Morning, at Akash's house.
Akash's father is scrolling through news on his smartphone and says to his family,
"Everyone, listen to this news. It says that children these days get into relationships very quickly."
Hearing this, he makes a sad face and continues,
"In our time, love was something very pure something that happened once in a lifetime, and only if it was truly right. But nowadays, people form relationships with anyone they want and call it love."
Listening to this, his wife says,
"I don't know what has happened to time itself."
After hearing everyone, Akash's mother says,
"Time changes everything. Maybe the world has changed that way too. Who knows, this might just be their way of living."
Akash's father says,
"Whether time has changed or not, whether it's their way of living or the world has changed this is very wrong, and it will always remain wrong."
His wife replies,
"Yes, you're right."
Then Akash's father says,
"Who knows, maybe our son has gotten into all this too."
Akash's mother says nervously,
"Oh no, say something auspicious. Don't say things like that. I do want him to find a good girl, but it's not the right time yet."
Akash's father laughs and says,
"Well, if you're so worried, let's just ask him directly. I think he's here."
Just then, Akash comes running in and says,
"I've eaten already. I'm leaving now."
At that moment, Akash's grandfather says,
"Hey, wait. Your father wants to ask you something."
Immediately, Akash's grandmother gently taps him and says very softly,
"What are you saying? Don't pull his attention into these things. No, no, son, it's nothing. You can go."
Akash says,
"You're hiding something from me. Tell me."
Akash's grandmother gets slightly angry and says,
"I told you already. Why don't you listen?"
Then Akash's father laughs and says,
"Son, I was just showing how much times have changed. People nowadays form many relationships very quickly. Are you also?"
Akash makes a serious face and says,
"No. I don't even want true love, so I can't do anything that makes me weak and definitely not this. Forming new relationships again and again, with anyone, and then calling it love is a very useless thing. No matter how much happiness it gives you on the outside, it hollows you out from within. It slowly starts consuming you. Gradually, you stop understanding what true love even is. For you, only this kind of thing becomes 'love,' and even if someday you actually find true love, you won't be able to accept it properly."
The truth is they don't want love, what they want is happiness of outside.
Hearing this, Akash's mother smiles and says,
"Oh, my son speaks such deep thoughts."
Akash's father says in surprise,
"How do you even think of all this?"
Akash's grandfather, surprised and smiling, says,
"You're slowly becoming very wise. It feels like one day you'll leave everything behind and go live in a forest to do penance."
Akash's grandmother says,
"Hey, son, true love is a part of life. You shouldn't say things like that. You'll find it someday too."
After listening to everyone, Akash nods and says,
"Alright then, thank you. Let's see whether I find it or not. I'm leaving now."
After Akash leaves, his mother says,
"Son, you'll have to get married one day. We also want a daughter-like daughter-in-law, and grandchildren."
Hearing this, everyone laughs and agrees, saying,
"Yes, yes, absolutely."
After some time, Akash reaches his stop, and just then his school bus arrives. He gets on the bus and starts moving toward his seat.
At that moment, Dhruv calls out,
"Akash, over here!"
As Akash walks toward Dhruv's seat, he thinks to himself,
"True love? I'll never do that. Does it even exist?"
(He smiles.)
Dhruv says to Akash,
"Akash, do you remember what happened yesterday? She caught us."
Akash replies,
"Yes, I remember."
Dhruv then says,
"Then you must also remember that you said you'd talk to her today."
Akash answers,
"Yes, I will."
After some time, they all reach school.
Dhruv laughs and says to Akash,
"Go on, brother, go ahead. Look, that girl is here. Today's the day. The teacher will take some time to arrive. There's still half an hour before class starts."
Hearing this, Akash says to Dhruv,
"I'm going."
Dhruv says,
"Go, go, go and listen, don't forget to tell me everything. What was said, and whether she said yes or no."
Hearing this, Akash calmly says,
"I already told you, I'm not going to waste my love."
Dhruv laughs and says,
"Yeah, yeah, I know how truthful you are."
Hearing this, Akash thinks to himself,
"He never believes me. Forget it, I'm going ahead."
Then Akash slowly starts walking forward and thinks,
"The time has come. Let's see what happens."
Ahead, Aradhya is talking with her friends.
Just then, Akash steps forward and says,
"I want to talk to you. Will you come somewhere else so we can talk?"
Hearing this, all of Aradhya's friends start smiling and teasing her.
"Oh, oh, look who's here! Go on, go on, Aradhya, have your conversation."
Saying this, they laugh.
Aradhya smiles, stands up, and says to Akash,
"Let's go."
After a while, they reach a quiet place behind the school.
Akash says,
"This place is good. No one will be able to see or hear us."
Aradhya, feeling shy, smiles and says,
"Yes, yes, it's a nice place."
Then Akash puts on a serious expression and says,
"I won't talk about anything unnecessary. I'll ask you directly do you like me? I said that right, didn't I?"