London 

The volleyball court buzzed with movement.

The sharp sound of the ball hitting palms echoed under the open sky. Students sat around the benches, some cheering, some pretending to study but clearly watching the game.

Austin jumped, served, and the ball flew across the net perfectly.

Sahera tried to return it — but missed the timing.

“Your wrist,” Austin said, stepping closer. “Don’t stiffen it. Relax. Let it flow.”

He stood behind her.

Too close.

He gently held her arm, adjusting the angle.

“Like this,” he murmured.

Sahera looked back at him.

Their eyes met for half a second longer than necessary.

The world around them softened.

“Okay coach,” she whispered, smiling.

Austin smirked. “Don’t distract me.”

She hit the ball again.

Perfect return.

“See?” he grinned. “You’re improving.”

She stepped closer, almost bumping into him. “Because I have a good teacher.”

Their shoulders brushed.

There it was.

That subtle electricity.

And just as the moment lingered—

“Ahem.”

Tara’s dramatic voice sliced through the air.

They both stepped apart instantly.

Tara stood with arms folded. Kevin beside her. Elena slightly behind.

“Austin,” Tara announced loudly, “if you both need privacy, we can arrange a room.”

Kevin gasped. “Tara! Why are you like this? They were just playing.”

“Playing?” Tara scoffed. “I’ve seen less tension in K-dramas.”

“Shut up, Twinkle Star,” Kevin shot back.

“Kevin you—”

And just like that, World War III began.

“You talk nonsense!”

“At least I don’t imagine romance everywhere!”

“You started it!”

Austin rubbed his forehead. “How do you both fight for hours without oxygen?”

Sahera laughed lightly. “Guys, class? Remember what’s next?”

That snapped them back.

Reality returned.

Sahera, Tara, and Kevin walked toward their building.

Austin and Elena headed toward the medical wing.

For a few steps, there was silence.

Then Elena spoke softly—

“Do I look beautiful in this green dress?”

Austin glanced at her quickly.

She looked nice. Simple. Elegant.

“You always look beautiful, Elena,” he replied casually. “Why are you asking suddenly? Come on, we’re late.”

And he walked ahead.

Simple sentence.

Normal tone.

But to Elena—

It felt like a festival of butterflies.

Her heart raced.

He said I look beautiful.

She hated how much that mattered.

She walked behind him, thoughts flooding her mind.

Why does my heart beat like this?

Why does it hurt when he stands close to Sahera?

She clenched her bag strap slightly.

Austin was everything.

Handsome.
Respectful.
Protective.
From a powerful family.

And she—

She was a scholarship student.

Her father had left when she was twelve.

Her mother ran a small florist shop in a narrow London street.

Every evening, her mother would say—

“Elena, never build your life around a man. Build yourself.”

Elena had promised she would.

She tried.

But the heart?

The heart doesn’t listen to promises.

She had told herself a hundred times—

He and I don’t match.

Different worlds.

Different backgrounds.

Different futures.

But every time Austin smiled at her…

Every time he casually said her name…

Something inside her melted.

She wanted to confess.

She wanted to say it out loud.

But what if she lost even this friendship?

What if he looked at her the way he looked at Sahera?

Her chest tightened.

Jealousy burned quietly — not loud, not dramatic — just deep.

She came out of her thoughts when Austin opened the classroom door.

“Coming?” he asked.

She forced a small smile.

“Yes.”

And walked in.

Carrying her unspoken feelings with her.

The classroom buzzed lazily before the professor entered.

Sahera sat between Tara and Kevin, flipping her pen absentmindedly. Tara was scrolling through something, and Kevin was pretending to study but clearly eavesdropping on everyone’s conversations.

The door opened.

Professor Williams walked in with a folder in hand and a suspicious smile.

That smile alone made the class straighten.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning, sir.”

He adjusted his glasses.

“I have an announcement.”

Instant silence.

“We have been selected for an international academic exposure program.”

The class froze.

Kevin blinked. “International?”

“Yes,” the professor continued, “a ten-day trip. You’ll be attending workshops, collaborative sessions, and cultural events.”

Tara grabbed Sahera’s arm.

“Where, sir?” someone shouted.

Professor Williams paused dramatically.

“Switzerland.”

For two seconds—

Silence.

Then the classroom exploded.

“What?!”
“No way!”
“Sir, are you serious?”

Tara stood up.

“SWITZERLAND I AM COMING!”

Kevin immediately cupped her mouth. “Shut up, gorilla! The whole building will hear you!”

She bit his hand.

“Ow! Are you mad?!”

“You called me gorilla!”

“You are behaving like one!”

“Kevin you—”

Round 357 of Tom and Jerry began.

Meanwhile, Sahera sat still.

Switzerland.

Ten days.

Her smile slowly faded into something softer.

“I’ve never gone that far from Papa… from Dadi… from Saransh,” she murmured.

Tara stopped fighting mid-argument.

“Stop being homesick already. We’re not migrating. It’s ten days.”

Kevin nodded. “Exactly. Ten days. Not ten years.”

Sahera shook her head slightly. “Papa is protective. I don’t think he’ll agree.”

Tara dramatically placed her hand on Sahera’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Me and Kevin are there.”

Kevin immediately pulled away. “When did I agree to babysit you?”

Tara gasped. “Excuse me? Aren’t we friends?”

