"Ek ajnabi haseena se
yun mulakat ho gayi"

[AUTHOR'S POV]

Ruturaj walked through the familiar streets of his colony, taking in the sights and sounds of the neighborhood. It was a typical summer evening, with the sun beginning to set and the air filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

As he turned a corner, he noticed the same girl standing outside a house. She was arranging some art supplies on a table, her dark hair tied up in a ponytail. Ruturaj couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked, with her bright smile and sparkling eyes.

He felt a sudden jolt of attraction all over again, but quickly pushed the feeling aside. He didn't even know who this girl was, and he wasn't about to start staring at her like a creep.

Ruturaj continued walking, but his eyes kept drifting back to the girl. He noticed that she seemed to be some kind of artist, with paints and canvases scattered around her. He wondered what kind of art she liked to create.

As he approached his own house, Ruturaj's mother called out to him from the balcony. "Rutu, beta! Come upstairs and have some snacks."

Ruturaj smiled and waved at his mother, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He was glad to be home, and he was looking forward to spending some quality time with his family.

But as he climbed the stairs, Ruturaj's mind kept wandering back to the mysterious girl. Who was she? What was her name? And what was she doing in his colony?

He pushed the questions aside and focused on enjoying his evening with his family. But he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had actually encountered someone special.

The next few days, Ruturaj found himself walking through the colony again and again, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl. He didn't know why he was so drawn to her, but he couldn't help himself.

As he walked, he noticed that the girl was walking in the same direction as him. He felt a sense of excitement and nervousness, and he wondered if he should try to talk to her.

"Hi," the girl said, as she walked by.

Ruturaj smiled, feeling a bit shy. "Hey!"

She walked a few more steps before turning back to him. "I've seen you around, haven't I?"

Ruturaj nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Yeah, I live around here."

She smiled. "I'm new here. I teach at the local school."

Ruturaj's heart skipped a beat. "Oh. Nice to meet you."

Before Ruturaj could escalate the conversation any further, he was interrupted by Eshant who approached him with his friends. Rutu sighed and gave a small smile to her who returned it with the same fondness before walking away.

"Rutu," Eshant with his friends approached Rutu who sighed and turned his attention towards them.

"Kya hua?" Rutu asked, his voice soft but carrying weight of irritation.

[What happened?]

Eshant noticing his demeanor, murmured softly. "Pehle tu bata, tujhe kya hua? Why so lost again?"

[First, you tell]

"Nothing, I told you already," Rutu said, his tone defensive.

"Like I would buy that?" Eshant said, his voice soft yet firm.

"Eshant, it's nothing, I swear," Rutu replied, his eyes darting in the direction she walked away and vanished.

"You can tell me anything, Rutu. You know that right?" Eshant tried again.

"It's nothing, just...I don't know, I've been feeling a bit distracted lately," Ruturaj said, trying to downplay his emotions.

Eshant raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Distracted? What's going on, yar? You're not still worried about the tournament, are you?"

Ruturaj shook his head, feeling a bit self-conscious. "No, it's not that. I just...I saw this girl, and I couldn't help but notice her."

Eshant's eyes lit up with excitement. "Which girl? Tell me more! Is she from our colony or somewhere else?"

Ruturaj smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I don't know her name, but she's really beautiful. And she seems so...kind and gentle. I've seen her around the colony a few times, and I just can't stop thinking about her."

Eshant grinned mischievously. "I think I know who you might be talking about. There's a new teacher at the local school. She's really pretty, and all the guys are talking about her."

Ruturaj's eyes widened with interest. "Really? Do you know her name?"

Eshant shrugged. "I don't know, but I can try to find out. So, what's the plan, yar? Are you going to try to talk to her?"

"I...uh..I mean I can try," Rutu said trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

Eshant leaned in, a conspiratorial look on his face. "I can help you get introduced to her, if you want. My cousin's sister is in her class, so I can get the scoop on her."

Ruturaj's heart skipped a beat at the prospect of meeting the mysterious girl. "Really? That would be amazing, thanks."

Eshant grinned. "No problem, yar. I'll get the details and you can try your luck."

As they continued to chat, Ruturaj couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. He had no idea what the future held, but he was eager to find out.

Ruturaj's thoughts lingered on the mysterious girl long after he parted ways with Eshant.

As he drifted off to sleep that night, Ruturaj's mind was filled with visions of the girl's bright smile and sparkling eyes. He knew that he had to find a way to meet her, to talk to her, to get to know her better. Little did he know, their paths would cross again soon, and their lives would become forever entwined.

——————

Just a quick question, what would you guys prefer, long and irregular updates or does the current pattern works?