Today is the day.

After days of planning, searching, arranging and overthinking every little detail...

Akanksha is finally shifting.

Since morning, her room had been in complete chaos.

Clothes were spread across the bed. Two suitcases were lying open on the floor, one half-filled and the other somehow even messier than before. There were shopping bags near the cupboard, small boxes on the side table, and things everywhere that Akanksha had completely forgotten she even owned.

She is sitting in the middle of the bed, surrounded by clothes, looking at the mess in front of her with a tired expression.

"Yaar..."

She picked up one top.

"Ye bhi le jaun?"

Niharika, who was sitting on the floor and sorting through her daily-use things, didn't even look up.

"Ha."

Akanksha picked up another one.

"Ye?"

"Haan."

"Ye?"

"Akanksha!"

"Haan?"

"Tu mujhe packing karne de rahi hai ya har kapde ki permission le rahi hai?"

Akanksha laughed.

"I'm confused!"

"Obviously," Sorab said from near the cupboard. "Pichhle ek ghante se tu sirf confused hai."

He was holding a pile of clothes in his hands and trying to figure out which bag they were supposed to go into.

Akanksha looked at him.

"Tumne meri clothes fold bhi ki hain?"

"Fold?" Sorab looked offended. "Main yahan unpaid labour kar raha hoon aur tujhe fold ki padi hai?"

Niharika immediately laughed.

"Unpaid labour?"

"Haan. Dekho na subah se kaam kar raha hoon."

Akanksha pointed towards the clothes in his hands.

"Woh shirt ulta fold kiya hai."

Sorab looked down.

There was a brief silence.

"Achha... toh?"

"Ulta hai."

"New apartment mein jaake seedha kar lena."

"Sorab!"

He laughed and continued packing.

Niharika shook her head.

"Tum dono se kuch nahi hone wala."

She picked up a small pouch and opened it to check its contents.

"Sun, ye le tera brush... shampoo, body wash... toothpaste bhi hai. Aur ye face wash."

She handed everything to Akanksha.

Akanksha took the pouch and placed it inside her bag.

"Haan."

"Abhi ke liye jo-jo daily use ka chahiye na, woh sab alag rakh," Niharika explained. "Kyunki abhi shift hone ke baad tu turant shopping pe nahi jaa payegi. Thak jayegi. Kal sochenge jana he ya nahi.."

"True," Sorab added. "Pehle apartment mein saara samaan rakh, room set kar, thoda rest kar. Shopping baad mein."

"Ek baar setting ho jaaye na," Niharika continued, "phir hum proper list banayenge. Jo jo cheezein missing hongi, sab lene chalenge."

Akanksha nodded.

"Haan, warna main wahan jaake realize karungi ki toothbrush hai but toothpaste nahi."

"Exactly," Niharika said.

Sorab suddenly turned around.

"Wait."

Both girls looked at him.

"Tum logon ne important cheezon ki list banayi?"

Akanksha frowned.

"Important matlab?"

"Matlab... jo cheezein apartment mein first day pe zaroor chahiye."

Niharika thought for a second.

"Hmm..."

Sorab started counting on his fingers.

"Water bottle. Medicines-"

"Basic medicines hain," Akanksha interrupted.

"Phone charger."

"Packed and Sara furniture to kal hi agaya tha..hum khud rakhva ke aye he..bas vaha jake sab sahi jagah set karna he..."

"Extension board."

Akanksha froze.

"Extension board..."

She looked towards Niharika.

Niharika looked towards Sorab.

Sorab smiled.

"Exactly."

"Woh kahan hai?"

"Pata nahi."

Akanksha immediately started searching through the bags.

"Yaar, woh toh chahiye hoga!"

"Relax," Niharika said, laughing. "Mil jayega."

"Mil jayega nahi, abhi dhoondo."

Sorab joined her search.

Within seconds, the three of them were looking through different bags.

"Ye kya hai?" Sorab asked.

"Hair dryer."

"Ye?"

"Straightener."

"Ye?"

"Charger."

"Ye?"

"Fairy lights."

Sorab stared at her..

"Fairy lights?"

Akanksha shrugged.

"Room achha lagega."

"Extension board nahi hai, fairy lights hain."

"Priorities."

Niharika burst out laughing.

"Exactly. Priorities!"

After another few minutes of searching, Niharika finally pulled out the extension board from underneath a pile of clothes.

"Mil gaya!"

Akanksha immediately smiled.

"Thank God."

