Echoes of a Chance Encounter ~ A RuNak Five-Shot [Completed]

Prologue:

Jhanak Chatterjee was a girl with fire in her soul and dreams that soared higher than the stars. Though life had dealt her a difficult hand, leaving her an orphan and without the ability to speak, Jhanak refused to let these challenges define her. Her passion for dance was her voice, her escape, and her purpose. Every move she made on the stage was infused with emotions she couldn’t express in words, and her talent had already begun to catch the attention of those around her. But Jhanak didn’t dream of just being good—she wanted to be extraordinary. Her ultimate goal was to stand on the world’s grandest stages, her name celebrated in lights, her story inspiring others like her.

Her greatest inspiration was none other than the youth icon and rising film star, Anirudh Bose. For Jhanak, Anirudh wasn’t just a celebrity; he was a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of chasing dreams despite the odds. Anirudh had taken the world by storm with his brilliant acting skills and enigmatic on-screen presence. Yet, unlike other stars of his stature, he maintained an aura of mystery, guarding his personal life fiercely. His reticence often became the talk of the town, fueling speculation among the media, his peers in the industry, and his legions of fans. To some, his secretive nature was an irritating quirk; to others, it was an irresistible enigma that added to his charm. But it also came with its price—negative publicity, harsh judgments, and misunderstandings about his true character.

To Jhanak, however, Anirudh was far more than the rumors and headlines that surrounded him. Where others saw mystery, she saw modesty. Where others speculated about his arrogance, she saw humility. Jhanak believed that beneath the guarded exterior lay a simple, grounded human being who had no interest in exploiting his fame. Her admiration wasn’t born from his celebrity status but from the fact that, like her, Anirudh had faced the trials of being an orphan. His story of rising from nothing to becoming a household name resonated deeply with her. It wasn’t just his talent or his looks that drew her in; it was his grit, determination, and refusal to let his past dictate his future.

In him, Jhanak found a reflection of her own struggles, and his journey gave her hope that she, too, could overcome her circumstances and achieve greatness. Little did either of them know that their lives were connected by more than just shared experiences and admiration. There was an invisible thread tying their fates together—one neither could have anticipated.

As Jhanak danced her way toward her dreams, and Anirudh navigated the complexities of fame, their worlds were inching closer to a moment of collision. A moment that would bring revelations, challenges, and a connection neither of them could have imagined. In a world that seemed to conspire against them both, they were about to discover the power of destiny and the unexpected ways it intertwines lives.

Wow you are back with another story

Chapter 1

An Unexpected Encounter

Kolkata, Year 2014, Jhanak’s residence

It was a serene evening, and Jhanak, a vibrant 20-year-old, was gracefully practicing her dance moves in the living room. Excitement buzzed through her as she anticipated the announcement of the National Film Awards. Her heart was set on one thing: her idol, the rising superstar Aniruddh Bose, winning the coveted "Best Actor" award. She glanced at the clock anxiously, each second feeling like an eternity.

As she waited, her thoughts drifted to the journey of her life. Orphaned as a baby after losing her parents in a tragic accident, Jhanak had been abandoned by her relatives and left with no one—except for an unknown benefactor. This mysterious sponsor had taken care of all her needs but insisted on remaining anonymous. The only connection Jhanak had to this person was through letters she was allowed to write on her birthday, delivered via her beloved nanny, Shrabani Mashi.

Shrabani Mashi had been Jhanak's rock, a surrogate mother who nurtured her and became her entire world. For as long as Jhanak could remember, her life revolved around the gentle care of Shrabani Mashi and the quiet generosity of her sponsor.

Lost in her memories, Jhanak didn't notice the time until Shrabani Mashi called out, "Jhanak, tumi ki korchho?(What are you doing?) It's time for the Filmfare Awards! You've been waiting all day!" Jolted from her reverie, Jhanak glanced at the clock. It was already 5:15 PM! She rushed to the television, relieved to find the broadcast still midway, with the "Best Director" award being announced.

As the moments ticked by, Jhanak's anticipation grew. Finally, it was time for the "Best Actor" award. The nominees were revealed, and there he was—her favorite, Aniruddh Bose. Jhanak's heart raced as the presenters opened the envelope. The room seemed to hold its breath. And then it happened—the presenters announced, "The Best Actor of the Year 2014 is... none other than our youth icon, Mr. Aniruddh Bose!"

Jhanak erupted with joy, spinning in circles and crying tears of happiness. Shrabani Mashi entered the room, smiling at Jhanak's celebration. "See, Jhanak? With fans like you, how could he not win?" she teased. Jhanak hugged her tightly and signed, "Aniruddh Bose won!" before dashing back to the television to watch him take the stage.

