Dreams are beautiful Colourful or sorrowful They’re just a shadow of life Sometimes real, and at times disturbing They show the reality of life. It doesn’t take money to dream. You must analyse your dreams and work accordingly. You might face criticism and obstacles, but they’re a part of life. You have to face it all to materialise your dreams. And dreams can be about anything—finding a job or a perfect life partner, maybe? Tarini Sharma, a computer engineer, is sitting at her desk, her eyes fixed on the laptop screen in front of her. She scrolls through her blog, where she has poured out her thoughts on dreams and aspirations. Each click of the mouse takes her deeper into her reflections. When she is not coding or developing any applications, Tarini finds solace in the pages of books. She not only reads but writes as well. When she feels that her words are left unheard, she returns to her own words, finding comfort in the rhythm of poetry. With each verse she writes, Tarini feels a weight lift from her shoulders. She believes in the power of writing to ease the burdens of the heart. In a world where voices are often unheard, she finds refuge in writing poetry, stories, and blogs. For Tarini, writing is more than just putting pen to paper—it’s a lifeline. For her, it’s a way to release the thoughts that often bubble in her mind, which remain unspoken and unheard. She knows that even if the world doesn’t listen, her soul will find solace in the words she writes. Today is Tarini’s day off, and she’s settled in to work on her blog, grappling with the concept of dreams. She reflects on what life would be like devoid of dreams, letting the idea simmer in her mind. She also emphasises the meaning of dreams that people see in their dreams. However, not every dream has a meaning, and it’s equally frustrating if you can’t find any meaning for the same. Lately, strange dreams have been occupying her thoughts. Though most slip away from her memory upon waking, one particular vision lingers, etching itself deeply into her consciousness. The vision is about a resort. The resort is spread over a huge area, and it’s divided into two buildings that are separated by a huge garden. However, there are two smaller gardens on either side of the buildings as well. The gardens are adorned with beautiful and fragrant flowers. She finds herself dancing among the flowers. There’s a temple near the entrance of the resort. She feels that she’s been to this place before, but she is unable to identify it. She has been experiencing this for a long time. It has become a puzzle and she’s unable to decipher it. Meanwhile, her friend, Prisha, enters the room and finds her lost in thoughts. “Ah, again thinking of those dreams, huh?” “Prisha, I just can’t forget these dreams. The resort, the temple, and…” “And? Did you see anything else, Tarini?” “Yeah, that guy! He apologises for something; I don’t know why.” “Haha, that must be your future boyfriend, Tarini.” Prisha laughs at Tarini and teases her that she’s dreaming of her boyfriend and that he will propose to her amidst those flowery fields in the resort. But Tarini is agitated. “Prishu, don’t laugh; I’m serious. I don’t know if that resort exists in reality or not. I am clueless. The more I try to decipher this mystery, the more I get confused.” “And that guy, clad in an all-black outfit! I don’t even get to see his face.” Tarini exclaims dejectedly. “Relax, Tarini! You should take a break. From your work, from this home. Let’s go somewhere on a vacation.” “You might find this place that you’re dreaming about, huh?” Prisha glances at her, hopefully. Tarini is lost in thought. Yeah, a little break won’t hurt. They can visit some nearby places and relax. Of course, the body and mind need rest at certain intervals. Prisha nudges her again, and Tarini turns to look at her. “You’re right, Prisha. I need a break, surely. But, honestly, I can’t get this dream out of my head.” She exclaims. “We’ll decipher it together, Tarini. Trust me! Come on, let’s look at some places we can visit.” Prisha suggests and the two get to work. Planning for a trip also needs a lot of work. And the temptation to find the place she sees in the dream is an exception. Tarini wants to find this dreamy place so desperately. She truly wants to decipher this dream, and if this is something connected to her past or her future, she wants it to unfold quickly. After browsing the internet for two hours, Tarini and Prisha decide to visit Lonavala, which is two hours away from Mumbai. Yeah, it’d take them approximately three hours to get there. They booked a