Chapter 2: The Girl by the River
That evening, Ayaan walked by the silent river. The water moved slowly, like it was thinking about where to go.
That's when he saw her.
She stood near the riverbank, wearing a blue sari, her hair dancing softly in the wind. In her hands was a sketchbook. She wasn't drawing the river. She was drawing the feeling of being alone without feeling lonely.
"Are you drawing the river?" Ayaan asked.
She smiled gently. "No. I draw people who are standing still inside."
Her name was Nira.
They walked together as the sky turned orange. Nira spoke little, but when she listened, Ayaan felt seen for the first time in years. Something quiet and beautiful began between them — not loud like fireworks, but soft like the first light of morning.