Chapter 1

The bustling city of Mumbai never slept. The constant hum of traffic, the neon lights flickering along the streets, the vibrant chaos of crowds, and the rhythmic crash of the waves against the shore—it was a city that pulsed with energy, dreams, and stories that never seemed to end. Mumbai, the city of opportunities, was a place where you could be anyone, but sometimes, it was easy to get lost in the noise.

For Naina, Mumbai had always been home, but it was a home where she felt like a small ripple in an endless sea. Her family lived in a modest apartment in one of the quieter parts of the city, far from the glamour and glitter of the city's elite. Naina was an only child, a quiet girl raised by parents who adored her but were rarely able to pushed her to stand out. They were both busy with their work, and Naina had learned to entertain herself, finding comfort in books, music, and the few close friends she had made over the years.

After consisting topping all her classes in school, she had now decided to study medicine in one of the most prestigious colleges in Mumbai. Unlike others her age, she was forced to stay in a hostel willingly - as her house was further away from the college and her parents didn't have the time to pick her up everyday. While others would be happy about this, she disliked it and would have preferred to go home after a day of learning and wrap herself in her blanket at home and curl up with a cup of chai and a book - how she spent most of her evenings.

That is not to say that she didn't have her interests. Naina was deeply intrigued by music, she would spend hours listening to music, finding the perfect song to match the scene she would be reading in her novel. Her imagination was vivid, but it all was in her head, for she never spoke about her books to anyone, feared that she may be judged. Naina loved to read, write and sing - though no one knew about this talent of hers.

It goes without saying that a girl who idolized romance, the romance we see in the world of books and movies, was a huge fan of the King of Romance himself - Shah Rukh Khan. She would spend a lot of days sitting by the beach in front of his house, listening to his songs or reading!

Naina wasn't the type to draw attention to herself. In a city where people were always trying to be noticed, Naina preferred to remain in the background. Her striking features, however, often made that impossible. With almond-shaped brown eyes that seemed to hold a quiet intensity, full lips, and a flawless fair complexion, Naina was undeniably beautiful. Her long black hair, with subtle caramel highlights that glowed in the sunlight, fell just below her chest in soft waves. Despite her beauty, Naina often felt uncomfortable in her own skin.

She wasn't the kind of girl to wear skin-tight dresses or show off her figure. Instead, she gravitated toward sweatshirts and loose-fitting jeans or cargos, clothes that hid rather than highlighted her curves. While her friends often teased her for her laid-back style, Naina preferred it this way. She felt more in control when she wasn't drawing too much attention to her body, despite the fact that she had a flat stomach, curvy hourglass body and a physique many would envy.

Her face's most attractive feature was her light brown eyes. They looked like pools of honey under the sun and could grab the attention of anyone, but they were rarely seen as she kept her eyes glued to the books she engrossed herself in. She had a small tattoo on her wrist, a prayer, supporting her highly spiritual nature. Her ears had 2 piercings each, and were almost always hidden behind the braid that she would tie her hair in.

Her shy, introverted nature only added to her desire to remain unnoticed. She didn't enjoy the limelight, especially when it came to boys. While other girls in her college had no qualms about flirting or putting themselves out there, Naina had always stayed to herself. She wasn't awkward around people, but she often found it easier to listen and observe than to participate in conversations.

Naina had a small group of friends, who she met in Unviersity—trustworthy, easy-going, and like her in many ways. They knew her as someone who would always be there when needed, but they also respected her space, never pushing her to be something she wasn't. It was a comfortable existence, a world she was content with.

But sometimes, when the wind blew through the busy streets of Mumbai and the sun set over the horizon, Naina couldn't help but feel a quiet longing. A desire to be seen, not just as the quiet girl in the background, but as someone who could step forward and take her place in the world. And maybe, just maybe, someone would notice her the way she had noticed him.

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