The call came while Ananya was waiting for a local train.
The platform was crowded.Announcements echoed.Someone was singing badly.
"Hi, this is Rhea from Pulse Youth Network."
Ananya gripped her phone.
They had over a million subscribers.
She'd watched them before Mumbai.
"We're launching a new city-based youth talk format," the voice continued. "We'd like you to audition. Not as a host. As a creator."
Ananya closed her eyes.
Creator.
Not face.
Not filler.
"I'm still a student," she said.
"Exactly," Rhea replied. "We don't want polish. We want perspective."
They fixed a date.
She got on the train without realizing.
Only when she reached the hostel did she speak.
"I think someone just handed me a door I didn't know existed."
Room 407 didn't scream this time.
They looked at her.
Carefully.
Because this door felt… far.