15 – Riverfront Afternoon — Scene 1 – Deep’s Master Plan It was Saturday.
At 9:00 AM…
Deep barged into Dhruv’s house without knocking.
“Wake up!” Dhruv, wearing a loose black T-shirt and grey shorts, sat up with messy hair sticking in every direction.
“…Why are you here?” “We’re going to Sabarmati Riverfront.” “No.” “Yes.” “I have cricket practice.” “Cancelled.” “I have homework.” “You’ll do it tonight.” “I have—” Deep grabbed his wrist.
“You have friends.” — Ten minutes later…
Dhruv walked out of the house.
His hair was still untidy.
He wore a plain white oversized T-shirt, black cargo pants and white sneakers.
Urvi looked at him from the kitchen.
“You didn’t even comb your hair.” “I’ll survive.” “I know.” — Outside…
Alya wore a light blue top with white jeans, her silver hair tied into a high ponytail.
Mitsuri wore a pastel pink kurti with white leggings and simple white sandals.
Her long pink hair was left open, gently flowing in the morning breeze.
She smiled.
“Good morning.” Dhruv smiled back.
“Morning, Mitsuu.” — Scene 2 – Sabarmati Riverfront The Riverfront was crowded with families, cyclists and tourists.
The five walked side by side.
Deep stretched dramatically.
“I can finally breathe.” Alya looked at him.
“You live ten minutes away.” “Exactly.” “I escaped civilization.” She laughed.
— Mitsuri slowed down near the riverside railing.
“The view is beautiful…” Dhruv stood beside her.
“It is.” For a few seconds…
Neither spoke.
Only the breeze carried the sound of the flowing river.
Then…
Dhruv quietly stepped away.
“I’ll go buy water.” Mitsuri looked at him leave.
“…” Again.
— Scene 3 – Literature Festival Booth Further ahead…
A temporary literature exhibition had been set up.
Books.
Poetry.
Local writers.
Mitsuri’s eyes sparkled.
“Can we look?” “Of course,” Alya smiled.
Deep looked terrified.
“…Books.” “I’ll survive.” As they entered…
A familiar voice greeted them.
“Mitsuri?” She turned around.
“Kabir?” He smiled politely.
“I didn’t expect to meet you here.” “I came with my friends.” “So did I.” Kabir looked at a novel in his hand.
“This author just released a new edition.” “You’ll like it.” Mitsuri excitedly took the book.
“Really?” — Scene 4 – Across the Stall A few shelves away…
Dhruv returned with water bottles.
He stopped.
Kabir and Mitsuri were discussing books.
Both smiling.
Kabir recommended another novel.
Mitsuri listened carefully.
Dhruv quietly placed the bottles on a nearby bench.
“…You guys continue.” Deep immediately understood.
“You aren’t coming?” “I’ll walk around.” Before anyone could stop him…
He left.
— Scene 5 – K-Drama Moment Nearly twenty minutes later…
Mitsuri finally found Dhruv.
He was sitting alone near the river, elbows resting on his knees, watching the water.
The afternoon breeze played with his already messy hair.
She walked over slowly.
“You disappeared.” Dhruv looked up.
“I just wanted some quiet.” She sat beside him.
Not too close.
Not too far.
“…Are you avoiding me?” The question caught him off guard.
He looked at the river again.
“…No.” She didn’t reply.
“…” “…” After a long silence…
He spoke first.
“I’m avoiding distractions.” She turned toward him.
“I don’t understand.” Dhruv smiled faintly.
“I don’t understand either.” That answer only confused her more.
Before she could ask another question…
Deep shouted from a distance.
“OI!” “LOVE…
I MEAN…
LUNCH!” Alya covered his mouth.
Everyone nearby looked at them.
Deep smiled awkwardly.
“…Slip of the tongue.” — Scene 6 – Cricket Nets On the way home…
They passed a public cricket practice area.
Several boys from another school were short one player.
“Excuse me!” One of them recognized Dhruv.
“Can you bat one over?” Dhruv looked at the others.
“I’ll be five minutes.” He borrowed a bat.
First ball.
CRACK!
Four.
Second ball.
Six.
Third ball.
Four.
Deep folded his arms proudly.
“That’s my guy.” Mitsuri watched quietly.
She had seen him play before.
But…
Every time he batted…
He looked completely different.
Confident.
Focused.
Alive.
Without realizing it…
She smiled.
— Scene 7 – The Walk Back The sun slowly began setting.
The four walked home.
Kabir had already left with his own family.
Deep and Alya deliberately walked ahead.
Again.
Leaving a little space behind them.
Mitsuri looked at Dhruv.
“…Can I ask you something?” “Hm?” “Did I make you uncomfortable somehow?” Dhruv stopped walking.
His expression softened.
“What?” “No.” “Never.” “Then…” She hesitated.
“…Why does it feel like you’re getting farther away?” Dhruv looked down at the road.
For several seconds…
He couldn’t find an answer.
Finally…
He smiled.
“…I’m just sorting out my own thoughts.” It wasn’t the whole truth.
But…
It wasn’t a lie either.
— Scene 8 – Mission Pink Hair Meeting That night…
Deep and Alya sat on the terrace of Sunrise Residency with two cups of tea.
Deep sighed dramatically.
“This is bad.” Alya nodded.
“He likes her.” “…Yeah.” “But instead of getting closer…” “He’s running away.” Deep leaned back.
“This wasn’t part of my plan.” Alya looked toward House No.
7, where Dhruv’s room light was still on.
“Maybe…” “He has to lose a little before he understands what he wants.” Deep looked unusually serious.
“For the first time…” “I don’t think I can help.” Across the society…
Dhruv closed his maths notebook after finishing another hour of study.
Beside it lay a small brochure he had unknowingly picked up from the literature exhibition.
It recommended the same novel Kabir had suggested to Mitsuri.
Dhruv looked at it for a moment.
Then quietly folded it and slipped it inside a drawer.
Not because he disliked books.
But because…
Right now…
He wanted as much distance from anything that reminded him of Mitsuri as possible.