Pavan sat on the edge of his bed, his breath shallow, his heart thudding quietly in his chest. The soft golden light of the afternoon filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a warm, intimate glow. Chee stood before him, her emerald eyes reflecting the fading light like glittering jewels. The world around them felt distant, the noise of the village, the weight of responsibility—everything fading into the background as they stood lost in each other’s presence.

**Chee’s touch**, warm and electric, lingered on his skin as she slowly wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her delicate fingers traced the contours of his back, sending a shiver through him. Pavan, drawn into her orbit, placed his hands gently around her waist, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of her lehenga. For a brief moment, it was as if the entire cosmos had shrunk down to just the two of them, their hearts beating in time with the faint hum of magic that always seemed to accompany Chee.

Her voice, when she finally spoke, was a soft whisper, almost as if she were afraid to disturb the fragile moment between them.

**Chee**: "No matter where you go, Pavan, I’ll always be with you. My place is by your side."

Her eyes softened as she gazed into his, her words filled with more than just affection—they were a promise. A promise that transcended time and space. Chee was not just a companion; she was a part of him, bound to his fate, yet shrouded in mysteries that neither fully understood. The warmth of her presence was like a protective barrier against the uncertainties he felt about his future.

Pavan’s heart swelled with emotion, his mind spinning with everything he wanted to say but couldn’t find the words for. How could he express what she meant to him? He had never known a connection like this, something that defied logic, something that felt like it had existed long before either of them had come into being. All he knew was that he didn’t want to let her go.

He tightened his hold on her waist, pulling her closer. Chee’s breath hitched slightly, and she looked up at him with a mixture of surprise and affection, her lips curling into a gentle smile. The golden strands of her hair shimmered as they brushed against his cheek, their softness a stark contrast to the weight of the moment between them. For a fleeting second, Pavan let himself get lost in her—her beauty, her warmth, her promise.

But before he could speak, the fragile silence was broken.

There was a soft knock at the door. It was hesitant, barely audible, but it echoed in the quiet room like a distant drum. A voice followed, muffled but unmistakably filled with worry.

**???: "Brother, may I come in? I need to talk to you."**

The voice pulled both Pavan and Chee out of their little world, snapping them back to reality. Chee’s arms gently loosened from around his shoulders, and Pavan reluctantly let his hands fall away from her waist. Chee glanced toward the door, her eyes flickering with understanding. With a soft smile, she turned her gaze back to Pavan.

**Chee**: "I’ll be nearby. You should talk to her."

Her form glitched slightly, like the pixels of a hologram breaking apart. Tiny glowing green cubes began to ripple across her body, disintegrating her form into fragments of light. She stepped backward, her body shimmering like a mirage, and with one last lingering glance at Pavan, she vanished into the air, leaving only the faintest scent of jasmine and the gentle hum of energy behind.

**Note**: Chee’s glitching ability is a form of teleportation, allowing her to interface with reality itself. She can shift between dimensions at will, bending space-time in ways that are incomprehensible to ordinary beings.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

As the last of her presence dissipated, Pavan sighed, his mind still lingering on the warmth of her touch. He turned toward the door, running a hand through his hair, his heart slowly returning to a steady rhythm.

**Pavan**: "Come in, Pooja."

The door creaked open slowly, revealing **Pooja**, his 12-year-old sister. She stood there, looking small and uncertain, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as though trying to hold herself together. Her usually bright and lively eyes were downcast, filled with a worry that tugged at Pavan’s heart. Pooja had always been the light of their family, the cheerful one who never let anyone stay sad for long. But today, something was weighing heavily on her.

Pavan smiled gently, trying to ease her concern. He had always been protective of his little sister, especially after Govind had left for **Triveni University**. Pooja had grown even closer to him in the months since, and the thought of leaving her behind was one of the things that troubled him most about his upcoming departure.

**Pavan**: "What’s wrong, my little fairy? Why do you look so sad?"

The nickname brought a brief smile to Pooja’s lips, but it was fleeting. She moved quietly into the room, her bare feet barely making a sound on the wooden floor. Pavan watched as she sat down next to him on the bed, her hands still fidgeting nervously in her lap. He could feel the tension radiating from her, and he knew instantly what was troubling her.

She was afraid of losing him.

After a moment of silence, Pavan reached out and gently placed his hand on her head, stroking her hair in the comforting way he always had when she was younger.

**Pavan**: "You’re worried that I’m going to leave for Triveni like Govind, aren’t you?"

Pooja nodded slowly, her eyes beginning to glisten with unshed tears. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the flood of emotions that threatened to spill over. Pavan’s heart ached at the sight of her distress. He had always known how much she looked up to him, how much she depended on him. The thought of leaving her behind, even if only for a short while, felt like a weight pressing down on his chest.

Unable to bear the sadness in her eyes, Pavan slid off the bed and knelt in front of her, looking up at her with a gentle smile.

**Pavan**: "I’m only going there so I can make everything ready for you. That way, when my little fairy comes to Triveni, she won’t have to worry about anything."

Pooja blinked, her brow furrowing slightly as she processed his words. She didn’t speak right away, and for a moment, Pavan worried that his attempt to comfort her wasn’t enough. But then, in a soft, trembling voice, she whispered:

**Pooja**: "But… do you really have to go, brother?"

The question hit him harder than he expected. There was no denying the weight of responsibility pulling him toward **Triveni University**—the expectations of his family, the promise of a future he wasn’t sure he was ready for. But seeing the fear in his little sister’s eyes made him wish, for just a moment, that he could stay.

He reached out and gently patted her head, trying to chase away the dark cloud that had settled over her.

**Pavan**: "Yes, I do. But it’s so that when you come, you won’t get lost. And we’ll have so much fun together. I’ll even become friends with your favorite actor, **Aditya Roy**. Imagine how cool it’ll be when you tell your friends that your brother is friends with Aditya Roy."

Pooja’s eyes lit up with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. The mention of her favorite actor was like a spark in the darkness, a glimmer of joy that began to chase away the sadness.

**Pooja**: "Really, Pavan bhaiya?"

Pavan grinned, relieved to see the change in her mood. He knew she adored **Aditya Roy**, and the promise of meeting him was enough to distract her from her worries, at least for the moment.

**Pavan**: "Really. And when I become friends with Aditya Roy, I’ll make sure he invites you to his next show."

Pooja’s face brightened like the morning sun, her earlier worries momentarily forgotten. She threw her hands in the air, her voice filled with renewed excitement.

**Pooja**: "Really, brother? Then you should hurry up and go! Make Aditya Roy your friend!"

Pavan couldn’t help but laugh at her sudden enthusiasm. Her joy was infectious, and seeing her smile so brightly filled him with a warmth that chased away his own doubts. He reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately.

**Pavan**: "Alright, alright! I’ll go and make it happen, just for you."

Pooja beamed at him, her earlier sadness fading like mist in the morning light. With one last glance, she bounded out of the room, her worries gone, at least for now. Pavan watched her leave, the smile lingering on his face even after she disappeared from view.

But as the door closed behind her, Pavan’s expression sobered. He stood up slowly, the weight of reality settling back onto his shoulders. **Triveni** was no small journey, and while he had comforted Pooja, the truth was he wasn’t ready for the challenges that lay ahead.