Vani’s day was a blur of rushing from one work to another. From the moment her alarm chimed at 5:30 a.m., she was on her feet, attending to one job after another and before she realised, the night set in.

She would prepare breakfast for her six-year-old daughter, Aarushi, packing her lunchbox. Hurriedly, she would also cook a meal for her daughter when she returned from school. The dishes from last night still sat in the sink, mocking her. The laundry, half-folded, lay abandoned on the couch. She would make a mental note to get to it later—but that later never came.

By the time, she dropped Aarushi at school, Vani was already late for her work. She would rush in and dive straight to her workstation. She worked in a call centre and the Manager would be impatiently waiting for her to start her shift.

“Vani, you need to slow down,” her coworker, Anita, often told her. “Life’s not a race.”

But to Vani, it was.

There was always something waiting for her—errands to run, groceries to buy, calls to return. At the call centre, customers demanded her attention. At home, the household chores exhausted her.

So often, Aarushi, with her big hopeful eyes, would ask, “Mama, can we play?”

And Vani would sigh, ruffle her daughter’s hair, and say, “Maybe later, sweetheart. Let me complete the dishwashing.”

But later never came.

She didn’t remember the last time she had sat down with a hot cup of tea and relaxed.

People told her to take it easy.

She wanted to.

She didn’t have the time.

Vani walked along the damp sand, her feet sinking with each step. The salty breeze tousled her hair, and the waves rolled in rhythmically, as if comforting her restless mind.

She had come to the beach unconsciously to calm her mind. Aarushi was to take part in the inter-school football match. She had to attend practice sessions at a sports complex.

“I have to find time to pick her up from home, drop her at the sports complex and pick her up after an hour. How do I do that with my office?” She wondered.

“Because they didn't select my neighbour's daughter, I can't ask her for help,” she thought.

“I will request the Manager to give me a thirty-minute break at 5 pm, by forgoing my lunchtime, so I can drop Aarushi. I will pick her up after my duty.” She decided, hoping the Manager would not throw a fit.

As she walked on the sand, something hit her foot. Bending, she saw it gleaming among the scattered seashells and pebbles.

Curious, she picked it up, brushing off the sand. It was a small golden watch, old yet shining.

The moment her fingers touched the glass, she heard a voice.

“Finally! I was thinking no one would find me.”

Vani gasped, nearly dropping it. She looked around, but the beach was empty except for the distant silhouettes of people.

“Who—who’s that?” she asked, looking around.

“I am Time. You are holding me.”

Vani caught her breath. “What!”

She stretched her hand, holding the watch with suspicion, and turned the watch carefully, examining the intricate sun design engraved on the back.

Looking over her shoulders once again, she spoke. “This… this is a joke, right?”

“Do I sound like a joke to you?” the watch asked, its tone amused.

Vani hesitated, then let out a shaky laugh. “OK. Let’s say I believe you. Who are you? What do you want?”

“As I told you, I am Time. I give you a moment.”

“You mean, you will give me Time! You will make my day more than 24 hours?”

“Whenever you feel overwhelmed, whenever you need a breather, whenever you rub my dial and say, I need a moment, I will give you time.”

She laughed. “If you can do that, you will work overtime with me. I am always short of Time”

The watch chuckled. “Go on then, Vani. Try me.”

“OMG! Aarushi must be waiting for me,” Vani screamed looking at her mobile. Tossing the watch into her bag, she rushed home.

The next morning, there was utter chaos in the office. The network was slow and the customers snapped for attention. Many of the employees were absent as it was a festival day and the load on the people working increased manifold.

Vani was trying to pacify an irate customer, who wanted an immediate solution to her problem. She had not taken a break since morning though her head was throbbing.

The Manager walked to her table and shouted, ”Madam, why are you not attending to the calls quickly? I can see many calls on wait. You need to speed up. Such lethargic work is not acceptable!”

Vani clenched her jaw. She wanted to scream.

She clutched the watch. Just one moment… just one damn moment.

And then—

Everything changed.

The clatter of voices became a distant hum. The Manager’s irritation blurred into the background. Vani felt her breathing slow, the tension easing from her shoulders.

She looked around, and for the first time, she noticed the little things on her desk. The photo of her happy family, Aarushi’s drawing that had won a first prize. A birthday card given by her friends her two months back.

The world returned to its normal pace; she exhaled deeply. The frustration had melted away. She spoke to the irate customer, “I will be right with you, ma’am.”

Turning to the Manager, she smiled and said, “Sure Sir. I will speed up.”

Surprised by her response, the Manager said, “Sorry, I hope you understand why I am rushing you.”

The watch whispered in her mind. “See? A moment can change everything.”

Vani rarely had time for her daughter, Aarushi. Between her office and household chores, whenever her daughter wanted her attention, she would say, “Maybe later, sweetheart.”

One evening, Aarushi tugged her dress. “Mama, can we watch the stars?”

Vani opened her mouth to refuse—dishes were in the sink, and clothes needed folding. But before she could speak, she rubbed the watch’s dial.

Just one moment… she thought.

And just like that, time slowed.

She noticed Aarushi’s eyes sparkled with hope, how her tiny fingers clung to the hem of her dress.

What was one moment compared to this?

She smiled, took her daughter’s hand, and led her to the small balcony. Together, they sat on a mat, looking up at the vast sky. Stars winked at them like old friends. Aarushi giggled, pointing at a bright one. “That one’s mine! It’s winking at me.”

Vani laughed, holding her daughter close. “Then that one is mine,” she said, pointing at another.

That night, Vani didn’t rush to the kitchen sink. She didn’t worry. She just relaxed.

And it was beautiful.

One rainy evening, Vani rushed home, balancing grocery bags while holding Aarushi’s hand. The rain had caught them off guard, drenching them within minutes. They ran up the narrow street, Aarushi giggling at the raindrops on her nose.

Suddenly, a loud honk startled Vani. A car was coming too fast, its tyres skidding on the wet road.

Panic surged through her. She pulled Aarushi back instinctively but in that split second.

Time stretched.

The rain slowed around her. She could see the car coming towards them as if it was moving in slow motion.

She pulled Aarushi close, stepping back onto the sidewalk as the car zoomed past.

Then, just like that, everything resumed its normal pace.

Vani stood there, breathless, clutching her daughter.

She looked down at her wrist.

The watch wasn’t there.

She had left it at home.

A shiver ran through her.

She had slowed time.

Without asking the watch.

She exhaled a deep, steady breath and smiled.

“You’ve learned, haven’t you?” The familiar voice echoed in her mind.

“Yes,” she spoke slowly.

The next morning, Vani walked to the same seashore where she had found the watch. The waves lapped at her feet and the morning rays danced on the water.

She clasped the watch, knowing what she needed to do.

“You don’t need me anymore,” it whispered.

Tears pricked her eyes. “But… you are my friend.”

“I still am. I always will be. I’m just part of you now.”

She traced the engravings one last time.

Then, with a deep breath, she placed the watch on the sand.

The tide rolled in, covering it like a farewell embrace.

Vani didn’t fight the tears that slipped down her cheeks. She wasn’t sad—she was grateful. She had learned to slow down, to live.

As she turned away from the shore, she felt lighter, freer.

Aarushi came running toward her. “Mama! Can we get ice cream?”

Vani laughed. “Sure! Let me race you to the ice cream stall.”