Pehle Pyaar Wali Shaadi
The Boy on the Balcony!
There was something about the summer sky in Sheherpur.. something so blue, it almost looked like Anaya Sharma’s heart every time she peeked at the boy on the balcony.
It had started two weeks ago.
Vihaan Arora had shifted to the house opposite hers with his younger brother Aarav and their mother, Naina Aunty. Their arrival wasn’t quiet. Sunita Sharma had already whispered about it to the neighborhood ladies before the men even lifted the second suitcase.
Sunita Sharma (Anaya’s mother)
Arora log wapas aaye hain! Bade sanskaari hain. Or unka beta, Vihaan, toh bada shareef dikhta hai.
(Arora's family came back! They are very cultural and their son, Vihaan, looks so noble.)
And Anaya… she had simply nodded. Until she saw him.
It was a Wednesday afternoon. Anaya was upstairs, pretending to fold clothes, but mostly staring outside the window, eyes resting on the balcony opposite. Vihaan stood there, a glass of chai in hand, white kurta loose over his frame, hair still wet from a shower.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Bas ek nazar…
(Just one Glance…)
Their eyes met for a fraction.
That was it. One glance. The kind where time stops, stomachs flutter, and words lose meaning.
He didn’t smile. Just blinked and looked away.
She lost her balance and nearly dropped her mother’s favourite bedsheet.
Sunita Sharma (Anaya’s mother)
Yeh ladki ab din bhar chhat pe kya karti rehti hai? (Sunita muttered as she walked past)
Sunita Sharma (Anaya’s mother)
Pata nahi kya sochti rehti hai.
Anaya quickly folded the sheet, her cheeks crimson. Riddhi, her younger sister, caught the moment and smirked.
Riddhi Sharma (Anaya’s little sister)
Ohooo… balcony ke Romeo ko dekh rahi thi kya?
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Shut up, Riddhi! (Anaya threw a cushion, missing her by inches)
Riddhi danced away, singing.
Riddhi Sharma (Anaya’s little sister)
🎶 Anaya ka pehla pyaar, ek dum balcony ke paar… 🎶
In the evening, the Aroras were invited over for chai. Sunita Aunty had made it look accidental.
Sunita Sharma (Anaya’s mother)
Naina ji, waise bhi hum padosi hain, ek cup chai toh banti hai!
Naina Arora (Vihaan’s mother)
Aree ji jarur.. (she smiles softly)
Anaya wore her yellow suit. Not because of Vihaan. Not at all. Okay… maybe just a little.
She entered the living room carrying the tray of samosas when she heard his voice for the first time.
Vihaan Arora (ML)
Thank you, Aunty! (Soft. Deep. Polite)
Anaya’s hands trembled slightly, the tray tilting dangerously. Ramesh Sharma took it from her with a smile.
Ramesh Sharma (Anaya’s father)
Beta, sambhal ke.
Vihaan looked up at her, directly this time. And this time, he smiled.
Across the room, Aarav whispered something to Vihaan. Both brothers chuckled.
Mishti, Anaya’s best friend, arrived right on cue and pulled her aside.
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Yeh Vihaan toh bilkul film hero lagta hai, no?
Anaya Sharma (FL)
I don’t know… (Anaya said, even though she definitely did)
Later that night, while helping her mother with the dishes, Anaya caught herself smiling for no reason.
Sunita Sharma (Anaya’s mother)
Kya hua, choti? Sapno mein ghoom rahi hai kya? (she noticed)
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Nahi toh! (she blinked)
But Riddhi, from the other room, yelled.
Riddhi Sharma (Anaya’s little sister)
Anaya balcony waale ke liye love letter likhne waali hai!
Anaya Sharma (FL)
RIDHHIIIII! 😳 (her eyes widen)
In the Arora household, Aarav nudged his elder brother.
Aarav Arora (Vihaan’s younger brother)
She’s cute. You noticed, right?
Vihaan Arora (ML)
Who? (Vihaan gave him a side glance)
Aarav Arora (Vihaan’s younger brother)
Oh please. Don’t pretend you didn’t look at her like she was the full moon.
Vihaan rolled his eyes but… he didn’t deny it.
That night, under the fairy lights on her bedroom wall, Anaya opened her diary.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Dear Vihaan,
You don’t know me. But today, when our eyes met… something moved in me. I don’t know what it means yet, but I hope I find out. Slowly. Sweetly. Without scaring it away.
Your secret admirer,
– A
She tore the page out and slipped it under her pillow.
Just in case love needed a little encouragement.
Window Diaries!
Love sometimes blooms in the pages we never show.
The monsoon clouds hovered over Sheherpur that afternoon. Everything smelled like wet mud and jasmine. The kind of weather that makes you want to sit by the window, hold a cup of chai, and… think about him.
Anaya Sharma sat by her bedroom window, wearing her favorite lavender kurti, her long hair tied in a loose braid, pen twirling between her fingers.
Across the narrow street, Vihaan stepped out on his balcony again, this time wearing a grey hoodie. He had a book in one hand and a quiet expression on his face. Anaya froze.
Her diary was already open. The pages smelled like ink, memories, and a thousand heartbeats waiting to spill out.
Sunita Sharma (Anaya’s mother)
Choti! (her mother’s voice echoed from downstairs)
Sunita Sharma (Anaya’s mother)
Chai leke aana, guests aaye hain!
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Coming, Ma! (Anaya quickly closed her diary and peeked once more at the boy across the street. He had gone back inside. She sighed)
That evening, after helping Sunita Sharma with tea and snacks, Anaya returned to her room. Riddhi was on the floor painting her nails.
Riddhi Sharma (Anaya’s little sister)
You’re glowing again. (she teased)
Riddhi Sharma (Anaya’s little sister)
Vihaan-ji spotted kya tumhe?
