AKSHAYA. K
I AI & DS 1
It was a peaceful morning when Ananya stepped out of her house with her usual routine—
bag on her shoulder, earphones in her pocket, and a mild smile on her face. The sky looked
soft and pale, as if waking up slowly with her. She reached the bus stop just in time, and the
college bus arrived with its familiar rumble. She climbed in, found her favourite seat near
the window, and settled down for the ride.
The roads were calm, the cool breeze touched her cheeks, and the early sunshine made
everything look gentle and quiet. As the bus moved through the streets, Ananya watched
people starting their day—shopkeepers lifting shutters, schoolchildren walking with sleepy
eyes, and cyclists hurrying through the morning air. Slowly, her own eyes grew heavy. The
comfort of the moving bus felt like a soft lullaby. Without even realizing it, she drifted into
sleep.
In her dream, Ananya found herself in a completely different world. She was walking along
a sparkling path surrounded by golden flowers that swayed with the wind. The sky glowed
with warm colours she had never seen before—orange, pink, and purple blending like a
painting. A gentle river flowed nearby, its water clear enough to reflect her thoughts.
Everything felt calm, magical, and perfect.
As she continued walking, she noticed butterflies of strange colours flying around her. Their
wings seemed to glow, and wherever they flew, the air shimmered with light. It felt like a
place where all worries disappeared, a world untouched by noise, pressure, or reality.
Ananya felt light, free, and happy, as if she had stepped into her own imagination.
But suddenly, the beautiful world around her began to blur. The colours faded. The
butterflies vanished. The soft music of the river turned silent. She tried to hold onto the
dream, but it slipped away like sand between her fingers.
HOOOONK!
A loud horn pierced the air—sharp, sudden, and shocking. It echoed straight through her
heart, pulling her out of the dream with a jolt. Her eyes flew open. She found herself back
on the bus, her head resting against the window. The dream was gone. Cars were honking in
traffic, and the driver had pressed the horn to move ahead.
At first, she felt disappointed that her magical world had ended so abruptly. But then, a
small smile appeared on her face. Dreams come and go, but even a short dream can make
the day feel special. She thought about the colours, the flowers, the butterflies, and how
peaceful everything had felt. It was as if her mind had gifted her a small escape before the
long college day ahead.
As the bus moved forward, she took a deep breath, feeling fresh and awake. She realized
that sometimes, dreams remind us of the beauty hidden inside our thoughts. They show us
that even in a busy life, there can be a moment of magic—until reality comes knocking with
a loud horn.
And with that thought, Ananya leaned back, ready to face another day at college, carrying a
small piece of her dream in her heart.