suite at Whispering Woods Resort that could accommodate four people. Of course, they have two more friends to accompany them to Lonavala. Therefore, a perfect plan takes a shape. Tarini sighs deeply after seeing off Prisha. They’ll travel the next day, that is, Saturday, and she has a lot of work to do. She sets out to pack her bag, and that’s when she begins to reflect on her life. Her three best friends have always been there for her. Prisha is her childhood buddy, and she opens up about everything to her. The other two, Dhriti and Anahita, are sisters and all of them befriended during college. Now, they have become an inseparable group of four. All of them have taken different jobs, working diligently to make their parents proud. They are busy in their usual lives, but they take out some time every year and follow their annual vacation ritual. They’ve been looking for a place to go for a vacation and now that Tarini is upset with her dream sequences, they feel it’s the right time to put the work on hold and go on a vacation. The time is now running out, and Tarini can’t help but smile at the concern of her best friend. They made the bookings in an instant and it’s perfectly done. She only feels grateful to her friends. She picks up her phone, opens the WhatsApp group, and sends a thank-you message to her best friends. However, they believe that friendship is pure and you do not expect anything in return for something you do for the other. These four girls complement each other and fill certain gaps in each other’s lives. *** Prisha, Dhriti, and Anahita gather at Tarini’s house as they have decided to drive to Lonavala by themselves. The girls are quite excited and soon they get on the road. Travelling becomes therapeutic when you travel with your friends, and that too, with your best friends. As soon as they left the city and got on the highway, a fresh and cool breeze welcomed them. Tarini is sitting in the passenger seat, she inhales the fresh air and takes a deep breath. The morning sun is not too hot, there’s a yellowish hue in the sky, and the birds flying in the sky beautify the view. The traffic is less, and so driving is easy for the ladies. Tarini feels excitement oozing in her demeanour while watching the beauty of nature. Dhriti is driving the car at the moment. “I can’t wait to get to Lonavala.” She exclaims. “Finally, your mood changed. That’s all we wanted, Tarini. I told you to take a break and you will feel better. See, you’re in a better mood already.” Prisha says, and Tarini turns around to see Prisha, who’s in the backseat. “Yeah, and all those dreams will go away. You shouldn’t be thinking of it, Tarini.” It’s Anahita, the most logical one in the group. “Yeah, Ana doesn’t believe in all of this, right? And so she’s saying so. But Tarini, I believe it’s about your past. Someone’s looking for you.” Dhriti jokes, only to get smacked on the head. “Dhriti, you know, it’s not a joke. Tarini didn’t see the dream once; she had seen it three times. It surely has a meaning.” Prisha emphasises her point. “I feel the same, Prisha. I am unsure too; I don’t know what to do or from whom I should seek help. I am clueless.” Tarini sighs. “We will decipher it, Tarini. Relax! Enjoy the scenic beauty out here.” Anahita comforts her with a pat on the shoulder, and Tarini smiles again. Having her friends around her has been calming Tarini’s chaotic essence. They truly keep her sane and pull her away from doing anything wrong. *** Driving along the highway is therapeutic for Tarini. She changed her seat with Dhriti and hopped onto the driver’s seat. It’s a quiet morning, and the cool breeze is refreshing for each one of them. As they drive along, they feel everything is moving with them. Dhriti turns on the radio, and it’s a fun-filled trip with some fun-loving melodies and banter. After a drive of three hours, they reach Whispering Woods Resort and are in awe of the place. Tarini parks the car in the parking space, takes out their luggage, and then enters the huge gate of the resort. The resort is exquisitely beautiful. Upon entering the gates, there are gardens on both sides of the tiled pavement that lead to the first building of the resort. On the right-hand side, there’s an enclosed area with two exquisite round swings. The girls are awestruck to see the beauty of the place. They head into the resort from where they are escorted to the second building because the suites adorn the second building, while the first building has single rooms. A bellboy takes the luggage, and the four friends follow him. “This is beautiful! What a