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आहट खवाबो की चाहत धड़कन की
उनके कदमों के है यह निशान
चाहे कुछ ना बोलू, चाहे राज ना खोलू
यह समझते है मेरी ज़ुबान
मुझपे बरसी जो तेरी निगाहें
मेरी साँसों ने बदली अदाए
हो ऐसे नैनो की बातों में कोई क्यूँ ना आए
हो ओ ओ ओ तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना रे
तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना रे
ऐसी नैनो की बातों में कोई क्यूँ ना आए
हो ओ ओ ओ तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना रे
तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना, तेरे नैना रे...✨

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dhruv was wide awake in his room even past midnight. He was organising his cupboard and listening to melodious songs through the earphones in his ears.

"Tumse milke dil ka hai jo haal kya kahe, Ho gaya hai aisa ye kamaal kya kahe..." He hummed softly, folding his clothes and placing them gently into the cupboard.

Just then, an ad popped up in his earphones and he groaned in frustration.

His brows etched in frustration as he threw the earphones across the room, they landed gently on the bed.

"Aree behen! Agar tujhe tauba tauba sune Bina neend nahi aati toh mat so... mere gaano ke beech me kyu aati hai?.. Achha khasa gaana chal raha tha!" He said, his voice laced with frustration and irritation.

[ "Oh sister! If you can't fall asleep without listening to 'Tauba Tauba', then don't sleep... but why do you come in between my songs?.. A perfectly good song was playing!" ]

"Aur tauba tauba bhi koi sote time sunne wala gana hai? Aisa lagta hai Vicky Kaushal aakar dance karne lagega " He added, frustration and irritation still intact in his tone.

[ "And is 'Tauba Tauba' even a song you're supposed to listen to while sleeping? It feels like Vicky Kaushal will suddenly show up and start dancing." ]

[ AN: Ye mai apna frustration nikal rahi thi... kya yaawrr Spotify 😭]

He grabbed those earphones again, intending to continue listening to the music, but a notification came in his view.

It was that notification he had waited for all day.

Nitya had accepted his friend request.

He grinned, his earlier frustration forgotten as he opened Instagram and went straight to the notifications tab. He clicked on Nitya's account and went straight to her following list.

He found Maahi's account, she was beaming with happiness in her profile picture.

Hair open, that cascaded down her back with soft curls, makeup that enhanced her features, a small bindi resting between her eyebrows on her forehead, she was wearing a blue anarkali with intricate designs and beautiful embroidery that made her face glowing and radiant.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

And the sight of her again made his heart flutter.

"Turning quiet dreams into loud realities.." He read her bio, words coming out tenderly. "Hayyeee!! Bio bhi kitna pyaara hai!" He placed a hand over his heart and said affectionately.

He was just about to press the follow button when he stopped immediately, sensing and, acknowledging something in his mind.

Realisation struck him.

She didn't know him, probably didn't even remember him after their earlier encounter.

Stalker lagega mat kar, A voice from the back of his mind echoed in his mind.

{ You will look like a stalker! }

"Ab kya karu? Usko toh mai yaad hi nahi hounga!..." He muttered to himself with a frown.

[ "What should I do now? She probably doesn't even remember me!" ]

He walked towards the window, thinking and thinking. But he got no answer. At last, he decided to let go of the decision of sending her the friend request.

As he looked at the stars above him through the window, a determined smile etched his face as he said to himself as if she had heard his words, "Kuch toh karna padega aapse baat karne ke liye, Miss Maahi Ahuja"

He plopped himself back on the bed and drifted off to sleep. A smile still rested on his lips - as determined and shy as ever, enhancing his features and adding a pink hue on his cheeks.

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The next morning dawned peacefully. The quiet chatter of the birds was still audible somewhere in the surroundings, dogs barked in distance and every moment gave a newfound feeling of calm.

