As soon as Anaya's name was announced, she left with her friends, her steps carrying both excitement and quiet determination. Ayaan watched her retreating figure, his mind clouded with thoughts he couldn't quite grasp.
Just as he settled into his seat in the first row, Dev nudged him with a teasing grin.
"At least now tell me , who is she? And when did you become a lover boy, huh?" Dev smirked, leaning closer. "Don't tell me the only reason you came to this singing competition was because of her."
Ayaan frowned, feeling a strange mix of emotions he couldn't quite place. "This is only my second time meeting her," he admitted. "And honestly, I don't know why, but seeing her makes me feel... different. Unusually different."
His voice dropped slightly as he tried to put his feelings into words. "If I put it clearly, do you remember the song Rohit and Isha sang at the campfire?"
Dev's playful expression softened as he listened.
"Since that day, I've felt something... like something is missing in my heart," Ayaan continued. "An emptiness. But when I see her... I'm not sure, but it feels like she can fill that space."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Dev grinned again, patting Ayaan's shoulder. "That empty feeling you're talking about? That's called love, my friend."
Ayaan blinked, his expression uncertain. "Love...? Is it really—" He shook his head. "Speaking of which, where is that man?"
His gaze flickered around the venue, looking for a person who was rejected by anaya.
But while Ayaan and Dev were deep in conversation, they failed to notice a lurking presence.
In the shadows, Ajay stood with a cold smirk, watching them. With the help of the reporter, he snapped a few pictures, capturing Ayaan's face and his interactions with Dev.
As he lowered his phone, he turned to the new reporters around him.
"Today, my mood is not good," he muttered, his voice low but filled with intent. "Come to my house tomorrow... and bring those photos with you."
With that, Ajay turned away, his mind already plotting his next move.
-----
The auditorium fell into a hush as Anaya stepped onto the stage. The bright lights illuminated her figure, casting a soft glow on her determined expression. Murmurs filled the venue—some admiring her presence, others curious about her performance.
But Anaya? She wasn't looking at them.
Her gaze swept over the audience, passing by the unfamiliar faces, but in truth, she was only searching for one person. Her eyes lingered, indirectly, on Ayaan.
Ayaan, unaware of the depth behind her gaze, straightened in his seat as she held the microphone close to her lips.
And then— she began to sing with first lyrics "One reply from Moon"
The first note echoed through the venue, gentle yet powerful, as if weaving a story only she knew. The melody carried a deep, unspoken emotion, wrapping around the audience like an unseen thread.
Ayaan's fingers curled slightly as a strange familiarity struck him. He knew this song.
Or rather—it reminded him of something.
"This feeling… it's the same as that campfire night."
His breath hitched as his mind flashed back to the campfire. The song "My Message to the Moon"—the song that had left an imprint on him.
But this was different.
Stronger.
The emotions behind it were more profound, as if responding to something left unsaid in the previous song. It wasn't just a melody anymore; it was a reply.
Ayaan found himself completely drawn in.
---
As Anaya's song reached its final note, the entire auditorium remained silent for a moment—almost as if they were still trapped in the spell of her voice. Then, in an instant, the room erupted into applause. The judges exchanged looks of approval, the audience cheered, and her friends were practically beaming with pride.
But Anaya?
She barely acknowledged any of it. Her eyes immediately sought out Ayaan.
Even as she took a small bow and left the stage, her mind was elsewhere. Would he understand? Would he feel it?
Five minutes later, after the next performance had started, Anaya quietly slipped through the rows of seats. Her steps were quick, purposeful—until she finally stopped right in front of him.
Ayaan, who was still lost in thought over her song, barely had time to react before she leaned slightly forward and spoke with a small smile.
"Now, give me a rating for my song."