Episode 1: The Call That Stayed..

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The morning felt like any other.

Quiet. Routine. Unremarkable.

Prisha stepped out of her apartment, adjusting her bag as she prepared to leave for work. Her life had become predictable—days filled with work, silence, and a routine she had learned to live with.

Just as she locked the door, her phone rang.

An unknown number.

She paused for a moment, staring at the screen… then answered.

“Hello… who is this?”

There was a brief silence.

Then a male voice spoke—

“Did you recognize me… or have you already forgotten?”

Prisha frowned slightly.

Something about that voice felt familiar… but distant.

“No… I’m sorry, I don’t remember. Who are you?”

A light laugh came from the other side.

“Wow, Prisha. So you really forgot me? It’s me… Laksh.”

Her expression changed.

“Laksh? Wait—how did you even get my number?”

“Oh please,” he said casually. “You got a job and disappeared. We had to find you somehow.”

A small smile appeared on her face.

“I didn’t disappear… I’ve just been busy with work.”

“Hmm, busy,” he said jokingly. “So how are you? All good?”

“Yeah… I’m fine. Work keeps me busy. What about you?”

“Same here. Just managing things,” he replied. “Life goes on, I guess.”

There was a brief pause.

Then he continued—

“Anyway, tell me—are you coming?”

“Coming? Where?” she asked.

“Don’t tell me you forgot this too. We decided to have a reunion, remember? It’s in fifteen days.”

For a moment, she went silent.

And then—

“Oh… right,” she said. “I remember now. I’ve been so caught up with work, I didn’t even realize how much time has passed. Who all are coming?”

“We’ll see. I haven’t talked to everyone yet. You’re the first one I called. There are still fifteen days—we’ll manage.”

Prisha looked ahead, thinking.

“Okay… I’ll come.”

“Good. I’ll call the others now. Take care.”

“Hmm… you too. Bye.”

The call ended.

Prisha lowered her phone slowly.

Friends…

A faint, almost ironic smile crossed her lips.

I don’t really have any friends anymore…

Still…

Maybe meeting them one last time wouldn’t hurt.

The day passed like any other.

Work. Deadlines. Silence.

She kept herself busy—so busy that she didn’t have to think.

By evening, she returned home.

The house was quiet.

Too quiet.

She made dinner, finished everything, and walked out to the terrace.

The night air was calm.

She sat down, looking up at the sky.

And for the first time in a long while…

She felt it again.

Loneliness.

Her thoughts slowly deepened.

Everyone has only ever seen me happy…

They only saw what I chose to show them.

A faint smile appeared, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

No one knows my past…

No one knows what my relationship with my parents is really like…

She looked away.

To everyone, my life always looked simple… like everything was fine.

A quiet breath escaped her.

But it was never really that simple.

To them, I was just the happiest girl in the room.

And maybe… it was easier that way.

Her gaze turned distant.

She hated thinking about the past.

I don’t like my past.

Not at all.

But then…

There was one memory she couldn’t ignore.

One person she couldn’t forget.

The only exception.

The one she was about to meet again… after all this time.

Something about this reunion felt…

Different.

🔥 To be continued…

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