A poignant tale of a young police officer torn between his heavy family responsibilities and a complicated web of unrequited love. Follow Arjun's emotional journey through the crowded metros of life as he navigates the weight of sacrifice and the quiet devotion of a girl he overlooks.
Arjun stands in his small, modest home, wearing his police uniform with a heavy heart. His father rests on a bed nearby while his mother prepares for another long day of work as a maid, highlighting the immense weight of the world on his young shoulders.
Amidst the bustling crowd of the morning metro, Arjun’s gaze is suddenly captured by a girl with a radiant smile and a grace that stands out from everyone else. For a brief moment, the noise of the train fades away as he feels a spark of longing he hasn't allowed himself to feel in years.
Under the hot sun, Arjun carries out his rigorous duties as a member of the mobile force, his face set in a mask of discipline. He works extra hours and pushes through exhaustion to ensure his family's mounting medical bills and daily expenses are covered.
During another commute, Arjun notices a different girl, Akshee, watching him with shy, admiring eyes from across the train car. She wears a college uniform similar to the girl he saw before, and her presence begins to linger in his daily routine as she watches him from afar.
Akshee finally gathers her courage and confesses her admiration for Arjun, her face flushed with nerves and hope. Arjun listens with a cold, distant expression, deciding to lead her on only because he realizes she is friends with the beautiful girl who first caught his eye.
Akshee brings Arjun small gifts like a single red rose and a carefully folded handkerchief, trying to break through his emotional walls. She cares for him deeply, asking about his father’s health and reminding him to eat, acting as a gentle, nurturing light in his stressful life.
As they sit together during a quiet moment, Akshee asks Arjun what brings him happiness and what love means to him, seeking a connection that isn't there. Arjun remains a wall of silence, bottling up his true emotions while Akshee tries to find meaning in his lack of words.
On Akshee's birthday, Arjun waits at the metro station dressed in a dark green shirt and black jeans, his face unusually bright with a small smile. Akshee arrives and is thrilled to see him looking so happy, unaware that his joy is sparked by the hope of seeing her friend.
The moment of introduction arrives as Akshee hesitantly presents her friend, Akshiti, to Arjun at the station. Arjun’s focus shifts entirely to Akshiti, his eyes filled with the genuine interest and warmth that Akshee has been desperately seeking for herself.
During a tense lunch, Arjun asks endless questions about Akshiti, ignoring Akshee’s visible hurt and her attempts to express her own feelings. Later, in the crowded metro, Akshee reaches out to hold his hand, feeling the painful emotional distance between them even as their fingers brush against each other.
Write a story about Arjun who is a twenty two years old police officer belonging to a middle class Marathi family where he was the sole breadwinner and he had to look after his parents and younger sister. His father was a cancer patient and soon he had to retire before his retirement age in order to undergo his treatment. His mother who was initially a housewife had to take up an occupation working as a maid in multiple houses in order to earn a living. However it didn’t suffice. Then as soon as Arjun passed his HSC he went into the Mauritius mobile force in order to support his family. He had to carry out his duty as the eldest son of his family putting behind his own desires and dreams. He worked extra hours in order to earn extra money to fulfill the wish of his family. The hospital bills kept on piling up alongside the regular expenses and he kept on pushing himself forward in order to get through it. One day while traveling in the metro to head to work, his gaze fell on a beautiful college girl who looked around the age of eighteen and she stood out the most among her friends. Her shy smile and her beautiful face made his heart picked up a quick pace. Arjun was never one to feel such things, he had always put himself first but somehow he wanted to go ask her out however he stopped himself as he was in his police uniform. He couldn’t get the girl’s face out of his head . One day he was traveling in the metro again and he was focused on the view outside of the window when he felt a lingering gaze on him. When he looked a pair of brown gaze locked with his startled. The girl quickly looked away, shyly like a deer caught in broad daylight. The uniform which the girl was wearing was similar to that girl from the other day and on top of that , she was standing with that girl whom he had fallen for. The next few days which unfold, Akshee who was admiring him from afar gathered her courage and expressed her admiration for him which took him by surprise. However he didn’t have a single interest in her as she wasn’t as beautiful as the other girl and didn’t have anything which held him back to her. But he decided to lead her on never reciprocating her feelings , just being with her in order to get to that other girl. Akshee was happy just to be with him, she didn’t fill the silence between them just to fill the void instead she took his silence as his language. She would always ask him questions which would take him aback , “What brings you happiness? Whatever it is…I would pray that it comes your way.” “Bottling up your emotions do not make things any better , you know?” “What is love to you?” Akshee would always go out of her way and bring him things from her pocket money, like a single rose, a handkerchief , a watch , a tie just to see a flicker of emotions. Akshee would always ask about his father’s health, how things were going at home, and how he was doing. She would always remind him to eat on time, to sleep, take some rest …just like how a girlfriend acts. On her birthday , Akshee had decided that they would go somewhere together as her college would resume early. He was waiting for her at the metro with his usual cold impression dressed in a dark green shirt paired with black denim jeans. Akshee for the first time that day, had seen his face lit up with a small imperceptible smile , his face beamed . Akshee was happy to see this side of him but little did she know that she wasn’t the reason behind it . On that day her friend had accompanied her to the metro and Akshee had hesitantly introduced her to Arjun. Arjun already knew the girl‘s name as he had found out through Akshee by asking her about her friends in college as if he was showing interest when in reality he just wanted to know the girl’s name. Her name was Akshiti . It was their briefest encounter, Arjun had asked her to even join them for lunch, Akshee simply smiled and nodded but she politely refused as she had other plans. During lunch, Arjun was talking not about Akshee but asking questions about that girl the most of the time.Akshee confessed how Akshiti didn’t lack in receiving attention from boys at there college and how on social media boys would be all over her posts. Akshee mentioned that so that he could sense her jealousy , and how to mention that her friend was off limits . Arjun mentioned that it was obvious that Akshiti would receive such attention because she was so beautiful . Arjun poured fuel to fire and asked her if she received any attention from boys to which she went silent and looked down at her lap embarrassed. “I am not interested in having attention from various boys when all I want is only one person to…finally notice me…” She said while looking at him with a hurt gaze because she knew she said that sentence in order to hurt her. However she brushed it off. On the metro, their hands brushed against each other as they stood among the rest of the passengers as it was during peak hour. Akshee held his hand , brushin
Sarisma Poudel
SITI FATIMAH BINTI ALADIN @ SHUKRI IPG-Pelajar
Alexander Cafarelli
ROKEYA KHATUN
Nikunj Vekariya
abbysnia
