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The Sharma family road trips had one rule ,there was no such thing as a peaceful road trip.
The white BMW moved steadily along the highway connecting Varanasi and Mirzapur while complete chaos unfolded inside.
"Dadiji, stop cheating!"
"Me nahi kar rahi"
"Kar rahe ho aap"
"I am seventy years old have some respect."
"Respect doesn't apply during Antakshari beta"
A dramatic gasp echoed through the car.
Meanwhile, Mr Raj Sharma focused on driving while pretending not to hear the argument happening behind him.
Mrs Meera Sharma sat in the front passenger seat, occasionally turning around to stop whatever disaster was currently developing.
Which, unfortunately, was impossible because her son had decided to become a menace.
"Papa."
"Hm?"
"How much longer?"
"One hour."
Two minutes passed.
"Papa."
"What now?"
"How much longer?"
The man gripped the steering wheel.
"Still one hour Aryan"
"Are you sure?"
"Very."
Sarah looked out the window, trying and failing to ignore her family,fields stretched endlessly alongside the highway,small villages appeared and disappeared and roadside tea stalls buzzed with travelers.
The weather was pleasant, with grey clouds drifting lazily across the sky it would've been peaceful if not for the people inside the car.
"Sarah."
She immediately regretted making eye contact her brother grinned dangerously
"Kya hai"
"You've been suspiciously quiet."
"I always am."
"Exactly."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means something happened."
Mrs Sharma instantly joined the conversation.
"Kya hua beta"
"Nothing happened Mumma"
Dadiji narrowed her eyes at her sarah dropped her head against the seat dramatically this family was impossible.
Meanwhile her cousin, who had joined the trip halfway through, suddenly leaned forward.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
"What if Sarah has a secret boyfriend?"
There was silence for few seconds absolute silence then the entire car exploded.
Meera laughed dadiji laughed and even Raj nearly missed a gear because he was laughing.
Sarah looked horrified.
"A WHAT?"
Her brother looked delighted.
"The evidence is adding up."
"There is no evidence."
"You're quiet."
"I've always been quiet."
"You smiled at your phone yesterday."
"I was reading a meme bhyii"
"Suspicious."
Sarah considered opening the car door and rolling onto the highway at this point it seemed like the safer option.
"Use tang mat kar" Raj Sharma finally said.
Bless him ,her favorite parent immediately Meera nodded.
"Exactly."
Sarah smiled gratefully.
Then "We'll discuss her marriage after the havan."
The smile vanished she also started teasing her
"Mom!"
"What?"
"I'm twenty one."
"So?"
"I have exams."
"You'll still have exams after marriage."
Dadiji nodded wisely.
"True."
Sarah stared at the roof perhaps if she pretended to be unconscious, they would stop unfortunately they did not.
Outside, the scenery slowly began to change,the roads became narrower the towns smaller and fields stretched farther into the distance.
Children played near village roads,farmers worked under the afternoon sun,the closer they got to Mirzapur district, the more familiar everything felt.
The air itself seemed different,a reminder of home eventually, a large signboard appeared ahead.
โข WELCOME TO MIRZAPUR
Excitement immediately spread through the vehicle.
"Pahuch gye"
"Finally."
"Thank God."
"Dadi ko to utha do"
"Main nahin so rahi"
"To kharate kon mar raha tha"
"I was meditation beta."
The argument resumed instantly laughter filled the car once again the journey was far from over and the havan still awaited.
Relatives would soon arrive, the peaceful village life everyone imagined that would probably disappear the moment the Sharma family stepped out of the car.
because wherever they went. Chaos followed close behind and somehow everyone secretly loved it that way.
โฆ The morning in Mirzapur was unusually busy.
Military vehicles moved in and out of the temporary operational base that had been set up on the outskirts of the district.
Soldiers hurried between tents and briefing rooms,communication equipment buzzed constantly.
Maps were spread across tables and orders were being exchanged every few minutes.
Something was happening and everyone knew it.
For the past few weeks, intelligence reports had indicated unusual activity in several remote areas surrounding Mirzapur and nearby districts.
nothing confirmed but enough to warrant investigation which was exactly why a special team had been assigned here.
Among them were Captain Syra Kapoor, Lieutenant Maahir Malhotra, Lieutenant Shaurya Rathore, and several other officers from their unit.
