Destiny’s First Steps

 Chapter 3: Whispers Between Hearts

The village of Shivdara woke up slowly with the first golden rays of sunlight. Birds sang, temple bells rang softly, and somewhere—hearts were beginning to beat a little differently.

Arin sat by the window of his guest room, sketchbook in hand. He had drawn her again—Vaanika. That moment in the temple courtyard stayed in his mind like an unfinished song.

“Why does she feel… familiar?” he whispered to himself.

Down the street, Vaanika walked to the temple, holding a basket of flowers. Her mind should’ve been full of daily chores—but it wasn’t.

His voice… his eyes… something about him stayed with her.

“It’s nothing,” she told herself. “I don’t even know him.”

But the universe had its own plans.

That afternoon, near the village school, Vaanika was helping little kids with their poems when she noticed someone quietly watching from behind the old neem tree.

Arin.

He quickly looked away when their eyes met. Embarrassed.

Later, she caught him again—near the well, pretending to study some carvings.

She smiled softly. “You seem to be everywhere these days.”

He chuckled, stepping closer. “Maybe this village is smaller than I thought… or maybe you’re just everywhere I go.”

She looked down shyly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re not very good at hiding, you know.”

“I wasn’t trying to,” he said with a gentle smile.

Their eyes met for a moment longer this time. The world around them faded, as if time paused for a breath.

That evening, Arin walked beside Vaanika on the narrow path back from the fields.

“I heard you help at the temple every morning,” he said.

“Yes. Baba taught me that seva brings peace,” she replied.

“Your father?”

She nodded. “Veer Baba. He’s not my real father, but he’s everything to me.”

There was a pause. The air felt heavy… yet warm.

“You know,” Arin began, “you’re not like anyone I’ve met. You don’t say much, but… it feels like your silence speaks.”

She looked at him, surprised. “And you’re not like anyone I’ve met either. Most city people don’t care to listen.”

They laughed softly. A kind of peace settled between them.

Just then, the wind picked up. The peepal tree leaves rustled, and Vaanika’s dupatta flew lightly towards Arin. He caught it without a thought.

“Careful,” he said, handing it back.

Their fingers touched—briefly, but long enough for a strange warmth to flow between them.

Later that night, under the moonlight, Veer Baba sat in quiet prayer.

He opened his eyes, smiled to himself, and whispered to the stars:

“They don’t know it yet…

But some hearts are written together in the language of the wind and the stars.”

And somewhere inside both Arin and Vaanika… something had already begun to bloom.

To be continued...

New chapters every Friday! Stay tuned for more magic, love, and mystery.

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I would love to hear your thoughts—what did you feel while reading? What do you think will happen next?

With love,

The Author (Kridha)