After a long day of lectures, the final bell echoed through the halls, marking freedom for the students. Minnie and Aara swiftly packed their belongings, eager to return home and relax. As they made their way through the college corridors, they overheard a group of girls engaged in excited conversation.
"Did you see him? Dude, he is so handsome."
"I know, right? Is he a student or a teacher?"
"Nah, I don't think he's a student. Maybe a teacher... God, if he is, I wish he taught my class."
Minnie and Aara exchanged intrigued glances, curiosity lighting up their faces.
"Who are they talking about?" Minnie asked, eyebrows raised.
Aara, half-distracted as she dug through her bag for something, didn't answer right away. They kept walking, their path leading them closer to the principal's office.
And then Minnie slowed down. Her eyes widened slightly, locking onto someone standing near the office, deep in conversation with the principal.
"Mr. Shah," she whispered, mostly to herself but loud enough for Aara to catch it.
Aara's gaze lifted, her chocolate-brown eyes, scanning the hallway. And then she saw him. Amidst the other faculty and students, he stood out effortlessly. Ruhaan Shah. Her steps involuntarily slowed, her breath catching as their eyes met.
Time seemed to pause.
Ruhaan turned, as if sensing her presence. Their eyes held for a few seconds too long, a silent exchange of something neither could quite define. The world blurred around them.
Aara, her heart racing, slowly lowered her gaze as Minnie's voice brought her back to reality. "Hello, Mr. Shah," she greeted him with a friendly smile.
Ruhaan's eyes shifted to Minnie, nodding politely in acknowledgement.
"You remember, right? We met at the café that day when my friend…" She trailed off, glancing at Aara, who had paused a few steps behind. Minnie reached back and gently tugged her forward. "She... my friend, you helped her."
Ruhaan looked at Aara for a few seconds and then nodded slightly in recognition. Minnie, always the cheerful one, added, "Actually, we wanted to meet you that day, but you'd already left."
"Why did you want to meet me?" Ruhaan asked, voice calm, but his eyes stayed on Aara. She, however, couldn't seem to meet his gaze, finding sudden fascination in everything around her... the wall, the floor, even the notice board.
"Yeah, actually... actually, she wanted to say something" Minnie said, nudging Aara a little closer with a mischievous grin.
Aara shot Minnie a side-glare that screamed Are you serious right now?, but Minnie just shrugged, pretending innocence.
Ruhaan raised an eyebrow slightly, curiosity evident as he looked at Aara. "Say," he said, his voice low and steady.
Their eyes met again. For a second, maybe two, Aara forgot where she was. There was something about him, his presence, his eyes. It felt oddly familiar, like a memory buried just out of reach. Her heart thudded in her chest.
To avoid the growing tension, she took a small step back, her eyes finally dropping to the floor. In a soft, almost shy tone, she murmured, "Thank you for your help that day."
Ruhaan paused, looked at her, then gave a short, quiet, "Hmm." Without another word, he turned and walked away, his secretary falling into step behind him.
Aara watched him leave, his figure growing smaller in the distance. Her chest felt tight and her breath shaky as she let out a long exhale, filled with confusion, curiosity, and something she couldn't quite name.
.............
The cafe basked in the warm, dim glow, with the mist outside adding an extra layer of coziness to the atmosphere. Aara sat perched on a high stool behind the counter, her knees tucked up slightly, a thick book resting in her hands. The hum of the coffee machine, the ticking of the wall clock, and the occasional flicker of candlelight were the only sounds in the otherwise still space.
The bell above the door gave a cheerful chime, slicing through the silence. Aara lifted her gaze, prepared to greet the customer, and there he was... Ransh. His entry was as dramatic as always, that wide, playful smile lighting up his face and a single red rose in hand like he'd stepped out of a corny rom-com.
"Welcome to Aroma Talks," Aara said in her usual composed tone, offering a faint smile before her eyes dropped right back to her book.
Ransh chuckled, undeterred by her disinterest. "Hey, Buttercup. For you" he said, extending the rose towards her with an ever-present twinkle in his eye.
Aara didn't even flinch. With a small sigh and her eyes still on the pages, she muttered, "When will you stop?"
"Stop what? Giving you flowers?" he quipped, leaning casually on the counter. "You know I can't resist your charm."
Aara finally looked up from her book, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of her lips. "Charm, huh? Is that what you're calling it these days?"
Their back-and-forth was familiar, like a well-practiced melody. His flirtation was endless, and her resistance, almost theatrical at this point.
"You're wasting your time, Ransh. My answer's not changing," she said plainly, though her tone had softened.
He tapped his finger against his chin with a mock-thoughtful expression. "That's your perspective. From mine, this Butter is slowly melting... day by day." He pointed a finger at her dramatically.
"And what if I never say yes?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Perfect. That means one day, you'll say 'I love you.' Great progress," he grinned.
Ransh leaned in a little, voice playful but low, "I'm a patient man, Buttercup. I can wait forever."
Aara sighed, her expression caught somewhere between exasperation and affection. "You really don't give up, do you?"
"Nope, not when it comes to someone as captivating as you." He winked.
Their banter lingered like a warm scent in the café air, brightening the space in ways even the soft lights couldn't. Aara never said yes, but she never truly dismissed him either. And Ransh, well, he showed up like clockwork, armed with charm and roses.
