A Day to Look Forward To
The morning sun filtered through Riya's curtains, casting golden patterns across the room. She groaned, rolling over, only to hear her phone vibrate on the nightstand. Squinting, she reached for it and saw Anu's message:
"Wake up, sleepyhead! Today's the space show! Don't you dare be late!"
A small smile tugged at Riya's lips. Trust Anu to be more excited than her. Stretching, she sat up, feeling a rare sense of anticipation fill her chest.
She quickly showered, letting the warm water soothe her tired muscles. After drying her hair, she pulled on her favorite navy-blue sweatshirt adorned with tiny white stars and paired it with black jeans. She slipped into her sneakers, grabbed her sling bag, and stepped out.
As she reached the planetarium, she spotted Anu standing near the entrance, scrolling through her phone.
"Look who finally decided to show up!" Anu teased, crossing her arms dramatically.
Riya smirked. "For the record, I was right on time."
"Hmm, barely," Anu quipped, linking her arm with Riya's. "Let's hurry. I got us the best seats."
Inside, the planetarium was buzzing with excitement. Children, students, and space enthusiasts filled the vast dome, their voices blending into a soft murmur. The walls were decorated with high-resolution images of nebulae, galaxies, and astronauts.
Riya's eyes gleamed as she took it all in. "It's been a while since I came here."
Anu nodded. "Yeah, me too. I figured you'd love it."
They made their way to their seats, right in the center where the view would be the best. The soft hum of conversations died down as the lights dimmed. A smooth, deep voice echoed through the dome.
"Welcome to The Stars Beyond the Screen... a journey through the wonders of the universe."
The ceiling above them transformed into a vast, breathtaking view of the cosmos. Planets rotated in perfect harmony, stars shimmered like scattered diamonds, and nebulae swirled in mesmerizing hues of blue and violet.
Riya's breath hitched. No matter how much she studied space, seeing it like this always left her in awe.
Anu nudged her. "Okay, admit it. This is way cooler than those dry research papers you always read."
Riya chuckled. "I won't deny it."
.....
Far beyond Earth, in a realm untouched by time, Dhruv sat on his celestial throne, observing the mortal world through a shimmering astral mirror.
He had seen Earth countless times before. Watched empires rise and fall, seen civilizations expand and collapse. Yet today, he lingered.
Beside him, the Lords of the celestial domains gathered, their presence powerful and commanding. The Lord of the Moon, Soma, with his silver robes and calm, knowing eyes, studied the scene below with mild interest.
"They look at the stars with such longing," Soma mused. "Humans always dream of reaching the heavens, yet they remain bound to the ground."
The Lord of the Sun, Surya, let out a low chuckle. "They barely understand the forces that govern their universe. And yet, they call themselves explorers."
The Lord of Heaven, Indra, scoffed. "Explorers? Hah! They know nothing of the cosmos' true nature. Their curiosity is fleeting, driven only by self-interest."
Dhruv listened to their words, his silver eyes focused on the mortal world. Unlike the others, he did not dismiss humans so easily.
"They seek knowledge," he said quietly. "Despite their fragility, they reach for what lies beyond their world."
The mirror's surface rippled, revealing the dome-shaped theater where hundreds of humans sat in fascination. Among them, his gaze lingered on one,Riya.
She sat with wide eyes, absorbing every detail of the space before her. There was something about her. A familiarity he couldn't place.
Soma followed his gaze. "That one… she seems different."
Indra huffed. "They are all the same. Mortals are fleeting. She will watch the stars tonight and forget them tomorrow."
Dhruv said nothing. But he doubted that was true.
Back in the planetarium, the narration continued.
"Stars are born and stars die. But even in their destruction, they pave the way for new worlds to be formed…"
The screen showed a stunning supernova explosion, brilliant, destructive, yet breathtaking.
Riya felt her heart race. This was why she loved space. The endless cycle of creation and destruction, the balance of everything.
Anu leaned in. "You're completely lost in this, aren't you?"
Riya nodded. "I can't help it. Every time I look at the stars, I feel like they're calling out to me."
Anu arched an eyebrow. "Calling out?"
Riya hesitated, then shrugged. "It's silly. Just… a feeling."
Anu smirked. "I swear, sometimes you sound like you belong in a fantasy novel."
Riya laughed, shaking her head. "Maybe I do."
As the show continued, a strange sensation crawled up Riya's spine. As if… someone was watching her.
She turned her head slightly, scanning the darkened theater. But there was no one suspicious.
Still, the feeling didn't leave her.
And she has immersed into the show again
- - - to be continued - - -