Chapter 1: “Who?”
Do you remember the time when ₹249 would get you just 1GB of data—for 28 days? Back then, data wasn’t just a service—it was gold. People would measure every MB, calculate every click, and ration videos like a rare delicacy. In small towns and rural villages, the internet felt like a faraway dream—something too expensive, too rare. Phones were mostly used for basic calls—”hello”, “haan (yes), sunao (speak)”, or just a couple of missed calls. WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook—these were like words from another world. No one had even heard of something called Reliance Jio. Every MB back then held value—almost like digital currency.
Amid that digital silence, a quiet story began to unfold—the story of Rajib and Roma.
A story penned by fate itself—a phone number, a simple “Hi”, moments of waiting, and emotions quietly blooming in between. But fate had other plans. Maybe it had imagined something else entirely.
Not a story sparked by trending reels or viral posts, but by a single, unassuming “Hi”. An unseen profile picture, a hidden contact number, and a boy staring at his screen, trying to imagine the smile of a stranger. The internet existed—but what was about to form wasn’t just a connection of signals, but one of souls.
Rajib, a quiet boy from the village of Dalgaon, grew up under the stern gaze of a disciplined father. Rajib himself was simple, decent, and quiet by nature. He had just passed his 10th grade and had taken admission in 11th. He enrolled in a computer training center in a small town called Birpara—”Learner Computer Academy.” He had always been attracted to technology. Machines, software, the click-clack of the keyboard—it all felt magical to him.
There, he met Subham. Subham was four years older than him, from another nearby village called Dimdima. A bit smart, a bit street-wise, and a complete tech enthusiast. From their very first meeting, their shared passion for technology was obvious. Gradually, their friendship deepened. Even the instructor grew fond of them. Whenever a computer broke down, the teacher would say, “Rajib, Subham, take care of this.” And they’d fix it together.
Other students weren’t even given the Wi-Fi password, but Rajib and Subham had full access. They had their own tiny tech world. The teacher didn’t treat them like students anymore, but more like friends. After morning classes, they’d leave and stop by a small momo stall on the way—aloo (potato) momo, paneer (cottage cheese) momo, and sometimes even chicken momo. They’d mix and match chutneys (spicy sauces) to their liking, sit together, and talk about small and big things from college. That momo corner became their regular hangout spot—a quiet, unspoken part of their friendship.
One day, while doing some research, Subham logged into his Gmail on Rajib’s phone. Rajib didn’t think much of it, but later that evening, when he looked at his phone, he noticed a few new contacts added to his list. At first, he was confused, then curious.
The next day in class, he said, “Bhai (brother), there are some new numbers in my phone. Maybe they synced when you logged into your Gmail. Who are they?
Subham glanced through the names and explained, “That’s Amrita—my cousin. This is Priya, from tuition. That one’s Moumita, school friend…”
And then came a name—Roma.
“Who’s this?” Rajib asked.
Subham paused a little. “She’s a girl,” he replied briefly, almost dismissively, as if trying to dodge a deeper conversation.
Rajib chuckled. “Well, the name kind of gave that away, bro.”
But Subham didn’t say more. Something in his tone made it clear that he didn’t want to talk further about Roma. That only made Rajib more curious. Why didn’t he want to talk about her? What was so special about this Roma?
That night, after finishing his studies, Rajib lay on his bed scrolling through his phone. Roma’s name kept flashing in his mind. There were many girls’ names in his contact list now, but only Roma’s name stirred something inside him. It felt different, melodic—like a line from an old forgotten poem.
He opened WhatsApp and searched for Roma’s number. Her profile appeared—blank, no picture. “She’s hidden,” Rajib thought, curiosity sparking in his mind. That only made her seem more mysterious. Rajib stared at the blank profile space, imagining what kind of girl hides her face from the world. Was she shy? Secretive? Or simply uninterested?
The next day at the computer center, he asked Subham, “Should I text her?”
Subham laughed, “She won’t even reply to you.”
They both laughed. The conversation ended there. They ate momos and went home.
But Rajib’s mind was still stuck on that one name—Roma.
That night, holding his phone, he thought, “Let’s just send one message… what’s the harm?”
He typed: “Hi” He paused for a moment—maybe nervous—but then hit send.
The message was delivered instantly. Five minutes… ten minutes… no reply.
“Maybe she’s busy,” he thought. He had downloaded a movie from the computer center and ended up watching it before falling asleep.
The next day was entirely ordinary—but something inside Rajib had changed. He went to school, played cricket, laughed with friends. But every moment, somewhere in the corner of his mind, that one message kept circling… the one that still hadn’t been seen. That evening, tired, he returned home and checked WhatsApp. His heart skipped a beat—but the screen still showed the same status: “unseen.
He mustered up the courage once more. This time he typed: “Hello.”
Message delivered… and then silence. It was delivered. Then the waiting began again. One hour… two hours…
“Subham was right… she won’t reply,” he thought. He played a song and eventually fell asleep.
The next day unfolded like any other. But beneath the surface, Roma’s name lingered quietly in a forgotten corner of his heart.
And then… that night came.
7:10 PM. Rajib was lying on his bed, phone in hand. His heart and mind were at war.
“Should I message her or not?”
He told himself, “This is the last time… If there’s no reply this time, I’ll never message again.”
He typed: “hlw?”
Message delivered. Five minutes… ten minutes… no reply.
Rajib put the phone aside and started a music video on YouTube.
7:33 PM. His phone vibrated. He picked it up lazily. There was a message:
“Who?”
Rajib’s eyes widened. He opened the message instantly. The name showed—Roma.
One word. One message. And everything he knew about life was about to change.
But was this destiny’s new chapter—or heartbreak’s first whisper at the door?
End of Chapter 1
But the real story… was just about to begin. A story of whispers in the dark, unseen messages, and a connection that defied logic.
