Mira stepped out of the eye test room slowly, her vision still blurred.
The hallway lights felt harsher than before, washing everything into soft edges that refused to settle.
The staff was already waiting outside.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Mira blinked a few times, trying to focus.
“Yes… just a little blurry.”
He nodded.
“That’s normal after the drops.
Please sit for a few minutes.
I’ll confirm with the doctor.
Then I’ll drop you back.”
“Okay…”
Mira sat quietly, holding her file a little tighter than usual.
People moved around her, voices passed, but nothing felt clear.
After a few minutes, the staff returned.
“All done.
We can leave.”
Mira nodded and stood up carefully.
The ride back was quiet.
Mira leaned her head slightly against the seat, closing her eyes for a second.
“Bas ghar pahunch jaun…” she thought.
They reached the building.
Calm.
Silent.
Almost too still.
Inside, they stepped into the elevator together.
Just as the doors were about to close, the staff’s phone rang.
“I need to take this,” he said.
Mira replied quickly, “It’s okay… I can go.
I know the way.”
He hesitated.
“Are you sure?”
“Haan… I’ll manage.”
He looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
“Okay.
Call me if you need anything.”
“Yeah.”
The elevator doors closed.
Mira leaned slightly against the wall, blinking, trying to steady her vision.
The elevator reached the seventh floor.
The doors opened.
Silence.
She stepped out slowly.
The corridor looked familiar, but not clear.
“Yeh… kaunsa door tha…” she murmured.
She walked carefully, trying to remember.
Left… or right… Nothing looked the same.
“Yaar… kuch dikh hi nahi raha…”
She stopped and took a breath.
“Okay… think.”
She pulled out her phone.
“Shayad staff ko call kar leti hoon…”
She tried to look at the screen, but everything was blurred.
“Arey… number hi nahi dikh raha…”
A small frustration rose inside her.
She tapped the last dialed number.
“Jo bhi hoga… utha lega…”
The call connected.
“Hi ma’am, did you reach?
I was about to call you.”
Relief came instantly.
“Oh… hi…”
“I just reached, but I’m not able to find my room. Find the original chapter at g.com.
My vision is blurred… can you please help?”
“Of course, ma’am.
Stay there.
I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay… thank you.”
She lowered the phone and exhaled softly.
At least she wasn’t alone.
She turned back toward the door in front of her.
“Maybe this one…”
She lifted her key card and swiped.
Beep.
She waited.
Nothing.
She tried again.
Beep.
Beep.
The sound echoed in the empty corridor.
Mira’s fingers tightened slightly.
“Why isn’t it working…”
She tried once more.
Beep.
Nothing.
“Yeh mera room nahi hai…”
The silence around her suddenly felt heavier.
And then—
“Hey.”
Mira froze.
“Why are you trying to open my apartment?”
His voice wasn’t loud.
But it was enough to make her heart skip.
She turned quickly.
“I—no, I’m sorry,” she said, trying to stay composed.
“I think I got the wrong door.
I just had an eye checkup… I can’t see properly.”
The man stood there, still, watching her carefully.
“I’m not in the mood for this,” he said.
His tone was calm, but firm.
“And I know exactly what this is.”
Mira frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“A sasaeng.”
The word hit instantly.
For a second, she didn’t react.
Then—
“No,” she said quickly, a hint of urgency in her voice.
“I’m not.
I don’t even know who you are.”
Silence.
“It’s just a misunderstanding,” she continued, trying to stay calm.
“I just moved in yesterday.
I’m still figuring out the rooms.”
His gaze didn’t shift.
“Then which one is yours?”
Mira paused.
Room number.
Nothing came.
“It’s… five… zero…”
She stopped.
Blank.
“Seriously… ab yaad bhi nahi aa raha…”
She straightened slightly, holding onto her composure.
“I haven’t memorized it yet.”
The tension didn’t ease.
She lifted the card slightly.
“This is my key card.
His expression hardened.
“You expect me to take that from you?”
Now she understood.
He didn’t trust her at all.
“I’m not asking you to,” she said quietly, but firmly.
“I’m just explaining.”
A pause.
He looked at her again.
“Or are you pretending?” he said.
“You really don’t know who I am?”
Mira shook her head.
“No.”
“I can’t even see you properly.”
Silence stretched between them.
Mira could feel it—the distance, the judgment.
“Why does this feel so wrong…” she thought.
She didn’t like this feeling.
Of being misunderstood.
Of standing there—without being able to explain herself properly.
So instead of stepping back— she stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
Slow.
Careful.
She stopped right in front of him.
Because he was taller, she rose slightly onto her toes.
Trying to focus.
Trying to see.
Still blurred.
But closer.
For a moment—everything stilled.
Her world, unclear.
His, suddenly too aware.
His heartbeat skipped.
Mira leaned just a little more.
“Maybe now…”
And suddenly— he stepped back.
“What are you doing?”
His voice sharper now.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Mira froze.
Reality hit.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
“I was just trying to see.”
She stepped back.
The distance returned.
The silence came back— heavier than before.
Mira stood there quietly.
Waiting.
For the staff to arrive.
Unaware— that this wasn’t just a misunderstanding.
It was the first time their worlds had collided.
And she still didn’t know— who that man was.
But somehow— this moment saw her.
Not as she was… but as something unexpected.
A misunderstanding.
A stranger.
And a beginning she didn’t notice.
Because she still didn’t know— who that man was.