Heartbeat

Her name was Mira. Not an introvert, but always chose her words wisely, though.

Her life at home wasn’t easy at all.

She lived with her sweet, innocent mother and a completely opposite, giant, and cruel brother in a big yet unsettled house, a house that was crying to be a home.

Her mother walked quietly and stealthily from kitchen to room, room to kitchen, all day long, speaking softly, always careful not to upset anyone.

Her brother often came home drunk, yelling, destroying things and lashing out at everyone who came his way.

Mira had learned to stay out of his sight. She never told anyone what he did because she never had an option.

She had learned to stay quiet and survive her helpless life. A normal life felt like a dream that would never come true.

Even so, Mira had one small, sweet escape: a café near her college, Divine cafe. It became her few-hours’ refuge from the chaos of her life, a place where she could just sit and breathe.

She didn’t have much money, so she always ordered something small, something affordable, but she went back almost every day.

A few months passed, and her reason for going there smoothly changed from staying in peace to seeing the person who gave her that peace. A peace that was not completely hers, but felt like a lost part of her soul: the man of the café, Yuvraj.

He was calm, confident, and impossibly handsome in a way that made her chest pound every time they met.

Every time she stepped inside, their eyes met even before she was fully in. Just for a second but that second stayed. It slowed everything down, made her calmer than anything ever could.

No words. No big smiles. Just eyes meeting, souls speaking something deeper than words ever could. If no one could see them, they never disconnected that eye contact. Eyes connected so deeply that it felt like a passionate kiss between their souls.

In trying to act normal, she acted clumsier than usual, and he hid his laugh while watching her chaotic ways.

After noticing it, her face turned red, her stomach knotted with nervousness, and she kept looking at herself in her phone camera, as if watching herself again and again might calm her.

Her embarrassing moments were his favorite part of the day, turning ordinary moments into special ones. It was her favorite time too, when her heartbeat went on vacation, as if asking her to pause the moment or at least let it last a little longer.

Confidence slipped out the door. Words left her tongue. Hours felt like seconds. A simple wooden table, an accent light suddenly it became the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Every second felt like a test: acting normal, making everything look perfect, trying her best not to be clumsy. Indeed, a test she wanted to give her whole life.

He never confessed his feelings, but his actions spoke louder than any words ever could.

He usually talked with his friends on his bike outside the café but would return to the counter after watching her from a distance, take her order, and stay inside until she left.

He never made her uncomfortable with any gestures and ensured his friends didn’t say anything that could drive her away. Mira felt safe and protected around him without him trying. He never watched her table closely so she could spend her time freely and completely be herself.

Everything was going smoothly until one day Mira noticed he was watching her on the café’s CCTV live feed, on a TV beside his counter.

He was giving his eyes a treat, obeying his heart, and following his soul.

The next day, Mira came with her friend Akansha, who entered fifteen minutes before her. Akansha noticed how he changed from a typical Jatt to a soft-spoken man anyone could fall for.

Not just a behavioral change, but even his café playlist shifted before Mira entered.

Mira felt uncomfortable and weird after knowing it but couldn’t stop herself from continuing to fall for him. Akansha called it cute, which Mira partially denied.

One thing changed that day: To let go of the idea of ever sharing her home life and hidden scars with him.

Things started to cool from her side. Eye contact remained, but now it asked, “Can I even trust you?” rather than expressing any soulful connection.

Yuvraj felt something was off but never felt worthy enough to ask her, even as a friend.

"I’m just a café owner. She will never see me the way I see her. I’m nothing special. Instincts are not always right."

She wanted to begin with a tight hug, but her trust issues never let her gather enough courage for it.

"I’m just a simple girl. He must see many girls like me on live footage. I’m nothing special. Instincts are not always right."

Misfortune became real. The ice never broke, and Mira stopped going there as her college ended.

But life has its own plans and unfolds in its own timing.

Six months later, one evening, her brother came home.

His face was horribly bruised, his hands shaking, holding two broken teeth wrapped in tissue darkened with blood. The giant, cruel man looked helpless miserably pitiable.

"They… they freaked me out," he muttered.

Mira choked back her breath, somehow managing to act brave. She wished she could blink and make it all disappear, but it wasn’t a dream.

Tears started falling uncontrollably. So many words wanted to come out at once, but she barely managed a few broken ones.

Before she could ask more, the door opened again.

He came in, the man she had fallen for really hard, her broken dream, Yuvraj wearing a olive green jacket, dark blue denim, a silver kada on his wrist, and a loosely wrapped white gamcha around his neck. Impossibly handsome, as always.

Chaos swirled in her head. How could her giant brother be scared of him or anybody?

She didn’t utter a single word, her eyes darted from her mother to her brother to Yuvraj in a splash of seconds.

She finally gathered a little courage to speak, but before words could find their voice, the door burst open, and another giant, unrecognizable man in all black stepped inside.

The room froze. Every heartbeat thundered in her ears. And in that instant, Mira knew nothing would ever be the same.

---

The final part releases on 7th February.