(Past)
When Deepak was in sixth grade, his life took a quiet and unexpected turn. Due to a mysterious illness that made it difficult for him to stay outdoors for long periods, his parents shifted him to a new school closer to home. There, he remained silent, distant, and always alone.
In that classroom, the students were divided into five groups, each led by a group leader. Sahasra was the leader of Deepak's group. She was bright, cheerful, and always ready to help others. Deepak noticed her right away. It was love at first sight, though he never had the courage to express his feelings. Just the thought of speaking to her made him nervous.
Ironically, later that year, their class teacher noticed Deepak's hidden talents and made him a group leader as well. Yet, he barely spoke to his group. He simply completed his duties—sending project updates and notes through WhatsApp—keeping communication to the bare minimum.
Years passed. He completed his 10th grade like that—silent, solitary, and distant. Only one person truly understood him: Chaitanya. The one and only friend he had.
One day, as they sat together in the hostel common room, Deepak asked Chaitanya, "Is there any way I can make new friends? I think I need a change."
Chaitanya smiled. "Try Instagram."
And that's when everything began to change.
---
Present
That night, Deepak stared at his phone screen. No new messages.
"It's already night… and no one messaged me."
Heart whispered gently, "Maybe they're busy. Or maybe they think you're busy."
"Then what should I do now?"
"Let's learn how to talk better. Try communication techniques?"
"But how?"
Brain answered, "YouTube."
"Yeeaaah!" Heart cheered with excitement.
Deepak lay on his bed, opened YouTube, and searched: "How to improve communication skills."
He watched a few videos, then stumbled upon another suggestion: "Difference between love and infatuation." Out of curiosity, he clicked. One video turned into another. Before he knew it, he had drifted to sleep, the phone still playing beside him.
---
The Next Morning
The room was lit with late morning sun. Deepak stirred and looked around. His phone was dead. In a panic, he jumped out of bed. It was already 9 a.m.
He quickly plugged in the charger, freshened up, and had his breakfast. Then, with his phone now alive again, he started scrolling through Instagram reels, losing himself in the stream of videos.
It was noon when a message finally arrived.
Sahasra: Hi.
Deepak smiled, a faint blush rising to his cheeks.
Deepak: Hi.
Sahasra: What are you doing?
Deepak: Nothing much. Just scrolling reels.
Sahasra: Oh, so… what's special today?
Deepak: Special?
Sahasra: I mean, the curry.
Deepak: Oh! Bitter gourd. What about you?
Sahasra: Capsicum.
Deepak: Oh.
There was a pause. Then:
Sahasra: Would you mind if I ask you a question?
Deepak's curiosity sparked. "No."
Sahasra: Why didn't you talk to anyone in school?
Deepak hesitated before typing.
Deepak: Actually… I feel nervous to start a conversation. But once it starts, no one can stop me.
Sahasra: Oh really?
Deepak: Yeah.
Sahasra: I tried so many times to talk to you, but you never responded.
Deepak: Wait—really?
Sahasra: Yes. I used to ask you for books, marks cards… but you never said a word. You just handed things over silently.
Deepak felt a sting of guilt.
Deepak: It's my fault… I'm sorry.
Sahasra: Anyway, I finally got a chance to talk to you.
Deepak: Actually, why did you want to talk to me?
Sahasra: Not just you—everyone. Since childhood, I've wanted to become a good leader. To be a good leader, I need to stay connected with people. So, I try to be friends with everyone.
Deepak: That's… amazing.
Sahasra: What's your ambition?
Deepak: I want to become a coder.
Sahasra: Oh? Why?
Deepak: In childhood, I used to watch a show called Mr. Coder. That series made me fall in love with coding.
Unknowingly, they had begun revealing pieces of their dreams, their past, and even their hearts to each other. Deepak had never imagined he'd open up like this.
After a while, Sahasra sent another message.
Sahasra: It's been three hours! We've been chatting non-stop.
Deepak: Oh! You're right. I didn't even notice.
Sahasra: I've never chatted this long. It feels… relaxing.
Deepak: (Blushing) Same here.
Sahasra: Alright, I'll go now. Bye!
Deepak: Bye.
---
Days Later
Each passing day brought change. Deepak's confidence grew. His communication skills improved. He started making new friends and even began posting his own pictures online.
But despite all the positive changes, somewhere deep within, a quiet shadow remained—a slight negative vibe that whispered doubts.
---
A Week Later — Late Night
Deepak lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
"I can feel it," he thought. "My communication is improving."
Heart nodded, "Yes, you've grown a lot."
Brain agreed, "Everything's going well."
Just then, a notification popped up on his screen. A new message. But this time, it wasn't from Sahasra or Chaitanya.
It was from someone he didn't know. A mysterious profile. No display picture. No name.
A strange chill crept into the room.
Who is this? Deepak wondered.