The dining room was unusually quiet that evening.

The large chandelier above the table cast a warm glow over the polished wooden surface, while the faint sound of cutlery echoed through the room.

Avika sat in her usual place.

Her back was straight, her expression calm, and her hands rested neatly beside her plate.

Across from her, Armaan Raichand was quietly eating.

Naina sat beside him, occasionally glancing between the two.

Kabir was there too, but unlike usual, even he wasn't saying much.

Avika already knew something was coming.

Her father had been unusually quiet since she had entered the room.

That silence wasn't comfortable.

It was a warning.

Finally, Armaan placed his fork down.

"Avika."

She looked up.

"Ji?"

"Graduation ke baad tumhara kya plan hai?"

Avika frowned slightly.

"Plan?"

"Haan. Graduation ke baad."

She thought for a moment.

"I haven't decided yet."

Armaan leaned back in his chair.

"You don't need to decide."

Avika's eyebrows pulled together.

"What do you mean?"

"You'll join the company."

The words were simple.

But they immediately changed the atmosphere around the table.

Avika stared at her father.

"Your company?"

Armaan gave her a look.

"Obviously."

Avika took a slow breath.

"Dad, I never said I wanted to join the company."

Naina immediately looked towards her.

"Avika..."

But Avika continued.

"I mean, I haven't thought about it."

"You don't need to think about it."

Armaan's voice remained calm.

"It's already decided."

Avika stared at him.

"By whom?"

There was a brief silence.

Kabir slowly lowered his eyes.

Armaan looked directly at his daughter.

"By your family."

Avika gave a small, almost disbelieving laugh.

"My family?"

"Yes."

"And what if I don't want to?"

The room went completely silent.

Armaan's expression hardened.

"Then you'll learn to want it."

Avika's smile disappeared.

For a moment, she simply looked at him.

She wanted to argue.

She wanted to tell him that her life couldn't be planned like a business meeting.

She wanted to ask why every important decision about her future was always made without her.

But she knew this conversation.

She had had versions of it before.

School.

College.

Friends.

Clothes.

Social events.

Everything eventually came back to one thing.

The Raichand name.

Armaan picked up his glass.

"This company isn't some ordinary business."

"I know."

"You're my daughter."

"I know that too."

"Then you should understand what that means."

Avika's fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.

"It means I have responsibilities."

"Exactly."

"But does it mean I don't get to choose anything?"

Armaan looked at her.

"Choice comes after responsibility."

Avika looked away.

Naina finally spoke.

"Avika, your father has worked his entire life to build this company."

"I know, Mom."

"He wants you to take it forward."

Avika looked at her mother.

"And if I don't?"

Naina didn't answer immediately.

Her silence was enough.

Armaan spoke instead.

"You will."

Avika looked back at him.

His voice wasn't angry.

That was what made it worse.

He wasn't asking.

He was informing her.

"Graduation complete karo. Uske baad company join karogi."

"What position?"

Armaan's expression softened slightly.

"You'll start learning from the top management."

Avika almost laughed.

"Learning?"

"You'll eventually take responsibility."

"Eventually?"

"Yes."

She leaned back.

"So basically, my entire future is already planned."

Armaan looked at her.

"That's not a bad thing."

"For you, maybe."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Naina's eyes widened slightly.

Kabir looked down at his plate.

Armaan became completely still.

"Excuse me?"

Avika realized what she had said.

She could feel the tension in the room.

Still, she didn't take it back.

"For me," she said quietly, "it feels like there's nothing left for me to decide."

Armaan's voice became colder.

"Enough."

Avika fell silent.

He picked up his fork again.

"Dinner khatam karo."

And just like that, the conversation ended.

Not because they had reached an understanding.

Because Armaan had decided it was over.

Avika looked down at her plate.

Her appetite was gone.

She moved her food around without eating.

Across the table, Kabir glanced at her.

He didn't say anything.

He didn't need to.

Avika knew that look.

Are you okay?

She gave him the smallest nod.

I'm fine.

It was the same lie she had been telling everyone for years.

Later that night, Avika stood alone on the balcony of her room.

The city stretched out in front of her, full of lights and distant sounds.

She rested her hands against the railing.

The cool night air touched her face.

She closed her eyes.

Graduation.

Company.

Responsibilities.

Family.

Reputation.

Everywhere she looked, there seemed to be a path already chosen for her.

But nowhere in that path was the question-

What do you want, Avika?

She opened her eyes.

She didn't know.

Maybe that was the most frustrating part.

She had spent so long doing what everyone expected that she wasn't even sure what she would choose if someone finally gave her the freedom to choose.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from Kabir.

Kabir: So... survived dinner?

Avika smiled faintly.

Avika: Barely.

Kabir: Company?

Avika: Hmm.

Kabir: You okay?

Avika looked at the city again.

She typed.

Avika: I'm fine.

Kabir replied almost immediately.

Kabir: You always say that.

Avika stared at the message.

Then she locked her phone.

She didn't have an answer.

