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

Finally

Tiara: Lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
A laugh echoes in her memory. Not Kabir's.

Arvind: Reopens his sketchbook.
Adds a second figure beside the first one.
He doesn't color them in. Just outlines.

Final Line of 5.3

They were all still where they started —
in different arms, under different skies.

But something had changed.
And it didn't need to be said.

The water may have stilled.
But the ripples kept moving.

Act 5.4 – "The Goa Plan"

"Some places heal you. Others remind you what still hurts."

The Morning After the Party

The echoes of laughter still lingered in the air, but the house had grown quiet.

The pool had gone still. Half-empty bottles floated beside forgotten towels. The speakers were silent for once.

Arvind stood at the sink, rinsing a coffee mug, his hair still damp from the night before.

He wasn't expecting to see her again — especially not this soon.

But then, there she was.

Tiara stepped into the kitchen, looking for her charger. Her eyes landed on him.
A pause.

She gave a soft, polite smile.
He returned a nod.
Nothing more.

They didn't know what to say — how to behave — around someone they used to know so deeply, so entirely.
Especially now that their lives had become parallel lines, not intersecting ones.

The Group Chat Pinged

Kabir's message came in at 11:07 a.m.

Kabir:
"Goa trip? Just the six of us. Three days. Sun, beach, and peace."

Sahil:
"I'm in. Need to recover from exams and Ankita's playlist."

Ankita:
"My playlist slaps. Your taste just expired."

Kiara:
"Only if Arvind comes too 😉"

Arvind:
(typing...) (stops) (typing again...)
"Cool."

Tiara:
"Let's do it. God knows we all need a break."

And just like that —
the plan was sealed.

Packing and Memories

Back in his dorm, Arvind stared at his half-open suitcase.

He wasn't sure why he'd said yes.
He wasn't even sure what he felt.

He hadn't expected to see her again — not like this.
Not smiling with Kabir by her side.
Not dancing around a pool like the years hadn't happened.

And now?
They were going to be under the same sky again.
Breathing the same salty air.

Old memories began to bubble up.

Nights spent talking about the future.
Silly fights about who made worse chai.
That one evening she made him play Barbie.
The way she used to lean her head against his shoulder when she laughed.

Without thinking, his hands reached for his sketchpad.

He began drawing her from memory — eyes first. Then the soft curve of her cheek. A shadow of a smile.

He didn't notice Sahil walk in.

"Dude. What are you doing?"

Arvind jolted, startled.