“Thank you, bro, thank you for making my birthday special. Let’s drink and party and dance!” Pawan’s voice echoed through the crowded pub, his laughter cutting through the thumping bass like a familiar anchor. The night blurred into a whirlwind of shots, stories, and swaying bodies under the neon lights. But eventually, the party wound …

It all started in the dusty lanes of our small town neighborhood, where the summer sun baked the concrete and friendships formed like unbreakable pacts sealed in sweat and scraped knees. I was Ankit, the quiet kid with a quick laugh, always the one organizing cricket matches in the empty lot behind the market. Ajay …