The Mehra residence was unusually quiet. Nandini, Rajesh and Dhruv were just sitting on the dining table. Rajesh and Nandini were ready in their work attire, quietly eating breakfast. They were glued to the screen, both of them checking out clients and dealing with work load while Dhruv was just peacefully scrolling reels.

Just then, the door opened slightly and in came three people - Kajal, Vinod and Neel. All of them visibly very tired after their long journey, clearly needing rest.

Dhruv noticed them instantly, And then he got up and ran. He hugged Kajal with full force, saying "Maasii!! I missed you so much" He said excitedly. "Or badi mummy, kuch bhi samajh lo hehe" He added with the same excitement.

Kajal wrapped her arms around him instinctively with love and affection. When he pulled back, she smacked his head lightly and said, "Bas 2 hi din hue hai, gadhe" she said teasingly, with a hint of affection.

[ It has only been 2 days, idiot ]

Nandini and Rajesh came after him, chuckling at his antics and before they could greet them, Neel came up and hugged Nandini first and then hugged Rajesh and said, "Finally mere chachimaasi aur Maasachachu mere paas hai, mai toh miss kar karke thak gaya tha" he said jokingly yet calmly. He loved his uncle and aunt, and his talkative side only revolved around the people he was genuinely close and comfortable with - including his family.

[ "Finally, my aunt and uncle are here with me. I was tired of missing them so much." ]

Rajesh smacked his head lightly and said, "ye dono rishte mix karke mat bola kar bhai, kuch ek bol le" He said, his voice mixed with exasperation and a hint of teasing affection.

[ "Don't mix both those relations together like that, just pick one and say it." ]

Vinod hugged Dhruv next and patted his back in a fatherly gesture.

All of them settled in the dining table after freshing up. They were visibly exhausted and needed a good meal before going to rest.

They ate the parathas diligently, taking decent sized bites and filling their stomach with the familiar warmth. A sense of relief from the exhaustion of the journey crashed their minds. They felt calm and peaceful after finally reaching home.

"Chalo Rajesh ab hum dono bhi chalte hai... shifting abhi bhi bachi hai toh voh karni hai.. kal se kaam bhi toh start karna hai.." Nandini said as everyone nodded understandingly. Nandini rose up and remembered something, she sat back down on the chair again.

[ "Alright, Rajesh, let's go now... there's still some shifting left to do, so we need to finish that... we also have to start work from tomorrow." ]

"Vaise didi.. Aapko pata hai?" Nandini said, expecting a curious reply from her sister, but all that came was a dry reply, "Tu batayegi nahi tab tak kaise pata chalega" She said dryly.

[ By the way didi, do you know something? ]

[ How will I know unless you tell me ]

"Arre didi... Voh baaju wala Ghar na Arora family ka hai, Meera Bhabhi ne kal hume dinner pe bulaya hai" Nandini said.

[ "Oh sister... the house next door belongs to the Arora family. Meera Bhabhi has invited us over for dinner tomorrow." ]

"Aroras? Aree kitne din ho gaye na.... Sab saath chalenge yaar... Meri phone par bhi mushkil se baat hoti thi Meera Bhabhi se" Kajal nodded and recalled her old acquaintances.

[ "Aroras? Oh, it's been so many days, right... We'll all go together... I could barely even talk to Meera Bhabhi on the phone." ]

"Haa na, meri bhi bohot hi kam baat hoti thi Rajeev Bhaisahab se... Abhi toh neighbours hi hai toh firse vahi wala bond form hone me der nahi lagegi" Vinod said, also recalling his old acquaintances.

[ "Yes, same here, I hardly got to talk to Rajeev Bhaisahab either. Now that they're our neighbours, it won't take long for that old bond to form again." ]

"Aur aapko pata hai badi mummy, bade papa? Voh Nitya abhi tak chudail ki chudail hi hai... ek percent bhi nahi badli voh.. Abhi bhi vaisi hi harkatein hai uski" Dhruv said in mock seriousness.

