"The first of many"

That one glance

3 years later ( Mumbai Airport )
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The terminal was buzzing with activity, the usual hum of announcements blending with the chatter of travelers. I was at Mumbai Airport, heading to Delhi ; my nani's place. It had been a long day already, and I was juggling my coffee cup, a book, and my boarding pass.

As I walked past the bustling crowd, I glanced absently toward the security gates for international departures. That’s when I saw him. Him.

It wasn’t just anyone—it was Vivek. My breath hitched. Tall, effortlessly charismatic, his casual strides stood out even amidst the sea of people. He was focused, probably checking his phone or just navigating the crowd like it was his second nature.

It was unmistakable. Vivek, the man I had admired quietly for so long, the one I had once gathered the courage to reveal my crush to. Despite the gap in communication since then, we still followed each other on Instagram, and now, out of all places, here he was, right in front of me.

I froze for a moment, my heart hammering in my chest. What are the odds? My mind raced. Should I call out to him? Wave? Would he even remember me? My feet hesitated, and I felt rooted to the spot, my pulse quickening.

Before I could make a decision, he moved on, blending into the crowd. Panicking, I abandoned my coffee and rushed forward, trying to catch up. But Mumbai Airport was a maze of people, and in no time, he disappeared beyond the gates of international departures, leaving me stranded, breathless, and with a pit in my stomach.

I leaned against a pillar, my heart sinking. I’d missed him. Why didn’t I call out? My inner voice screamed at me. But another voice whispered, Would he have even cared?

I sighed deeply and turned to head back toward my gate, the thought of him lingering like a faint melody in the back of my mind. I couldn't shake the image of him—the way his presence had filled the space, even from a distance. It brought back memories of those countless moments I’d spent wondering what could have been if we ever met in future.

Settling into my seat on the plane, I opened my Instagram instinctively. I hovered over his profile, the thought of messaging him creeping into my mind. Would he think I’m being silly? Or would he reply? I locked my phone, unsure.

On the other side of the airport, Vivek was waiting at his gate, sipping his own coffee. He had felt something too—a fleeting sense of recognition, like a brush of familiarity in the crowd. For a second, he thought he saw someone from his past. Someone who had once confessed to liking him, someone he had admired quietly but had never acted upon.

He shook his head, brushing off the thought. “Must be my imagination,” he muttered to himself. But as he walked toward the boarding area, he couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder, just one last time, as if expecting to see her standing there.

But she wasn’t. And life, as always, moved on.