Arjun stepped out of the salon, still running a hand through his freshly cut hair. The cool night air brushed against his face, carrying a mix of perfume, roasted coffee, and city life. He walked to the parking area, smiling faintly when his silver Mercedes shimmered under the streetlights.
Sliding into the driver's seat, he started the car and pulled out slowly.
Asteria at night was alive. Neon signs flickered to life along the boulevards, painting the streets in blues and pinks. Cafés overflowed with laughter, musicians strummed guitars on corners, and the air buzzed with chatter and the soft hum of trams. Food stalls released curls of steam into the air — roasted chestnuts, noodles, grilled fish, and fresh bread.
Couples strolled hand in hand, and office buildings glowed like towers of glass stars. Arjun drove through it all, taking detours just to see more — through the shopping district, past the riverside lined with glowing lanterns, and up a small hill that gave him a view of the whole city glittering like a jewel below.
He felt peaceful. For the first time in years, his chest didn't feel heavy.
---
Eventually, hunger tugged at him. He spotted a cozy restaurant called "The Azure Table" tucked between two boutiques. Warm amber lights shone through its tall windows.
When he opened the door, a soft chime rang, and a wave of delicious fragrance hit him — a blend of roasted herbs, garlic butter, and freshly baked bread.
Inside, the restaurant had wooden floors, soft yellow lamps, and gentle jazz playing in the background. Small plants hung from the ceiling, and each table had a candle flickering quietly.
A waiter greeted him with a polite smile. "Good evening, sir. Table for one?"
"Yes," Arjun said, smiling back.
He took a seat near the window. The menu was printed on thick cream paper, elegant and simple.
After a moment, he waved the waiter over. "I'll have the Grilled Herb Salmon with Creamed Spinach, and a side of Buttered Mashed Potatoes. And a glass of iced lemon tea, please."
"Excellent choice, sir," the waiter said, jotting it down.
While waiting, Arjun leaned back, listening to the smooth saxophone melody filling the room. His mind wandered — everything that had happened in just a few days felt surreal.
When the food arrived, the salmon gleamed golden under the soft light, the spinach vibrant and rich. The first bite melted in his mouth.
"This," he murmured to himself, "is real comfort."
He finished every bite, savoring the calm. After paying, he left a good tip, nodded to the waiter, and stepped back into the cool night.
---
Back at the Villa
By the time he reached home, the clock neared ten. The villa stood quiet under the moonlight, elegant and peaceful.
Arjun took a warm shower, changed into soft grey nightclothes, and wandered through the halls, admiring the details he hadn't noticed before — the faint scent of lavender in the air, the polished glass shelves, the subtle golden lighting.
He stopped in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. The marble counters and high-end appliances gleamed.
"This kitchen's too beautiful to stay unused," he thought aloud with a smile. "Maybe I should learn to cook properly."
But for now, he didn't even know where to start.
He went to the bathroom and began applying the skincare products Zara had recommended. The cool serum tingled against his skin. He looked at himself in the mirror — the dark circles were still there, but somehow, he looked more alive.
Satisfied, he went to his bedroom, climbed into bed, and began scrolling through short videos on his phone. Between reels and funny clips, a thought slipped into his mind.
This phone's getting old… the camera's terrible.
He chuckled. "Guess I'll buy a new one tomorrow. Maybe a new laptop too. And a watch."
He yawned, feeling the soft sheets wrap around him like a cloud.
"Tomorrow's going to be fun," he murmured, and drifted off to sleep.
---
The next morning, Arjun woke up at six. The sunrise painted his bedroom in gentle gold. He stretched, showered, and went through his routine — skincare, hair, brushing his teeth to music.
In the kitchen, he toasted bread, made coffee, and ate while watching a few lifestyle videos. The idea struck him then.
Social media.
He opened his old phone and tapped the Instagram icon — only to remember he had deleted his previous account. The old one was filled with posts from his failed clothing brand. After the collapse, he had erased everything — friends, photos, memories. He'd wanted to disappear.
But now, things were different.
He smiled faintly. "Why not start again?"
He created a new account, typed @Arjun.Mehra, and set his profile picture as a simple blue background for now.
He looked around the villa — modern, beautiful, filled with light. The car waiting outside. For so long, he'd hidden from the world, ashamed of failure. But his parents had always told him, live your life fully, Arjun — don't just survive it.
He whispered, "I'll live the way you wanted, Mom. Dad."
---
After breakfast, Arjun grabbed his keys and headed into the city again.
He visited the largest tech store in Asteria — The Silver Square. Rows of sleek devices gleamed under bright white lights.
He bought the latest iPhone, a MacBook Pro, an Apple Watch, iPad, and AirPods — a complete set. It felt strange swiping his card without worrying about the cost, but liberating too.
Driving home, he unboxed everything carefully, setting them on his glass table. The soft chime of the new phone powering on filled the room.
He stepped outside, stood in front of his silver Mercedes, the villa glowing behind him, and turned the camera toward himself.
The evening light caught his face just right — the new haircut, the clean clothes, the calm smile. For the first time since his college days, he smiled with real joy.
Click.
He posted the photo with a short caption:
"A new chapter."
Within minutes, the screen lit up — 1 like. 2 likes. 5 likes.
He smiled wider. Not because of the likes, but because for once, he wasn't hiding anymore.
Chapter 6 — End.