Author’s POV•

London—one of the busiest cities in the world, where people rush through life with purpose, yet some hearts remain tethered elsewhere. One such heart belonged to Niya Thakur, a whirlwind of life and laughter, currently in her fourth year of MBBS at King’s College.

It had been two years since she last set foot in India, two years since she had felt the warmth of home, the embrace of her family, the teasing banter with her friends. They missed her dearly. But what they didn’t know was that Niya had already decided to surprise them all.

In Her College Dorm~

The room was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, casting golden hues over the books scattered across Niya’s desk. She sat on her bed, deep in thought, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the blanket.

Tani, her roommate, watched her closely before speaking.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, tilting her head thoughtfully.

Niya sighed. "Nothing... I just miss home. I feel like I should be there right now. It's been two years, Tani..." Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the emotions she tried to hold back.

Tani didn’t say anything—she simply pulled Niya into a warm hug. And that was all it took for the tears to break free.

Just then, Niya’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. She wiped her eyes hastily and glanced at the screen.

“परम मित्र” (Best Friend) – Calling...

A small, surprised smile tugged at her lips. It was almost uncanny—whenever she was upset, this person always called, as if the universe itself had connected their souls.

She took a deep breath, steadied her voice, and picked up the call.

Radhika (R): "Hello, what are you doing?" The seriousness in her tone made it clear—she already knew something was wrong.

Niya (N): "H-Hello..." Niya tried to sound normal, but the slight sniffle gave her away.

R: "Missing everyone, aren’t you?"

Niya blinked. "How did you know?" she asked, her voice still thick with emotion.

R: "Are you seriously asking me that, you idiot? Who else would know better than me?" Radhika teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Anyway, are your exams over?"

N: "Yeah, they’re done." Niya exhaled, finally calming down.

R: "Good. So, are you coming on your own, or should I fly to London and drag you back myself?"

N: "Abe, main thodi na baju wali gali mein baithi hoon jo tu mujhe lene aa jayegi, gadhi!" Niya shot back, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

(I’m not sitting in the next street that you can just come and pick me up, idiot!)

R: "Alright, alright! But come soon, okay? I’m missing you a lot. And no more crying, got it?"

Niya smiled, this time genuinely. "Abe, jab main aa rahi hoon, toh phir kyun roungi?" she said, her voice lighter now. "Aur sun, tu abhi kisi ko mat batana ki main aa rahi hoon!"

(If I’m coming, why would I cry? And listen, don’t tell anyone yet that I’m coming!)

R: "Okay, fine. I'll hang up now. I have a meeting to attend." She chuckled.

N: "Okay! Take care."

R: "You too!"

They never said goodbye after a conversation—because for them, one conversation never really ended. It always picked up right where it left off.

After ending the call with Radhika, Niya turned to Tani with excitement brimming in her eyes. Without a second thought, she wrapped her arms around her roommate in a tight hug.

"You should come with me." Her voice carried a mix of hope and anticipation.

Tani sighed, hugging her back. "I don’t feel good refusing, but I’m also going home. Next time pakka, okay? And you take Harsh with you." There was a hint of disappointment in her tone, but her smile reassured Niya that she genuinely wished the best for her.

Niya nodded, just as if on cue, Harsh strolled into the room.

"You both were talking about me, weren’t you?" he asked, flashing his signature teasing smile.

Niya smirked. "Haan, shaitan ka naam liya aur shaitan prakat ho gaya."

(Yes, we mentioned the devil, and the devil appeared.)

Hearing this, Harsh pouted dramatically, like a child denied his favorite toy.

Niya rolled her eyes. "Ab zyada muh banane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Jaao aur samaan pack karo," she ordered in a mock-stern voice.

(Now, there’s no need to pout. Go pack your things.)

Harsh let out an exaggerated sigh but obeyed, disappearing into his room.

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

With her bags packed and the excitement of homecoming thrumming in her veins, Niya made her way to the shopping mall. She couldn't return empty-handed—her family deserved a little surprise.

As she wandered through the bustling crowd, she ran into Ivy and Noah.

"Look who’s here!" Ivy grinned, pulling Niya into a quick side hug.

"Planning to ditch us forever, London girl?" Noah teased, nudging her playfully.

"Oh please, you both know I’d never," Niya chuckled, sharing a brief but warm conversation with them before excusing herself.

Stepping into a men’s clothing store, she carefully browsed through the racks, her fingers grazing different fabrics. She needed something perfect for her brother.