"Isko alag bag mein rakh," Niharika instructed. "Aisi important cheezein last mein nahi dhoondhni chahiye."

"Haan."

Akanksha carefully put it into a smaller bag.

For the next few minutes, the room became quiet again.Only the sound of clothes being folded and bags being zipped filled the room.

Akanksha picked up a sweater and looked at it for a moment.

"Ye toh maine last winter pehna hi nahi tha..."

"Phir mat le," Niharika said instantly.

"But...bad me bhi to wo sab shift karna he padega na..le leti hu.."

"No but. Tu har cheez ko 'but' bolke pack karegi toh teen suitcases aur lagenge."

Akanksha smiled.

"Achha, fine."

She put it aside.Sorab looked towards the growing pile.

"Ye jo reject pile hai na..."

"Haan?"

"Iska kya karna he...?"

Akanksha looked at him

Donate kar denge...she said

Akanksha smiled and turned back towards her suitcase.But after a few moments, her smile slowly faded.

She looked around the room.

There were still things everywhere, but underneath all the mess, she could see the room slowly becoming empty.

A shelf that had always been full now had only a few things left.

The corner where she kept her bags was almost cleared.

Even her cupboard looked strangely different.

She hadn't realized how many memories were attached to such ordinary things until she started putting them into boxes.

Niharika noticed her expression.

"Hey..."

Akanksha looked at her.

"Kya hua?"

"Nothing."

"Sure?"

Akanksha nodded.

"Bas... thoda strange lag raha hai."

Niharika softened.

"Obviously lagega. Itna time yahan rahi hai."

"Haan."

Sorab also looked towards her.

"Excited hai?"

Akanksha smiled a little.

"Very."

"Scared?"

She thought about it.

"Thoda."

"Good," Sorab said. "Matlab normal hai."

Akanksha smiled.

"Tumhare paas har cheez ka answer hota hai?"

"Nahi. Bas confidence se bol deta hoon."

Niharika laughed.

"Ye baat sach hai."

Akanksha laughed too.

The mood immediately became lighter.Niharika got up from the floor and stretched her back.

"Okay. Break."

"Break?" Akanksha looked at her watch. "Abhi toh bahut kuch baaki hai."

"Exactly why break."

"Five minutes."

"Ten minutes."

"Seven."

"Done."

Sorab immediately sat down on the floor.

"Main toh pehle se break pe hoon."

"Tumne kaam hi kitna kiya hai?" Niharika asked.

"Emotionally bahut kiya hai."

Akanksha laughed.

"Emotionally?"

"Haan. Main tum dono ko motivate kar raha hoon."

"Tum bas commentary kar rahe ho."

"Same thing."

Niharika shook her head and walked towards the kitchen.

"Main coffee bana ke laati hoon."

"Please," Akanksha said immediately.

"Tum dono yahin raho. Aur koi unnecessary cheez mat kholna."

Sorab raised his hand.

"No promises."

"Sorab!"

"Okay, okay!"

Niharika left.

Akanksha leaned back against the wall for a moment.

She looked at the bags around her.

It was strange.

She had imagined this day many times.

But now that it was actually here, it didn't feel as dramatic as she had imagined.

It felt... real.

Messy.

Busy.

A little emotional.

And somehow exciting.

Her phone buzzed beside her.

She picked it up, checked the notification and then put it back down.

"Everything okay?" Sorab asked casually.

"Yeah."

He nodded and didn't ask anything further.That was something Akanksha appreciated about him.

He knew when to ask and when to simply let her be.

A few minutes later, Niharika returned with three mugs.

"Coffee."

Akanksha immediately took hers.

"Thank you."

"Ab five minute genuinely kuch mat kar."

Akanksha nodded.

The three sat there among the half-packed bags.For a few moments, nobody said anything.Then Sorab looked around the room.

"Waise..."

"Hm?"

"New apartment mein first thing kya karegi?"

Akanksha thought.

"Probably... curtains lagwaungi."

"That's it?"

"Room set karungi."

"That's boring."

"Tum batao."

"Pizza order."

Niharika immediately said, "Obviously."

Akanksha smiled.

"Pizza bhi."

"Done," Sorab said. "First day ka dinner meri taraf se."

"Really?"

"Haan."

Niharika looked at him.

"Bill split karenge."

"Tum dono meri generosity kharab kar dete ho."

Akanksha laughed.

"Okay, fine. Pizza."

She looked around once again.

Then she smiled.