choice, Tarini!” Dhriti exclaims. “Yeah, this is therapeutic. See the vast gardens,” Anahita chuckles as she walks a little ahead of her friends. “This place is no less than heaven. Thanks, Prisha, for planning this trip,” Tarini genuinely extends her thanks to her friend. “I did it for us, Tarini. We are so busy in our lives that we can’t get time every day, but when we have time, we must make use of it,” Prisha says. “Yeah, and this way, we’ll get to do something new. I am so excited,” Dhriti exclaims. “And Tarini, please don’t think much. I hope that this trip breaks the symphony of the dreams that you experience,” Anahita side-hugs Tarini, trying to comfort her. Tarini can’t help but thank her friends. They are by her side in this time, even when they do not know what these dreams signify. They always listen to her rants and provide the most possible solutions. She hopes that she’s been experiencing her dreams due to work stress and tiredness. Also, she hopes that she’ll be a happier version of herself once she goes home from this trip. *** “She’s in the garden, looking for her friends. Today, they decided to do a photo session in all-white dresses amidst the white flowers in the garden. She’s calling for her friends, but no one is responding. She gets ecstatic and tries to call Prisha, but the phone doesn’t connect. She feels that she’s alone in the widespread garden. She calls for her friends one by one, but there’s no answer. “Oh no! Where did they go? I asked them to wait for me, where are they?” “And they got this dress for me. If I keep roaming around, the wet grass will stain my dress. Prishaa! Where are you?” She was self-talking when she heard a commotion from the other side. As she hurried towards the other side, she dashed into someone, and the person held her, saving her from the fall. “I am sorry!” She’s shocked, but as she tries to look up at the person’s face…..” She wakes up. She has seen the same dream again! She couldn’t see his face again! Huh! It has happened umpteen times that whenever she attempted to look at his face, she’d wake up from her dreams. She curses herself for failing again to have a look at him. Tarini is breathing heavily. She sits up straight for a few seconds and then looks around herself. Prisha is sleeping beside her, and Anahita and Dhriti are sleeping on another bed. Prisha wakes up to the movement caused by Tarini and gets concerned now. “Tarini, what happened?” “I saw that dream again, Prisha. And I didn’t see his face this time either. I don’t know why it’s happening, but all of this is irking me.” “I don’t know what to do. I am clueless, but these dreams will take away my sanity, Prisha. I just don’t understand what’s happening.” Tarini blurts out her frustration and Prisha listens to her patiently. “Sometimes, it’s intuition, Tarini. Maybe it’s an intuition about your future, and this guy is your future life partner. Maybe!” Tarini doesn’t say anything, and that’s when Prisha pulls her into a hug, much needed at the moment. She can feel Tarini sobbing in her embrace. However, experiencing the same dream over and over again without knowing the real meaning behind it is very frustrating. Yeah, they tease Tarini regarding the same, saying that it’s her future husband, but what if it’s something else? What if it is indicating something they are unable to understand? With all such thoughts, the two girls fall asleep. They can discuss this with Anahita and Dhriti and find a solution. *** The next morning, Tarini wakes up when the sun’s rays touch her face. She checks her phone, and the time is 8:30 am. She gets up with a jerk and finds her friends enjoying their morning drinks. She runs towards the corner where they’re seated on the couches. It seems like they’re ready for the day. “Why didn’t you guys wake me up? It’s late. We had to go sightseeing. And we have missed the bus,” Tarini asks, worry evident in her voice. “Tarini, it’s okay. We don’t need assistance in sightseeing here. You were sleeping so peacefully that I asked Prisha not to wake you up,” Dhriti smiles at Tarini. “But we’re late. And because of me, you guys are missing your fun,” Tarini sighs dejectedly. “No, we’re enjoying. And you know what, Tarini, when one is with their friends, life becomes enjoyable. Being here in this room is calming me because I am surrounded by all of you,” Anahita explains. “And after that dream, you took an hour to sleep, Tarini. We decided that we would go on our own. And we told the manager that we would not be going on the bus,” Prisha says, trying to calm her down. “Yeah, we have ample time, Tarini. You take