Whispers Beneath the Stars
Chapter 1
May 1998, Bangalore
The hum of the dial-up internet still echoed in 16-year-old Khushi’s ears as the cyber café finally sprang to life. This was her weekly escape. When things got stifling between Amma and Appa, Khushi ran to this hidden corner of the world. Tucked away from the humdrum of burgeoning Bangalore, the café was a safe haven—a small cubicle with a plastic chair, a flickering monitor, and the thrill of connecting with people miles away.
She drummed her fingers on the desk, glancing at the timer on the computer screen—50 minutes left of her prepaid hour. Anytime now, she thought, the minutes ticking louder in her mind.
She leaned forward in her chair, squinting at the glowing screen. They had a rhythm, she and Skybound. He always showed up five minutes after her, like clockwork. And today, just as expected there it was—the familiar sound she had been waiting for, the uh-oh of ICQ, signaling a new message. The chat room opened, and a message blinked at her from an anonymous familiar visitor. No names exchanged.. Just conversation. A secret she indulged in every week.
She smiled. This stranger was becoming her favorite part of the week.
Skybound: Back again, I see. Couldn’t resist the allure of my charming personality, could you?
Khushi bit back a smile, fingers flying across the keyboard.
OceanBreeze:Oh, don’t flatter yourself. I just needed a distraction from my boring life. Figured I can use a laugh.
There was a pause, the cursor blinking as she waited for his reply. All she knew was that he was from somewhere up north, but beyond that, he was a mystery. And it didn’t matter—this was the one place where she didn’t need to explain herself or carry the weight of everything happening in the real world.
Skybound: A laugh? I’m always here to serve. Need me to trip over something?
She exhaled a soft giggle. For a moment, she glanced around the café, her lips caught between her teeth, suddenly self-conscious. Laughing in public wasn’t something she did often—it was something Amma would find out of place. Here though, with Skybound, she didn’t have to hide.
OceanBreeze: Oh, please. You sound too coordinated for that. I bet you’re the type who walks in slow motion while everyone else stumbles.
Skybound: You got me. But it’s not my fault. The universe just gave me the gift of looking good from every angle.
OceanBreeze: Wow. Humble too, I see.
Skybound: What can I say? When you have your sisters constantly criticizing your every move, you’ve got to boost your own ego. It’s survival.
Khushi rolled her eyes, though a grin tugged at her lips. His humor had a way of easing the heaviness she carried.
OceanBreeze: So how many sisters do you have, anyway?
Skybound: Three sisters. Why, you want one?
Khushi burst out laughing in the quiet café, earning a few glances from the other cubicles. She quickly typed back.
OceanBreeze: Three sisters? You’re living in a circus, not a house!
Skybound: You have no idea. They run my life. I just exist in their kingdom, like a court jester trying not to get fired.
OceanBreeze: Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re holding your own pretty well. three sisters and a sense of humor? You must be some kind of superhero.
Skybound: I’ll take that as a compliment. But you — appears no siblings at all? Seems a bit too quiet. Doesn’t it get lonely? You can certainly have some of mine, free trial.
Khushi paused for a moment, the cursor blinking at her. Lonely. It wasn’t something she thought about often, but there was a truth in the word that made her pause. She brushed it off, typing quickly before the feeling settled in.
OceanBreeze: Sounds like a good trade to me! How about you take my Chikkamma for a week, and I’ll take your sisters?
Skybound: Deal! But I warn you, they might try to turn you into their personal doll. Are you ready for glitter and fashion critiques?
OceanBreeze: As long as I get out of the cooking lectures, I’m game!
Skybound: Just remember, once you step into their world, there’s no escape. I might be the handsome prince, but I’m still trapped in their castle!
Khushi laughed, shaking her head. She could almost picture him now—some guy with an easy grin, confident in a way that wasn’t obnoxious but just enough to make her wonder.
OceanBreeze: And here I thought you were living the glamorous life.
Skybound: Glamorous? Me? Ha. My life’s a mix of tea breaks and avoiding household chores. But hey, it’s a peaceful existence.
OceanBreeze: Tea and avoiding chores sounds a lot like heaven to me right now.
Skybound: Oh yeah? What’s got you running from home today?
Khushi paused for a second. She could feel the cool Bangalore breeze through the café’s windows, and the hint of rain in the air seemed to match her mood. The silence between her and Amma at home had been growing louder, and escaping to the café was the only way to breathe.
OceanBreeze: Same old. Amma wants me to be more responsible, Appa wants me to study harder..
The cursor blinked as she pressed send. Skybound's reply came swiftly.
Skybound: Ah, the classic. Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m supposed to be peeling vegetables right now.
Khushi could imagine it now—this mysterious boy somewhere in a bustling household, juggling demands from three sisters while plotting his own small rebellions. It felt surreal, talking to someone she’d never seen but could picture so clearly in her mind.
OceanBreeze: I knew it! The glamorous life. Next thing you’ll tell me is you’re also a master chef.
Skybound: Nope. But I can manage pretty decent pakoras without setting the kitchen on fire. Does that count?
OceanBreeze: Impressive. A man of many talents.
Skybound: What can I say? I aim to surprise. But what about you? Any secret talents?
OceanBreeze: Hah. I wish. Mostly I’m just trying to survive the week without upsetting Amma and Chikkama.
Skybound: Well, you made it here. That’s gotta count for something. Plus, you’ve got me for company. That’s a win, right?
Khushi’s smile softened. His words wrapped around her like a warm blanket, easing the tension in her shoulders. He had no idea how much she needed this, this simple escape into lighthearted banter, a world where she didn’t have to carry the weight of her family’s expectations.
OceanBreeze: Yeah. I guess that’s something. Your simple life sounds like the kind of escape I need.
Skybound: Who knew avoiding chores could be so inspiring? You should try it sometime.
OceanBreeze: Maybe I will. But for now, I’ll just live vicariously through your peaceful existence.
Skybound: My peaceful existence is here for your entertainment, any time.
She laughed again, the sound softer this time. There was something about him—his mix of devilish charm and simplicity—that made her feel lighter, like the weight she carried wasn’t so heavy when they talked.
OceanBreeze: Thanks for that. You have no idea how much I needed this tonight.
Skybound: You’re welcome. Anytime you need a break from your perfect-daughter-niece duties, you know where to find me.
OceanBreeze: I’ll hold you to that.
There was a comfort in their banter, a lightness that made Khushi forget the weight of the day. She didn’t know his name, or anything about him beyond these fragments, but it didn’t matter. In this space, she didn’t need to. It was like slipping into another world, where nothing mattered except the words on the screen and the connection they formed.
Skybound:Well, stranger, until next time, then?
Khushi smiled, her fingers tapping lightly on the keys as she sent her final message.
OceanBreeze: Until next time.
Khushi smiled, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Talking to Skybound felt like slipping into a different world, one where she didn’t have to pretend, didn’t have to hold back. Maybe that’s why, after all these months, she hadn’t asked for his name or shared hers. It was safer this way—letting him remain a mystery, just like she was to him. And yet, week after week, she returned. She couldn’t quite explain why, but something about him made her feel understood in a way that no one else did.
She logged off, the café’s hum fading as she stepped outside into the humid Bangalore night.
>>Chapter 2
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