The Stranger I Never Knew But Felt

[Scene: Rathore Mansion – Morning]

Aarav Rathore wasn’t the kind of man who noticed people.

He noticed patterns, strategies, and enemies.

But today, there was one thing in his mind: HER.

The girl with wounded eyes and a soft voice.

The girl who didn’t flinch at his mafia tag or powerful gaze — because maybe… she had already seen worse.

Aarav (to himself):

"Who are you, bookstore girl?

And why do you look like you're trying to survive in a world that never wanted you to exist?"

[Scene: Aarav pacing in his study]

Vihaan (Leaning on the door):

“You’ve been restless since last night. What's going on, Bhai?”

Aarav:

“She worked at the old Oxford bookstore in Connaught Place(Rajiv Chowk). I need to know her name.”

Vihaan(Half-grinning):

"Finally, a girl managed to disturb the stone heart of Aarav Rathore. Not bad."

Aarav (serious):

"It's not about love, Vihaan. It's about something in her eyes. She looked like she forget how to ask for help."

Vihaan:

“So, what now?”

Aarav:

“I’ll go back there. I’ll find her.

Even if I don't speak a word—

I just need to know she's okay.”

[Scene shift: Meher’s home – Night]

Her father had broken a plate again.

Her mother had thrown her old kurta out of spite.

But tonight, it didn’t cut as deep.

Because her mind was still holding on to that fleeting moment…

That stranger…

Those eyes that didn’t judge but listened.

Meher (writing in her journal):

"He didn’t say much… but his silence was loud."

"And for the first time in years, someone saw me without trying to fix or break me."

[Meher's room – 01:30 AM]

She sits cross-legged, scribbling in her old story notebook.

The moonlight spills softly onto the page.

She begins to write a short story, the one she had never dared before…

✒️ Story Title: “The Man With Ash In His Eyes”

(A short story by Meher Sharma)

He wasn’t a prince.

He wasn’t kind, or soft-spoken, or even gentle.

But he was real.

Rough hands, tired eyes, and a heart that forgot how to be held.

He looked like war,

but spoke like peace.

And maybe… just maybe… if he looked at me again,

I would finally believe that not all storms are meant to destroy.

As tears pooled in her eyes, she smiled.

It felt silly.

But also safe.

[She flips the page and writes a Shayari about him]

💌 Meher’s Shayari (about Aarav, the unknown stranger) 💌

“Tum aaye toh zindagi mein ek naya raag utra,

Na aawaz di, na naam bataya, par dil se lag gaya.”

“Tumhari aankhon mein jo dard tha,

Wahi mere zakhmon ka humraaz ban gaya.”

“Ek anjaan mulaqat thi aur woh bhi beet gaya,

Par uss pal ne meri saari tanhaayi se baat kar liya.”

["When you came into my life, a new melody began to play.

You neither called out to me, nor told me your name, yet you touched my soul."

"The pain in your eyes…

became the companion of my own wounds."

"It was a meeting with a stranger,

but in that one moment… you spoke to all of my loneliness."]

[Scene: Aarav reaches the bookstore the next day]

It’s closed.

Half-shuttered. The old owner is sweeping the front.

Aarav (urgently):

“The girl who worked here… dainty, long black braid, quiet eyes. Where is she?”

Owner (curious):

“Meher? She left early yesterday. She didn’t say anything.”

Aarav (thinking):

Meher.

Even her name sounds like poetry💓.

Owner:

“Why do you ask, Beta?”

Aarav (calmly):

“Because the world doesn’t deserve to break someone like her again.”

[Scene: Vihaan watching from the car nearby]

Vihaan (texting Aarav):

"Bhai. Don’t just save her. Heal her."

[Scene: Meher at her college – she bumps into a girl]

Girl:

“Hey! You dropped your notebook—wait…

This Shayari…

Is this yours?!”

Meher (nervously):

“Yes… I just… I write for myself.”

Girl (genuinely moved):

"This is beautiful. Ohh what's your name? Meher(her name written in the notebook). You should publish this!"😍

Meher (softly):

“I’m not confident enough.”

[Meanwhile, Aarav asks his PA to look into local colleges for literature students named Meher.]

Aarav (to himself):

“I don't know why I care.

But if someone like her exists in this broken world,

I won’t let her vanish without knowing—

someone noticed.”

[Scene: Night – Meher finishes her story and rereads the Shayari]

She places the notebook close to her heart❤️.

Meher (to herself):

“I don’t know your name…

But thank you…

For not seeing me as invisible.”

To be continued…❤️❤️

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