The airport buzzed with life—luggage wheels clattering, announcements echoing in multiple languages, families reuniting, lovers parting. It was a whirlwind of stories unfolding in real time. But amid the chaos stood two girls with wide eyes, beating hearts, and dreams stitched into every thread of their clothing.
Aarohi Mehra stood near the departure gate, holding tightly onto the handle of her suitcase. She was tall and willowy, with a quiet beauty that turned heads without her ever realizing it. Her complexion was a warm honey-brown, glowing under the fluorescent airport lights. Long, wavy black hair cascaded down her back, tied into a low ponytail with a soft lavender scrunchie that matched her kurti. Her kurti itself was elegant—a pastel lavender piece adorned with delicate white embroidery around the neckline and sleeves, flowing over a pair of pale blue jeans.
Her eyes, large and almond-shaped, were the most captivating—deep brown, almost black, with a hidden intensity behind her soft-spoken demeanor. She wore a thin line of kajal and no other makeup, giving her an ethereal natural charm. A thin gold chain with a tiny Om pendant rested around her neck, a quiet token of her faith and the family she was momentarily leaving behind. Aarohi was not the kind to speak loudly or draw attention to herself. She carried herself with grace and introspection. She was the kind of person who remembered the birthdays of all her friends but never told them hers. She found poetry in everyday things—sunsets, old bookstores, the smell of rain.
And then there was Rhea Kapoor—a complete contrast, yet Aarohi's best friend since their chaotic college days.
Rhea was shorter—around 5'3—but what she lacked in height she more than made up for in personality. Her energy filled the space around her like a sparkler on Diwali night. Her skin was a warm golden brown, sun-kissed and glowing. Her dark brown hair was cut short in a bob with messy layers, dyed with streaks of chestnut that shimmered when the light hit them right. She wore a silver nose ring, two studs in each ear, and a stack of mismatched bracelets on her wrists. Her outfit was a perfect mix of edgy and chic—a cropped black tee that read "Not Today, Karma," paired with high-waisted cargo pants and white sneakers. A worn denim jacket hung loosely over her shoulders.
Where Aarohi's beauty was serene, Rhea's was striking—sharp cheekbones, expressive eyes lined with eyeliner wings sharp enough to cut glass, and a smirk that suggested she had a comeback ready for every situation. She exuded confidence, but it wasn't arrogance. It was the confidence of someone who had faced storms and danced in the rain. Rhea had a habit of clicking her tongue when annoyed and muttering sarcastic one-liners under her breath. Her laughter was infectious, and she had a knack for making people feel like they mattered.
They were the kind of pair that made strangers look twice—not because they were flashy, but because their bond was so genuine, it radiated. Soul sisters, as they liked to call themselves.
"Gate 5B," Rhea said, glancing at her phone. "Flight TG318 to Bangkok. We're all set, meri jaan."
Aarohi smiled nervously. "Are we really doing this?"
"Nope. It's just a vivid dream you're having while sitting in your old room, wondering if you remembered to water your cactus."
Aarohi chuckled. "I don't even have a cactus."
"Exactly."
The boarding gate opened, and the passengers began lining up. Aarohi looked around one last time. Families saying goodbye, lovers embracing with teary eyes, a toddler throwing a tantrum over a missing toy. It was a living mosaic of emotions.
She took a deep breath.
It wasn't just a trip. It was a leap into the unknown.
---
During the Flight
The cabin lights dimmed as the plane soared above the clouds. Aarohi stared out the window, watching the stars twinkle like scattered diamonds. The city lights below faded, replaced by vast darkness and pinpricks of light.
Rhea had already knocked out, curled into her seat with a hoodie pulled over her head and headphones in. Her phone screen showed a paused drama episode—some Thai BL series she was obsessed with.
Aarohi smiled faintly.
A flight attendant passed by—Ms. Sirikanya, a woman in her mid-thirties with neatly tied hair and a warm, professional smile. Her uniform was a crisp blend of deep purple and gold, and she wore it with effortless elegance.
"First time to Thailand?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Aarohi replied, returning the smile.
"You'll love it," Ms. Sirikanya said with a knowing twinkle in her eye. "It changes people."
Aarohi didn't know how true those words would turn out to be.
---
Arrival in Bangkok
The sun was just rising when they landed. Bangkok greeted them with golden warmth and the scent of lemongrass in the air. The airport, though quieter than when they had departed, still hummed with energy.
The immigration officer they encountered, Mr. Preecha, was a middle-aged Thai man with salt-and-pepper hair, polite yet firm. He examined their passports, asked a few routine questions, and nodded them through with a small smile.
Outside the terminal, the world exploded into color—monks in saffron robes walked barefoot past electronic billboards flashing with K-pop advertisements. Street vendors were setting up carts of mango sticky rice and coconut milk teas. The sky was a canvas of soft golds and pinks.
Their ride—a compact black SUV—pulled up, driven by Anya, Rhea's cousin's friend. Anya was in her late twenties, petite and stylish, with short spiky hair dyed teal and an ever-present Bluetooth earpiece in her ear.
"Welcome to Bangkok, ladies!" Anya chirped. "You're going to love your apartment. It's right near the Chatuchak market. Great food, great clothes, dangerous for shopaholics."
Rhea instantly clicked with her. "I accept the danger. Lead me to it."
The drive was a blur of neon signs, tangled power lines, and ancient temples nestled between skyscrapers. Aarohi pressed her hand to the car window, watching everything with wide eyes. The energy of the city was infectious.
Their apartment turned out to be in a mid-rise building with a red-tiled roof and a tiny garden at the entrance. It was two bedrooms, small but clean, with cream-colored walls, a narrow balcony, and just enough space to start a new life.
Rhea dropped her bags and fell onto the couch. "This is it. Our rebirth."
Aarohi wandered to the balcony. Below, the city was alive—shopkeepers opening shutters, kids walking to school in uniforms, early morning prayers echoing from a temple nearby.
She wasn't sure who she'd become in this city.
But she knew she'd find her.
And maybe, just maybe… she'd find something—or someone—she wasn't even looking for.
---
As the sky darkened and the city below sparkled with a thousand lights, Aarohi stood by the balcony, lost in thought. The soft hum of Bangkok's nightlife filled the air, but her mind was elsewhere. The weight of the decision she'd made, the reason she'd come here, lingered like an unspoken secret.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her reverie. She pulled it out and glanced at the message.
It was from an unknown number.
"You don't know it yet, but you're about to cross paths with someone who will change everything. Stay alert."
Her heart skipped a beat. The message seemed cryptic, unsettling… but more than that, it felt familiar, like something she should already know.
Aarohi's breath caught in her throat as the message lingered on the screen.
She turned to look at Rhea, who was lost in her own world, scrolling through her phone. Aarohi's fingers tightened around the edges of the device.
This wasn't just about starting fresh anymore. Something… or someone was waiting for her in this strange city.
Her instincts flared, and the quiet dread in her chest grew.
What had she truly stepped into?
---