Saisha woke up.
She was still lost in the lingering warmth of last night's call when her phone buzzed again. It was aman, but the call was on the no. of the saisha he knows in person, not the one he was obsessed with online.
"Hii aman," she said without knowing that this one call would change everything.
"Hello, video editing girl".
Saisha was happy that she was getting new nicknames from Aman, first her "baby doll," and now this. She was blushing hard.
"Stop calling me that, aman, I`ve a name for a reason," she rolled her eyes.
"Hm hm, by the way, I need your help, Saisha."
Listening to her name her own name from aman, it could be normal for anyone, but for Saisha, it was a dream come true, not even exaggerating at this point.
Aman didn`t know anything about her, not even her name. She was his online obsession without any identity. Still, hearing her name from him, something felt real. She felt real.
"Saisha? Are you even listening?"
"Yeah, yeah, tell me what help you need?"
"There's a video, I mean, some raw clips — that need to be edited. My editor's gone for his wedding, and if it were a simple vlog, I'd manage. But this one's a full 20 to 30-minute video. So… if you could help?"
"Yeah, sure, send me the clips. I'll do it."
"Thank you so much. And don't worry, I'll pay you."
"It's fine, Aman. It's just one video, you don't need to pay me for that."
Just after their call ended, aman called Saisha, no, not the girl across the street, but his mystery girl, who was the mystery for him only.
"Hello, babydoll, what are you doing?"
It was getting really weird first talking to him as Saisha, then talking to him as his online crush. Saisha was thrilled and exhausted at the same time.
"Hello, nothing, just missing you."
"Oh, so now my words are only on me, nice, hm."
"aman, I was just completing some work," of course, the work he had given to her.
"Saisha, listen na."
"What???" she froze. He didn`t know her name, but he called her Saisha. She was scared that he would get to know everything.
"Sorry, sorry, I was just talking to Saisha before you, so slip of tongue, my bad, sorry."
"Ohh!" sigh of relief, she was really scared.
"So you remembered her name," she continued.
"Why? Are you jealous, babydoll?"
Yeah, jealous of myself only. "No, I`m not just asking."
"You`re not coming to meet me, all I`ve got is her," he thought she could be jealous of Saisha.
"Then stay with her only."
"ok, ok, sorry babydoll, but tell me honestly now, when are you coming to Punjab?"
"Oh yeah, about that, I`m coming next month."
"Why did it take you so long?" Aman groaned over the call.
"Can't you come a little earlier?"
Saisha giggled softly."Just one more month, Aman. Till then, you have Saisha with you, right?"
"You find this funny?" he asked, rolling his eyes even though she couldn't see him.
"Yes, very," she laughed again, teasing him."Anyway, I gotta go — I have work. Talk to you later!"
"Okay, babydoll. Bye-bye," he replied playfully and cut the call.
Saisha sat back and smiled at the screen. She was still a newbie when it came to editing, no formal training, just passion and heart. But she gave it her everything. Every transition, every cut, every effect, she worked on it like it was the most important thing she'd ever done. Because, in a way, it was.
When she finally sent the finished video to Aman, she sat back, nervous and excited at the same time.
Fifteen minutes later, her phone buzzed.
Aman:"Holy shit, Saisha… this is SO good."Aman:"Like... genuinely impressive."Aman:"Are you sure you're new to this?"Aman:"Because this looks professional-level af."
She blushed just reading those texts.
It wasn't just praise. It was validation. From him.
And for the first time since their chaotic beginning, Saisha allowed herself to feel proud, not just because Aman liked her work… but because she had finally done something that made her feel seen.
Aman called again, his voice still filled with the excitement she could now recognize so well."Saisha? That was so good."
"Thanks, Aman."She couldn't hide the pride in her voice. Her cheeks were warm, her heart full. It felt incredible to be appreciated by him.
"You know what," Aman continued, "I have a video shoot scheduled for a week in the hills… and you're coming with me."
Her eyes widened. For a second, she thought she'd misheard."Wait—what?"
"Yeah, remember I told you my editor's getting married? He won't be around, and I need someone I can trust with the work. You're coming. Don't worry, I'll handle the expenses."
"No-no, I'm not worried about that… but yes! I'm definitely coming!" Her voice rose with joy."This is such a big opportunity, Aman. Thank you so much!"
"No, thank you for helping me," he said, sincere."We're leaving day after tomorrow."
"Oh wow… okay, okay."
"Alright then, see you soon. Bye."
"Bye," she whispered, still stunned, and the line went dead.
Saisha stood frozen for a second before a squeal of happiness escaped her lips.Living with Aman.For a week.Working with him, waking up in the same space, creating something together,
A dream. Literally. A dream come true.
She was about to start dancing in circles when Sam walked into her room.And reality came crashing in.
"Sam! Sam, you won't believe what Aman just told me!" she shouted, grabbing her best friend by the arm."I'm going with him! As his editor! FOR A WEEK!"
Sam stopped in her tracks."Wait—what?" she blinked. "You're going with him?"
"YES! For a whole week!"
But Sam didn't smile. She didn't celebrate. She looked her dead in the eye."Saisha… are you even in your senses?"
"What? What's wrong?" Saisha's smile started to fade.
"You do remember that, right now, you're living two lives?" Sam's tone was serious now."One as Saisha, the quiet, sweet girl living across his street. The other… his online best friend. The girl he's literally obsessed with."
It hit her.Hard.
"Oh… fuck."
She sank to the bed, head in hands."What did I just do…"
Sam didn't say anything. She didn't need to. The silence said enough.
Saisha looked up, panic growing in her chest."It means… only one version of me can be with him there."
Her dream had turned into a nightmare.Because now… she had to choose.