Varanasi was a city of organized chaos, where the hustle and bustle of the market, the sound of temple bells, and the constant murmur of the river blended into a unique symphony. Anjali immersed herself in this environment with the fascination of someone discovering a new world. Every narrow alley and every face wrinkled by life had a story to tell, and she was determined to capture them all.
However, she couldn’t stop thinking about the man from the sunrise. There was something about him that unsettled her, a feeling of having known him in another time, in another place. She scolded herself for getting carried away by such irrational thoughts, but the image of him kept appearing in her mind, unshakable.
That afternoon, while exploring a local market, she saw him again. This time he was haggling with an incense seller, his face relaxed but focused on the task. Before she could approach, he finished his purchase and turned to leave, but this time Anjali wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass. She pushed her way through the crowd and, almost out of breath, touched his shoulder.
«Excuse me…» she began, her voice faltering.
He turned, and upon seeing her, a small smile played on his lips, as if he had been expecting her.
«We meet again,» he said, his voice soft but firm.
Anjali suddenly felt shy, like a teenager. «Yes, I saw you this morning at the ghats. I’m Anjali, a photographer.»
«Aarav,» he replied, shaking her hand. «Nice to meet you, Anjali. How is Varanasi treating you?»
«It’s…,» Anjali searched for words, «overwhelming, but in the best possible way. There is so much to see, so much to feel here.»
Aarav nodded, his gaze turning introspective for a moment. «Yes, it’s a place that doesn’t leave you indifferent. The city has its own way of revealing things you didn’t know you were looking for.»
His words resonated with Anjali more than she had expected. Before she could respond, Aarav looked up at the sky, where the first lights of the evening were beginning to appear.
«Would you like to see a special place?» he suddenly asked.
