Varun was deep in thought, trying to understand his own talent and purpose. But he clearly remembered what his elder brother figure, Chandru, once told him. Chandru wasn't just a neighbor; he was also Varun's only true bond outside his family. Though they weren't related by blood, Chandru had a special place in Varun's life.
Varun's father, Natraj, had an elder brother who had two daughters — Harini and Priya. Both of them were older than Varun, but they were never very close to him. Chandru, on the other hand, showed Varun the kind of love that brothers usually share. Even though they weren't born siblings, Chandru treated Varun like his own younger brother. Because of that, Varun and Chandru were inseparable.
Chandru trusted Varun completely. He would often come to Varun's house without hesitation, even taking showers there. Varun's life felt peaceful and happy whenever Chandru was around. They used to go to the theatre together, roam around joyfully, and celebrate Deepavali side by side — shopping for clothes, buying fireworks, bursting them together, and ending the day by watching a movie.
As long as Chandru was with him, Varun's life had no worries.
Later, when Varun turned 16, his parents enrolled him in a new, bigger school far from home. It was one of the best schools around, but Varun was nervous. It was the first time he had to go to school alone. On his first day, he boarded the bus with fear and uncertainty.
When he got off the bus, he noticed a girl wearing the same school uniform. The moment Varun saw her, he froze. He knew her — her name was Pallavi, a girl from his previous school. They had studied together for nearly seven years. Pallavi had always been friendly and cheerful, and Varun had secretly liked her for a long time.
However, a year before Varun left that old school, Pallavi had already transferred out. And now, unexpectedly, she was standing right in front of him again.
Pallavi looked at him too but said nothing. She simply started walking, and Varun followed her quietly. Still anxious, he entered the school and tried to find his classroom. Since he didn't know where to go, he asked a boy for help, but the boy wasn't sure either. Suddenly, a girl's voice from behind said, "That class is on the second floor."
Varun turned around and saw the girl wearing a mask — her name was Priya. He couldn't see her face clearly. Varun finally reached his classroom. Nervous and shy, he stepped inside and looked for a seat. A boy asked him to sit next to him, and they soon became friends. His name was Hasan.
Days passed quietly. Varun avoided trouble and slowly adjusted to his new school life. In the classroom next to his, Priya studied in a different department. Varun often wanted to see her face but never got the chance. One day, he came early and sat waiting. A boy from another class started a conversation with him — his name was Harsha. Later, another student named Mugin joined them, and the three became close friends.
Once again, Varun's life began to feel smooth and happy.
A few days later, Varun mentioned Priya to Harsha, curious about her. Harsha decided to take Varun to see her. When they met, Priya removed her mask — Varun was stunned. She was beautiful, but that wasn't what shocked him. Sitting behind Priya was none other than Pallavi.
Varun couldn't believe what he was seeing. He didn't say anything about Pallavi to anyone. After returning home that day, Priya's face stayed in his thoughts all through the bus ride. He felt strangely happy.
When he reached home, his mother was waiting. She was the only person who truly understood and loved him deeply — more than anyone else in the world. Varun shared everything about his day with her, except one thing: he never mentioned Pallavi or Priya.