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Shut up, Riddhi. (she rolled her eyes)
Later, under the soft yellow glow of her bedside lamp, she opened her diary again and let her heart spill.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Dear Vihaan,
Today, you were wearing grey. You looked like calm rain.
I wonder what you were reading. Was it poetry? Something tragic? Romantic?
Sometimes I imagine you writing something too. Something meant for me. Something that will make my heart pause, then race.
I know you don’t even know I exist like that. But still, every time you look up, my day gets prettier.
Yours (secretly),
– A
She didn’t tear the page out. Instead, she flipped to the next one and wrote Letter #2 on the top.
The next few days, her little ritual began. Every morning, she’d look at Vihaan’s balcony. If he was there, she smiled. If he wasn’t, she waited. Every evening, she wrote a letter she’d never send.
Aarav, younger and much more observant than he pretended to be, nudged Vihaan one evening.
Aarav Arora (Vihaan’s younger brother)
Bhai, why do you keep going to the balcony these days?
Vihaan Arora (ML)
No reasons..
Aarav Arora (Vihaan’s younger brother)
Hmm. (Aarav leaned beside him)
Aarav Arora (Vihaan’s younger brother)
You know Anaya stares at you every morning, right?
Aarav Arora (Vihaan’s younger brother)
She’s cute.
Vihaan Arora (ML)
She’s our neighbour.
Aarav Arora (Vihaan’s younger brother)
And you’re single. 😏
Vihaan cracked a rare half-smile.
Vihaan Arora (ML)
You’re watching too many movies.
But that night, he stood a little longer by the railing, hoping to catch her looking. And she did.. cheeks red, diary in lap, pretending to read.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
😳💓 (She quickly looked away)
Vihaan Arora (ML)
(He didn’t)
Bedroom At Night!
The ceiling fan spun above lazily, creating a soft, hypnotic rhythm in the room. Anaya lay sideways on her bed, hugging a pillow close to her chest. Her fairy lights flickered gently across the walls, casting warm little shadows of her books, soft toys, and the pastel curtains that danced faintly with the night breeze.
The diary sat next to her. Closed.
For the first time this week. Her phone buzzed beside her.
She picked up without even saying hello. Mishti’s voice came through like a warm blanket.
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Why do I feel like someone’s being very dramatic tonight?
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Because I am!! (Anaya groaned softly, pressing the pillow tighter)
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Vihaan, right? (Mishti chuckled)
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
You didn’t write today? (Mishti continued gently)
Anaya turned on her back and stared at the ceiling.
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Why?
Anaya Sharma (FL)
…because I feel stupid.
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Why stupid?
Anaya Sharma (FL)
(Anaya’s voice dropped, softer than a whisper)
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Because he doesn’t even know I exist, Mishu… I write these letters like a heroine in some vintage film. And he’s just… out there, living life, probably not even sparing me a second glance.
She sat up slowly, pulling the diary into her lap, running her fingers over the cover.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Today papa said his family is looking for rishtas.
That word felt like a rock dropped into still water. Rishta. So full of weight. So final. So painful.
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
(Mishti stayed quiet for a moment then..)
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
And that hurt?
Anaya nodded, though Mishti couldn’t see it.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Yes. And I don’t even know why it hurt so much. I mean, he’s not mine. I’ve never spoken to him. He’s not my boyfriend or anything. But— (She choked a little on her own words, tears suddenly threatening her lashes)
Anaya Sharma (FL)
But I liked thinking maybe. You know? Maybe one day he’d notice me. Maybe one day our stories would cross. Maybe one day these letters would be real.
The silence between them was soft, understanding.
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Anu… (Mishti said gently)
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
You’re not silly. You’re just in love for the first time. That’s supposed to feel magical. Even if it’s one-sided.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
(Anaya sniffled and chuckled)
Anaya Sharma (FL)
It’s stupidly magical.
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Stupid and magical.. the best kind. (Mishti said)
There was a pause. A long breath.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
I just… wish he’d read one of my letters. Just one. So he’d know. (she whispered)
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Then send one. (Mishti’s voice dropped to a playful whisper)
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Nooo!! (Anaya said dramatically, hugging her pillow like it was Vihaan)
Anaya Sharma (FL)
What if he laughs? What if he tells his brother? What if his mom reads it and shows it to my mom and then I’m banned from ever stepping on my balcony again?!
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
Okay, okay~ (Mishti giggled)
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
You can keep them for now. But don’t stop writing, Anu. Those letters… they’re your heart. Don’t silence it.
Anaya looked down at her diary and slowly opened to a blank page. The smell of paper felt oddly comforting.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
You’re the best, Mishu. (she smiled)
Mishti (Anaya’s best friend)
I know. Now go pour your heart out again.
As the call ended, Anaya pulled her blanket over her legs, took her pen, and began to write.. tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, but a small hopeful spark flickering in her chest.
Anaya Sharma (FL)
Letter #5
Dear Vihaan,
Today I didn’t write you a letter at first. I tried to stay away from this diary, from the words, from the feelings that won’t go away.
But then my best friend reminded me that even silence has a voice. And mine wants to be heard.
You don’t know me. I’m just a girl you’ve probably never noticed. But every time you walk to your balcony, I see someone who looks like peace.
Maybe you’ll marry someone soon. Maybe you’ll never know how someone across the street thought of you as her poetry. But if one day, even by accident, you read this.. just know someone quietly fell for you through raindrops and glances.
Yours,
– A
She closed the diary, placed it under her pillow, and turned off the lamp. In the dark, her heart beat a little lighter. A little braver.
Maybe tomorrow she’d smile at him.
Maybe tomorrow he’d smile back.
And maybe.. just maybe.. these letters were the beginning of something real.
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