As the days passed and the December chill grew deeper, Hyderabad began to shimmer with Christmas lights. now, its finally christmas day. Fairy lights clung to the balconies of old city apartments and sleek glass towers alike. old buildings are glowed like a dream, while the streets of Charminar hummed with life, colors, and the scent of warm bread and spicy kebabs.
"It was Christmas day... the city is drowned with crowd more than lights." Anaya whispered while nodding her head.
The sky was a soft navy, and the air buzzed with laughter, camera clicks, and carols spilling out from every corner cafe. The city felt like it had paused for a breath like a one long, joyous breath.
Anaya tugged her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she stood by the railing of a Bridge, looking out over the calm lake. She and Rose had been waiting for over half an hour. Their plan was to meet here, all five of them. just like they'd decided during class break.
But the others hadn't shown up yet.
Rose was standing beside her, cheeks flushed from the cold or excitement or maybe both. She kept checking her phone, her glossy hair falling over her face each time she looked down.
Anaya glanced sideways at her.
Rose asked, "You sure they said 6 PM?"
"Positive," Anaya replied with a little frown. "Maybe they got caught up somewhere. It's Christmas, after all."
The crowd was growing thicker, couples and families moving in cheerful clusters, some stopping for selfies, others sipping cocoa from little paper cups.
Just then, a group approached them, waving excitedly.
Anaya recognized them. "oh! my friends are here finally." She smiled and waved her hand back. But then something odd happened.
They looked at Rose…
"oh! sorry. this is Rose, my roommate." Anaya introduced Rose to them.
and then suddenly there is a voice..
"Woah… woah… woah!" someone whispered.
Anaya blinked. and asked,
"What just happened?"
Rose was fidgeting now, clearly aware of the sudden attention. The group of classmates who had finally arrived. They were supposed to meet earlier, but the city traffic and festive chaos had delayed them.
" Hii Rose…" Vicky said, his voice cracking slightly.
Rose turned, confused but smiling. "Hii! Merry Christmas!"
"M-Merry Christmas," Vicky replied, then looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.
Anaya watched silently as the others huddled around, chatting, laughing, exchanging handmade cards and little wrapped gifts. Yet something subtle stirred in the air like a secret not yet spoken, a thought left hanging.
Rose leaned toward Anaya and whispered, "Why are they all staring at me like I am not a human being?"
Anaya shrugged, lips curving into a small, amused smile. "Maybe you are. yeah, sorry na, they don't know you. so, they are just looking at you."
But deep down, Anaya doesn't knew, how Vicky has been acting weird today. Vicky, their class CR always joyous, always composed. but now he looked like anything but calm right now. His eyes kept drifting to Rose. And Rose, as always, remained blissfully unaware.
The group decided to walk along the lake's edge, where decorative stalls had popped up for the festival. warm waffles, Christmas ornaments, even a stall selling personalized candles. Anaya stayed close to Rose, but don't know anything about how Vicky's gaze silently watching and followed her every step.
The crowd was moving slowly, some are stopping to take in the light-and-lantern installations across the lake. There was a huge tree near the theatre, glittering with silver tinsel and blue baubles, a sight so surreal that even Anaya paused.
"This city looks different today," Rhea said, spinning slowly. "It's like a movie set."
"Yeah," Ira added. "Even the traffic honks feel… festive."
The group laughed, but Vicky said nothing. He was still staring at Rose — who had now wandered a few steps ahead to look at a snow globe stall.
"do you want to give her something?" Arjun murmured suddenly, while elbowing Vicky.
Vicky blinked. "Huh?"
Arjun raised a brow. "Come on. You brought us all here because you hoped she'd come. You might as well give her something before the courage runs out."
Anaya heard it. She froze. and whispered herself,
"Wait, he brought them here?"
Her eyes flicked to Rose, then back to Vicky.
and continued, "So that's why he looked like that.."
"So that's why he kept glancing over with that quiet panic in his eyes., i thought he is looking at me."
Arjun murmured to Vicky, "why don't you tell about this to Anaya,.."
Vicky answered, "I don't know how to said to her.."
Anaya heard over..
and thinking, "oh! its like this.. did i just misunderstand him. he doesn't even know who is Rose is? until now."
and continued, "oh wait! does he just said, that he has something to say to me. does he want to propose to me." Anaya excited with amusement like a love sick girl.
suddenly a voice whispered near Anaya's ear, "You said it'd be quiet," Rose said.
"It'll be worth it," Anaya had replied with like she is in delusion.
Now, standing here in the middle of the lights, with laughter ringing around her and the River water glinting in the distance, she understood why it had to happen this way.
They sat near the lakeside cafe eventually, legs tired, cheeks pink from the cold. Rose was sipping her hot chocolate, and Anaya had settled for coffee.
Across from them, Vicky kept fumbling with something in his pocket.
"Ana…" Rose whispered, nudging her with an elbow. " well, does he always acting like this. but, i thought he is acting so weird?"
Rhea looked at Anaya's friend and softened. Rose had always been effortlessly bright, the kind of person who can attract with her smile. She didn't notice the way people looked at her sometimes, like she was a dream they couldn't quite hold.
Rhea murmured herself, "Maybe that's why Vicky liked her. but, I've to tell about this to Anaya. if not.."
Rhea leaned in and whispered, "I had something to tell you."
Anaya asked. "What?"
Rhea replied, "Wait a bit. why don't we go somewhere..."