Kavya’s POV

On the night of the red moon, something shifted.

I did not feel it happen.

But the next morning, I woke up to find an unknown app on my phone.

No notification. No download history.

Just there.

Curious, I opened it.

The screen was empty except for a single number saved under one name.

SOULMATE.

My first thought was that my brother was playing one of his pathetic pranks. I was ready to storm into his room and start a war.

Until I stepped outside.

Mom was whispering to Dad. My brother looked pale. Even the house staff were murmuring.

Everyone had the app.

Apparently, it had appeared on every phone overnight.

I did not care enough to panic. I was already late for college.

Everyone in college hates me.

And by everyone, I mean the girls.

The boys are worse.

They look at me like I descended from heaven just to bless their miserable existence.

Letters. Gifts. Public confessions.

One even fought another because I rejected him. He nearly ended up in the hospital.

Ridiculous.

They do not love me.

They love my face. My surname. My family’s power.

I come from the richest family in town. Here, image is currency. The way you stand, the way you smile, even the way you breathe becomes part of your reputation.

My parents trained me well.

Graceful. Polite. Untouchable.

Poor people are the easiest to control.

And I do not mean poor in money.

I mean poor in mind. Poor in standards.

Once, even a teacher twice my age decided he was “in love” with me.

Love.

What a convenient word for lust.

He confessed. He begged.

He lost his job.

Before the scandal broke, he gave me full marks in every subject he taught.

As if numbers could buy forgiveness.

As if I would ever remember him kindly.

When I reached college, the entire campus was buzzing about the same thing.

The app.

By afternoon, every news channel confirmed it.

Scientists have verified that the mysterious app “SOULMATE” connects individuals with their destined partner.

But there was a condition.

Never ask about someone's identity.

Or the curse of loneliness will consume you, and you will die craving love.

Dramatic.

I rolled my eyes.

Still, it sounded entertaining.

Just a harmless distraction.

So I opened the app again.

This time, there was a message.