Four years ago, an event reshaped the world in ways no one could have predicted. The sun sitting 150 million kilometres away, quietly unleashed a solar flare. It seemed to be a routine occurrence for astronomers to document. But this one was different. It became the catalyst for something extraordinary.

A select few began to emerge, bending the rules of nature itself. Superpowers, though rare, were no longer a myth. Smitha had witnessed them on occasion—an electric spark with a snap of fingers, a flash of heat from a stranger’s hands, drops of water moving without a touch. For those who possessed these abilities, life became easier, filled with new opportunities.

Athletic competitions were rendered meaningless, as feats of super-strength and super-speed outclassed any human effort. These gifted individuals were given priority in law enforcement and services that could benefit from their unique skills. For the rest, the world had become a harder place to navigate. Sheer luck had created an imbalance between the powered and the powerless.

“He actually said that…” Aryan was recounting an incident from work. When he noticed Smitha’s distant expression, “Smitha, Smitha, are you even listening to me?” he asked with a hint of impatience in his voice.

Smitha, lost in her own thoughts, barely registered Aryan’s question. “Um… hmmm… yeah, sure,” she muttered absently, her eyes still glazed over.

Clack. Aryan set his coffee back on the saucer with a sharp clatter. Smitha snapped her attention back to his face. She recognized the annoyance etched across his features. He was clearly irritated that she had zoned out.

“I was just checking the counter to see if our sandwich order was ready!” Smitha exclaimed. Her voice was tinged with a touch of desperation as she scrambled to salvage the moment.

Aryan rolled his eyes and shook his head in disapproval as he leaned back in the wooden chair. Its gentle creak blended with the soft murmur of conversation around them. His warm brown hair caught the sunlight streaming through the large windows of the classic coffee shop. The light framed his handsome features in a soft, glowing outline. Despite the frown on his face, the sunlight highlighted his easy-going nature. With a face-card that never declines, Aryan always seemed to get his way.

“So, you’re going to decline the job offer?” Smitha asked, trying to continue the conversation from the bits and pieces she had picked up on.

“Of course not! Not after that conversation!” he exclaimed, his voice had a mix of frustration and determination. “I have better offers to consider.”

“Yes, it must be nice to have multiple options” Smitha sighed with a hint of jealousy creeping into her voice. Since Aryan discovered his superpowers two years ago, he had never been short of opportunities. Smitha, on the other hand, struggled to secure even a single offer.

“I guess it’s a privilege to have the same passion for the last three years, unlike me.” Aryan said, completely oblivious to Smitha’s emotions. “I can’t seem to settle on just one job. I think I lack focus.” With a hint of concern in his tone, “I’m afraid that I’ll end up as a wandering soul. Without an anchor in life forever.” he continued.

“Don’t worry. You have a leprechaun’s luck. Life will always work out in your favour.” Smitha consoled him.

“I know, but I’m still worried,” Aryan replied, brushing aside Smitha’s concern with a wave of his hand. Smitha was thrown off by his nonchalance.

She was about to retort to his snobby comment when she noticed a flicker of fire in her peripheral vision. Turning quickly, she saw that a table near the counter was ablaze, flames threatening to spread to the food counter. Her gaze fell on a stunned, wide-eyed teenager whose hand was still resting on the table. It seemed like he had heated the wooden surface to the point of igniting it, turning it into firewood. Smitha’s stomach twisted in anxiety as she realized the danger was imminent.

Smitha jumped into action, she quickly grabbed Aryan’s coffee cup and her own cup of iced tea. She rushed toward the table, plunged the teen’s hand into her iced tea while pouring the coffee onto the emerging flames. She was desperately hoping to tame the fire. But the flames only flickered in response, refusing to yield. Panic surged through her as she looked around for a solution, fearing that the fire would ravage the entire shop. Just then, she spotted the staff rushing toward her with a fire extinguisher. Without hesitation, she grabbed the kid by the collar and dragged him away from the flames. This made room for the others to approach the table.

“Pssshh…” She could hear the hiss of the fire extinguisher spraying behind her as she moved away from the table. Once at a safe distance, she glanced back to see that the fire had been completely extinguished.

“Are you alright?” Smitha heard Aryan’s voice nearby. She turned around to find him looking at her with a concerned expression etched across his face.

“I’m alright,” she assured him. Glancing at the teenager, she continued “But I’m concerned about him.” She noticed the apprehension on his face as he stared at his hand in dismay.

Just then, Smitha felt that the glass of iced tea in her hand had grown lukewarm. It was a clear sign that it wouldn’t be long before it turned hot. His powers were spiralling out of control, just as Aryan’s had when he first discovered his abilities. In that moment, she knew exactly what to do.

“Don’t worry. Just take deep breaths,” she instructed calmly. “Inhale… 1… 2… 3… 4. Exhale… 1… 2… 3… 4.” The teenager looked at her and followed her lead, mirroring her breathing. With a gentle smile she added, “Now, let’s walk to the ice cream fridge together.” They began moving toward the fridge, with Aryan trailing closely behind.

Once they reached the fridge, she quickly grabbed a nearby cup and filled it with cold water and ice cubes. “Now, swap the glass in your hand for this one. If we keep rotating it, it will help keep your hands cool until the doctors arrive,” she explained. For the first time, the teenager managed an awkward smile and followed her instructions.

Seeing him finally calm down, she turned to Aryan and asked, “Can you take care of him while I make a phone call?”. Her gentle voice now filled with confidence.

Aryan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and gave a quick nod before moving closer to the teenager.

Not wanting to alarm the teenager, Smitha stepped a little away from his earshot. She called then the emergency line to explain the situation. She heard the voice on the other end of the line assure her, “Don’t worry, we’ll be there soon. We’ll ensure that we’re equipped for the fire and the heat.” This was followed by a click that signified that the call had ended.

She looked back to assess the situation. The crowd’s unease had transformed into relief. People began approaching the staff, expressing their gratitude for the quick response. Several gathered around Aryan, thanking him for his valiant actions.

“A pretty face is always remembered. Sometimes it’s the only one that sticks in people’s minds. Isn’t that always the case?” someone remarked to Smitha. It was the barista. She smiled awkwardly and nodded in agreement, giving a shrug.

The world was never fair between Aryan and Smitha. She could never compete with his good looks, no matter how the situation unfolded. Yet, in that moment, it became clear that superpowers mattered little when it came to true bravery and quick thinking. She realised that his looks gave him more advantages in life than his superpowers. She walked towards Aryan and the teen making a mental note to start watching makeup tutorials going ahead.

— The End —