"Bas... hopefully sab achhe se ho jaaye."

"It will," Niharika said simply.

Sorab nodded.

"Obviously."

And somehow, hearing those simple words made the whole thing feel a little easier.Akanksha took another sip of coffee and looked at the bags waiting to be packed.

"Chalo."

She put the mug aside.

"Back to work."

Niharika groaned.

"Again?"

"Haan."

Sorab stood up dramatically.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Our suffering continues."

"Drama mat kar."

"Yes, boss."

And once again, the room filled with their voices, laughter, arguments over where things should go, and the constant sound of bags being packed.

The day was moving fast.

And with every bag they closed, Akanksha was getting one step closer to her new home.

By the time they finished packing the last bag, it was already afternoon.

Akanksha looked around her room one last time.

Almost everything was packed.

Suitcases were lined up near the door, boxes were stacked one over another, and smaller bags were scattered around the room.

"Bas?" she asked.

Niharika looked around.

"Bas. I think."

Sorab immediately pointed towards one corner.

"Ek minute. Woh box?"

Akanksha turned.

"Oh shit... woh bhi jaana hai."

Sorab closed his eyes for a second.

"Of course."

Niharika laughed.

"Chal, ye bhi pack karte hain."

After another fifteen minutes of chaos, everything was finally ready.

They carried the bags downstairs one by one and loaded them into the car.

Akanksha stood outside for a moment, looking at her old apartment.

She took a slow breath.

It felt strange.

Exciting.

A little emotional.

And somehow, she couldn't stop thinking about what waited for her at the new place.She quickly pushed the thought away.

"Chal," Niharika said, touching her arm. "Late ho raha hai."

Akanksha nodded.

"Haan."

---

By the time they reached the new building, their friends were already waiting outside.

Gullu was standing near the entrance, looking at the cars.The moment he saw them, he raised his hand.

"Finally!"

Akanksha smiled.

"You guys came?"

"Obviously," Gullu said. "Tum log seriously soch rahe the ki itna saara samaan tum khud utha loge?"

Subhangi came forward.

"Move, move. Pehle luggage nikaalo."

Rohit was already opening the car's trunk.

"Ye wale bags andar?"

"Haan," Sorab replied.

"Okay, give them to me."

Within seconds, everyone was doing something.

Gullu picked up two suitcases.

Rohit grabbed a couple of boxes.

Subhangi took the smaller bags.

Niharika started directing everyone.

"Ye bedroom mein jaana hai!"

"Ye kitchen ka hai!"

"Careful, usme glass hai!"

"Arre haan haan, sambhal ke!"

The entire entrance suddenly became chaotic.Akanksha stood there watching everyone.

"Guys, seriously... you didn't have to come."

Gullu looked at her.

"Ab emotional speech mat dena. Bas samaan bata."

Akanksha laughed.

"Okay."

Then she noticed someone else walking towards them.

Yogesh.

He had just stepped out of the building.For a moment, Akanksha's smile disappeared.Yogesh's eyes found hers almost immediately.

And just like that-

the noise around them seemed to fade.Neither of them said anything.

It wasn't the first time they had seen each other..

But somehow, today felt different.

Maybe because this wasn't a temporary visit.

She was moving here.

One floor away from him.

Yogesh looked at the luggage and then back at her.

"Ye..."

He paused.

"Main le leta hoon."

Akanksha looked at the suitcase he was pointing towards.

"Oh... it's okay."

"I've got it."

His voice was quiet.

Akanksha hesitated before letting go of the handle.

"Okay."

Their fingers almost brushed.

Both immediately pulled their hands back.

A tiny, awkward silence followed.

Gullu, completely unaware-or pretending to be unaware-picked up another bag.

"Yogesh, tu ye wala le."

"Hmm."

Yogesh picked up the suitcase.

Akanksha looked away.

She didn't know why something as simple as him carrying her luggage suddenly felt so uncomfortable.

Maybe because she was too aware of him.

Too aware of the fact that he was standing right there.

Too aware of the fact that soon she would see him much more often.

And maybe he was thinking the same thing.

Inside the building, everyone started carrying the bags upstairs.

"Lift aa gayi!" Rohit called.

Everyone squeezed into the elevator with bags.

Akanksha stood in one corner.

Niharika beside her.

Sorab in front.

Yogesh was standing on the other side, holding one of her suitcases.

The elevator doors closed.

Silence.

A very uncomfortable silence.

Gullu looked around.

