1.

The Sun rose over the Lucknow sky like it always did- gentle and unbothered. But something about this morning felt different like the sky itself knew that I was being shipped off as an Amazon package labelled with "Handle with emotional care".

I stared at my room. The walls -once plastered chaos, which were filled with essence of joy, my Polaroids, flicker of memories now looked clean. Like they had already forgotten me.Bags are packed and lined like obedient soldiers beside my bedroom door.

I didn't cry. That wasn't my style.

Instead I smirked at the mirror. Let's go break break some things in Mumbai. Shall we?

My parents, ofcourse they had different plans. According to them I was going to Mumbai to become Doctor or whatever noble profession that fits right in both society's approval and matrimonial biodata. Commerce, business, My dreams Pfft. Apparently Ambition is the only noble that fits into a formulaic spreadsheet of Indian parenthood.

But I had scored 86% in 10th board. Not enough to win trophies but not a disgrace either.I was proud. But pride didn't count in front of percentile.

They didn't ask me if I wanted to move in with Vidhaan bhaiya. They told me. And just like that I was folded like a paper crane to into his neatly organised Mumbai apartment.

Vidhaan bhaiya stood outside the airport terminal, tall, lean dressed in monochrome like he always belonged to a law firm even if he is going to pick up his sister. He waved with a kind of restraint that made me roll my eyes.

"Hello Miss Doctor" he teased as he took my duffel bag.

I stuck my tongue out. "Hello Mr. Overachiever"

He laughed. "So How's it feels leaving your kingdom of chaos behind?"

"Like I am entering a Dictatorship"

The ride from airport to his apartment was smooth, a kind of calm that makes you nervous. I stared out the window at the sea of concrete and ambition. Mumbai was everything Lucknow wasn't - louder, faster and more indifferent.

When the elevator dinged open at 12th floor of glossy apartment complex. I could already feel my heart racing to its highest peak as it will explode out of my ribcage.

I knocked. The door swung open.

And there she was.

Myra

Dressed in black oversized tee and shorts, eyes wide like she had been staring at this door since forever.

"You". She screamed.

"Me". I screamed back.

She pulled me like a tornado, arms wrapped around me tight. Her scent still that comforting mix of lavender and old books.

"You didn't tell me you were living here!" I said.

"Surprise Bitch" We are roommates now.

After ordering pizzas, binge watching Emily in Paris. We spent the entire night on her bed, lights off, fairy lights flickering. Talking about everything and nothing -Boys, dreams, her sudden interest in crime podcasts, my failed flirting with destiny, crushes we are too scared to confess, the physics paper that had nearly killed us and the fictional character who kept us alive.

I didn't noticed the closed door across the hall. Didn't knew that this apartment had one occupant.

Didn't feel the shadow that was yet to fall on my carefully constructed chaos.

But tonight I was safe in nostalgia. Curled up in the past, untouched by the storm the future was quietly preparing.

And I slept. Unaware that tomorrow the door would open and every thread of my world would unravel beautifully.

Into the beginning of everything.

Into Between Us.