[ "And you know what, aunt and uncle? That Nitya is still the same little witch... she hasn't changed even one percent. She still has the same old antics." ]

"Chup! Pyaari bachhi toh thi... tu hi usse pareshan karta tha aur apne har kaand me ghusata tha" Kajal said as cut him off with slight defensiveness.

[ "Quiet! She was such a sweet child... you were the one who used to trouble her and drag her into all your mischief." ]

"Aur nahi toh kya! Bhaisahab khud shaitani karke use aage daal dete the" Nandini also said, her tone the same as Kajal.

["Of course! He would do all the mischief himself and then push her to the front to take the blame." ]

"Mummy yaarr! Voh mujhe aise fasati thi ki lagta tha meri galti hai par galti uski hi hoti thi!!" Dhruv retorted, his voice laced with quiet defensiveness.

[ "Mom, come on! She used to trap me in such a way that it would seem like it was my fault, but it was actually hers!!" ]

"Haa Haa pata hai!" Neel jumped in sarcastically, raising one of his eyebrows at Dhruv in mock seriousness.

[ Yeah, Yeah we know ]

Their banter faded away as Nandini and Rajesh made their way towards the gate and walked away, individually leading to their own workspace, ready to continue the shifting to start their work as soon as possible.

Vinod and Kajal also went to their room, leaving Neel and Dhruv to themselves. Dhruv was just playing video games on his phone while Neel was reading a newspaper, a habit he had recently developed for his CLAT preparation to go on smoothly.

Neel's phone rang and he glanced at the screen. He read that it was a call from his old friend from Nagpur and he picked up the phone and went to the balcony - Because Dhruv had turned the peaceful hall into a live WWE match, with his occasional shouting as he concentrated into the game.

Neel entered the balcony, the fresh air brushing his face, giving him a freshness he had not felt since the tiring journey. He talked to his friend, his hands absentmindedly playing with the leaves on one of the plants on the balcony.

When his call ended, he glanced up, intending and attempting to take in the fresh air and relaxing himself in the embrace of nature.

And then, something caught his eye. He saw a girl, unmistakably the same age as him, walking into the balcony of the adjacent house, watering the plants diligently while humming soft tunes melodiously.

Nitya had been sent by Adarsh to water his dear plants as he thought they were decaying and dying But clearly, they just lacked some water. Nitya patiently watered the plants as she hummed her favourite songs, gently patting the leaves in affection.

Neel was captivated by the sight of her. Her face, with the sunlight falling straight at her face, gave her a sunkissed glow. The way her hair cascaded down her shoulders, the soft smile on her lips. Her voice was not audible, but it was clear that her voice was melodious. Or atleast that's what Neel thought, standing afar.

Nitya finished watering the plants and looked up. Neel looked away immediately, pretending to be engrossed in the plants of his own balcony, his eyes were downward and distant from her. With his immediate action, he tried to calm his racing heart, but it refused.

He had noticed beauty before, but never had someone's presence manage to disturb the calm rhythm of his thoughts like this. He had always been engrossed in his studies and paid no heed to the attention that the girls of his school gave him while growing up. He was very famous but he never let it be his pride, not even once.

Nitya's eyes locked into him as she looked up. Her gaze shifted from the balcony railing to his sharp jawline, his eyes... the colour was not visible from afar but she had a gut feeling that they would be the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. She had thought that he was not looking at her and before she knew it, she was staring at him - maybe in affection or in surprise of how perfect he looked.

He looked at her again, and their eyes met from a distance. Both of their hearts were racing, they felt a strange feeling of warmth in their heart as they looked at each other.

For a second, neither of them looked away. Not because they were trying to hold the gaze, but because both of them were trying to understand why a stranger's eyes felt strangely familiar.

"Arree kaha mar gaya!! Abhi toh keh raha tha ki room me samaan pahuchane me help karde!" Dhruv called out from the house, his voice was a mix of frustration and irritation.

