Episode 2:THE PAST MEMORY

The memory flashed back vividly to the sun-drenched courtyard of Hills College. Navya and her best friend, Dimple, were walking side by side down the stone pathway, their giggles echoing in the warm air. Dimple was practically bursting with excitement as she gushed about a boy she had noticed around campus.

Navya chuckled, shaking her head. "Okay, where did you even get his number from?"

"That should not be our concern now, Navya," Dimple countered with a mischievous grin. "Let's just call him. I bet he will pick up!"

Without waiting for approval, Dimple aggressively dialed the digits and pressed the phone to her ear. On the other side of the courtyard, sitting on a concrete bench with one of his friends, Rohan felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it from his pocket and answered.

"Hello?" Dimple said, her voice suddenly trembling with nerves.

"Hello, who's this?" Rohan asked, his tone casual but curious.

"Umm..." Dimple froze, completely losing her nerve. Seeing her friend choke up, a frustrated Navya snatched the phone right out of her hand.

Before Navya could speak, Rohan’s impatient voice cut through the speaker. "Look, girl, if you want to talk, talk. If not, I'm going to hang up."

Navya’s temper flared at his sharp tone. "Look, boy, don't try to act up!" she snapped arrogantly. "My friend was just trying to call someone else and she mistakenly called you!"

While she was berating him over the line, Rohan had already stood up and walked over, tracking the voice. Suddenly, Navya felt a light pat on her shoulder. She whirled around, the phone still glued to her ear, and stopped dead in her tracks. Rohan stood right in front of her, completely transfixed. He was utterly amazed, seeing this beautiful girl for the very first time in his life. Navya froze too, her arrogant glare melting into a stunned silence as their eyes locked. Sensing the sudden tension, a panicked Dimple quickly grabbed Navya’s arm and dragged her away. Rohan just stood there, a wide, captivated smile spreading across his face.

Two days later, the morning sun gleamed off the polished hood of a sedan in the college parking lot. Navya’s father, Rishab, had just dropped her off for her classes. He stood by the open driver's side door, giving her some final instructions, when a sudden shadow blurred past.

With reckless confidence, Rohan came sliding right over the top of the car's hood, landing gracefully on his feet directly in front of Navya. He didn't even realize Rishab was standing right there.

"Navya, right?" Rohan asked, flashing a bright, charming smile.

Navya immediately grew uncomfortable, her eyes darting nervously toward her father. Rohan, entirely oblivious, kept going. "I think you are beautiful, and I'm so interested to be your friend. Can we be friends? I know book, and I don't skip class."

Navya’s face was a mask of pure anxiety. Following her terrified gaze, Rohan finally turned his head and realized exactly why she was so nervous. His jaw dropped slightly. "Sorry... you must be her dad." Shaking off the shock, he extended a polite hand. "I'm Rohan, sir."

Rishab didn't move a muscle. He just stared at Rohan's outstretched hand with an expression of pure, simmering anger.

Rohan slowly pulled his hand back, clearing his throat. "Okay... bye for now." Attempting to make a cool exit, he tried to slide back over the car hood, but catching the synchronized, icy glares of both Rishab and Navya, he stopped, mumbled a quick "Sorry," and hurried away on foot.

Rishab watched him go before turning a stern gaze onto his daughter. "Stay away from these types." Navya nodded obediently, waiting for her father to get into the car and drive away before she let out a held breath.

Later that afternoon, after classes had concluded, the rhythmic thumping of a basketball echoed across the campus court. Rohan was dribbling the ball, entirely focused, when Navya suddenly marched onto the court. With an arrogant smirk, she reached out and snatched the ball right out of his hands.

"You are handsome too," Navya said, her voice carrying that same haughty confidence from their phone call. "We can be friends. Don't worry about my dad. And for the record, I know book and I don't skip class either."

Rohan burst out laughing at her imitation of his lines, his eyes crinkling. "Okay, okay," he chuckled.

Navya squeezed her face into a serious expression. "Come closer."

Rohan blinked, utterly confused by her sudden shift in demeanor. "So soon?" he asked in genuine surprise.

Navya frowned impatiently. Rohan stepped closer, completely caught off guard when she grabbed his hand, pulled out a pen, and quickly wrote her phone number directly onto his palm. Without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Rohan staring down at his hand with a massive smile.

As time passed, their college romance blossomed into something deeply serious. They became inseparable. They spent their days reading together in the quiet corners of the library, playing games around campus, and sharing their meals. Navya was careful, making sure her strict father never found out a single detail about the boy who had captured her heart.

One beautiful evening, they found themselves sitting together on a secluded bench just outside of town. The sky was painted in brilliant shades of orange and pink as they watched the sunset.

"Why did you bring me here?" Rohan asked, a soft, content smile on his lips as he looked at her.

Navya turned to him, her eyes shining. "I want to show you our future."

Rohan looked out at the empty horizon, thoroughly confused. "The sun?"

Navya laughed, reaching over to playfully pinch his cheeks. "Riding off into the sunset together after our wedding," she corrected him softly. She reached down, holding Rohan's hand tightly, locking her fingers with his. Rohan smiled, pulling her closer, believing with all his heart that this was exactly how their lives would unfold.

The beautiful memory shattered violently, shifting to a dark, painful reality from six years ago.

Rohan had stood in the living room of Navya's family home, his hands gripping the handles of a heavy bag stuffed to the brim with stacks of cash. He had built himself up, determined to prove his worth, and had come to formally confront Navya’s parents to ask for her hand in marriage.

But his dreams were instantly crushed. Her parents looked at the money with utter disdain and rejected him completely.

"Navya will be getting married today," Rishab said coldly, delivering the final, brutal blow.

Rohan had felt his entire world crumble. With a broken heart, he left the house in absolute sadness, the heavy bag of useless cash by his side. Inside the house, locked away in her room, Navya cried out in agonizing pain, her tears flowing freely as she realized she was completely helpless. And just like that, their beautiful love story came to a sudden, tragic end.

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