On the screen, Aniruddh Bose confidently accepted his award, waving to the cheering crowd. The host asked, "This is your third consecutive Best Actor award. Who would you like to dedicate this to?"

Jhanak leaned forward, wondering if he would mention his parents, his fans, or someone else entirely. Aniruddh paused, his expression shifting as he recalled a moment from his past.

Three years ago, after the loss of his father, a grief-stricken Aniruddh sat alone in his room. Consumed by despair, he contemplated ending his life. Just as he was about to take a drastic step, a knock at the door interrupted him.

Returning to the present, Aniruddh addressed the audience, "I owe this award to many—my late father, who was my greatest support, my incredible coworkers, and, of course, my fans. But above all, there's one person to whom I owe everything..."

Jhanak's curiosity peaked. Who was this mysterious person? Aniruddh smiled faintly, adding, "I can't reveal their identity yet, but I promise, the next time I'm on this stage, I'll be standing with them."

Jhanak, along with the audience, was left in suspense. The crowd erupted in applause as Aniruddh exited the stage.

Meanwhile, in a car a few streets away, Aniruddh watched the recorded telecast with a smirk. His driver, Ravi Dada, couldn't contain his curiosity. "Sir, who is this person you owe so much to?" Aniruddh chuckled and replied, "Even I don't know who they are, Ravi Dada."

Ravi Dada stopped the car abruptly, startled by a figure blocking the road. Aniruddh looked ahead and saw the reporter, Arshi Mukherjee, standing in front of the vehicle.

Back at Jhanak's home, Shrabani Mashi fed her dinner lovingly. Jhanak, still elated, signed, "Aniruddh Bose won the award!" Shrabani smiled. "Yes, he did! Now finish your dinner quickly. Tomorrow is your birthday, and we have to visit the Maa Kali temple early. Now eat this last bite." Jhanak resists however Shrabani Mashi forcefully feeds her. After a few minutes, Shrabani puts Jhanak to bed and sings her a lullaby. Gradually, Jhanak falls asleep.

As midnight approached, Jhanak was startled awake by the sound of a gate creaking. Trembling with fear, she grabbed a vase and crept toward the source of the noise. In the dim moonlight, she saw a shadowy figure. Just as she prepared to strike, the figure caught her hand, put a finger on her lip and whispered, "Shh!"

As the clock ticked 12, the moonlight illuminated his face, and Jhanak froze in shock. Standing before her was none other than Aniruddh Bose himself. Her idol, her inspiration, had arrived like a gift on her birthday.

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To be continued.

How can Ani be her guardian? Wasnt he also a baby when she was a baby? How did he sponsor her being a baby?

Hmm .. How does AB know J?

Nice suspense, please continue

Originally posted by: heavenlybliss

How can Ani be her guardian? Wasnt he also a baby when she was a baby? How did he sponsor her being a baby?

That's a twist in this story which will be revealed in the upcoming chapters

Originally posted by: szsiddiqa

Hmm .. How does AB know J?

Nice suspense, please continue

AB doesn't know Jhanak, this was their first meeting

What a beautiful start!!!

Btw, tysm for continuing my story of zmga on wattpad

hello,

really liked chapter 1, pls update next chapter also....waiting for it...

Chapter 2

Into the night

Jhanak froze in astonishment, her breath hitching as she realized that the Aniruddh Bose stood before her in her living room. She blinked rapidly, trying to convince herself she wasn’t dreaming. Her thoughts raced, "What on earth is Aniruddh Bose doing in my house at this hour of the night?"

For a moment, they locked eyes, the silence stretching between them. (Cue the soft hum of their romantic melody: Ni...ni...sa...sa...ri...ga...ma...pa...ga...)

Breaking the tension, Aniruddh released her wrist and said with a sheepish grin, "Listen, I’m not some thief or bandit who’s here to rob or harm you. I’m an actor—you’ve probably seen me on TV or in the papers, right?"

Although Aniruddh was her idol, her inspiration, Jhanak’s annoyance simmered beneath the surface. How dare he break into her house in the middle of the night! She shook her head in exasperation, gesturing a firm no to his question.

Aniruddh raised a brow, baffled. “Wait... you don’t recognize me? You don’t know the Aniruddh Bose? What century are you living in?”

Jhanak stared at him, irritated, and signed emphatically, "What are you doing here?"

