Nights in Kolkata always felt different to Arnab.
When the city slowly quieted down,
he felt like the whole world was hiding something—just like him.
Arnab sat on the rooftop, staring at the sky.
In his hand was an old letter.
From his mother.
She had written,
"Arnab,
if you ever meet someone who can turn your darkness into light,
never lose them."
Arnab sighed.
Because right now—
there was no one.
Then suddenly—
"Are you always this quiet?"
Arnab turned around.
The girl was standing there again.
White dress.
Hair dancing in the wind.
"You… came back?"
She smiled.
"I never really left."
That night marked the beginning of something strange.
And slowly—
Arnab began waiting.
Every night.
For midnight.
One Rainy Night
It was raining heavily.
Arnab thought Ira wouldn't come.
But suddenly—
he saw her standing at the edge of the rooftop.
Soaked in rain.
"Why are you standing in the rain?"
Ira whispered,
"I wanted to feel it again."
Arnab was confused.
"Feel it again?"
But she didn't answer.
Instead, Arnab placed his jacket on her shoulders.
Ira smiled softly.
"You're strange."
"Why?"
"Because you care about someone
you don't even fully know."
The Truth Slowly Appears
Days passed.
Stories were shared.
Silences became comfortable.
One night Arnab asked,
"Will you suddenly disappear from my life someday?"
Ira stayed quiet.
Then she said,
"Everyone disappears eventually."
"But I don't want you to."
For the first time—
tears appeared in her eyes.
"Neither do I."
The Final Nights
One night Ira looked weak.
Her hands were cold.
"What's wrong?"
"My time is running out."
Arnab froze.
"What do you mean?"
But deep down—
he already knew.
The Truth
Three days later—
Ira stopped coming.
Arnab searched.
And discovered the truth.
A girl had died in this building in 2008.
Her name was—
Ira Sen.
And somehow—
she had chosen him.
Their Last Meeting
That night she appeared again.
But faint.
Almost transparent.
"You know everything now."
Arnab whispered,
"Why did you choose me?"
Ira smiled.
"Because you saw me."
"Many people come here."
"But no one ever noticed me."
Arnab's voice broke.
"I don't want to lose you."
Ira gently held his hand.
"You won't lose me.
I'll just live somewhere else."
"Where?"
Ira looked up.
"At the sky."
And slowly—
she faded away.
One Year Later
Arnab still visits the rooftop.
But he is not lonely anymore.
Because he knows—
someone is still watching over him.
One night the wind whispered,
"Do you still look at the sky?"
Arnab smiled.
"Yes."
And one star in the sky—
shined a little brighter.