.............
As evening rolled in, Nainital was cloaked in a soft grey mist, the kind that kissed your cheeks and made everything feel like a quiet dream. Inside the cozy little café, the warmth from the kitchen seeped into every corner, making it a perfect refuge from the chill.
Behind the counter, Aara and Minnie were deep in conversation, chatting about the day's classes and the latest college gossip.
Mrs. Gupta walked out from the kitchen, rubbing her arms against the cold and glancing at the fog outside. "I don't think anyone else will come tonight. It's freezing. We should close early."
Aara and Minnie both looked at each other, nodding in quick agreement.
"Great idea, Aunt. And you know that blueberry cheesecake you baked with so much love is still sitting there," Minnie said with a sly grin, pointing at the display. "So, I was thinking, why not enjoy it ourselves? After all, we wouldn't want to serve customers with stale cake," she suggested, her puppy-dog eyes adding to the drama.
Mrs. Gupta, gave her a playful glare and swatted her shoulder. "You little brat! You'll never stop with your drama, will you? Go on, take it with you."
Aara laughed. "Alright, let's start wrapping up. I've got to grab a few groceries on the way back anyway."
Minnie, always one step ahead, offered, "Wait, we'll handle things here. You go get the groceries. And take my list too." She took out a crumpled paper from her apron pocket and handed it to Aara.
Aara nodded, "Got it. I'll meet you at home." She picked her bag and made her way to the cafe's exit.
"Be careful," Minnie called out as Aara moved toward the door.
Aara paused, turned, and gave a little wave. "I will."
The mist outside kissed her cheeks as she stepped out, scarf wrapped snug around her neck. The streets were quieter now, painted in shades of grey and gold by the streetlights. Her boots made soft thuds against the cobbled path as she walked, thoughts wandering.
Strolling through the familiar streets of Nainital, Aara couldn't shake off the thoughts of her earlier encounter with Ruhaan. There was something about him... something strange and familiar at once. She shook her head, trying to focus, but the feeling wouldn't go away.
As she continued down the quiet path, a peculiar feeling washed over her. It was as though someone was following her and she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder. However, the roads were nearly deserted, with very few people in sight. Aara shrugged off the uneasiness and carried on, clutching Minnie's grocery list in her cold hands.
When she reached the grocery store, a small bell announced her arrival.
"Hello, Uncle. How are you today?"
The old shopkeeper gave her a warm smile. "Good, good. And you, beta?"
"All well. Just picking up the usual stuff," she replied, grabbing a basket.
She wandered through the narrow aisles, reading Minnie's list. "Macaroni, pudding, noodles, nachos, chocolates... of course," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head with a smile. "Her version of essentials."
Still lost in her thoughts, Aara turned a corner and bumped into someone. A gentle thud. She gasped and stepped back quickly.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she said, bowing her head slightly.
The woman in front of her smiled, just as polite. "It's alright."
They exchanged a quick nod before moving along, unaware that this small, forgettable moment would quietly twist the path Aara thought she was walking.
.............
Aara stood beside the lady, waiting for her turn at the cash counter, her arms loosely folded, eyes scanning the shelves absently, but her ears caught a snippet of conversation that tugged at her attention.
"Yeah, me and my family shifted here this week," the woman said, her voice kind and soft, laced with a faint accent that suggested she wasn't a local.
The store in-charge smiled warmly and nodded. "That's good. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate. We also do home deliveries, here, take our card."
The woman reached out to accept it, but in that small, careless motion, her grip on the grocery bag faltered. The bag slipped from her arm, its contents scattering with a thud on the floor.
"Aa..." she let out a startled sound, bending instinctively, but Aara was already crouched beside her.
"It's okay, let me help you," Aara said softly, gathering a fallen tomato and a box of cereal. She passed each item back with quick precision, her long fingers brushing the woman's hand in the exchange.
And in that moment, everything stopped.
Aara's eyes fluttered shut involuntarily as a flickering image flooded her vision.
The same woman… walking alone on a dimly lit road, clutching her purse close. The low rumble of a bike approaching from behind. Two masked men on it... one lunging forward, snatching her bag, the other shoving her hard. She cried out as she fell, her hands scraping the gravel, groceries rolling into the street… the bike speeding away, and no one in sight to help.
Her eyes flew open.
It had only been a second. A heartbeat. But her breath caught in her throat.
"Thank you, dear," the woman said kindly, completely unaware of what Aara had just seen.
Aara managed a small nod, her mind whirling as she watched the woman leave. She couldn't just walk away from this. That vision... her curse, her gift... can never be wrong. And this time, it wasn't just a passing face. It felt personal.
She turned to the shopkeeper quickly, her voice a little shaky but firm. "Uncle, I'll be back in a minute. Please bill all this, I won't be long."
Before he could respond or ask questions, she thrust the basket into his hands and dashed out of the store.
The cold mist hit her skin like a slap as she stepped outside, eyes scanning the street.
But the woman was already gone.
Aara's heartbeat quickened. Her boots echoed on the pavement as she rushed forward into the fog, guided by instinct, by urgency, by a haunting glimpse of what might come to pass.
And just as she turned the corner, a sudden sound sliced through the silence...
the distant roar of a motorcycle engine.
Her breath hitched.
She ran.