ACT-1
Opening Scene
Sarva sat on his bed, flipping through an old photo album. His fingers lingered over a faded picture of him and Soumya—barefoot in the rain, laughing uncontrollably. He smiled faintly, but the warmth of the memory soon gave way to a dull ache in his chest.
He had always known Soumya was special to him, but it had taken years of separation to understand the depth of his feelings. It wasn't just nostalgia—it was love.
That realization hit him hard one evening when he came across an old diary entry Soumya had written back in school:
"I wonder if Sarva will ever know how much he means to me."
Sarva's breath caught. He hadn't seen her in years. After school ended, they lost touch, and life drifted them apart. But now, the thought of never seeing her again felt unbearable.
Driven by this newfound urgency, Sarva started looking for clues about where Soumya might be. After weeks of searching, he finally found a lead—Soumya was last seen in Baldev's town. That's when it hit him—Baldev.
Background
Sarva, Soumya, and Baldev were childhood best friends. They were inseparable through primary school, spending endless summers climbing trees, sneaking into abandoned houses, and sharing secrets under the stars.
But things changed when Baldev's family moved to another town. Sarva and Soumya stayed together through secondary school, but by the time graduation came, even they started drifting apart.
Baldev, now in a different school, lost touch with both of them. Sarva and Soumya remained close for a while, but after school ended, Soumya disappeared from Sarva's life without warning or explanation.
Now, years later, Sarva's heart pulled him toward her once again. And if finding Baldev meant finding Soumya—he was ready to take that step.
Reunion with Baldev
Sarva hesitated before dialing Baldev's number. It had been so long—what if Baldev didn't even remember him?
The phone rang twice before a familiar voice picked up.
Baldev: "Hello?"
Sarva: "Hey… Baldev? It's me."
Baldev: "Sarva?! No way! Man, how long has it been?"
Sarva: "Too long."
Baldev: (laughing) "Wow. I can't believe it. How have you been?"
Sarva: "I've… been better. Listen, I need your help."
Baldev: "Of course. What's going on?"
Sarva hesitated.
Sarva: "It's about Soumya."
(Silence)
Baldev: "Soumya?"
Sarva: "Yeah. I think I… love her. And I need to find her."
Baldev: (taken aback) "Wait—you and Soumya?"
Sarva: "I know it sounds crazy. But I found out she was last seen in your town."
Baldev: (pausing) "In my town? That's… unexpected."
Sarva: "I know. That's why I called you."
Baldev: (exhaling) "Alright. Come over. We'll figure this out together."
Sarva smiled for the first time in weeks.
Sarva Travels to Baldev's Town
Sarva packed his bag, filled with a strange mixture of excitement and anxiety. He boarded a bus to Baldev's town, staring out the window as the familiar countryside blurred past.
Baldev was waiting for him at the station. They hugged awkwardly at first, but the years of distance melted away within minutes.
Baldev: "Let's get you settled. We've got a lot to catch up on."
Introduction to Baldev's Friends
Later that evening, Baldev introduced Sarva to his friends at a local café.
Baldev: "Guys, this is Sarva—my childhood best friend."
Keerthi: "Nice to meet you! Baldev told us about you."
Vidhi: "Wow, so you're part of the legendary trio?"
Sarva: (laughing) "I guess you could say that."
Aditi: "We're actually working on a project about the ancient temple nearby. You should join us!"
Baldev: "Yeah, it'll be fun. Besides, who knows? Maybe Soumya's trail will lead us there."
Ramanujan: "That's not a bad idea. The temple is full of old mysteries and records."
Bharat: "We could use the extra hands."
Sarva felt a strange comfort among them. It almost felt like the old days, when he, Baldev, and Soumya tackled life as a team.
Sarva: "Alright. Let's do it."
The Search Begins
Sarva and Baldev joined Keerthi and the others in their research on the ancient temple. They spent days sifting through old texts, deciphering inscriptions, and mapping the temple's layout.
One afternoon, while exploring the temple ruins, Sarva spotted something carved into a wall:
"Soumya was here."
Sarva's heart raced. He traced the carving with his fingers and noticed a small folded note tucked into a crack in the wall.
He pulled it out, hands trembling. It was old, the ink faded, but the handwriting was unmistakable.
"If you're reading this, it means you've come looking for me. Keep going… you're close."
Sarva's breath caught. He turned to Baldev, eyes wide.
Sarva: "She left this here. She knew I'd find it."
Baldev: "Looks like the trail just got warmer."
Sarva's heart pounded. For the first time in years, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
To Be Continued…