Evening – Boys PG
By the time Rahul returned to the PG, the winter evening had settled over Sikar. The room looked exactly the same as always—books scattered across the floor, clothes hanging from chairs, empty food packets lying in every corner, and a single yellow bulb giving the room a warm but dull glow.
DD was lying on his bed, scrolling through his phone.
Aaryan sat on a plastic chair, lazily eating chips.
Rahul walked in with a smile that neither of them missed.
He threw his bag onto the bed and sat down.
Rahul: "Bhai, aaj ek ladki mili."
DD immediately put his phone aside.
Aaryan stopped chewing.
Both looked at Rahul.
DD: "Naam?"
Rahul: "Pata nahi."
Aaryan: "Number?"
Rahul: "Nahi."
DD: "Instagram?"
Rahul: "Nahi."
For a second, the room fell silent.
Then DD and Aaryan looked at each other...
...and burst into laughter.
Aaryan: "Toh bhai, tujhe mila kya?"
Rahul smiled awkwardly.
Rahul: "Khan."
DD laughed even harder.
DD: "Naam bhi poora nahi pata?"
Rahul: "Bas Khan dekha tha ID card pe."
Aaryan slowly nodded as if trying to understand Rahul's situation.
Aaryan: "Wah."
DD suddenly got off the bed and stood in front of Rahul like a professor about to deliver an important lecture.
DD: "Matlab na naam pata."
He raised one finger.
DD: "Na number pata."
Another finger.
DD: "Na Instagram pata."
Rahul simply nodded.
Rahul: "Haan."
DD folded his arms dramatically.
DD: "Aur tu pyaar mein pad gaya?"
Rahul shook his head.
Rahul: "Pyaar nahi..."
He smiled to himself.
Rahul: "Bas achhi lagi."
Aaryan copied Rahul's voice with an exaggerated expression.
Aaryan: "Bas achhi lagi..."
Both of them started laughing again.
Rahul picked up a pillow but waited.
DD ignored the laughter and began pacing around the room like a relationship expert.
DD: "Sun mere bacche."
Rahul rolled his eyes.
Rahul: "Shuru ho gaya."
DD: "Ladki do tarah ki hoti hai."
Aaryan sighed dramatically.
Aaryan: "Lo... shuru ho gaya."
DD ignored him completely.
DD: "Ek jo khud line deti hai."
Rahul raised an eyebrow.
Rahul: "Aur doosri?"
DD pointed straight at Rahul.
DD: "Jo tujhe lagta hai line de rahi hai."
Aaryan burst into laughter.
Aaryan: "Aur ye doosri wali hi hoti hai."
DD nodded proudly.
DD: "Bilkul."
This time Rahul finally threw the pillow.
It hit DD directly on the face.
DD: "Oye!"
Aaryan laughed so hard that chips slipped from his hand and scattered across the floor.
Rahul: "Tum dono ko samajh nahi aayega."
DD sat beside Rahul.
DD: "Ek baat bata."
Rahul: "Kya?"
DD: "Agar kal mil gayi toh?"
Rahul looked away for a moment.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Rahul: "Mil jayegi."
DD and Aaryan exchanged a look.
Then both answered together.
DD: "Katega tera."
Aaryan: "100%."
DD pointed at him confidently.
DD: "Likh ke lele."
Rahul only smiled.
Rahul: "Dekhte hain."
DD lay back on his bed.
DD: "Hum toh bas popcorn leke baithenge."
Aaryan grinned.
Aaryan: "Aur jab katega na..."
DD interrupted him with a laugh.
DD: "Tab sabse pehle main hasunga."
The room echoed with laughter.
For the rest of the evening, the three friends kept teasing each other, completely unaware that Rahul's life was about to change forever.
The Next Day – Afternoon
The next afternoon, the streets around CLC Chowk were overflowing with students.
Some rushed toward coaching classes.
Some stood near tea stalls.
Others wandered through the market with friends.
Rahul stood at a pani puri stall, eating quietly while absentmindedly watching the crowd.
Then...
His eyes stopped.
Across the road.
She was there.
The same girl from the clothing showroom.
Standing alone outside a shop.
Without thinking twice, Rahul threw the empty pani puri bowl into the dustbin and hurried across the road.
He stopped in front of her.
Rahul: "Hi."
She turned toward him.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
Girl: "Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?"
Rahul: "Main toh bas pani puri khane aaya tha."
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Rahul asked,
Rahul: "Aur tum?"
She looked at him with a mischievous smile.
Girl: "Main toh ladke taad rahi hoon."