Inside the briefing room, a large map was pinned to the wall,red markings covered multiple locations.
Captain Syra stood near the table, reviewing documents,focused and professional as always.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Shaurya Rathore was attempting to survive boredom.
A task he clearly considered impossible.
"Do maps ever get tired?" he whispered.
The soldier beside him blinked.
"What?"
"They spend their whole lives being folded, bichare"
The soldier stared then slowly moved his chair away.
Across the room, Maahir pretended he hadn't heard that unfortunately, pretending was becoming increasingly difficult.
Captain Syra looked up.
"Lieutenant Rathore."
Shaurya immediately straightened.
"Yes Mam"
"Do you have something useful to contribute?"
"No, mam."
"Then silence would be appreciated."
"Yes, mam."
Five seconds passed.
"Mam, technically silence is a contribution"
The room collectively held its breath, Maahir closed his eyes this was it.
This was how Shaurya would finally meet his end Captain Syra slowly removed her glasses.
A dangerous sign ( Bhaag ja Shaurya )
"Lieutenant."
"Yes, mam?"
"Outside."
The grin disappeared.
"Oh."
A few soldiers immediately looked down to hide their smiles even Maahir felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
For the next ten minutes, peace finally returned to the briefing room, miracle right?
Once the meeting ended, officers began moving toward the vehicles assigned for reconnaissance duties.
The operation itself wasn't highly dangerous at least not yet.
Their task was primarily investigation and surveillance ,several villages in the region needed to be visited.
Information needed verification,movement patterns needed monitoring.
It was routine work but routine work often became important work and everyone knew it.
Outside, the morning sun was already climbing higher,Maahir adjusted the strap of his gear and looked around the camp.
Mirzapur was different from Banaras it was less crowded and less noisy.
The surrounding landscape consisted of forests, rocky hills, winding roads, and scattered villages.
Beautiful but also difficult terrain,the kind that demanded caution.
"Good morning, sunshine."
Maahir didn't even need to turn around.
"Good morning, Shaurya."
"Tumhe kaise pta mai hi hu"
"Itne pyari vaani or kon bol skta hai"
Shaurya looked pleased.
"A fair point."
Maahir glanced at him.
"How long were you outside?"
"Twenty three minutes."
"Punishment?"
"Character development."
Maahir sighed some people simply couldn't be helped.
A few feet away, Captain Syra stepped out of the command tent while reviewing notes.
Immediately, Shaurya's attention shifted like a sunflower tracking sunlight.
Maahir noticed of course he noticed when everyone noticed.
The entire unit probably noticed,Captain Syra looked up briefly.
"Lieutenant Rathore."
His grin returned instantly.
"Ji"
"The vehicles leave in five minutes."
"Yes, mam."
"And try not to get lost."
Shaurya placed a hand over his heart.
"You wound me."
Captain Syra walked away without another word.
"Did you hear that?" Shaurya whispered dramatically.
Maahir already regretted asking.
"Hear what?"
"She worries about me."
"No."
"She literally told me not to get lost."
"Because you've gotten lost before."
"That's not the point."
"It is exactly the point."
Shaurya ignored reality completely as usual,the sound of engines starting filled the air.
Soldiers climbed into vehicles,maps were checked weapons inspected ,the routes confirmed.
Another day of duty awaited them and another day of responsibilities and as the convoy prepared to move deeper into Mirzapur district, none of them knew that somewhere among the countless villages ahead fate had already begun arranging another meeting that would change far more than any mission ever could.
โข The convoy had stopped for a short break before heading further into Mirzapur.
Most officers had stepped out to stretch their legs ,Captain Syra Kapoor, however, remained exactly where she was working as usual.
Meanwhile, several feet away, Lieutenant Shaurya Rathore was pretending to check equipment while actually doing absolutely nothing useful.
A normal day, a phone suddenly vibrated.
A video call and the screen displayed:
Pihu Kapoor
Shaurya blinked then he blinked again.
Why was Captain Syra's sister calling him?curiosity won and he accepted the call.
The moment the screen connected, Pihu's face appeared.
Behind her, Syra was sitting on a sofa reading something.
Completely unaware.
"HELLO LIEUTENANT!"
Several nearby soldiers turned around.
