The next morning, Tara walked into college holding her project carefully against her chest.
She had worked on it for days.
Late nights. Smudged sketches. Pages torn and restarted again and again until it finally felt right.
This wasn't just an assignment.
It was proof to herself that she could do something well.
When her turn came, she handed it over with quiet hope.
The judges barely glanced at it.
Instead, they immediately accepted another girl's project a popular student from a wealthy family. Teachers gathered around her, praising loudly, their voices echoing through the room.
Tara's project was pushed aside.
"We can't accept this," someone said casually.
That was all.
No explanation. No feedback.
Just rejection.
Tara nodded silently, fingers tightening around her file as she walked away. The corridor suddenly felt too long… too loud… too empty.
By the time she reached her part-time job at the supermarket, the heaviness still hadn't left her.
Her smile was faint.
Her movements slower.
Even her thoughts felt tired.
That was when Advik entered the store, searching for snacks for his friend.
He noticed her immediately.
Something was wrong.
The usual storm of thoughts inside her mind felt… dimmer. Sadder. Like a fading echo.
Before he could approach, a customer slammed items onto her counter.
"I want a discount," the man demanded sharply.
"I'm sorry, sir," Tara replied softly. "I don't have permission to give extra discounts."
The man scoffed loudly.
"Then what's the point of you standing here? Call someone useful!"
She explained again, calm and polite, though her fingers trembled slightly.
But the customer kept arguing, his harsh words piling onto a day that was already too heavy.
Advik watched from nearby, irritation slowly rising in his chest.
Finally, the man left in anger.
Silence returned.
Tara stood still for a moment, staring at the counter as if gathering the last pieces of her strength.
Then quietly, she walked to her manager.
"Sir… may I leave early today?"
The manager looked at her tired face and nodded gently.
"Go home. Get some rest."
"Thank you," she whispered.
And she left.
A few minutes later, Advik stepped to the billing counter with his snacks.
The chair was empty.
He frowned slightly.
"…Tara?" he called before realizing he'd said her name aloud.
No answer.
Uneasy, he paid quickly and stepped outside.
That was when he saw her.
Across the road.
Walking slowly.
Head lowered.
Lost inside her thoughts.
Maybe I'm just not good enough…
Why does everything fail…
I'm so tired…
Without noticing, she stepped forward onto the road.
A speeding vehicle rushed toward her.
Advik's heartbeat exploded.
"TARA!"
He ran.
The world blurred.
The roar of the engine grew louder.
He lunged forward and grabbed her wrist—
Her body lost balance instantly.
She fell forward, straight into his arms.
Before she could even understand what happened, his fingers tightened around her.
And the moment their skin touched
Everything stopped.
The speeding car froze inches away.
The rushing wind vanished.
The sounds of the city disappeared into a sudden, impossible silence.
Dust hung motionless in the air.
Time itself had shattered.
Advik stood there, breath trembling, holding Tara against him . Her weight resting in his arms, her eyes still closed in shock.
Because for the first time in his life…
The world had stopped.
And the girl in his arms was at the center of it.