[ "Oh, where did you disappear to?! You were just saying to help take the things to the room!"]

Neel immediately turned towards the balcony door and walked through it saying "Aaya!". His voice was quiet. He tried to compose his racing heart, but none of his efforts mattered.

[ Coming! ]

Nitya looked up again and saw that he had walked into the door and disappeared in the corridor. She watched him go as a faint smile tugged at her lips.

She put her arms on the railing of the balcony and then raised one to her cheeks. Her cheeks were a deep shade of pink and her faint smile had widened into a big one.

She went back to her own house's corridor too. Her mind was still filled with the warmth of the strange feeling passing through her body as she looked at him. She was so intimidated by the eye contact that she forgot whose the house next door was, she forgot that it was the same house Dhruv mentioned to be his. Everything slipped off her mind, except the eye contact that didn't even last a second.

Then Nitya did what every girl does after such encounters. She quickly grabbed her phone, which was laying peacefully on the dining table and opened whatsapp. She quickly clicked on Maahi's contact and began typing many "Hiii's" and "Helloo's" untill Maahi came online.

Maahi : Kya hai be, achha khasa finally voh confess karne wala tha aur tu aagayi sau messages lekar.

[ Maahi: What is it, yaar? He was finally about to confess properly and you showed up with a hundred messages. ]

Nitya: Hein? Kaun confess karne wala tha?? Hawww tune bataya bhi nahi koi hai teri life me?

[ Nitya: What? Who was about to confess?? Whattt, you didn't even tell me there's someone in your life? ]

Maahi: Abbee pagal, voh kdrama dekh rahi thi na... usme male lead confess karne wala tha, ab tu bhauk.. kyu hazar messages kar rahi hai tabse.

[ Maahi: Oh, you silly, I was watching that K-drama... the male lead was about to confess in it. And you, why have you been sending a thousand messages since then? ]

Nitya: Tu aur tere kdramas! Btw tujhe pata hai mera aaj crush update huaaa!!

[ Nitya: You and your kdramas, By the way.. you know what, my crush updated todayy!! ]

Maahi: Koi nayi baat nahi hai, tera toh roz ka hai... bata ab kis celebrity ya fictional character par jaan nyochavar karne ka iraada hai?

[ Nothing new, that's your everyday habit... now tell me, which celebrity are you planning to lose your heart to this time? ]

Nitya: Aree sun toh le, This time it's not a celebrity or a fictional character... Its a real personn!!

Maahi: Whattt?? Kyaaa, Kaisee, Kabb, Kaunn??? Details chahiye mujhe... OMG tu aur kisi real insaan par crush? I still cannot believe itt

[ Maahi: Whattt?? What, how, when, who??? I need details... OMG, you have a crush on a real person? I still cannot believe it. ]

Nitya: Voh na, baju wale ghar ki balcony me ek ladka khada tha... aur tujhe pata hai?? humara eye contact bhi huaa!! Voh bohot achha dikhta hai yaarrr... Mujhe toh love at first sight jaisa hi kuch ho gayaa.. Hayeeee!!

[ Nitya: So, there was this guy standing in the balcony of the house next door... and you know what?? We even made eye contact!! He looks really good, yaar... I think I had something like love at first sight... Hayeee!! ]

Maahi: Wait wait, rok le teri gaadi... Tujhe naam-vaam bhi pata hai kya? Ki aise hi hawa me baate kar rahi hai? Koi info hai kya uske baare me? Achha dikhna is not the only criteria bro... pagal mat ho.

[ Maahi: Wait wait, slow down... Do you even know his name or anything? Or are you just talking in the air? Do you have any information about him? Looking good is not the only criteria, bro... don't go crazy. ]

Nitya: Haa tu daal de meri umeedon par paani... kuch nahi pata par pata karungi na obviously.

