Snape, SRK, and Storytelling

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The moment Dhruvin stepped into his home, a grin spread across his face. He had no idea why he was this excited about a college project, but the thought of working with Aashna Pathak had him buzzing with energy.

“Aaji, where are you?” he called out, kicking off his shoes at the door.

“In the kitchen, re! Don’t shout,” his Aaji scolded, but the warmth in her voice remained.

He waltzed into the kitchen, twirling dramatically before grabbing Aaji’s hands and spinning her around. “Guess who just got paired with the best writer in the entire university for a project?” he announced, chest puffed out with exaggerated pride.

Aaji chuckled, patting his cheek. “Arre wah! But you don’thave qny competition na. You are the best, right?*” she teased.

“Obviously not! But Aashna Pathak, Aaji… she’s something else,” Dhruvin mused, leaning against the counter, a faraway look in his eyes.

Ajoba, who had been quietly reading the newspaper, peeked over his glasses. “And this ‘something else’ means?”

Dhruvin scratched his head, suddenly unsure how to explain. “She… she absolutely hates my guts.”

Aaji and Ajoba exchanged a knowing glance before bursting into laughter.

“Poor girl,” Aaji sighed dramatically, wiping fake tears. “She doesn’t know what she’s in for.”

Ajoba chuckled. “Bechari la shant jeevan havay!*” [ She needs a peaceful life!]

“Exactly, Ajoba! But fate has other plans.” Dhruvin smirked before grabbing Maau, his lazy cat, who was sprawled on the dining chair. He rubbed her fur, still lost in thought.

Later that night, he sat in front of his laptop, staring at a blank email. One hour. One entire hour and he still hadn’t typed a single word.

“To: Aashna Pathak Subject: Project Discussion

Hey Aashna,

Looking forward to working with you. When and where do you want to meet?”

He hovered over the send button, then deleted it. Too formal.

“To: Aashna Pathak Subject: Let’s Do This

Yo Partner,

Tomorrow, where are we meeting? I promise I won’t be too annoying. (Maybe just a little.)”

Still not right.

He groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Why is this so hard?” After many revisions, he finally settled on something and hit send before he could overthink again.

Meanwhile, at Aashna’s house, the atmosphere was far from lively.

“You need to start thinking about your future seriously, Aashna,” her father’s voice was firm, laced with disappointment. “Literature is not a stable career.”

Aashna’s throat tightened. It had been a long day already, and she wasn’t in the mood for another argument. “I’ve told you before, Baba, writing is what I want to do.”

“And how will writing pay your bills? How will it secure your future?”

She clenched her fists under the table, frustration boiling inside her. Her mother gave her a sympathetic glance but didn’t intervene. This was a conversation they had often, and it always ended the same way—with her father dismissing her dreams like they were nothing.

By the time she reached her room, tears were already stinging her eyes. She hated this. The pressure, the expectations, the feeling that she wasn’t enough.

She curled up on her bed, hugging her pillow, trying to calm herself down when her phone lit up with a notification.

1 New Email: Dhruvin Deshmukh.

Her brows furrowed. She wiped her eyes, unlocking her phone to read it.

To, Aashna Pathak

Subject: Kal Ho Na Ho… But Deadline Toh Hai, Ms. Pathak

"Dear Ms. Pathak,"

"Mujhe pata hai, aap iss email ko padh ke aankh ghumayengi, ek frustrated sa sigh nikalengi, aur shayad laptop band karne ka sochenge. Lekin, ma’am, deadline toh deadline hoti hai."

"Main jaanta hoon ki aapko mere saath kaam karne ka idea utna hi pasand hai jitna Snape ko Harry ko Potion sikhana. Par kya karein, Dumbledore (Professor Mehta) ne faisla suna diya hai. Toh chaahe aap mujhe Voldemort jitna pasand karein, mujhe toh lagta hai ki yeh project humara Triwizard Tournament jeetne ka chance hai."

"Batao, partner—kab aur kahan milna hai?"

"Ya phir mujhe Platform 9¾ pe wait karna padega?"

"– Aapka Prem se Zyada, Project Wala Partner,

Dhruvin ‘Half-Blood Filmmaker’ Deshmukh"

(To, Aashna Pathak

Subject: Kal Ho Na Ho… But a Deadline is a Deadline, Ms. Pathak

Dear Ms. Pathak,

I know that as soon as you read this email, you'll roll your eyes, let out a frustrated sigh, and maybe even consider shutting your laptop. But ma’am, a deadline is still a deadline.

I understand that working with me excites you about as much as Snape enjoyed teaching Harry Potter Potions. But what can we do? Dumbledore (Professor Mehta) has made his decision. So, even if you like me as much as Harry likes Voldemort, I truly believe this project is our chance to win the Triwizard Tournament.

So tell me, partner—where and when do we meet?

Or am I supposed to wait at Platform 9¾?

– Your More-Project-Less-Love Partner,

Dhruvin ‘Half-Blood Filmmaker’ Deshmukh)

Aashna exhaled, shaking her head. This idiot. A tiny chuckle escaped her lips despite the heaviness in her heart.

She didn't know why, but for a brief moment, her day felt a little less awful.

❤️❤️❤️

Author’s Note

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