Chapter 1 : Meeting!

“Veda… hurry up. If you don’t leave in five minutes, you’ll miss the train.”

That was Sia—my close friend, my roommate, and unofficially my hostel mom—warning me for the third time. She nagged a lot, but it came from care. Among the four of us, she was the most responsible. Smrithi and Avanika had already left early that morning.

I nodded, still standing in front of the mirror, adjusting my appearance one last time. Sia stared at me in disbelief. I could almost hear her thoughts—how can she still worry about how she looks when she’s already late? I smiled faintly, grabbed my bags, and waved goodbye before stepping out.

“Text me when you reach home,” she called after me.

“And update me when you reach the major stops.”

Her voice followed me down the corridor, and I felt quietly thankful for friends like her.

After a short walk, I reached the bus stop and boarded a bus to the nearest railway station—Drudhnagar.

This was our first trip home after joining college. The four of us had known each other since our bachelor’s days, but our destinations were scattered. Sia lived the closest—just two hours away. Mine was the farthest. Nearly eight.

The evening traffic was relentless. By the time the bus reached the station, more than forty minutes had passed. The moment it stopped, I ran. Somehow—breathless and anxious—I managed to get on the train just in time.

I’ve always thought of myself as an ambivert. I talk only when the energy feels right. Or at least, that’s how I explain myself.

I had to change trains at Shivgiri Junction. From there, another train would take me to my hometown, Gangardri. This was the last train that could get me there in time. Many passengers were rushing for the same connection, and the compartment was crowded beyond comfort. Standing felt like a task.

Five long hours later, I reached Shivgiri Junction. My legs ached, almost numb. I had one hour and twenty minutes before the next train arrived. Spotting a lonely seat at the edge of the platform, I claimed it gratefully and sent Sia a message—she had already reached home.

My phone played Bridgerton, episode two—Shock and Delight—when the announcement echoed through the station.

I boarded the train as soon as it arrived. Though it ran under a different name, this train started from Shivgiri itself. Within minutes, seats began to fill. Usually, I never needed to place my bag on the seat beside me—but today was different.

The bag was heavy. As I tried to adjust it, my balance slipped.

I almost fell forward.

Our eyes met !

Our eyes locked, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. His gaze was deep, steady—dark brown with an intensity that held me in place. It wasn’t intrusive, just… aware. As if he had noticed more than he should have.

The moment stretched longer than it should have.

I broke away first, straightening up and sitting down, my heart beating louder than the train around me. I acted like nothing had happened.

But something had shifted.

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