[ Nitya: Yeah, go ahead and pour water all over my hopes... I don't know anything yet, but obviously I'll find out. ]

Maahi: Yaarr I was just stating facts, reality check hi toh de rahi thi..

[ Maahi: Yaar, I was just stating facts. I was only giving you a reality check. ]

Nitya: Maanga kisine reality check? Jaa yaar mereko baat hi nahi karni..

[ Nitya: Did anyone ask for a reality check? Go, I don't even feel like talking to you. ]

Maahi: As if I'm dying to talk to you... Chal bye mereko Kdrama dekhne de... Information nikalkar bata mujhe tere so called crush ki

[ Maahi: As if I'm dying to talk to you... Fine, bye. let me watch my K-drama. Find out the information and then tell me about your so-called crush. [

Then, Maahi went offline.

Nitya groaned in frustration. She knew what Maahi said was correct, she didn't know anything about him, and that hit her hard. She frowned with a small pout and then punched the bed, muttering something like "kutti kahin ki" under her breath.

With a determined yet shy smile, she said to herself. "Ab toh pata lagana hi hoga" and went towards the dining table to eat her lunch.

[ I'll have to find out the information now ]

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Dhruv went back to his room, intending to continue his game after helping Neel vacate the luggage inside his room. 

Neel was alone in his room. staring at the wall for absolutely no logical reason. He came out of the trance suddenly nad looked around, acknowledging that he had to arrange his luggage at the respective places.

He got up from the bed and started organising the things. he wiped the study table clean with a cloth once an then started arranging his study supplies. All of the books were just philosophical and educational books, as he had not yet purchased the stationary required for the new session and for the competitive exam.

He then picked up his personal diary, which was just laying peacefully with all his books. He skimmed through the pages, his earlier entries visible by the fast page turning.

He didn't speak much about his feelings, just wrote what he felt at occasional moments in that diary, he didn't do it because he didn't have friends or acquaintances. In fact, he had a lot of friends. But it was just his idea to keep some unexplainable feelings to himself and write them out.

He opened a blank page, smoothened it with his hands and picked up a pen from the pen stand kept on the study table and started writing.

Dear Diary,

Today was the day that we finally shifted to Mumbai, to our new house.. Honestly, I miss my old home but I think there is no point in missing it now, I think I will have to live in the reality that we have finally shifted here and probably live the rest of our lives here. It's only the first day and something strange happened today, it felt something new that I hadn't felt in my life, never.

I saw a girl on the balcony of the home next door. Just looking at her made me feel like I had seen her before too, I could not tell where but it was certain that I had seen her earlier.

I don't know what I'm feeling currently because I never felt something like this while looking at someone - especially not any girl. I don't know what it was. Maybe it was just because everything was new. Maybe my mind was searching for something different after the shift. It couldn't possibly mean anything... I don't even know her.

I don't know why, but I felt like it was something very special. Our eyes only locked for half a second, from afar but I don't know what happened to me ever since that moment. I know I don't know her, anything about her and even she might not remember me... But I cannot ignore the feeling inside my heart.

I did not hear her voice, nor did I notice the colour of her eyes but I don't know.... It just felt as if they were the most beautiful eyes and the most melodious voice I will ever hear or see if I get to see them again..

It just feels so new, I can't quite decipher this feeling but she is now in the back of my mind. Her face, Her eyes, her smile, her hair and the care on her face for the plants like she wasn't just watering them. She was talking to them softly, checking every leaf like it mattered.  ... Everything just keeps coming in front of me.. The more I avoid it, the more I feel that the scenario is coming to my head.

I felt writing would be a solution to let go of such things.. Maybe it will help to avoid the feeling..

Let's see what happens next..

He wrote those words and kept the pen down, he had not intended to write about her. But something in his muscles just wrote the words out, the words came out of his mind naturally.

Then he grabbed a book from the shelf and started reading it, and he successfully avoided the strange and newfound feeling. at least at that particular moment.

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Word Count: 3.8K

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