Then, her eyes landed on a brown two-buttoned shirt.

Simple yet elegant.

She held it up against the light, imagining how well it would suit him. A small, satisfied smile curved her lips—this was the one.

Without another second of hesitation, she took it to the counter, ready to check out.

After purchasing the shirt, Niya's thoughts shifted to her brother. A shirt was nice, but a pen—something elegant and meaningful—would suit him even better.

She wandered through the store, scanning the display shelves, when her eyes caught sight of a royal black pen. Sleek, sophisticated, and just the kind her brother would love. A satisfied smile curved her lips as she picked it up..

As she exited the store, her mind drifted to her mother.

A bag. That would be perfect. Something classy yet functional.

She stepped into a designer store, running her fingers over various bags, assessing their quality. Then, she spotted it—a timeless, elegant handbag, perfect for her mumma.

With a nod of approval, she added it to her collection.

Next was Papa. What could she get for him?

A blazer brooch.

The idea struck her suddenly, and it felt just right. Something subtle yet dignified.

She browsed through a selection of brooches before choosing one with intricate detailing—elegant but not overly flashy.

"Perfect," she murmured, tucking it safely into her bag.

A small chuckle escaped her lips as she thought of Radhika.

She knew her best friend’s taste well, and without a second thought, she headed toward the clothing section. Her gaze landed on a white ankle-length midi dress, something that exuded both grace and charm—just like Radhika.

"She’s going to love this," Niya thought with a grin as she made her purchase

Niya let out a sigh after gathering so many items and then started heading back to her dorm to get ready.

With her hands full of shopping bags, Niya finally let out a deep sigh.

"Bas, bohot ho gaya," she mumbled to herself, shaking her head with amusement.

Now, it was time to head back to the dorm and get ready for the long-awaited journey home.

The bustling atmosphere of Indira Gandhi International Airport did little to contain Niya’s growing excitement. She stood in line with Harsh for boarding, the weight of her long journey barely registering in the face of her anticipation.

Once she settled into her seat, she slipped on her headphones, closed her eyes, and let the world fade away.

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

Eight hours and thirty-five minutes later…

The plane touched down in Delhi.

As soon as she stepped off, fatigue began to creep in, but the eagerness in her heart refused to let it take over. Now, only one more flight stood between her and home—Delhi to Jabalpur.

But unlike her, Harsh was completely drained.

"Tu akeli mat ja, mujhe dar lagta hai. Hum subah nikal chalenge," Harsh groaned, his voice laced with mock fear as he stretched his sore limbs.

(Don’t go alone, I’m scared. Let’s leave in the morning.)

Niya turned to him, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Tere ko meri itni fikar hai?"

(You care so much about me?)

Harsh scoffed dramatically. "Nahi, teri nahi, doosron ki fikar hai. Kya pata, tu raste mein logon ke baal-khichne lage," he said with a mischievous grin.

(No, not you. I care about others. Who knows, you might start pulling people’s hair on the way!)

Niya narrowed her eyes at him, her hands twitching as if already envisioning the attack. "Agar ab tu mere saath nahi chala, toh main logon ke nahi, par tere baalon ke zaroor khich dungi!"

(If you don’t come with me now, I won’t pull other people’s hair, but I’ll definitely pull yours!)

Harsh threw his hands up in surrender. "Let’s go!"

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

The moment Niya and Harsh landed, a new problem emerged.

Niya pulled out her phone and dialed Radhika’s number, only to hear the disappointing ‘switched off’ message. She bit her lip, glancing around the dimly lit airport. The place was silent, deserted, and the lack of cabs only made things worse.

She sighed. Calling Abhinav bhaiya was out of the question—one call would ruin the entire surprise.

A heavy silence fell between her and Harsh.

Then, breaking it, Harsh leaned against a pillar and folded his arms. "I told you we should leave in the morning, but who listens to me? Ab bol, kya karein?"

(Now tell me, what do we do?)

Niya, unfazed, flipped her hair back confidently. "Don’t worry. This is my state, my city. We’ll find something, and we’ll reach."

Harsh muttered something under his breath, but Niya didn’t hear him.

Because at that moment, her world tilted.

Her gaze had locked onto someone in the distance—a face too familiar, a presence too intense.

Riyansh Yaduvanshi.

.

.

.

.

To be continued........!

Will Niya ask for help from Riyansh or ignore him?

Will Riyansh help Niya?

How do Niya and Riyansh know each other?

Who knows what will happen? Let's wait for the next chapter.

Please like this story....❤️