Authors pov:
The mall was alive with colors and noise. Neon signs blinked in every direction, music pulsed faintly from the speakers above, and the aroma of fried snacks mixed with the sweet scent of pastries, creating a dizzying cocktail of temptation. She stood in the middle of the food court, a cone of ice cream in her hand and shopping bags hanging from her wrists. The creamy sweetness melted instantly on her tongue, sending shivers of delight down her spine. She could hear the distant chatter of families, the laughter of children, the soft scrape of chairs on the tiled floor-it all blended into a comforting hum, yet her mind was elsewhere.
Her eyes drifted to the pani puri stall ahead. Each crisp shell was being filled with tangy water, tiny spoonfuls of spice, and a sprinkle of herbs that made the air around it smell irresistibly fresh. She leaned forward, mesmerized, as a vendor skillfully assembled the little bites. She imagined the explosion of flavors on her tongue, the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy. Just as she lifted one to her lips-
"Wake up! How long are you going to sleep?"
Her eyes flew open. The food court was gone. She was in her pink, girlish room, sunlight spilling across the bed and catching on the soft folds of her blanket tangled around her legs. At the door stood her aunt, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. The smell of fresh jasmine from the garden outside seeped into the room, mixing oddly with the faint scent of her shampoo.
Her aunt's eyes narrowed. "What were you even dreaming about? You were mumbling something."
Still half-asleep, she muttered, "I want pani puri."
"What?" her aunt snapped, tilting her head.
She sat up quickly, flustered, cheeks warming. "Nothing, nothing, nothing!"
Her aunt sighed, waving her hand. "Forget it. Just look at the time-it's already 8:45. Don't you have university?"
Her eyes widened. "Oh my God!" she gasped, throwing the blanket aside as panic shot through her.
The morning went by in a blur-hurried dressing, gathering books, almost skipping breakfast. Her stomach growled, but she ignored it, stuffing a pen, notebook, and her phone into her bag as she ran down the stairs. The smell of toast and coffee wafted from the kitchen, but she barely noticed, her mind racing through the schedule of the day, worrying she might forget something important.
By the time she reached the university, she was a mix of frazzled nerves and adrenaline. Passing the canteen, she thought, Maybe I should grab something. But instead of pani puri stalls like in her dream, the counters were lined with wraps, sandwiches, and small cakes. She hesitated, sniffing the air like she could find a hint of the spicy, tangy water she craved. The chatter of students and the clatter of trays felt louder than usual, echoing in her anxious mind.
She stopped at the glass shelf, staring at a slice of chocolate cake. The chocolate shimmered under the fluorescent lights, tempting her with a promise of sweetness. "That's it," she whispered, buying it quickly. Sitting at a corner table, she took small bites, savoring each one. The sugar calmed her nerves, but her stomach still reminded her that she had almost skipped breakfast. She watched the students pass by, each face a blur, yet her mind lingered on small details-the sparkle in someone's hair, the angle of a smile, the subtle patterns on a bag.
Just then, a playful commotion caught her attention. A group of students was trying to balance a tower of plastic cups for a small contest near the drink counter. One of them, laughing wildly, accidentally sent the cups flying, and they crashed to the floor in a shower of clattering plastic. Aylin couldn't help but giggle, and soon found herself joining in, helping gather the cups and laughing so hard that her worries melted for a moment. She noticed the way sunlight streaming through the large windows made the dust particles dance in the air, tiny golden flecks floating in the chaos.
When she finally glanced at her watch-"9:15! Oh no!"-she bolted to class, nearly dropping her bag in the process. The professor looked up as she slipped inside. "Aylin! You're late again."
She forced a nervous laugh. "Sir... traffic."
The teacher raised a brow. "Traffic, hmm? That's strange... because I saw you in the canteen when I was walking here."
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came. Her throat felt dry, her thoughts scrambled for an excuse. The hum of the ceiling fan above, the scratching of pens on paper, even the distant honking from outside seemed to mock her.
Before she could speak, the professor continued, his tone laced with a hint of humor. "It's okay. Just... next time, at least come up with a better lie."
The classroom, already silent, erupted into whispers and muffled giggles. A few classmates laughed openly, turning in their seats to look at her. She felt every gaze like a pinprick, her cheeks burning hotter by the second. She wanted to defend herself, but the lump in her throat wouldn't let the words out.
Sliding into her chair, she lowered her head and opened her notebook, pretending to scribble. Her heart pounded; her ears were still hot. The professor, shaking his head with half-disapproval and half-amusement, moved on with the lecture. But for her, the embarrassment lingered, each scribbled word in her notebook feeling meaningless compared to the scene replaying in her mind.