Shaurya immediately lowered the volume.
"Why are you shouting?"
"Why are you whispering?"
"Because unlike you, I enjoy living."
Pihu laughed then suddenly the camera moved.
For a brief moment, Syra looked up from her file and she smiled a small one barely there gone within seconds but Shaurya saw it.
The poor man froze completely.
Pihu frowned.
"Hello?"
No response.
"Hello?"
still nothing the Lieutenant had left the chat mentally.
Meanwhile inside his head there was music and lots of music.
A wedding mandap ,flower decorations.
Even a horse and sherwani and let me tell you worse Syra Kapoor not the rude and cold Captain but shy and smiling syra Kapoor was walking toward him in slow motion.
Then somehow the scene skipped ahead a house with pretty garden and two children running around.
One tiny girl holding toy medals and a little boy dramatically saluting him.
"Papa!"
"Dad!"
"Lieutenant Rathore?" the fantasy continued.
Family vacations, anniversaries matching coffee mugs oh yeah even golden retrievers.
Three grandchildren, a retirement home.
growing old together Woah! full seventy years of imaginary married life completed in approximately twelve seconds.
"Lieutenant?"a voice interrupted again
"SHAURYA!"the voice finally pulled him back to reality.
The man blinked, pihu was staring. confused from the screen still slightly entertained.
"What happened?"Shaurya looked around.
Trying to remember what year it was.
"What?"
"You disappeared."
"No."
"You absolutely did."
"No."
"Your eyes were literally unfocused."
"Military thinking"
Pihu narrowed her eyes.
"You're lying."
Shaurya ignored that instead he pointed dramatically towards syra
"Wait."
"What?"
"Your sister smiled."
Pihu looked delighted.
"Oh."
"You saw it too?"
"Yes."
"She smiled."
"To 32 daant hai unke 2-4 dikha denge to kuch nhi hojayega"
"Huh,okay"
Shaurya shook his head.
"I know your secret" pihu looked thoughtful and then suddenly gasped.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You like my sister."
The Lieutenant immediately started coughing violently nearby soldiers looked concerned one handed him a water bottle and another moved away before the chaos spread.
"WHAT?"
Pihu looked extremely pleased.
"I knew it."
"You knew nothing."
"I absolutely knew it."
"I do not like your sister."
Pihu's expression screamed liar and a dangerous smile appeared on her face.
"You know.."
"What?"
"Di talks about you."
The world stopped again and shaurya froze
"Excuse me?"
Pihu nodded casually.
"Yes"
The Lieutenant leaned closer.
"She does?"
"Yes"
"Captain Syra Kapoor?"
"Yes"
"Talks about me?"
"Yes"
The grin slowly returned brighter than before,the soldiers nearby immediately noticed meanwhile Shaurya was already floating somewhere above the clouds.
"Ninth floor."
"What?"
"I mean ninth cloud."
Pihu burst out laughing.
"You're unbelievable."
"No, continue."
"What?"
"What does she say?"
Pihu thought for a moment then smiled sweetly.
"Oh, mostly things like-"
Before she could finish, another voice appeared from behind.
"Pihu."
Both of them froze ,the camera slowly turned captain Syra Kapoor stood there with arms crossed and unreadable expression
Danger level: maximum.
Pihu immediately looked away,shaurya suddenly remembered every mistake he had ever made.
"Kya ho raha hai yaha"Syra looked at the screen then at her sister and then back at the Shaurya
"Shouldn't you be studying?"Pihu immediately disconnected the call the screen went black and syra too left
A soldier beside Shaurya finally spoke.
"What happened, Lieutenant?"
Shaurya stared at the dark screen a dreamy smile still on his face.
Then he sighed dramatically.
"I think my future just called me."
The soldier looked horrified.
Across the parking area, Maahir Malhotra happened to walk past at that exact moment one look at Shaurya's expression and he already knew the Lieutenant had done something stupid again and somehow the journey wasn't even halfway over yet wait
Maahir forgot his things again and how he had to go again , he found out that the jeep is parked nearby the road now and he started going towards there
The roadside stop was far busier than anyone had expected,tourist buses occupied half the parking area.
Families moved between food stalls children ran around with ice creams vendors shouted from every direction. and somewhere in the middle of all that chaos fate decided to have fun.
