"Aarohi, hurry up! The whole group has already moved ahead!"
Hearing Srishti's voice, Aarohi turned around, but her eyes soon returned to the Trevi Fountain. The water sparkled under the lights of the night. She stood there for a few moments, simply looking at it.
Nineteen-year-old Aarohi had never imagined that one day she would travel so far from India and visit Italy.
A few days ago, the college had made an announcement on the notice board. The top ten students would be taken on a ten-day trip to Italy, with all expenses paid by the college. Aarohi's name was on that list too.
Everyone had congratulated her, but no one knew that she had sat on the rooftop of the orphanage that night and cried. She was happy, but she had no one of her own to share that happiness with.
Aarohi knew nothing about her parents. When she was three years old, someone had left her at the gate of Asha Kiran Orphanage. There had been a small piece of paper with her, and only one thing was written on it—Aarohi.
That had been her identity ever since.
"Aarohi!" Srishti came over to her. "Are you crying again? We came here to enjoy ourselves, not to get sad!"
"These are happy tears, you idiot," Aarohi said, quickly wiping her eyes.
Srishti smiled. She knew how special this trip was for Aarohi. She was Aarohi's best friend in college, and she had never made her uncomfortable by asking questions about her past.
"Come on, toss a coin. They say wishes come true here."
Aarohi took a coin out of her pocket and held it in her palm.
"What are you going to wish for?" Srishti asked.
Aarohi stayed quiet for a moment before giving a faint smile.
"I just want someone of my own. Someone who scolds me when I come home late, refuses to eat without me, and waits for me to come back."
Srishti's smile faded a little. She gently squeezed Aarohi's hand but said nothing.
Aarohi closed her eyes and tossed the coin over her shoulder into the fountain.
"Just one person of my own," she whispered to herself.
The coin fell into the water. She turned towards her friend, but suddenly, she felt as if someone was watching her.
She looked up.
A man stood near the steps on the other side of the fountain. He wore a long black coat, had a slightly grown beard, and a serious expression on his face. People around him were taking pictures and chatting, but he stood apart from everyone, completely silent.
His eyes were fixed on Aarohi.
She froze for a moment. There was something about the stranger's eyes that made her feel as if he already knew her.
She quickly looked away.
"What happened?" Srishti asked.
"There was a man over there. He was looking at me."
Srishti glanced in that direction, but no one was standing near the steps anymore.
"You're impossible! Come on, everyone's waiting for us."
Aarohi looked at the spot one last time before walking away with Srishti. She thought she might just be tired from the journey and imagining things.
But the man hadn't left.
He was standing behind the steps, speaking to someone on his phone.
"Enzo, a blue kurti, open hair, and a yellow bag on her shoulder. I want her name."
A surprised voice came from the other end.
"Boss, are you asking about a girl?"
"Enzo, I don't need questions. Find out her name."
The call ended.
Dante Valenti watched Aarohi walking away in the distance. She was laughing and talking with her friend.
Dante was twenty-eight years old. He had seen a lot in his life, but finding himself so interested in a complete stranger was something new for him.
He knew nothing about the girl. Not her past, not her life, and not even her dreams.
Yet one question kept coming back to his mind.
Who was that girl?
He reached into his pocket to take out a cigarette, then changed his mind. His eyes were still fixed on the path Aarohi had taken.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Let's see when our paths cross again."