By lunch, she barely touched her food, picking at it absentmindedly while glancing around the canteen. Conversations buzzed all around her, but she felt invisible, wrapped in her own spiral of shame. Then she noticed her friend Ananya waving at her from across the hall. "Come on!" Ananya called, tugging her by the hand toward a table where a few other friends were gathered. The smell of fresh fruit juice and warm bread followed her, but it was comforting rather than distracting.
One of them, mischievous and grinning, had a small packet of confetti from a birthday party earlier in the week. Before Aylin could protest, they tossed a handful into the air, and colorful pieces rained down over everyone's heads. For a moment, Aylin laughed so hard that she almost forgot about her embarrassment, wiping confetti from her hair and giggling with her friends.
"See?" Ananya said between laughs. "Life isn't that serious."
Aylin shook her head, smiling brightly for the first time that day. "Okay... maybe you're right. This is kind of fun."
The day stretched on. Classes passed, laughter echoed in the corridors, and by the last period, an unusual excitement filled the air.
"As everyone already knows," their teacher began, adjusting his glasses, "there is an event in the university tomorrow. But what you don't know is that at the very end of the program, a special guest will be joining us. He is highly respected in the field of business and management, and his presence will be an honor for all of you. For now, I won't reveal more - let it be a surprise."
A wave of murmurs swept across the classroom. Some students leaned over to their friends, whispering guesses, while others sat up straighter, curiosity written on their faces.
As they packed their things after class, Ananya leaned closer and asked, "So... any idea who the guest is going to be?"
Aylin shrugged. "No idea."
Ananya laughed. "Who cares anyway? Whoever it is, we're just going to enjoy the event. It's not like anyone actually listens to those boring speeches. Every guest comes, gives the same philosophy talk, and leaves."
She smirked. "True. Honestly, I don't even feel like going." Then she sighed. "But you already know me-I've got major FOMO. I can't miss it."
Ananya grinned. "Exactly. So stop pretending you'll skip. We're going."
"Fine, fine," Aylin said, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Let's go home."
She arrived home tired but relieved the day was over. As soon as her aunt saw her, she opened her arms.
"You're back!" her aunt exclaimed, hugging her warmly. The faint aroma of dinner spices filled the air, blending with the familiar scent of home.
She smiled weakly, letting the comfort of home wash over her.
"Go freshen up," her aunt said, stepping aside. "I'll get dinner ready for you."
Aylin nodded and took a quick shower. The warm water helped her relax, washing away the stress of the day. Afterward, she ate quietly, savoring the comfort of home, before retreating to her room. She barely had time to settle before sleep claimed her.
In the evening, she came downstairs, feeling a little anxious. "Aunty, I don't have anything to wear tomorrow," she said, wringing her hands.
Her aunt smiled knowingly. "What about the green dress you bought the other day? You could wear that."
She shook her head. "No... I don't really like it."
Her aunt chuckled softly. "Well, I have another dress for you. I was going to gift it to you later, but maybe tomorrow is the perfect occasion."
Curious, Aylin followed her aunt to a small wardrobe corner. Her aunt pulled out a beautiful black frock, complete with a matching dupatta. The fabric shimmered lightly in the soft light.
Aylin's eyes lit up. "Oh... this is gorgeous! I love it," she exclaimed, twirling slightly. "I think I'll wear this tomorrow."
Her aunt smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. They spent the next few minutes chatting and joking, sharing little laughs that filled the room with warmth.
When Aylin came downstairs for dinner, her uncle was there as well. He greeted her warmly and said, "By the way, we got a call from your sister in New York. She mentioned that she has her exams coming up, so she won't be able to visit next month."
Aylin's smile faltered slightly. Her "sister," the daughter of her aunt and uncle, was three years older than her. She lived in New York now, and although she wasn't particularly fond of Aylin, Aylin had always thought of her as a sister. Likewise, she considered her aunt and uncle as her parents, even though they weren't her real mom and dad. Still, there were moments when she missed her own parents deeply, and a pang of longing tugged at her heart.
"Oh..." Aylin said softly, a little disappointed. "I really enjoy spending time with her."
Her aunt chuckled and teased, "Well, at least you have me for now. And don't forget, your uncle's cooking is better than anyone's in New York, right?"
Aylin laughed, shaking her head. "I'll survive, I guess. But don't expect me to start giving your kitchen five-star reviews!"
They all chuckled together, the warmth and humor making the room feel cozy despite the little sadness lingering in Aylin's mind.
After finishing dinner, she went up to her room, feeling quiet and reflective. Soon, sleep claimed her, washing away the day's thoughts and leaving only dreams.
The ch end here
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Before read this please vote and comment.
Ok so tell me how was the ch 1 it was my my first time writing if you don't like tell me where did I wrong so I can improve also please just give me feedback I m not a pro writer so sorry If I did something wrong also English is not my first language so yeah
Btw I m excited for upcoming ch also next ch will be the all about male lead (ZAVIAN KHAN)
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