall and dressed in a dark sherwani, laughed as they collided, the glass of juice in her hand tilting dangerously. Before she could react, the liquid spilled, staining his chest.

"Yeh kya ho gaya!" she gasped, eyes wide in surprise as the bright red stain spread across his shirt. The crowd around them fell into a brief silence, the sound of the celebration dimming for just a moment.

She quickly fumbled for words, her nerves getting the better of her. "Main... main bohot maazrat chahti hoon," she stammered, reaching for napkins, her hands trembling slightly.

The boy's expression softened, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he glanced down at his shirt. He looked up at her, and for a moment, there was no anger, no frustration—just a quiet acknowledgment, as though he understood that accidents happen.

"Chhodo, koi baat nahi," he said, his voice calm and warm, though his gaze lingered on her just a bit longer than usual. "Arey it's ok bas aik drink hi to thi."

She felt a strange pull in her chest as she met his gaze. There was something in his eyes—something she couldn't quite place, something that felt familiar. It was as though she had known him for far longer than these few seconds. Her heart fluttered, a mix of unease and something deeper, more inexplicable. And yet, before either of them could say another word, the moment passed, and the world around them resumed.

As the evening wound down, the wedding guests began to disperse, some heading for the exit, others still chatting in small groups. The girl, with her father by her side, made her way toward the car. She didn't notice the boy again as they walked through the crowd, her thoughts already scattered with the end of the night.

But as the cars lined up outside, ready to take the guests home, the boy's car suddenly pulled up beside her own. Their eyes met through the rolled-down windows, and in that brief, fleeting moment, everything stopped.

He was looking directly at her, and she felt the air thicken around them, an undeniable pull she couldn't ignore. It wasn't just the moment. It wasn't just the accident earlier. It was something else—something ancient, something unexplainable. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a second, it felt as if the world itself had paused.

Their gazes held for a moment longer before the boy's car sped off, leaving her staring after him, the sound of his engine fading into the night.

The girl sat back in her seat as the car began to move, her heart racing in a way she couldn't explain. Her father was talking to her, asking if she was okay, but she couldn't hear him. All she could hear was the thundering beat of her heart, echoing in her chest. She couldn't understand why she felt this way, why she couldn't shake the image of his face from her mind.

At the same time, the boy sat in his car, his hands gripping the wheel, his mind replaying the moment they had shared. He tried to shake off the feeling, but it lingered, growing stronger the further they drove from the wedding. His heartbeat thundered in his chest, matching the rhythm of his racing thoughts. What was it about her? Why did he feel like he was meant to meet her?

But for now, all they had were the unanswered questions, the strange pull, and the memory of a brief, fateful encounter that neither could shake from their minds.

As they both lay in their beds that night, trying to sleep, the weight of their thoughts pressed heavily upon them. Neither could forget the other. And neither could explain why, in that moment, their hearts had beaten as one, as if they had known each other forever.

Writer's throughs -

Dil ki dhadkan bechain thi, ek ajeeb si lagan thi,

Jab aankhon ne aankhon se milke, ek nayi duniya ka ehsaas kiya.

Na jaane kaise thi wo khamoshi, jo hum dono ke beech thi,

Har pal mein ek ehsaas tha, jo hum dono ke liye kaafi tha.

To be continued-