The Prince from Another Century
the coin
Maya shuffles into the kitchen in her pajamas. Arif is at the stove making parathas, Tania is sitting at the table with a cup of tea, smiling.
maya
Ohhh… look at this domestic scene. Should I leave so you two can live your romance drama?
tania (fl bff)
Laughs Oh, shut up.
arif(fl bro)
Deadpan She’s insufferable in the morning.
Maya sits, stealing a piece of paratha.
maya
So, what’s new? Other than your new cooking partner?
arif(fl bro)
Found something last night. Thought it was cool.
Arif takes a small object from his pocket — a heavy gold-colored coin with intricate Arabic calligraphy and a faint design of a crescent moon.
maya
: Whoa… this looks ancient. Where did you find it?
arif(fl bro)
Near the corner tea stall. It was just lying there.
maya
Yeah, because someone probably dropped it from their keychain. Fake gold, obviously.
tania (fl bff)
: Or… it’s treasure 😏
maya
You’ve been watching too many historical dramas.
They laugh. Arif tosses the coin to Maya, who catches it. It feels heavier than it looks.
arif(fl bro)
Weird weight. And warm… like it’s been in someone’s hand
arif(fl bro)
Well, I was holding it. Genius.
Suddenly, the electricity cuts out. The kitchen fan slows to a stop
maya
Great. Another load-shedding morning
Maya lights a candle and sets it on the table. Absentmindedly, she holds the coin near the flame. The candle flickers wildly, like a breeze passed through, though the air is still.
maya
Whoa… did you see that?
arif(fl bro)
It’s probably just the flame reacting to your movement
maya
Maybe. But that was… weird.
She moves the coin away — the flame steadies. Moves it back — it flickers again. Tania leans closer, curious.
tania (fl bff)
Okay, that’s kinda freaky.
maya
It’s nothing. Stop making a scene.
maya
Maya shrugs, sets the coin down on the table. They go back to eating breakfast, chatting about random things — mostly Tania’s jokes about Arif’s “grandpa t-shirts” and Arif defending them like they’re royal garments
maya
Thinking): They’re flirting and they don’t even know it. Or maybe they do
Scene: Maya’s room — later
Maya tosses the coin onto her desk and flops on her bed, scrolling her phone. Outside, rickshaws honk, street vendors shout. The coin spins slowly, almost lazily… even though no one touched it. It stops with the crescent moon design facing upward.
: not noticing “Ugh, deadline tomorrow. Guess I’ll work on it later
Her phone buzzes — Tania sending memes. Maya laughs, completely unaware that the coin has just pulsed faintly under the sunlight streaming in from the window.
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