"Guys, koi music laga do yaar."

Nobody answered.

Rohit looked at him.

"Tu laga."

"Phone toh pocket mein hai."

"Then?"

"Haath mein luggage hai."

Subhangi laughed.

"Tum log bhi na..."

Akanksha smiled slightly.

She glanced at Yogesh.

He was looking at the floor.

He looked almost as uncomfortable as she felt.Their eyes met for half a second.Then both looked away.

Why does this feel so awkward?

Akanksha wondered.

The elevator reached their floor.The doors opened.Everyone immediately walked out, and the tension broke.

The apartment door opened.

"Okay!" Niharika announced. "Ye boxes living room mein."

"Bedroom wale idhar."

"Kitchen ka samaan kitchen mein."

Everyone got busy again.

Gullu placed a suitcase near the bedroom.

"Ye heavy hai!"

Rohit laughed.

"Tu gym jaata kisliye hai?"

"Gym jaana alag hai. Moving karna alag."

Subhangi started opening boxes.

"Akanksha, ye kitchen mein rakh du?"

"Haan, please."

"Ye curtains?"

"Bedroom mein."

"Okay."

Sorab was trying to assemble something that clearly wasn't supposed to be assembled yet.

Akanksha looked at him.

"Tum kya kar rahe ho?"

"Help."

"Tum ye ulta kar rahe ho."

Sorab stopped.

"Are you sure?"

"Haan."

Gullu looked over.

"Bhai, rehne de. Tu bas boxes utha."

Everyone laughed.

Akanksha finally relaxed a little.She walked into her bedroom.Yogesh was already there.He had placed her suitcase near the wardrobe.

He turned when he heard her.

"Oh."

"Thanks," she said quietly.

"Hmm."

He nodded.

Neither moved.

Akanksha looked at the suitcase.

Then at him.

"Woh... dusra wala bhi hai."

"Haan."

"I'll take it."

"I'll bring it."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

A pause.

"But I'll bring it."

He walked out.Akanksha stood there for a second, staring after him.

There was something about the way he spoke.

No teasing.

No unnecessary conversation.

Just... quiet.

Careful.

As if both of them were walking around something neither wanted to touch.

A little later, the apartment was slowly beginning to look alive.

The boxes were being opened.The kitchen shelves were filling up.The bedroom had clothes waiting to be arranged.

Subhangi was helping Niharika organise the kitchen.

Rohit and Gullu were moving furniture around.

Sorab was giving instructions nobody had asked for.And Yogesh quietly kept helping wherever he could.

Whenever Akanksha needed something, he somehow noticed before she asked.

When a box was too heavy, he picked it up.

When a bag was left near the doorway, he moved it aside.

When she struggled with one of the smaller tables, he came forward.

"Hold this side."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Hmm."

They both held the table.

"Ready?"

"Haan."

They moved it together.

"Yahan?"

"Thoda left."

"Yahan?"

"Yeah... perfect."

They let go.Their eyes met again.Another awkward pause.

"Thanks," she whispered.

Yogesh simply nodded.

"Anytime."

The word stayed between them for a moment.

Akanksha looked away first.

By evening, everyone was exhausted.

Gullu dropped himself onto the sofa.

"Bas. Ab mujhse kuch nahi hoga."

Rohit laughed.

"Tu sirf do ghante se kaam kar raha hai."

"Do ghante bahut hote hain."

Subhangi looked around the apartment.

"Honestly... it's looking nice."

Akanksha smiled.

"Haan."

She looked around.There were still boxes everywhere.Things weren't perfectly arranged.But it already felt like hers.

Her own space.

Her own beginning.

Niharika came and stood beside her.

"Happy?"

Akanksha nodded.

"Very."

Then her eyes moved unconsciously towards the hallw

ay.Yogesh was standing there talking to Sorab.

For a second, he looked towards her.

Their eyes met.

Neither smiled.

Neither looked away immediately this time.

There was still that awkwardness.

That tension.

That strange awareness of each other.

But beneath it was something neither of them needed to say.

They were now living in the same building.

One floor apart.

And neither knew what that was going to do to everything they had been trying so hard to keep under control.

Yogesh finally looked away.

Akanksha did the same.

Niharika nudged her gently.

"Chal. Kitchen dekhte hain."

"Hmm."

Akanksha followed her.

But as she walked away, one thought quietly crossed her mind-

One floor.

It was just one floor.

And somehow, it suddenly felt like the smallest distance in the world.

To be continue....