a shower and get ready. We will have an outdoor breakfast. It’ll be fun,” Dhriti exclaims. Tarini glances at her friends. Her heart is filled with gratitude. These three have been by her side like rocks. Other than Prisha, Dhriti and Anahita have come closer to Tarini, and she is glad. Anahita often quotes that if she hadn’t joined the college, she’d not have witnessed Prisha and Tarini’s journey and wouldn’t have befriended them. From two, they have become four best friends, each worrying about the other, helping in tough times, and celebrating the moments of joy. They’re perfect examples of love, resilience, and friendship. *** Two days elapsed faster than they thought. Truly, when you’re relaxed when you want time to pass slowly, it passes in the blink of an eye. After a long day, the four friends are in their suite, relaxing on the balcony. The weather is cool and breezy, so the girls asked for an extra mattress and got it placed on the balcony. They placed the centre table beside the mattress on the balcony and arranged the food. Tarini is happy today. She’s glad that she hasn’t had any dreams for two days. She’s a little relieved and it’s evident on her face. “Ruu, I told you, things would get better, right? See, you didn’t complain of seeing any dreams,” Prisha exclaims. “Yeah, Pri, I am thankful to the almighty. I was just frustrated with all of it. I am glad it stopped,” Tarini says, a smile gracing her lips. “I understand, Tarini, and I believe it’s the effect of our bonding too. We are here after a long time, and being with us, you’re not thinking of it. And as a result, you’re not experiencing those dreams,” Anahita side-hugs Tarini. “But but! Tarini! I hope you find the man of your dreams,” Dhriti chuckles mischievously. “Yeah, Mystery Man! The one who never shows his face. Huh! He wants to surprise you, sweetie!” Prisha leanes over Tarini, slapping her cheek playfully. “Hey! I don’t believe it. It’s not true! Mystery men don’t exist,” Tarini waved off the conversation, feeling a little embarrassed. Prisha, Dhriti, and Anahita had a hearty laugh, and they shared a group hug with Tarini, who isn’t angry at them; instead, she’s grateful to have them by her side constantly. *** After a hearty chat with her friends, Tarini feels lighter than before. Truly, she believes that it’s the magic of friendship that’s making her feel better and alive again. The four girls are now lying in their respective beds; her friends are fast asleep, but Tarini is awake. She feels refreshed, thanks to her best friends. But her thoughts are wandering. The Mystery man! Well, do such people exist? Is it a sign that Tarini is going to meet her prospective groom? Well, she doesn’t believe it, but she wants to see the handsome face of the guy who apologizes for no reason. She has experienced the dream so many times, but she always fails to see his face. Her girly heart craves to see the face of the handsome guy. Maybe! Or it’s just a dream? Only the future will have answers. *** Every morning brings hope, helping to heal your essence. Tarini hopes that she will be able to decipher the mystery of the secret place and, of course, her mystery man. She only desires to see his face now. Despite staying up late into the night, Tarini is the first one to wake up owing to the birds chirping. The morning sky is orange-hued, and she spots a slight rainbow in the sky, enhancing the beauty of the sky. She’s in awe of the natural beauty that she’s experiencing. All she hopes for is to decipher the mystery she’s experiencing. She is still contemplating her thoughts when Dhriti and Anahita hug her from both sides, greeting her for the day. They assume that she’s still thinking about her dreams. “Still thinking about your mystery man?” Dhriti teases. “No, I was thinking about him last night. But I am unsure. Do you think dreams can come true?” Tarini questions. “I don’t believe in such stuff, Tarini. But I feel that this might be an indication of your future. I feel so,” Anahita exclaims. “I have the same feeling, Ana. But I am unsure. I don’t know if this is the right way.” Tarini looks doubtful. “Only time will tell.” Dhriti hugs her. She further suggests that they spend the day at the resort and explore it. Tarini and Anahita tend to agree, while Prisha also agrees. They decide to get ready and explore the place. Tarini is glad; their day is sorted. They will stay back at the resort, so they can lounge in their pyjamas and have fun. They share a fist bump before dispersing to get ready for the day. *** The four friends seek permission from the resort manager to stay