Time - 9:42 AM

Mist curls gently around the hills. The sun is just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the deodar trees. Birds chirp softly in the distance. The fog reveals a majestic wooden cottage perched on a hillside — like something out of a dream. The house has large windows, a sloping red roof, and a small garden overflowing with colorful Himalayan flowers. White smoke rises lazily from the chimney, blending into the morning mist. Wind chimes tinkle softly as a breeze brushes past the verandah. Everything is serene, peaceful — almost magical.

Soft morning light filters in through pale curtains. The room is warm, filled with cozy wooden furniture, old books, and a worn guitar resting in a corner. A boy, lies fast asleep buried under a mess of blankets. The alarm had been ringing for thirty full minutes. He hadn’t stirred. Then — his phone buzzed aggressively. This time, it wasn’t the alarm. It was a call.

CALL SCREEN: Boss (Office)

He groaned, blindly reaching for the phone.

He groggily spoke “Ugh… Hello?”

BOSS (stern, over the phone) “Harsh! Where the hell are you? It’s almost 10! Don’t tell me you forgot we had a team call this morning AND client briefing?”

Harsh sat up straight, eyes wide now, panic crashing over his still-sleepy face.

Harsh “Sir—I—I thought it was tomorrow! No—wait—I set the wrong alarm. I swear it won’t happen again!”

BOSS (angry but controlled) “Harsh, you’ve been late twice this week. I covered for you last time. But if you’re not here in thirty minutes, I’m reporting this. Grow up, man. This is a job, not college!”

Harsh jumped out of bed. “Yes, sir! I’m leaving now. Twenty-five minutes, promise!”

BOSS (sighing) “Good. Because I’m not giving you another warning.”

Call ends.

Harsh to himself, muttering while pulling on jeans “Great. Just great. First no milk for tea, now I might lose my job. Fantastic start.”

He splashed water on his face, grabbed a crumpled shirt, and shoved his files into his bag. No breakfast. No shave. He didn’t have time. He slammed the front door behind him, hopping into his dark green jeep — his only prized possession — and turned the keys hard.

Harsh (to the jeep) “Come on, baby. Don’t fail me today.”

The engine groaned… then roared to life. He threw it into gear and shot off down the narrow lane toward Shimla’s city center.

SAME TIME – DIFFERENT STREET

Sia wrapped her shawl around her tightly, clutching the grocery list in one hand and Swara’s worn-out cloth bag in the other. The streets were busy as usual — vendors calling out, the smell of fried pakoras wafting from stalls. Sia weaved her way toward the market, her steps quicker today. She felt responsible. Like she was earning her place in this new world.

“Okay, ginger... eggs... tea leaves... Oh, and Swara Aunty said soap bars...hmm”

She crossed one lane, then another, reaching the final stretch — a main road buzzing with scooters and honking cars. Her fingers tightened around the bag as she stepped forward cautiously, scanning both sides—

A SHARP HORN.

A SCREECH OF BRAKES.

Her eyes widened as Sia gasped— everything went blurry. The bag flew from her hand. Groceries scattered. Her body hit the road with a sickening thud.

People shouted. A crowd gathered.

10:12 AM

Harsh’s jeep raced through the narrow slopes of Shimla, engine humming as it climbed and curved. The cold breeze hit his face through the half-open window, but he didn’t notice — his eyes were darting between his watch and the road. The phone rang again. Same name.

CALL SCREEN: Boss (Office)

Harsh groaned. “Not Again!”

He picked up using Bluetooth.

Harsh hurriedly spoke “Hello, sir! I’m on the way —10-15 minutes!”

BOSS (frustrated) “Harsh, your 15 minutes are turning into 45! Clients are already here. You said you were five minutes away 20 minutes ago!”

Harsh defensive said “Sir, I'm seriously just five minutes away this time. Pakka.”

BOSS was calm but cold “If I don’t see you in five, don’t bother coming at all.”

Call drops. Harsh hit the steering wheel lightly in frustration. Just as he turned the corner near the market road, something flashed in front of the jeep — a figure.

Harsh’s eyes widened. His heart jumped.

He shouting “Abe—!!”

He slammed the brakes hard — tires screeched. The jeep jolted. Harsh’s body lurched forward — seatbelt catching him just in time.

Outside the windshield, a girl in a shawl stood frozen mid-crossing. But she didn’t stay standing for long. She collapsed — falling sideways onto the pavement with a dull thud, groceries spilling from her torn bag.

 “Shit. SHIT!”

He jumped out, rushing to her.

People started gathering.

BYSTANDER “Accident! He killed her!”

“No—no, she came out of nowhere— I didn’t see her—!”

Harsh knelt beside the girl, heart pounding, hands shaking. People were starting to gather, murmuring, pointing. A woman offered water. A man began dialing for an ambulance. But Harsh wasn’t listening anymore. He reached out, gently turning the girl toward him — and then, time paused. For a heartbeat... he forgot everything. Her face was bloodied slightly near the forehead, her hair tangled, lips parted — but even in this state, she looked... peaceful. Delicate. Gorgeous. Her skin almost glowing in the morning light. Not the kind of beauty that screamed for attention — but soft, still. A quiet kind of pretty that made the world seem quieter for a second. His voice was soft, almost to himself,  “…Exquisite”

His breath caught. But a second later, reality snapped back like a rubber band. He shook his head “No. No, no, focus—what am I doing?”

A few people from the crowd stepped closer.

MAN IN CROWD “Hey! Someone call the police!”

WOMAN “She needs a hospital. She’s bleeding!”

Harsh’s chest tightened.

Harsh muttered to himself “No, not the police… court cases, jail… damn it, no...”

The crowd grew louder, more aggressive. Harsh panicked.

Without thinking twice, he lifted the girl in his arms. “She’s alive. I’ll take care of her!”

Ignoring their protests, he rushed to his jeep, gently placed her in the back seat, and got in.

Sia lay unconscious, her head resting on a folded jacket. Harsh glanced at her in the mirror, guilt and confusion all over his face.

Harsh under his breath “What the hell am I doing... bringing a stranger home? Am I crazy?”

Just then — his phone rang again.

CALL SCREEN: Boss (Office)

He groaned, tapped to answer.

Harsh trying to sound normal “Hello, sir…”

BOSS (furious) “Harsh! Are you seriously not here yet? Clients are sitting in the conference room waiting. This is beyond unprofessional!”

Harsh was tense, driving “Sir, I’m sorry. I can’t come today. There’s an emergency.”

BOSS sarcastically said “Of course. What is it now? Earthquake? Alien invasion?”

Harsh firmly said as he was also stressed “No sir. I… I hit someone. With my jeep. A girl. It was an accident — she’s unconscious. I panicked, I didn’t take her to the hospital. I’m taking her home.”

BOSS in shock said “You WHAT? Are you out of your mind? Why would you take her to your house?!”

Harsh almost snappingly said “Because I didn’t know what else to do, okay?! I don’t want to deal with cops and courts. She’s hurt but she’ll be fine. I just need the day off.”

BOSS paused also frustrated “…Fine. Take the day. But Harsh — this is insane. If anything goes wrong, it’s on you.”

Harsh was relieved “Thank you, sir. I understand. I’ll handle it.”

Call ends.

He glanced at the girl again in the rearview mirror. Her hand had shifted slightly.

Harsh quietly said, more to himself “What trouble have you brought into my life… or maybe, something else?”