Parallel Lines: a story of memory, silence, and first love

Finally

And then—

"Arvind! Come try this dessert!" Kiara's voice called from behind, cheerful as ever.

He turned to go.
Paused.
Looked back.

"I remember the notebook," he said quietly.

Her eyes widened — just a little.

Then he walked away.

Closing Beat

Two people.
One party.
A memory rekindled.

And a fracture forming — so soft, no one else heard it.

But fate did.
And it was listening.

Act 5.3 – "Ripples"

"Some silences aren't empty. They're just too loud to speak over."

Scene: Post-Party — Sunday Evening

The sun was setting, painting orange streaks across the sky.
The pool had been cleared. Music silenced. People left in waves — laughing, drenched, high on freedom.

Kabir leaned back on a lounge chair, watching Tiara towel-dry her hair, a faint smile lingering on her lips.

She was glowing.
But for the first time, he didn't feel like the reason.

Scene: Arvind's Room — Later That Night

Arvind sat on the edge of his bed, a towel draped around his shoulders, hair still damp.

His sketchbook lay half-open.
A half-drawn face stared back at him. Her face.

Not Kiara's.

He shut it quickly. Too quickly.

Across the room, Sahil raised an eyebrow.

"You okay?"

Arvind nodded.

"Yeah."

But his chest was loud.

Scene: Tiara's Dorm — Night

Tiara got a text from Kabir:

"Had fun today. You looked happy."

She started typing:

"You too. Thanks for hosting."

Deleted it. Tried again:

"Yeah. I was."

But something about it felt dishonest.

Scene: Kiara's Room

Kiara slurped her cup noodles, scrolling through party photos on her phone.

There it was — a photo of Arvind smiling.
Really smiling.
Surrounded by everyone.

She paused.

Then turned to her roommate.

"Do you think he's changing?"

anshikha looked up.

"Yeah," she said. "Looks like someone lit a match in his soul."

Closing Montage – The Group

Sahil & Ankita: Texting nonstop. Planning a hill trip during break.

Kabir: Sitting alone on his balcony, rereading old messages from Tiara.

Kiara: Doodling hearts in the corner of her notebook — K + A.
Then scratching them out.