at the resort and explore the place. He helps them by showing them the gardens, the pool area, and the temple amidst the resort. One picture catches Tarini’s attention, and she chuckles loudly. The picture depicts a temple in the middle of a vast garden, with flowers blooming magnificently. Tarini declares that it’s the same temple she has seen in her dreams. Her friends are surprised, but upon her insistence, they make their way towards the temple as directed by the manager. Tarini is flabbergasted by the beauty of the temple. They say that simplicity is the best, and this temple is an example of the same. It’s a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. They climb a few steps and enter the sacred shrine. The temple is adorned with pictures of various gods, and there’s a Shivlinga in the middle of the temple. She feels adrenaline rushing through her nerves as she climbs the stairs and stands before the Shivlinga. Lord Shiva is her favourite deity, and she often visits the temple when time permits. Her emotions overwhelm her as she starts to offer water to the Shivlinga. Her friends are surprised to find her praying in the temple. They share glances, at which Prisha shrugs at the other two. They have to wait patiently. Until now, only the temple has turned into reality, but they don’t know if the rest of the dream will come true. And what about the mystery man? They sigh deeply and patiently wait for their friend to return. Tarini returns to her friends with a smile on her face. It seems like she is content after worshipping her favourite deity. She glances at her friends and knows that they have many questions, so she directs them towards the pool area. There’s a pool brimming with crystal-clear water, and there’s a seating arrangement. They settle in the chairs, and Tarini glances at them, feeling anticipation rush through her. She then looks at her friends and explains that only the temple is part of the dream she has experienced. Apart from that, the gardens aren’t replicas of the places she has been seeing in her dreams. “Tarini, I think you’re overthinking. The temple resembles it, and the gardens too. You feel they’re familiar because you have seen them many times,” Anahita reasons. “I think you’re right, Ana, but I just can’t help it. This temple ade me feel like my dream has come true,” Tarini says, looking at them. “You’re too absorbed by your dreams, Tarini. But I hope that another dream of yours comes true,” Dhriti states mischievously. The other three girls laugh at her, and in the meantime, their breakfast is served, and the girls get busy with it. It’s going to be a smooth and fun-filled day. *** A few hours pass by. The girls have been lingering around the pool area. They dress in white outfits and click various pictures. Meanwhile, they hear a strange commotion. Tarini has been in the washroom and her friends tell her to come towards the main garden of the resort while they walk towards the same. Ten minutes later, she comes out of the washroom and heads towards the main garden. As she reaches there, she finds that there’s no one in the garden. “Oh no! Where did they go? I asked them to wait for me, where are they?” “And they got this dress for me. If I keep roaming around, the wet grass will stain my dress. Prishaa! Where are you?” Tarini is wearing an ankle-length dress that her friends chose for her. She is looking for her friends, when someone bumps into her and they hug her, saving her from falling. That’s when Tarini realises that her dream is materialising. “I am sorry! “ “It won’t happen again. It’s a gentle promise!” As she looks up, he turns to move away, but she holds his wrist and commands him to turn around. She feels a sudden jerk as their skins touch. She feels a sense of belonging as her cold hand grips on his warm wrist. She realises that she’s ecstatic at his close proximity, as she was in the dream. The guy turns around, and she’s awestruck by his sharp features. He’s fair-skinned, has black-eyes and his chiselled jawline makes him look attractive. Moreover, he has opted for a French-cut beard, which suits him. Tarini is gazing at him, her heart skipping a beat. “Who are you? Why are you apologising? Do we know each other?” Tarini questions. “I am Veer Singhania. I pranked my friends and I collided with you. I am sorry, Ms.” He glances at her. “Tarini it is. But why’d you apologise to me?” She asks. “The sudden push could hurt you, Tarini. Anyway, I must go. See you later.” He gets on his heel and turns to go. Tarini holds his hand and asks him to follow her. He follows her obediently and they