Chapter 2 - Who Was She?
Vivek was now close enough to truly admire the girl's beauty. He stood there, unsure of what to do next. The cold was getting sharper; his own body had started shivering, but the strange thing was, this unknown girl didn't seem affected by the chill at all.
Softly, almost hesitantly, Vivek said,
"Hello…???"
The girl turned toward him. A breathtakingly beautiful face looked straight at Vivek. There was an eerie silence on her face, as if that exquisite face was hiding countless secrets. She remained quiet. Vivek kept staring at her as though she were a fairy from his dream world of dreams, and this was his last chance to see her.
Once again, he spoke,
"May I know what such a beautiful girl is doing here all alone?"
The girl replied,
"No. You may not know."
Vivek:
"Hey, please don't misunderstand me. I just saw a girl sitting here alone, thought maybe she's in some trouble, so I asked—if you need any help, perhaps I could…"
The girl:
"I don't need anyone's help."
Vivek:
"All right. Then at least tell me your name? You can, if you want."
The girl looked at him again and said,
"Vanshika…"
Vivek:
"What a beautiful name. I feel you don't like talking much."
Vanshika:
"Yes. I'm used to being alone."
There was a strange, hidden pain in Vanshika's voice. Her expressions, the look in her eyes—something deep and sorrowful was buried there, a story she could never put into words. Vivek could sense it, at least a little.
Vivek:
"That's good. Actually, I'm the same—I love being alone too. That's why I'm still single. What about you, are you married?"
Vanshika:
"No."
Vivek:
"Nice. We have quite a few things in common. We could become good friends… if you'd like?"
Vanshika:
"Okay."
Vivek:
"May I sit beside you?"
Vanshika:
"No. You may not sit."
Vivek:
"Okay, then I'll keep standing right here."
Vanshika (after a pause):
"Fine… you can sit here."
Hearing this made Vivek happy. Vanshika shifted a little to make space for him. Her answers felt strange to Vivek—she refused at first, then suddenly allowed him. Still, he sat down beside her.
Vivek:
"The sea looks so beautiful from here, especially on a moonlit night like this."
Vanshika:
"Yes… beautiful sea."
Vivek:
"So, where are you from?"
Vanshika:
"My home is not far from here."
Vivek:
"In town, or toward the villages outside?"
Vanshika:
"Toward the villages outside."
Vivek:
"Oh… that side has thick jungle too, very deserted. How will you go back alone so late at night?"
Vanshika:
"My maternal uncle's house is nearby. There."
Vivek:
"That's good. Do you come here every day to watch the sea?"
Vanshika:
"No."
Vivek:
"Then will you come back here tomorrow?"
Vanshika:
"Probably not."
Vivek:
"Then when will we meet again? Can you give me your phone number at least?"
Vanshika:
"I don't have a phone."
Vivek:
"Then how will I talk to you? We've just became friends—will our friendship end like this, in a single moment?"
Vanshika remained silent. Vivek grew anxious, feeling time slipping away fast.
Vivek:
"Let me give you my number. Will you call me?"
Vanshika (softly):
"Okay. Tell me the number."
Vivek started reciting his phone number, but Vanshika just kept looking at him, making no effort to note it down.
Vivek:
"You're not writing it… will you even remember it?"
Suddenly, Vanshika stood up.
Vanshika:
"Time's up. I have to go now. We'll meet again."
Vivek:
"Wait! What's the hurry? Let me drop you home. I have my car."
Saying nothing, Vanshika let her dupatta flutter in the breeze and started walking away toward the exit. Vivek called after her, but she ignored him completely. He rushed behind her, stumbled over something, and almost fell. His phone slipped from his hand and hit the ground. He quickly picked it up, looked ahead—and there was no one.
Vivek ran forward, searching for Vanshika among the winding paths of the garden, between the trees, plants, decorative lights, and patches of darkness—but she had vanished. He stood there, bewildered.
How could a girl disappear so quickly?
Everything felt strange, almost unreal. He walked toward the garden gate. Just outside, the security guard was standing with a torch in his hand.
Guard:
"Sir, the park is closing now. You'll have to leave."
Vivek went closer and asked:
"Hey, did you see a girl in a red-yellow dress leaving just now?"
Guard:
"No, sir. I didn't see any girl. I think you were the last person left inside."
Vivek:
"How's that possible? She left only a minute or two ago!"
Guard:
"Maybe she took the smaller path on the other side. There are two exits."
Vivek (disappointed):
"Okay… fine."
Guard:
"You should leave now, sir."
Vivek:
"I'm going. What's the rush? There are still fifteen minutes left before ten o'clock."
With a dejected face, Vivek walked out of the garden. That extraordinarily beautiful girl had come into his life like a dream, become his friend for a few moments, and then disappeared without a trace.
It was almost ten; most shops were already shut. Only a few restaurants and paan-masala stalls were still open. The streets were nearly empty. That girl had stolen the peace of his heart and walked away with it. Vivek didn't know what to do with himself now. He had met many girls before, but this feeling was completely different—something he had never experienced. Vanshika was definitely special, so special that even a selfish, practical guy like Vivek was restless because of her.
He kept wondering—will he ever meet Vanshika again?
The night around him was calm and quiet, but inside Vivek's mind, a storm of thoughts about that unknown girl raged on. Finally, he got into his car and started driving toward his home in the city. Regret gnawed at him—he couldn't give her his number, couldn't even click a single photograph of her.
And in his phone.
But in the end, only one question remained, echoing in his heart again and again—
"Who was she, really?"
Next Chapter…