“Nope,” Kevin said confidently. “We are enemies.”

He pointed at her.

“You are my enemy, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

Tara glared. “I swear one day I’ll—”

“But,” Kevin added casually, leaning back in his chair, “for Sahera… only she is my friend.”

Sahera smiled softly.

Tara pouted. “So I’m nothing?”

“You’re chaos,” Kevin replied.

“And you love it,” she shot back.

The professor tried to restore order. “Silence! Forms will be distributed. Those interested must submit parental consent by Friday.”

Parental consent.

That word echoed in Sahera’s head.

Switzerland.

The living room felt unusually serious.

Taniskh sat on the main sofa, back straight, hands clasped together.
Malini sat beside him, calm but observant.

In front of them stood three figures.

Sahera.

Tara.

Kevin.

Like students waiting outside a principal’s office.

Sahera inhaled slowly.

“Papa… I need to tell you something.”

Taniskh already sensed it.

“What is it?”

“There’s an academic trip… our university selected our class for an international program.”

“Where?” he asked immediately.

“Switzerland.”

The word barely left her mouth when—

“No.”

It was firm.

Immediate.

Absolute.

“No need to go. I will speak to your principal tomorrow.”

Sahera’s heart dropped.

“Papa—”

“She has never stayed alone,” Taniskh continued, voice steady but tense. “How can I send her to another country? For ten days?”

Tara stepped forward bravely.

“But uncle, Sahera wants to go.”

Taniskh looked at her gently but firmly. “Beta, wanting something and being ready for it are different.”

Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Uncle… we’ll be there.”

Taniskh raised an eyebrow.

Tara nudged Kevin hard.

“Yes yes, uncle!” Kevin said quickly. “Teachers are coming. Full supervision. And I’ll personally take care of Sahera.”

Tara added, “Me too! We won’t leave her alone for even a second.”

Taniskh looked at Sahera.

She wasn’t arguing.

She wasn’t stubborn.

She was just… hopeful.

“Papa,” she said softly, “it’s just ten days.”

His jaw tightened.

Ten days.

For him, even ten minutes felt long when she wasn’t home.

Malini finally spoke, her voice calm and wise.

“Taniskh… let her go.”

He looked at his mother.

“She is not a child anymore.”

“She has to see the world someday.”

He sighed deeply.

“I already lost Shree…” he muttered unconsciously.

The room fell quiet.

Malini placed her hand over his.

“You didn’t lose your children. Don’t hold them so tight that they feel afraid to fly.”

That hit him.

He looked at Sahera again.

She wasn’t asking for rebellion.

She was asking for trust.

After a long pause—

“Okay.”

All three of them froze.

“Okay,” he repeated.

“But listen carefully,” he added firmly. “If anything feels wrong… even slightly… call me. Immediately. Your papa will be there.”

Sahera’s eyes softened.

She walked toward him slowly.

Kneeling beside him, she held his hand in both of hers.

“Papa… nothing will happen.”

Her voice was warm.

“I’ll be careful. I promise.”

He squeezed her hand tightly.

“You are my heart, Sahera.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Tara and Kevin exchanged relieved glances behind her.

Mission successful.

Malini smiled gently.

But inside Taniskh’s heart…

There was still a strange uneasiness.

Like something far away had already begun moving.

Switzerland.

Ten days.

And destiny had already started preparing something none of them knew about.

Sahera sat cross-legged on her bed, books open, highlighter in hand.

The table lamp cast a soft golden glow across the room. Outside, the night was quiet.

A knock didn’t come.

The door just opened.

Saransh leaned against the frame, hands in pockets.

“I heard you’re going to Switzerland,” he said casually. “Impressive.”

She didn’t look up immediately.

“If you went to university instead of roaming around with your useless friends,” she replied calmly, “you could’ve gone too.”

He smirked faintly. “I don’t want to go to university just for a trip. You actually have to study there. And you know I hate books. They make me dizzy.”

That did it.

She shut her book.

“Our drugs don’t make you dizzy though, right?”

His jaw tightened instantly.

“I don’t do drugs, Sahera.”

“Really?” she stood up now. “Then what are you doing, Saransh? Racing cars at night? Lying to Papa? Skipping meals? What exactly are you doing?”

He stepped forward.

“Don’t talk to me like Papa does.”

“I’m not Papa,” she shot back. “But someone has to say something! You were good at music. Amazing at it. Why did you leave your classes?”

Silence.

“Why are you wasting your talent?” she continued, her voice cracking slightly. “You sing so well. You could make Papa proud. Make Dadi proud. Make me proud. Make Maa—”

“Shut up!”

His voice echoed against the walls.

The word hit her like a slap.

For a second, both of them froze.

He looked away first.

His eyes weren’t angry.

They were hurt.

“You don’t get it,” he muttered.

“Then make me get it!” she demanded softly.

But he had already turned away.

The door slammed hard behind him.

The sound vibrated through the room.

Sahera stood there.

Breathing heavily.

Then slowly…

Her anger melted into guilt.

She whispered to the empty room—

“I just don’t want to lose you too…”

Saransh stood alone in the dark.

Hands gripping the railing.

His breathing uneven.

Music.

He wasn’t reckless.

He was running.

From expectations.

From grief.

From being compared to Sahera.

He wiped his eyes roughly.

“I’m not useless…” he whispered to himself.

But he didn’t know how to prove it.