Despite never interacting with someone who communicated through sign language, Aniruddh surprisingly understood her gestures with ease, as though they had shared an unspoken connection for years. “That’s... a long story,” he muttered.

“What story?” she insisted, her hands moving swiftly.

Her persistence unnerved him, and he huffed, “Oh, come on! Why this silent drama? You can just whisper like I’m doing.”

Jhanak stared him down and signed sharply, "I’m mute."

His eyes widened in stunned realization. “Oh. I’m... I’m sorry,” he stammered, visibly shaken. But before he could finish his apology, Jhanak cut him off, signing once again, "Now tell me—why are you here so late at night?"

Aniruddh let out a sigh, his mind retreating to the chaotic events of the evening.

Flashback: A Few Minutes Earlier

It all started when Ravi, his driver, slammed the brakes without warning, jolting Aniruddh forward in his seat. “What the—?!” he barked.

Ravi gestured ahead, his face pale. “Sir, it’s Arshi.”

Aniruddh groaned. Arshi Mukherjee, the city’s nosiest journalist, was infamous for her relentless pursuit of celebrity gossip. Tonight, she seemed determined to uncover one specific truth: the identity of the “special someone” Aniruddh had vaguely mentioned during his Filmfare acceptance speech.

“Just my luck,” he muttered. “A black cat crossing your path is bad enough, but a curiosity cat? That’s worse!”

Ravi chuckled nervously. “So... how do we shoo her away, sir?”

“Stay here, Dada,” Aniruddh replied, rolling his shoulders. “I’ll handle her.”

As he approached Arshi, she smirked, adjusting his jacket collar like they were old friends. “Aniruddh Bose. Did you really think I wouldn’t sniff out your little secret? I’ve got a nose for stories, and tonight, I’m not leaving without the scoop on your mystery woman.”

“You’re unbelievable,” he shot back, glaring. “For the last time, I don’t have to tell you anything. And if you keep crossing boundaries, I’ll have no choice but to file a case for harassment.”

Arshi’s sly grin widened. “Oh, sweetheart, look behind me.”

Aniruddh’s eyes flicked to the camera crew filming every second of their exchange. She leaned closer, whispering, “One word from me, and your perfect public image will be yesterday’s news.”

Aniruddh chuckled darkly. “First, catch me if you can.”

With that, he flipped her a cheeky middle finger for the camera and bolted. Chaos erupted as Arshi barked orders at her crew to pursue him.

Aniruddh sprinted through winding streets until he found himself outside Jhanak’s house. Hearing footsteps closing in, he spotted an open window and slipped inside without thinking twice.

Present

Jhanak’s skeptical gaze dragged him back to reality. Aniruddh smirked weakly, scratching his neck. “There I was, running from that nosy cat... only to land straight into a lioness’s den.”

Jhanak furrowed her brows, her hands flying in exasperation. "What cat? What lioness? What are you even talking about?"

Before he could respond, his stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension. Jhanak burst into laughter, her irritation momentarily forgotten.

Aniruddh stared at her, captivated. Her laughter was mesmerizing, like a melody he never wanted to end.

Realizing his gaze lingered too long, Jhanak waved her hands in front of his face, signing teasingly, "Why are you staring like that?"

Flustered, he blurted, “Uh, who’s Shrabani Mashi?”

“My aunt,” Jhanak signed.

“Wait... you live with her? Where are your parents?” he asked, immediately regretting it as her smile faltered. But before he could apologize, his stomach rumbled again, breaking the awkwardness.

With a small smile, Jhanak gestured for him to follow her to the kitchen.

Jhanak’s Kitchen

Aniruddh opened the fridge, hoping to find something to eat, but it was empty. “What’s wrong with you and your aunt? Don’t you keep snacks?”

“We cook fresh meals and never leave leftovers,” Jhanak explained through signs.

“Great,” he groaned. “So I’m supposed to starve?”

Jhanak rolled her eyes and signed, "Wait here. Ten minutes."

She whipped up a quick batch of pakoras, expertly mixing batter and chopping vegetables. At one point, batter splashed onto her cheek, and Aniruddh couldn’t resist pointing it out. She tried to wipe it off but failed, so he stepped closer, pulling out a handkerchief with “AB” embroidered on it.

As he gently wiped her cheek, Jhanak’s gaze softened. She noticed the pain lurking in his dark eyes—a sadness he seemed to mask from the world.

Their proximity, the quiet kitchen, and the warmth between them felt... different.