Maahir stepped out of the military vehicle after collecting his things around him he saw soldiers dispersed in different directions.
Some headed for tea others for snacks and few simply wanted to walk around.
Maahir adjusted the strap of his bag the same bag that still contained Sarah's diary.
The diary remained untouched he had never opened it not once because despite his curiosity, it felt wrong it belonged to her and one way or another, he intended to return it lost in thought, he began walking across the crowded area.
Then suddenly something familiar caught his attention.
A girl standing near a flower stall her back facing him she was in simple white kurta her long braid was adding charm to the look
A cloth bag hanging from her shoulder for a moment, Maahir froze.
The figure looked familiar ,dangerously familiar ,his eyes narrowed slightly.
No it couldn't be.
Could it? he crowd shifted and the girl turned slightly not enough for him to see her face but enough for recognition to spark.
Sarah the Stranger
His heartbeat stumbled unexpectedly what was she doing here without even realizing it, he took a step forward.
Then another the diary instantly came to mind.
Finally he could return it,after all the coincidences of Assi Ghat and the rickshaw.
Maybe fate had finally decided to make things easier, a small smile appeared on his face without even realizing and he started walking toward her.
Meanwhile Sarah felt exhausted the journey had taken more out of her than expected,even standing for too long felt tiring.
"Beta, phool le lo havan me chadhane ko" Mrs Meera Sharma handed her a list.
Sarah nodded absent mindedly,the market around her buzzed with noise yet somehow she wasn't paying attention.
Her mind remained occupied by one thing,her diary thri missing diary and big disaster
The end of her social life if anyone read it a sigh escaped her lips please let nobody find it
A sudden gust of wind interrupted her thoughts,the breeze arrived without warning strong enough to send loose flower petals dancing through the air.
and strong enough to pull at her dupatta.
Before Sarah could react the fabric slipped from her shoulder and flew away.
"What-"her eyes widened and the dupatta floated across the road landing several feet away.
At the exact moment Maahir reached the spot where she had been standing he instinctively bent down and picked it up.
For a second he simply stared at the soft fabric in his hands then he looked up.
Searching for its owner , a ridiculous thought crossed his mind.
A sign maybe? Or a coincidence definitely yet somehow it made him smile.
Across the road, Sarah finally noticed where the dupatta had gone her gaze followed it.
For a brief second she could've sworn someone was standing there holding it.
Someone tall and familiar and suddenly a loud bus suddenly pulled into the road.
completely blocking the view its massive frame cut through the space between them
The atmosphere changed, horn blaring the assengers shouting and ust rising everywhere.
The world disappeared behind metal and glass maahir stopped walking waiting for the bus to pass.
On the other side, Sarah did the same for a strange moment, both found themselves staring toward the obstruction as if expecting something or someone.
Then-"Sarah!"
Her mother's voice snapped her out of it.
"Beta, chalo!"
"We're leaving!" sarah blinked the feeling vanished just like that
"Aayi mumma"she quickly adjusted her bag and took one last glance toward the road then followed her family.
By the time the bus finally moved away.. she was gone completely lost among dozens of people heading toward the parking area Maahir stared at the empty space confused,disappointed and strangely affected.
For a moment he genuinely thought he'd found her the dupatta remained in his hands a small reminder that she had been there.
Just seconds ago,close enough to reach yet somehow still out of reach.
"Lieutenant Maahir" a voice called from behind shaurya was there for him
"Convoy's moving!"Maahir looked one final time toward the crowd.
Nothing, there was no sign of her with a quiet sigh, he folded the dupatta carefully then placed it inside his bag right beside the diary two forgotten things belonging to the same girl a
A girl who somehow kept appearing in his life only to disappear again and as the convoy prepared to leave, Maahir
couldn't help wondering whether fate was teasing him or simply taking its time.
Meanwhile, sitting inside the Sharma family's vehicle, Sarah rested her head against the window.
The travel fatigue was beginning to catch up with her her eyes slowly drifted toward the sky outside and for some reason. a strange feeling lingered in her chest as if she had almost met someone almost but not quite.
The thought made no sense so she ignored it unaware that only a few minutes earlier, on the opposite side of a crowded road the owner of her missing diary had been searching for her.
- ๐๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ -
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