Morning sunlight slipped through the half-drawn curtains, painting golden patterns across the room. "Sakshi, get up! You'll miss your train!" her mother, Anita, called for what felt like the tenth time. But Sakshi buried her face deeper into the pillow, pretending not to hear. Home felt too comforting to leave behind.
Finally, with a sleepy groan, she pushed herself up. The clock on the wall reminded her—today wasn't a day to waste. She had fought hard for this chance, earned it with late nights and endless effort. Delhi awaited her, with all its noise, chaos, and dreams.
Downstairs, the familiar aroma of parathas greeted her. Her father, Viraj, was reading the newspaper, and her younger brother, Vidhan, was already teasing her about how she'd cry at the station. Between bites of breakfast and laughter echoing through the dining room, she felt the weight of goodbye growing quietly in her chest.
The cab ride to the station felt shorter than ever. Every turn of the road brought a silence none of them wanted to break. When the platform finally came into view, Sakshi's heart sank a little — reality had arrived.
Standing by the train, she hugged her mother tightly, tears slipping down her cheeks despite her best effort to smile. "Take care of yourself, beta," Anita whispered, her voice trembling. Her father, Viraj, patted her head gently, masking his own emotion behind a small, proud smile.
And then came Vidhan — her mischievous little brother, who was suddenly quiet. Sakshi knelt to his height, ruffling his hair. "Don't miss me too much, okay? I'll be back in a few months," she teased, forcing a grin. "And when I return, I'll tell you all the fun I had in Delhi. You'll be jealous!"
Vidhan rolled his eyes, pretending not to care, but his voice cracked a little as he said, "Just don't forget us."
She laughed softly, wiping her tears. "Never."
As the train moved, Sakshi gazed out of the window, watching familiar landscapes blur past. Hours later, she stepped out at Delhi station, suitcase in hand, her heart thrumming with excitement. A cab whisked her through the crowded streets until she finally reached the apartment she shared with her friend.
The building looked the same, the neighborhood unchanged, yet a strange flutter stirred in her chest. Delhi was no longer just a city of opportunities and friends. Something felt… different, almost ominous. She brushed it off, blaming the fatigue of travel, yet deep down, an unspoken warning lingered, hiding in the shadows of familiar streets.
Little did she know, the danger waiting for her was closer than she imagined, and this visit back to Delhi would change everything she thought she knew about her life.