As Jhanak gazed deeply into Aniruddh’s eyes, the faint notes of "Ni..ni..sa..sa..ri…ga…ma…pa..ga.."—their romantic tune—played softly in the background, as though the universe itself was composing their moment. Aniruddh carefully wiped the last bit of batter from Jhanak’s cheek, his touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary. Jhanak hesitated, then asked shyly, “Can I keep your handkerchief for now? I’ll wash it and return it to you.”

Aniruddh’s expression softened, but his voice grew heavy. “This handkerchief was a gift from my mother,” he began. “She gave it to me before she passed away when I was very young. I don’t have any memories of her—this is all I have left of her love.” A single tear traced its way down his cheek as he spoke.

Jhanak felt her heart ache. She, too, had lost her parents as a baby and knew the void of such loss all too well. She wanted to wrap him in a comforting hug and tell him it was okay, but something held her back. Aniruddh suddenly chuckled, breaking the solemnity. “Anyway,” he said, forcing a grin, “what will you do with my handkerchief? You’re not my fan to keep it as some sort of tribute, are you?”

Jhanak froze, her thoughts racing. Should I tell him? Should I admit I’m not just a fan, but his biggest fan? But she shook off the idea. No, what’s the point? He doesn’t need to know.

Aniruddh held out the handkerchief to her with a teasing smile. “Here. Just make sure you return it after washing it, okay?”

Jhanak nodded earnestly, grateful for the trust. Aniruddh’s stomach growled suddenly, breaking the mood. He grinned sheepishly. “So, are you going to make me beg again, or will you finally feed me?”

Suppressing a smile, Jhanak quickly mixed the vegetables into the batter and fried up a fresh batch of pakoras. She served them neatly on a plate and handed them to Aniruddh, who was about to head to the dining hall when she stopped him with a frantic gesture.

“Don’t eat there,” she signed urgently. “It’s too close to Shrabani Mashi’s room—she’ll wake up!”

Aniruddh raised an eyebrow. “Then where do I eat?”

Jhanak hesitated, her brow furrowing. Before she could respond, Aniruddh smirked. “Alright, let’s go to another room then.”

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head vehemently.

“Why not?” he asked, amused by her panic.

Jhanak signed hesitantly, “That’s my room. You can’t go in there without my permission.”

Aniruddh laughed. “Permission? In the middle of the night? I didn’t need your permission to enter your house, and I’m certainly not asking for it now.” With a mischievous glint in his eye, he strode past her and into her room.

The sight that greeted him left him stunned.

Every surface—walls, windows, cupboards, even her mirror—was covered with his photographs. Posters, cutouts, candid shots—all of them featuring him. He turned to Jhanak with a sly smile.

“So this is why you claimed you didn’t know Aniruddh Bose?”

Jhanak’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Desperate to change the subject, she signed hurriedly, “Eat the pakoras before they get cold!”

Aniruddh chuckled but obliged, taking a bite and savoring the flavor. “These are amazing,” he said, smiling at her. “If I were at home, I’d be having these while watching my favorite dance show. But here, we’ve got to keep quiet for your Shrabani Mashi.”

Jhanak’s heart skipped a beat at the word “dance.” She gestured for him to watch and began to move gracefully, her silent steps echoing music only she could hear.

Aniruddh was spellbound. The pakoras lay forgotten as he stood to watch her every movement, drawn closer by her rhythm and grace. Suddenly, Jhanak twisted her foot mid-step and stumbled. Before she could hit the floor, Aniruddh caught her in his arms.

Their eyes locked, and time seemed to freeze. "Ni..ni..sa..sa..ri…ga…ma…pa..ga…" played once more, the melody echoing their unspoken emotions. Slowly, the awkwardness of the moment crept in, and they separated, each feeling a rush of emotions they couldn’t quite express.

Breaking the silence, Aniruddh asked, “Do you have any photos of yourself as a child? You know, from your dancing days?”

Jhanak nodded eagerly and went to fetch an old album. She sat on her bed, motioning for him to sit beside her, though he made sure to keep a respectable distance. As she flipped through the album, she signed stories about each picture, her face lighting up with fond memories.

But Aniruddh, worn out from the day’s events, found himself struggling to stay awake. As Jhanak was about to show him a photo of Shrabani Mashi, he leaned over and, without realizing it, rested his head on her lap.

Jhanak froze, her heart racing. She didn’t know what to do but decided not to wake him. Gently leaning back against the wall, she closed her eyes, exhaustion finally catching up to her.

Unbeknownst to either of them, a shadow lingered outside the door. A camera clicked softly, capturing the tender moment for reasons neither of them would yet understand.

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To be continued.