Finding you in the crowd

Time kept moving. School was long over, and though life had taken Deepika and Manish in different directions, their bond stayed strong.

They still met — not every day, but often enough. Sometimes in a quiet park, sometimes while running errands, sometimes just standing across the street, looking at each other with a smile that held a hundred words.

But one day, both of them found themselves thinking the same question:

"What do we want to do with our future?"

They knew love alone wasn't enough anymore. They had to become something, build something. They needed a path — not just to be together, but to stand on their own feet.

⸻

Deepika's Dream — A Step into Beauty and Art

Deepika had always loved beauty work. Since school days, she was fascinated by makeup, nail art, hairstyles — everything related to the beauty world. She would spend hours watching videos online and practicing on her little cousins.

One evening, while talking, Manish said to her,

"Why don't you do a professional beauty course? You love this stuff — turn it into your career."

Deepika hesitated. "Would my parents allow it? Would they support me?" she asked quietly.

Manish looked at her and smiled. "If this is what you want to do, I'll support you. Always."

The very next week, he helped her find a good beauty institute. She enrolled in a special course — focusing on nail art and makeup. Manish paid for the course, with help from one of his elder cousins, who knew how important Deepika was to him.

For Deepika, this wasn't just about learning a skill.

It was about owning her dream.

She attended classes daily, practiced with full dedication, and slowly started doing nail art for clients too. Small steps — but they gave her confidence, identity, and pride.

⸻

Manish's Path — Becoming a Hair Stylist

Meanwhile, Manish didn't stop either.

He had always been good with style, and loved learning new things. After thinking deeply, he decided to do a hair styling and grooming course. It was a proper professional course, and he put his heart into it.

He learned everything — from hair cutting, coloring, beard styling, to working with clients. He even started working part-time in a local salon.

Both of them — Deepika and Manish — were growing, not just in love, but as individuals too.

⸻

A New Distance

But just as things were becoming stable… life changed again.

After completing his course, Manish got selected for an internship in Ranchi. It was a big opportunity — a well-known salon had offered him a chance to work and train under professionals there.

But it also meant… he had to shift.

He had to leave the town, leave Deepika… at least for now.

It wasn't easy. When Manish told Deepika about the move, her face fell.

"When?" she asked softly.

"15th August. Just a few weeks from now," he replied, trying to stay calm.

She nodded. Her heart sank, but she didn't stop him.

Because this was important. This was what they had dreamed of — building a future.

And sometimes, love means letting the other person fly.

⸻

The Goodbye

The day Manish was leaving for Ranchi, Deepika went to see him off.

She didn't say much. Her eyes were wet, but she smiled through them. He placed his hand on hers and said,

"I'll come back. We're not saying goodbye forever."

She nodded, but her heart was heavy.

The train pulled away, and Manish disappeared into the crowd.

Deepika stood there, frozen.

It felt like something had been torn away from her.

⸻

The Empty Days After

After that day, everything felt… different.

The streets were the same, but quieter. The places where they used to meet now felt empty. Even her classes felt boring, like something was missing.

At night, she would scroll through their old chats, listen to his voice notes again and again, and sometimes… cry silently under her blanket.

She didn't say it to anyone — not even to her best friend — but she missed him terribly.

And Manish?

In Ranchi, he was working hard, learning fast, doing well. But when he returned to his small rented room at night, he too felt something missing.

He missed her voice. Her presence. Her little complaints. Her smile.

They called each other whenever they could. A few stolen minutes between work and sleep. A simple "How was your day?" or "Did you eat?" or just… silence. But comforting silence.

Even with the distance, they remained connected — through dreams, promises, and faith.

⸻

Because real love doesn't break with distance.

It waits.

It grows.

It believes.