Chapter 2 – Ajnabi Ehsaas
The night had been restless. Sleep came in fragments, slipping through their fingers like grains of sand. Every time they closed their eyes, flashes of that brief moment returned—the accidental spill, the way their eyes had locked, the strange stillness that had settled in the air between them. It was absurd, irrational even, yet neither of them could deny the weight of it.
The girl tossed and turned in her bed, pressing a hand against her chest as if trying to still the uneven rhythm of her heartbeat.
Kya ho raha hai mujhe?
she wondered, frustration curling inside her. She didn't even know his name. And yet, it felt like she had known him forever.
On the other side of the city, the boy lay sprawled on his bed, one arm resting over his eyes as morning light seeped through the curtains. His body was tired, but his mind refused to slow down. He exhaled sharply, rubbing his face.
"Ye kya chakkar hai, yaar?"
he mumbled to himself.
"Ek pal ka scene tha... bas chhoro ab."
But even as he said it, he knew he was lying to himself.
The house was quiet when the girl finally slipped into a deep sleep, her exhaustion finally catching up with her. Hours passed unnoticed until a sharp voice dragged her back to reality.
"Utho! Poora din guzar gaya aur tum ab tak soti ja rahi ho?"
Her mother's voice rang through the room, laced with irritation.
She groaned, blinking against the dim evening light filtering through the curtains.
Sham ho gayi?
She rubbed her eyes, her head still heavy with sleep.
"Kya hamesha isi tarah rahogi?
Subah se ek kaam nahi kiya tumne!" Her mother scolded, pulling back the blanket.
"Ammi, sirf raat der tak jagne ki wajah se—" she started, but her mother cut her off.
"Shadi me sab gaye the, tum koi akeli nahi ho jo thak gayi ho,"
her mother scoffed before walking out, muttering about her laziness.
She sighed, pushing herself up, her mind already drifting away from the moment. As she stretched, the memories of last night resurfaced, wrapping around her like an unseen thread. She had tried to forget, tried to push it aside, but something inside her refused to let go.
On the other side of the city, the boy was going through his routine in the same strange daze. He had woken up late, much to his own annoyance, and now sat at the dining table, aimlessly stirring his chai. His family chatted around him, but their voices felt distant.
"Beta, tum theek ho?" His mother's concerned voice pulled him back.
He blinked and forced a small smile. "Haan, bas thodi neend kam aai thi."
But the truth was, his thoughts were elsewhere—lost in the memory of a girl he had barely met.
The girl sat on the couch later that evening, absentmindedly listening to her family's conversation. The wedding had ended, but the house was still filled with lingering excitement as relatives chatted over tea.
"Woh Ahmed sahab ke ghar wale bhi aaye thay na?" an aunt said casually, stirring sugar into her cup.
"Haan, kaafi ache log hain,"
another voice responded.
"Unka beta bhi aaya tha, bara hoshiyar lag raha tha."
The girl's fingers froze around the edge of her cup. Her heart skipped a beat before she quickly took a sip, acting as if nothing had changed. They weren't talking about her; they weren't even looking at her. It was just a passing mention—an ordinary conversation.
And yet, her breath felt heavier.
Miles away, the boy found himself caught in a similar moment.
"Bhai, kal raat kuch zyada interesting lag raha tha tujhe," his friend teased, nudging him playfully.
"Kya matlab?" He frowned, though his heartbeat had already quickened.
"Bas, ajeeb sa ghayab tha tu. Lagta hai kisi ka asar ho gaya hai."
He scoffed, shaking his head.
"Bakwas mat kar."
But even as he said it, a part of him wondered.
Kya sach mein kuch badal gaya hai?
That night, the girl stood by the window, resting her head against the cool glass. The city outside was alive—horns blaring, distant laughter echoing through the streets. Yet, inside her, there was nothing but silence.
A deep sigh escaped her lips. She closed her eyes, willing herself to let go.
"Mujhe is baat ka itna sochnay ki zaroorat nahi hai," she muttered under her breath.
"Ek moment hi to tha... bas aik lamha... bas chhoro."
And yet, she didn't move. She didn't walk away from the window. Because no matter how much she tried, the feeling lingered.
The boy stood on his balcony, gripping the railing, staring at the night sky. His thoughts were a mess, tangled between logic and something far beyond it.
"Kya pagalpan hai ye?" he muttered.
He wanted to forget. But some things refuse to be forgotten.
And so, neither of them could deny it.
Something had begun.
Something beyond their control.
Writer's Thoughts:
Ek ajeeb ehsaas hai, jo samajh nahi aata,
Jaise rooh ne rooh ko pehchaan liya ho.
Zameen ki hadon se paray koi dor hai,
Jo dil se dil ka rishta jod rahi ho.
To be continued-