Vyom blinked. "What do you mean?"
Anand sighed. "Never mind. You'll figure it out one day."
---
The sun had begun to sink behind the college buildings, painting the evening sky in soft shades of orange and pink. The air carried that familiar scent of chalk dust and canteen snacks — the smell of another day ending.
Vyom and Anand walked side by side along the narrow road, their bags hanging lazily over their shoulders. A faint wind ruffled Vyom's hair as he stared at the empty lane ahead, thinking of Keya and the strange nervous excitement curling in his stomach.
Anand broke the silence first. His tone was half-annoyed, half-playful.
"Please tell me, then you could message me — but why you message my mom? Do you know my mom told me at 8 a.m., when I had no time to argue—"
He mimicked his mother's voice dramatically.
(Anand's mom: "Anand, Vyom invited you today to Keya's house for group study at 4 p.m.")
(Anand: "I have online classes.")
(Anand's mom: "Your class is at 5 p.m., and you've been staring at your mobile all day!")
Vyom burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Oh oh, today anyone doesn't see mobile!" he teased, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Anand folded his arms, pretending to glare. "Why did you message my mom?"
Vyom grinned sheepishly. "So yesterday I was very excited, and mistakenly I gave the message — I thought that was you! I'd be very happy if aunty didn't tell you in the morning that our classes are cancelled."
Anand sighed dramatically. "But I don't want to go."
Vyom stopped walking and put on his best puppy-eyed look. "Bro, please come na."
Anand turned his face away. "Okay, I'll go — but you come to our house to bring me."
Vyom frowned. "No, I can't."
Anand crossed his arms again. "Okay bro, then absolutely I can't."
Vyom held up his hands in mock surrender. "Sir, you got offended!"
He grinned, leaning closer. "I will go. If you tell, we'll go with helicopter!"
Anand smirked, eyes twinkling. "Okay, then we'll go in a helicopter!"
Vyom laughed. "Are you kidding me?"
Anand shrugged. "No, you told me — if I tell you…"
Vyom shook his head, trying not to laugh. "I'm just kidding, bro."
Anand's smile widened. "No bro. Then I'll go with helicopter, because this is my big change."
Vyom chuckled. "Please bigge me, bro."
Anand tilted his head, pretending to think. "It doesn't sound like I wish."
Vyom sighed, exasperated. "You'll go or not?"
Anand grinned. "Okay, I'll not go."
Vyom raised an eyebrow. "You will — or I tell aunty…"
Anand gasped dramatically. "Then you blackmail me!"
Vyom waved his hands quickly. "No bro!"
Anand burst into laughter. "I'm just joking."
Vyom grinned, relieved. "Then will you go?"
Anand nodded with a smile. "Yeah, you come to our home at 3:45 p.m."
Vyom thought for a second. "A little early."
Anand rubbed his chin. "Okay, umm… 4:00 p.m."
Vyom pleaded again. "Please bro, please…"
Anand laughed. "Okay, then we'll go now!"
Vyom's face lit up. "Okay, I'll come to your home at 4 p.m."
Anand smiled. "Come."
Vyom waved as they split ways. "Bye!"
Anand waved back. "Bye."
Vyom turned and called out once more with a grin. "I'm coming a little early, so you be ready a little early!"
---
The next day, the sun was bright and cheerful, the kind that made the city feel alive. Children played cricket in the open field, vendors called out in the distance, and the faint hum of cycle bells echoed down the lane.
It was about 3:25 p.m. when Vyom reached Anand's house. He was too excited to stay calm — his nervous energy had turned into pure restlessness. Without thinking twice, he began calling out loudly from the gate.
"Anand! Anand! Anand! Anand…!"
The whole lane seemed to echo his voice. A curtain shifted from a neighbor's window, a dog barked once, and then Anand appeared at the door — wearing a loose T-shirt and short pants, his hair still messy.
Anand blinked in disbelief. "Bro, stop! What happened? It's not even 3:30 yet!"
Vyom grinned innocently. "Bro, wait five minutes only! I told you that I'd come a little early."
Anand looked at him, deadpan. "But I told you 4 p.m., and this is not a little early."
Vyom shrugged, completely unapologetic. "Bro, that's why I came now — because if we go now, we'll reach there by 4 p.m."
Anand gave an exaggerated sigh. "I told you I'd leave my house at 4 p.m.! Wait — I'll take my bag and wear a long pant."
He went inside, muttering under his breath. Vyom chuckled softly, looking around the small courtyard — potted plants lined the wall, and a few butterflies danced around them.
Moments later, Anand returned, now wearing jeans and holding his backpack. He looked more presentable but still half-annoyed, half-amused.
"Okay, then we'll go," Anand said, adjusting his strap.
Vyom blinked, confused. "When do you go?"
Anand frowned. "Where?"
Vyom scratched his head. "I mean, when do you come?"
Anand tilted his head, pretending to misunderstand. "Okay bro, then I'll go home now."
Vyom's eyes widened. "Bro, wait! I was only asking!"
Anand laughed. "I'm just joking."
Vyom sighed in relief, a small smile escaping. "I really got afraid."
Anand slung his bag over his shoulder. "I'll come at 4:30 p.m."
Vyom nodded. "Then okay."
Anand added, almost teasingly, "And I don't want third wheel."
Vyom blinked, puzzled. "What third wheel?"
But Anand just grinned and started walking. Vyom followed, still confused but smiling nonetheless.
---
As they walked together down the quiet road, the late afternoon breeze brushed past them. The golden sunlight fell through the trees, creating soft patterns on the ground. Their conversation drifted between jokes, laughter, and small talk — everything felt normal, yet somewhere deep inside Vyom, there was a flicker of nervous excitement.
They turned the last corner, and the familiar lane came into view — Keya's house stood at the end, neat and calm, with bougainvillea flowers spilling over the wall.
Anand nudged him. "Okay okay, we've reached there."
Vyom nodded, but before Anand could stop him, he suddenly began shouting again — voice full of enthusiasm.
"Keya! Keya! Keya! Keya…!"
Anand facepalmed immediately. "Bro, what are you doing?! The entire neighborhood will know!"
But Vyom couldn't stop laughing. His excitement was too real to hide. The thought of meeting Keya again — after everything, after the dream, after the ring's glow — made his heart race faster than he'd admit.
Anand shook his head, trying not to laugh. "You're impossible, man."
Vyom only smiled, pretending not to hear, eyes already fixed on the small wooden door that led to Keya's courtyard.
The wind carried a faint sound — footsteps approaching, a familiar soft voice from inside.
And at that moment, the noise of the street faded away.
Vyom's heartbeat quickened.
He didn't know why… but somehow, that same feeling from the morning returned — the one that whispered that something was about to change.
---
(To be continued…)