The room was dark except for the faint blue glow of a computer screen. Shiv and Ranjit were sprawled on their beds, lost in deep sleep, when a soft but urgent voice broke the silence.
"Shiv, wake up, man!" Ranjit whispered, shaking his friend's shoulder.
Shiv groaned, turning to the other side. "What now, Ranjit? I told you not to wake me!"
"Please, bro, help me solve this code. I've tried everything!"
Shiv sighed and sat up. "Fine. Let me take a look."
He dragged himself to the computer table, rubbed his eyes, and began typing. Within minutes, Ranjit's face lit up.
"Yes! It worked!"
Shiv yawned and frowned. "You woke me up for this? Such a tiny bug!"
Ranjit grinned sheepishly. "It's easy for you, but it was torture for me!"
"How much time is left?" Shiv asked.
"Fifteen minutes."
"Then we're fine," Shiv said, stretching.
Just then, their senior, Sudhir, walked into the room. "So, Shiv, done with the lab exam?"
"Yes, sir. Just finished," Shiv replied.
"And you, Ranjit?"
Before Ranjit could answer, Shiv joked, "Sir, he's the topper. Probably finished hours ago!"
Sudhir chuckled. "Really? Or did you do his work for him?"
Ranjit smiled nervously. "No, sir. I did it myself."
Sudhir gave them a knowing look. "I know you two too well. Anyway, go and submit your papers."
"Okay, sir," they said in unison.
As they walked out, Ranjit let out a deep sigh. "Finally! Lab exams are over."
Before they could celebrate, the class leader, Sharath, appeared with a smirk. "What's up, Shiv? Barely passed again?"
Ranjit opened his mouth, but Shiv stopped him. "Not now. What do you want?"
"Sudhir sir is calling you," Sharath said, walking away.
Ranjit frowned. "Why'd you let him get away with that?"
Shiv shrugged. "Final day, bro. Let's keep it peaceful."
They went to Sudhir's office.
"Sir, you called us?" Shiv asked.
"Yes. Sit down," Sudhir said. "Shiv, final year is ending. What are your plans next?"
Shiv smiled. "Sir, I'm planning to start a company—a security systems startup."
Sudhir's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "A startup, huh? Ambitious. What kind?"
"Advanced digital security systems, sir—something that can change the way companies protect data."
"Impressive," Sudhir said. "If you ever need help, let me know. And Shiv…" He paused, smiling faintly. "I hope you have a bright future."
"Thank you, sir," Shiv said sincerely.
Outside, Ranjit stretched his arms. "So, partner, what now?"
Before Shiv could answer, Ranjit's phone rang. It was his mother.
"Ranjit, did the exam end?" she asked.
"Yes, Mom."
"Good. Bring Shiv along and come home."
Shiv raised an eyebrow. "Home? Now?"
Ranjit grinned. "You heard her."
"Fine. Let's go."
The Girl Who Looked Away
On the way home, they passed a college gate. A girl stood there, talking with her friends. Her name was Siddhi—smart, confident, and the only girl who had ever caught Shiv's attention.
He slowed the bike unconsciously, his eyes fixed on her.
"Shiv, come on!" Ranjit nudged him. "You'll crash into someone!"
Shiv blinked, forcing himself to look away. Siddhi had already turned, pretending not to notice him.
Ranjit laughed. "Still ignoring you, huh?"
Shiv sighed. "Some people never change."
Plans Over Snacks
When they reached home, Ranjit's mother welcomed them warmly. "Exams are done! So, what's the plan now?" she asked, placing snacks on the table.
"Mom, Shiv has a startup idea. We're planning to work on it together," Ranjit said.
"That's wonderful. But talk to your father first—see how much it'll cost," she advised.
"Aunty, I've saved the money my mother left me," Shiv said quietly. "I'll use that."
Before she could reply, Ranjit's father, Ravi, entered the room. "No need, Shiv. I'll fund it."
"Uncle, please. My parents saved that money for this. I want to use it."
Ravi nodded. "Alright then—fifty-fifty partnership?"
Shiv smiled. "Deal."
Ranjit clapped his hands. "Perfect! So, partner, shall we start our empire?"
Shiv laughed. "Let's do it."
A Road Trip and a Stranger
The next morning, both packed their bags and set out on Ranjit's bike. The air was fresh, their minds full of dreams.
They stopped at a roadside café for breakfast. A young woman entered—confident, graceful, and strikingly beautiful. She walked straight to their table.
"Hi, I'm Riya," she said with a smile.
"I'm Shiv. What can I do for you?"
"I'd like to join you for breakfast," she said casually.
"Sure," Shiv replied, taken aback.
Ranjit leaned closer and whispered, "Bro, she's gorgeous!"
Shiv rolled his eyes. "Focus."
The three talked briefly, and before leaving, Riya scribbled her number on a napkin and handed it to Shiv.
Minutes later, the waiter arrived with the bill.
"Sir, your total is ₹1200," he said.
Shiv frowned. "₹1200? For two breakfasts?"
The waiter smiled. "No, sir. The four girls sitting with you earlier added their bill to yours."
Ranjit's jaw dropped. "What the—"
Shiv immediately tried calling Riya. The number was invalid.
Ranjit clenched his fists. "If I see that girl again, she's dead meat."
They paid reluctantly and left.
A Place to Begin
After checking several places, they found a small apartment with a "TO LET" sign.
"Uncle, we'd like to rent this room," Shiv said.
"The rent is ₹10,000," the landlord replied.
"We'll take it. We'll move in tomorrow," Shiv said.
"Alright. Be here by ten in the morning," the landlord said.
Outside, Ranjit laughed. "That uncle was weird, but fine. At least we got a place."
They stopped for tea at a roadside stall. "Bhaiya, two strong teas," Ranjit ordered.
They sat discussing their startup ideas. Shiv's phone buzzed, and he stepped aside to take the call.
Suddenly, Ranjit shouted, "Hey, stop!" and dashed across the street.
Shiv turned sharply. "Ranjit! What happened?" He ran after him.
Ranjit pointed ahead, his eyes wide. "It's her!"
Shiv followed his gaze—and froze.
There, across the road, stood Riya.
To Be Continued…
What did Ranjit really see?Who was that mysterious girl named Riya?And will Shiv's dream of building his own company ever come true?
Readers, if you enjoyed the story, don't forget to leave a review.