Rahul immediately cleared his throat.
He had absolutely no reply.
The girl quietly enjoyed watching him struggle.
Trying to recover, Rahul quickly changed the topic.
Rahul: "Juice piyogi?"
She raised an eyebrow.
Girl: "Tum mujhe date ke liye puch rahe ho?"
Rahul almost panicked.
Rahul: "Nahi..."
He searched for words.
Rahul: "Main toh bas... aise hi..."
She smiled.
Girl: "Chalo."
And she started walking.
Rahul stood frozen.
Rahul: "Sach mein?"
Without stopping, she answered,
Girl: "Haan."
A huge smile spread across Rahul's face.
Rahul: "Yes!"
He quickly caught up with her.
As they walked toward the juice shop, she glanced back at him.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Rahul smiled back.
Juice Shop
The juice shop was packed with students.
Plastic chairs were almost full, and the loud sound of the mixer blended with conversations happening all around.
Rahul and the girl sat across from each other with two glasses of juice.
Rahul couldn't stop looking at her.
She noticed.
Girl: "Kya dekh rahe ho?"
Rahul smiled.
Rahul: "Kuch khoobsurat."
She dramatically placed a hand on her chest.
Girl: "Uff... maar hi daala."
Both laughed.
After a few moments, Rahul finally asked the question that had been bothering him since yesterday.
Rahul: "By the way... tumhara naam kya hai?"
She smiled knowingly.
Girl: "Aap toh bade tej ho Rahul ji."
Rahul: "Kyun?"
She laughed softly.
Girl: "Jis ladki ka naam nahi pata, uske saath juice peene aa gaye."
Rahul leaned forward.
Rahul: "Batao na yaar."
She shook her head.
Girl: "Tum pata kar lo."
Rahul smiled.
Rahul: "Theek hai."
He pointed at her playfully.
Rahul: "Let me guess."
She nodded.
Girl: "Hmm."
Rahul: "Ayesha?"
She smiled.
Girl: "Nope."
Rahul: "Sana?"
She shook her head again.
Girl: "Nope."
Rahul: "Zoya?"
She laughed.
Girl: "Nope."
Rahul sighed dramatically.
Rahul: "Phir tum hi bata do."
She simply laughed instead of answering.
Rahul smiled.
Rahul: "Theek hai."
He thought for a second.
Then looked at her.
Rahul: "Main tumhe Miss Khan bulaunga."
She liked the name.
A smile spread across her face.
Miss Khan: "Nice."
A few moments later, she checked the time.
Miss Khan: "Huh... main ab chalti hoon. I am getting late."
Rahul immediately stood up.
Rahul: "Chalo. Main chhod deta hoon."
Outside the Girls' PG
The winter sun had started to soften as they walked through the crowded streets.
Students crossed them from every direction.
Neither of them seemed to notice anyone else.
Rahul: "Tum rehti kahan ho?"
She smiled.
Miss Khan: "Abhi dekh lena."
After walking a little farther, Rahul tried once more.
Rahul: "Chalo... apna contact toh de do."
She shook her head.
Miss Khan: "Main ajnabiyon ko apna number nahi deti."
Rahul laughed.
Rahul: "Achha? Tum ajnabiyon ke saath juice pi leti ho."
She couldn't help smiling.
Miss Khan: "Dekho... kaise tadap raha hai bechara."
Rahul grinned.
Rahul: "Ab hum ajnabi thodi hain."
A few more steps later, she stopped in front of a girls' PG.
For the first time, the teasing expression disappeared from her face.
She looked at Rahul.
Miss Khan: "Suno."
Rahul also became serious.
Rahul: "Hmm."
She pointed toward the building.
Miss Khan: "Mera PG aa gaya."
Rahul sighed dramatically.
Rahul: "Shit..."
She smiled.
Miss Khan: "Bye. Chalti hoon."
She turned and started walking toward the entrance.
Rahul quickly called out.
Rahul: "Hum aage se baat kaise karenge?"
Without turning back, she answered,
Miss Khan: "Meri coaching ki chhutti 2 baje hoti hai."
She waved her hand in the air.
Miss Khan: "Byee..!"
Rahul stood there watching until she disappeared inside.
The moment the gate closed behind her...
He couldn't stop himself.
Rahul: "Yeah!"
He jumped with excitement.
Rahul: "Yes!!!"
People passing by looked at him strangely.
Rahul didn't care.
With the biggest smile on his face, he turned around and walked back through the crowded streets, already waiting for tomorrow.