head into the building, moving onto the second floor of the building to her suite. She offers him some water and he gladly accepts it. He sighs deeply after gulping down the water and that’s when he realises that she’s been staring at him. She’s alone in the garden, the grass wet and she holds the hem of her dress, looking for her friends. He comes like a gush of wind, collides with her and hugs her. He apologises. And then the dream breaks! So, is he the guy she has been dreaming about? Is he the mystery man she’s been searching for throughout? Well, she’s unsure, but this young man has surely soothed her heart. His presence is giving peace to her chaotic soul, and she’s thankful to him that he collided with her. She’s lost in her dream world when his deep, crisp voice falls in her ears, bringing her out of her trance. She looks at him, and he’s smiling at her. “I am sorry for the trouble, Ms. Tarini. But may I ask you something?” He asks and she allows him to speak further. “Well, sorry to intervene; I saw you staring at me. What is it?” He asks, and she’s started. Of course, she has been staring at him, and the reason is her dream. She feels he’s the man she’s been meeting in her dreams but fails to see his face. She could picture him laughing about her dream. She wavers her thoughts and smiles at him. “It’s just that I have realised that dreams come true. And it’s all because of you.” Tarini smiles at him. “Really? Am I the reason for your smile?” He asks excitedly. “Yes, Mr. Veer. And thank you! If you hadn’t collided with me, I would have never had the privilege to meet you.” Tarini exclaims, though; she wants to say that she has found her mystery man in his face. “Well, you’re right; it feels like I have found what I have been seeking.” Veer looks into her eyes and averts her gaze. “And what did you find?” She asks. “You, of course.” He gazes at her intensely and then pulls her close to himself. She’s startled at the moment and gets uneasy in his close proximity. The intensity between them multiplies as they stare into the depths of their eyes. A moment later, he rests his eyes on her face. “What did you realise? Of your dreams?” He asks. “Yeah, I found you, the man of my dreams. I didn’t know you’d go to such an extent.” She says, boring her eyes into his. They break into laughter, not breaking eye contact. She hugs him in the next instant, finally realising the connection between them. They’ve been acting like strangers until now, but they are old lovers. Veer and Tarini are college friends and, coincidentally, colleagues as well. Two months ago, the two had a tiff. Veer assumed that Tarini was demanding a lot of time from him, and he got manipulated by his friends and argued with her, knowing that she was equally frustrated with her own aspirations. She wanted to tell him everything but he didn’t give her any chance. And they stopped talking. Now, two months later, he’s here to convince his lady, without her knowledge. “But how did you end up here, Veer?” She asks, parting from the hug. “I want to apologise, Tarini. I know I blurted out my anger and frustration at you. I didn’t listen to you. I am sorry!” He apologises. “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing now?” Tarini gazes at him. “Yeah, Tarini. I know I did wrong, but my feelings aren’t lying. Our emotions and vibes complement each other. I know your dreams trouble you, so I thought of making them a reality.” He says, a smile playing on her lips. “I came to know you guys were coming here, so I followed you, Tarini. I just want to tell you how important you are and how well we complement each other.” He says, his eyes never leaving her face. Tarini is touched. He has put so much effort into apologising to her. He’s made her weirdest dreams come true, and now she feels he’s the right person for her—her mystery man for sure. She leaps into his arms, hiding her face in his shoulder. His manly scent seems to calm her nerves and he again apologises while in the hug. They part ways, and she takes a close look at her face. It’s been a long time since they’d have been this close to each other. Slowly, she pushes her face closer to him, kisses his forehead softly, and then entangles her lips with his in the next instant, pouring out all her love in that moment. The passion of love for each other has aroused the two souls to fall in love. Tarini breaks the kiss; her gaze lingers at Veer’s face for a second, and then and then she hugs him, placing her head on his chest while he embraces her in his arms. They have carved out a path of love, materialising their dreams.