Sketching her Shadows

Waiting at the Fort

For the next few weeks, Satya returned to the Sheesh Mahal every evening. 4 PM to 7 PM. The same bench. The same anticipation.

Each day, his eyes scanned the faces of every visitor, searching for her.

Each day, he left with nothing but fading hope.

Yet, he couldn't stop.

There was a quiet faith in his heart—a belief that she would come back.

Even though Aditi had taken the sketchbook, even though she had promised to deliver his message, there was no sign that Saanvi had received it.

And yet, he waited.

Surviving in a Strange City

Jaipur wasn't home, but Satya made it one.

Knowing he might have to stay longer, he found a remote, online-based part-time job. It didn't pay much, but it was enough to cover his rent and food.

He rented a small single-room apartment near the fort—cheap, cramped, but sufficient.

His days were simple:

☀️ Mornings: He worked.

☕ Afternoons: He explored Jaipur, learning its streets, its people, its hidden corners.

🌆 Evenings: He waited at the fort.

He became a familiar face to the guards and local shopkeepers. Some even began to recognize him as the young man who always waits at the bench.

Yet, no one asked why.

Because maybe they already knew.

The Question That Wouldn't Leave

One night, as he sat on the rooftop of his apartment, staring at the glowing city, a thought struck him.

"Why hasn't she come?"

Maybe she never got the message.

Maybe she didn't want to meet him.

Maybe… she had already moved on.

The uncertainty gnawed at him.

He had spent months searching for a girl he had never met. He had followed shadows, dreams, and whispers of the past.

But what if the past wasn't meant to return?

What if she wasn't looking for him after all?

A New Decision

As the weeks passed, something changed within him.

He still waited—but he no longer felt lost.

Maybe he was meant to find her.

Maybe she was meant to find him.

Maybe fate wasn't done with them yet.

But instead of blindly chasing it, Satya decided:

"If she doesn't come… I will go to her."

The next morning, he packed his bag.

It was time to find Saanvi again.