The Next Morning

Ruhan's alarm rang at six-thirty.

He opened his eyes slowly.

For a moment, he had no idea what day it was.

Then he remembered.

College.

His eyes immediately closed again.

Yesterday returned to him in pieces.

The seniors.

The questions.

Everyone laughing.

The canteen.

Being called over again and again.

The feeling of wanting to disappear.

Ruhan pulled the blanket over his face.

"Bas ek din aur..."

A knock came on his door.

"Bhai!"

Ruhi.

Ruhan didn't respond.

"Ruhan!"

Still nothing.

The door opened.

Ruhi stood there with her hands on her waist.

"Utho."

Ruhan's voice came from under the blanket.

"Main nahi jaa raha."

Ruhi stared at the blanket.

"College?"

"Haan."

"Why?"

"Bas."

Ruhi walked over and pulled the blanket away.

Ruhan immediately sat up.

"Ruhi!"

"Drama mat karo."

"I don't want to go."

"Kal kya hua tha?"

"Nothing."

"Then?"

Ruhan looked away.

"Bas mann nahi hai."

Ruhi's expression softened.

She sat beside him.

"Bhai."

Ruhan stayed silent.

"Har jagah pehle din awkward hota hai."

"Tumhe kya pata?"

"School mein mera bhi first day tha."

"Tum toh sabse pehle teen friends bana leti ho."

Ruhi laughed.

"Exactly. Toh tum bhi bana lena."

Ruhan shook his head.

"It's not that easy."

Ruhi looked at him for a moment.

Then she smiled.

"Easy kab kaha?"

Ruhan finally looked at her.

"Bas jao. Aaj shayad better hoga."

He sighed.

"Tumhe kaise pata?"

"Pata hai."

Ruhan smiled despite himself.

"Tum bahut irritating ho."

"Thank you."

A little later, Ruhan stood in front of the mirror.

He adjusted his collar.

Then looked at himself.

"It's just college."

He said it quietly.

"Nothing else."

He picked up his bag.

Downstairs, Pooja had already prepared breakfast.

"Ruhan, jaldi."

"Haan, Maa."

Samir was reading the newspaper.

He looked up.

"Ready?"

Ruhan nodded.

"Haan."

"Good."

Ruhi came running into the dining room.

"Bhai!"

"What?"

"Today smile karna."

Ruhan frowned.

"Why?"

"Kal poora din aise ghoom rahe the jaise kisi ne tumhara phone chura liya ho."

Ruhan laughed.

"Pagal."

"Bas, aaj thoda enjoy karna."

Ruhan nodded.

"Try karunga."

Pooja looked at him.

"Lunch karna mat bhoolna."

"Haan, Maa."

A few minutes later, Ruhan left for college.

This time, he knew exactly where he was going.

At least mostly.

College

The campus was already crowded when Ruhan arrived.

Students were walking through the entrance in groups.

Some were laughing.

Some were rushing towards their classes.

Ruhan adjusted his backpack and walked inside.

He had barely crossed the main entrance when someone called out.

"Oi, fresher!"

Ruhan stopped.

His heart sank.

He slowly turned around.

Three seniors were standing near the staircase.

One of them smiled.

"Idhar aa."

Ruhan walked towards them.

"Ji?"

"Kal toh bada busy tha."

Ruhan looked confused.

"Main?"

"Haan, tum."

Another senior laughed.

"Naam kya tha?"

"Ruhan."

"Accha Ruhan. Aaj ka task?"

Ruhan's face fell.

"Task?"

"Haan."

"I have class."

The senior stepped closer.

"Class baad mein."

Ruhan became silent.

"Bolo."

"Main kya bolun?"

"Anything."

Ruhan looked around.

Other students were passing by.

Some noticed.

Some ignored them.

The senior pointed towards the notice board.

"Jaake woh notice loud read karo."

Ruhan walked towards it.

He started reading.

His voice was quiet.

"Zor se."

Ruhan tried again.

This time louder.

The seniors laughed.

"Good."

Another one said,

"Ab clap karo."

Ruhan stared at him.

"Clap?"

"Haan."

Ruhan reluctantly clapped.

The seniors laughed again.

Ruhan's ears turned red.

He didn't understand why they enjoyed embarrassing him so much.

Maybe because he never fought back.

Maybe because he always did what they said.

That made him an easy target.

One senior suddenly looked past him.

His expression changed.

"Wait."

The others turned.

Their attention moved away from Ruhan.

Ruhan didn't understand why.

Then he heard whispers.

"Avika aa gayi."

"Dekho."

"Arre wah..."

Ruhan turned slightly.

And for the first time, he saw her.

Avika walked through the college entrance.

She wore a simple black outfit, paired with minimal accessories.

Nothing exaggerated.

Yet she stood out.

Maybe it was the way she walked.

Maybe it was the confidence in her posture.

Or maybe it was simply the fact that she seemed completely unaffected by the people around her.

Students started whispering.

"Dekho, Avika."

