The Dying Star
Arnav Singh Raizada ( 18 years old )
Arnav is an orphan and was brought up by his nani and elder sister. He is an introvert; hence he does not like sharing his feelings with others. He does not trust anyone else, but himself. He usually speaks only when needed and to the point. He loves astronomy, but does not believe in it anymore.
Khushi Kumari Gupta ( 18 years old )
Khushi is also an orphan and was raised by her aunt and uncle. However, she feels as though she is a burden to them ever since she was young. She is extremely obedient and does not violate any of her aunt's orders. She is an extrovert and a part-time RJ, thus she loves being around people and helping them. She has blind faith on horoscopes and the stars.
Garima Gupta
She is Khushi's aunt and has been raising Khushi ever since she was young.
NK ( 19 years old )
NK is Arnav's best friend and classmate.
Anjali Raizada
Anjali is Arnav's elder sister.
~ INTRODUCTION ~
"Where are the onions? Don't you know that I cannot cook without them?" Garima shouted.
"Woh' I used some money to buy some books, that's why I couldn't afford them" Khushi replied; despite knowing the fact that her explanation would never be accepted.
"You are extremely SELFISH and ungrateful. We have been raising you for the past 18 years and we sacrificed so much of our time and money for you, and you couldn't even sacrifice a few of your books for us? You are nothing, BUT a burden. Thank god your parents left before seeing how inconsiderate their daughter has turned out to be"
All that anger for mere onions? That is not possible, there has to be some other reason behind this anger and disgust. Khushi thought with moist eyes.
"Ama, what's wrong'?"
"What's wrong? What ISN'T wrong ever since YOU came into our lives? You have only been causing unnecessary problems!" Garmina answered sharply, then left the room.
I have never wanted any of this to happen. Khushi thought to herself as she rushed outside of her home, wanting to go to her favourite spot.
The moon was shining brightly, and the only sound that was present was of the soft breezes and waves. She was sitting on the edge of a cliff, beneath which was the ocean, probably as dark as her life right now, but all that did not matter. When someone's life is dark, then no matter how dark nature gets, it could never affect the person.
It is not my fault, none of this is. I have tried my best to fulfill the roles of a daughter. To share the expenses, I have even started working, then how am I being ungrateful? My parents left me, but it was not on purpose, it was an accident, a horrible one that I would never be able to forget. I wish I was special to someone, I wish there was someone out there that would actually WANT to be with me, despite my imperfections. I tell myself, it's not my fault, but sometimes self-assurance does not help, it's just as though I'm giving myself false hopes. Who am I kidding? This isn't a movie or a drama; it's reality and this is life' I can't run away from it; I feel so helpless and yeah, really "useless"' She bursted into tears, but no one was there to aid her.
***
"How could you fail that test? You have never failed ANY test, topper" NK asked Arnav.
"I forgot to study'" Arnav lied and walked away.
"Who studies for a test about interpersonal relationships?" NK thought; astonished.
Exactly my point. "relationships"' Arnav looked at the first question of the paper:
"What are the 3 fundamental concepts to attain a harmonious relationship?"
He looked at his answer:
"Nothing, Nothing and Nothing"
A tear escaped from his eye, but he wiped it as soon as possible, then drove to his favourite spot.
The scenery was exactly the same, night sky surrounded by the deep blue ocean and wind. He sat on the edge of a cliff, too.
The person who never understood the meaning of love and care ever since he was born, how would he be able to answer the questions? The person, who's birth killed his own mother, how could he even be worthy of a relationship? The person, who's dad developed extreme hatred for his own son, how would that teach him the essence of relationships? Arnav thought.
Unaware of the fact that in the distance, on the opposite mountain which was pretty far away, sat a girl who was just as lonely and broken as he was.
***
Khushi looked up at the sky, which was full of scattered stars, and she took out the only and most precious thing to her ' A notebook. It was not like those usual girly diaries about a guy, instead, her notebook covered drawing of hundreds of constellations that she came up with every time she visited her favourite spot.
Tonight the constellation that she could come up with was of a heart that was not exactly broken; but was in the verge of breaking, and so she drew it and gave it a name called "hope".
***
Arnav too looked at the sky, and took out his phone in which he would take pictures of the stars. He would also imagine various figures in the sky and name them. Co-incidence or fate, he too thought of the same object as Khushi, but named it "destruction". The difference between his constellations and hers were that, Khushi would connect all the stars with lines; whereas Arnav never connected the stars.
Two complete strangers, who are unknowingly connected by stars, waiting for their lives to be changed. What's in store for their destiny? How will the stars guide them to each other? What is written in the stars?
Cricket
Bindi
Udne Ki Aasha
43