HIM AND I

Laughter echoed through the bustling streets of Mumbai as Aashirya twirled in the middle of the road, arms spread wide, her long curls bouncing with each spin. The monsoon had arrived, painting the city in glistening shades of grey, but Aashirya was a riot of color—dressed in a bright yellow sundress, her eyes sparkling like mischief itself. "Aashirya, get out of the rain, idiot! You'll catch a cold!" her best friend Rishi shouted from the roadside, shielding himself under a café's awning. She stuck her tongue out at him, laughing. "And miss out on the best part of the season? No way! You should try it, Rishi! It washes away all the sadness." He shook his head, half-smiling. Aashirya was like this—an explosion of sunshine even when the sky roared with thunder. She was the kind of girl who could charm a grumpy shopkeeper into giving her an extra bar of chocolate for free, who could turn a dull lecture into a comedy show with just one perfectly timed joke.