"Humph... kapde toh dekho."

"Ameer zadi hai na."

"Usko kya farak padta hai."

"Raichand family hai. Attitude toh hoga hi."

Avika heard some of it.

She didn't react.

Her expression remained cold.

She walked past them as though the whispers didn't exist.

The seniors near Ruhan had completely forgotten about him.

One of them muttered,

"Bhai..."

"What?"

"Look at her."

Another laughed.

"Avika Raichand."

Ruhan stood quietly.

Nobody was paying attention to him anymore.

He looked at Avika for a moment.

She didn't look at him.

She simply continued walking.

Ruhan suddenly realized he had an opportunity.

He quietly stepped backwards.

One step.

Then another.

No one noticed.

He turned around and walked away.

Then he walked faster.

By the time the seniors noticed, Ruhan had already disappeared inside the building.

Later

The day passed slowly.

Classes came and went.

Ruhan mostly kept to himself.

He answered when professors asked questions.

He wrote his notes.

He listened.

During the break, he watched the students around him.

The campus was slowly starting to feel less unfamiliar.

At lunch, he sat at a distance from the crowd.

A group of students nearby were joking around.

One student tried to steal another's fries.

"Ek fry de na!"

"Ek nahi, tumne aadha plate kha liya."

"Friendship mein counting nahi hoti."

"Tumhari friendship alag hai."

Everyone laughed.

Ruhan couldn't help smiling.

He didn't join them.

He simply watched from a distance.

There was something comforting about seeing people laugh so freely.

He thought about Ruhi.

She was exactly like them.

Loud.

Annoying.

Happy.

Maybe that's why being around her always made him feel lighter.

Ruhan looked around the cafeteria.

"Wow..."

He whispered to himself.

"Log kitne khush rehte hain yahan."

For a moment, he wished he could be that comfortable too.

He smiled again.

Unaware that from somewhere farther across the cafeteria, someone was quietly watching him.

Ruhan didn't notice.

He had no idea who it was.

And the person watching him didn't move.

The afternoon classes were supposed to continue normally.

But around three, the professor entered and announced,

"Today's remaining classes are cancelled."

The classroom immediately filled with excited voices.

"Why?"

"There is some issue with the electricity system in one of the blocks."

Students started packing their bags.

Ruhan looked outside the window.

The sky had become dark.

Clouds covered the campus.

A few drops of rain hit the glass.

Then more.

Within minutes, the rain became heavy.

Students gathered near the entrance.

Some had umbrellas.

Some called their parents.

Some waited for the rain to slow down.

Ruhan stood near the college entrance.

He checked his phone.

No message.

He looked at the rain.

He didn't have an umbrella.

Again.

He sighed.

"Great."

He decided to wait.

Maybe the rain would stop.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

It only became heavier.

Students slowly started leaving.

Ruhan remained where he was.

He looked at the road outside.

Water was collecting along the sides.

The wind was cold.

He hugged his backpack closer.

"Bas thodi der aur."

He whispered.

"Ruk jayegi."

It didn't.

A few minutes later, footsteps approached from behind.

Ruhan didn't pay attention.

Then a voice came.

"Ghar nahi jaana?"

Ruhan turned.

It was her.

Avika Raichand.

She stood a few feet away, holding an umbrella.

Her expression was calm and unreadable.

Ruhan looked at her.

"Jana hai..."

He glanced towards the rain.

"Bas baarish rukne ka wait kar raha hoon."

Avika looked outside.

"Ye baarish jaldi rukne wali nahi hai."

Ruhan gave a small, awkward smile.

"Lag toh raha hai."

She looked at him for a moment.

Then at his empty hands.

"You don't have an umbrella?"

Ruhan shook his head.

"Nahi."

Avika said nothing.

She simply extended the umbrella towards him.

"Lo."

Ruhan stared at it.

"Ye?"

"Haan."

He hesitated before taking it.

"Par aap?"

"I'll manage."

Ruhan looked confused.

"Lekin..."

"Kal wapas kar dena."

He looked down at the umbrella.

Then back at her.

"Okay."

A small pause.

"Thank you."

Avika gave a brief nod.

"Welcome."

She turned around.

Ruhan immediately called,

"Excuse me."

Avika stopped but didn't turn fully.

"Hmm?"

"Main... umbrella kal de dunga."

"I know."

She continued walking.

Ruhan stood there under the shelter, holdi

ng the umbrella.

He watched her disappear into the rain.

For some reason, he couldn't understand why she had given it to him.

He looked at the umbrella again.

Then at the direction she had gone.

"She was... different."

He immediately shook his head.

"Whatever."

He opened the umbrella.

The rain continued falling heavily around him.

But this time, Ruhan didn't have to wait for it to stop.

He stepped outside.

And somewhere between the sound of the rain and the unfamiliar feeling of holding someone else's umbrella, the first small chapter of their story quietly began.

Neither of them knew it yet.

And neither of them was looking for it.

But sometimes, stories begin long before people realize they are part of one.