Episode-1

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Chapter 1: The Boy Next Door

Aanya stepped out of the car, her sneakers making a soft crunching sound as they met the gravel driveway. The day was warm, the sky a soft mix of oranges and pinks as the sun began to dip lower, signaling the end of yet another summer day. Her family’s new home stood before her — a quaint, two-story house with cream-colored walls, its large windows reflecting the fading light. It looked small, comfortable, and like something out of a storybook.

Aanya took a deep breath. The smell of fresh paint and the promise of new beginnings filled her senses. The excitement of moving into a new house, a new city, was overshadowed only by the quiet uncertainty of starting over. New house, new neighborhood, new college, new faces.

But amidst all the newness, there was one thing that stood out.

The house next door.

It wasn’t too far, just a few paces away, but to Aanya, it felt like it belonged to another world. It was a place that seemed to hide a story — a story she had no access to, at least not yet. The soft clinking of wind chimes could be heard from there, and in the late evenings, the flicker of dim lights in the window suggested someone was always home.

“Go say hello to the neighbor,” her mother said, snapping Aanya out of her thoughts.

Aanya turned to her mother, a little reluctant. “I’ll do it later.”

Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Now. It’s only polite.”

With a resigned sigh, Aanya walked towards the neighboring house. She could already hear the rustling of leaves in the breeze, the occasional chirp of a bird. As she approached, she noticed a tall figure standing near the front gate of the house — a boy, holding a book in his hands, his face hidden behind the pages. His dark hair was slightly messy, and the way he held the book so intently suggested he was lost in the world between the pages.

Aanya felt an odd sense of curiosity tugging at her as she stood there, unsure whether to interrupt or just keep walking. But before she could decide, the boy lowered the book slightly and glanced up, his eyes meeting hers. There was a quietness in his gaze, something that immediately made her feel like she was intruding in a private world.

“Hi,” Aanya said, her voice a little uncertain. “I’m Aanya. We just moved in next door.”

The boy blinked, then smiled warmly, though a little shyly. “Oh, hey. I’m Arjun.” He hesitated for a moment before holding up the book, offering a small gesture of invitation. “You want to come in for a drink? My mom’s making tea.”

She wasn’t sure what it was, but something about him — his calmness, his gentle eyes — made her feel at ease. She nodded, following him into the house.

Inside, it was quiet, like stepping into a different world. The living room was cozy, filled with shelves of books and soft lighting. It smelled faintly of chai and something sweet. Arjun’s mother, a woman with warm eyes and a welcoming smile, greeted her with open arms.

“Are you new here, beta? Welcome!” She said as she ushered her inside, sitting her down on the couch. “Arjun, make sure to show her the guest room upstairs.”

Aanya blinked, surprised at how kind the woman was. “Thank you, aunty,” she replied.

Arjun seemed slightly uncomfortable with the attention, glancing at her before returning to the kitchen. He was quiet, yet there was something magnetic about him — something that made Aanya want to learn more.

While Aanya sat on the couch, trying to make conversation, Arjun moved about the house, helping his mother with things. The way he did everything so calmly, without any rush, was calming in itself. There was no pretense, no eagerness to impress. Just a boy who seemed to belong to the calm and steady rhythm of life.

After a few minutes, Arjun returned with two cups of tea, handing one to Aanya. The silence between them was easy, like a comfortable old sweater that fit perfectly. Aanya was starting to realize that this quiet boy was different from anyone she had met before.

“So, Aanya,” Arjun finally spoke, his voice soft. “What do you think of the place?”

She smiled. “It’s beautiful. I think I’m going to like it here.”

He nodded, his gaze flickering to the window where the fading sunlight spilled across the floor. “It grows on you,” he said quietly. “This place has a lot of stories, if you’re patient enough to listen.”

Aanya tilted her head slightly, intrigued. “Stories?”

“Mm-hmm,” Arjun said, setting his tea down. “Everything has a story, Aanya. If you look close enough.”

She didn’t know why, but that sentence lingered in her mind. Aanya didn’t know it then, but she had just met someone who, in his quiet way, was going to change the course of her life — someone whose story, like hers, was waiting to unfold.

Later that evening, lying in bed, Aanya opened her diary. She picked up the pen, her thoughts still swirling with the encounter. She began to write:

“Today, I met a boy with a calm demeanor and eyes that seem to hold a thousand stories. His name is Arjun, and he makes the world feel quieter just by being in it. I don’t know why, but something about him feels different. Like he’s a part of something bigger. Something I’m yet to understand.”

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