Sketching her Shadows

A Final Visit

It had become a ritual. A habit.

Satya knew the odds. He had waited countless days for a glimpse of Saanvi, only to leave empty-handed each time. Yet, there was a strange pull, a sense that today might be different.

This would be his final visit to the fort—at least for now. If he didn't meet her today, he would leave Jaipur and move on. But deep down, he couldn't let go. He had come too far.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the fort, Satya arrived early—earlier than usual. He took his usual spot on the bench, the one where he had waited every evening, his heart filled with the familiar ache of hope and longing.

And Then...

But today was different.

As Satya's eyes wandered over the courtyard, his gaze landed on a figure seated on the bench across from him.

A young woman, her back to him, hunched over a sketchbook. The faint rustling of the pages, the rhythmic motion of her pencil across the paper, felt strangely familiar.

Satya's breath caught in his throat. He didn't know why, but something inside him told him that this was it.

He couldn't explain how. He couldn't explain why. But in his heart, he knew.

He stood up, his legs stiff from sitting for hours. Slowly, he walked toward the bench, each step filled with the weight of anticipation.

The woman didn't notice him at first. Her focus was entirely on her sketching. The world around her didn't exist. Just the paper. Just the pencil.

Satya stopped in front of her, barely able to steady his breathing. He watched her for a few moments, captivated by the way she worked. The intensity in her eyes. The careful lines she drew. It was as though every stroke of the pencil held a piece of her soul.

Finally, he spoke.

"Excuse me," his voice was soft, almost hesitant.

The girl looked up, startled for a second.

And then, their eyes met.

It was her.

Saanvi.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. It felt as if time had stopped. The air between them hummed with an unspoken recognition.

Satya swallowed, his heart racing. This is real. It's her. She's here.

Saanvi blinked, her gaze flickering to the sketchbook and then back to Satya. She seemed unsure whether to smile or frown, confused, yet oddly calm.

"I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt," Satya said, his voice finally finding its steadiness.

But Saanvi said nothing. She simply closed her sketchbook slowly, still studying him. There was a flicker of something—familiarity? Curiosity? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

Satya took a deep breath and tried again.

"I've been looking for you," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Saanvi's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't say anything. The moment stretched, fragile and uncertain.

And with that, the door to their conversation was opened. But whether it would lead to answers or more questions, neither of them knew.