Threads of Light: A Pune Love Story : Dr(HC) Prachetan Potadar

Pritesh Patil stood under the muted drizzle of Baner, Pune — rain soaking the pavement and glistening under the faint streetlights. His phone buzzed again, cruel in its insistence. Another email from investors blinked on the screen:

“We regret to inform you...”

The words sliced through his chest. LoopLocal — his dream, his nights of hunger and hope distilled into lines of code — was dismissed as too small, too slow, too unscalable.

Yet it was more than an app. It was a promise to Pune’s unseen artisans: tailors in Viman Nagar stitching wedding dreams, potters in Kothrud shaping clay into heritage, bakers in Somwar Peth keeping festival magic alive in laddus and pedas.

He zipped up his jacket and walked through the wet streets toward Café Goodluck, a sanctuary whose walls had witnessed hundreds of whispered dreams.

By the window sat Prerna Swaminathan, her indigo kurta catching the dim café light. She toyed absently with the hem of her sleeve, her eyes tracing the silver drizzle outside.

“Rough day?” she asked softly, her voice steady yet compassionate.

Pritesh slumped into the chair opposite her. “Every day feels like a battle no one asked me to fight,” he muttered. “Like I’m just a guy with a dream no one wants.”

“You’re not just a dreamer,” Prerna said, reaching across to cover his hand. “You’re the spark Pune needs — the one willing to stitch its communities tighter. Maybe it’s not about chasing big investors, but about growing roots, one neighborhood at a time.”

Pritesh’s gaze wandered to the marigold garlands hanging outside. Their bright orange and yellow seemed to glow despite the gray sky.

“Micro-communities,” he whispered. “Small threads woven into something strong.”

For the first time in days, hope flickered.

Threads of Light: A Pune Love Story : Dr(HC) Prachetan Potadar

Koregaon Park smelled of cardamom chai, wet earth, and turmeric from Prerna’s small studio tucked amid the green lanes. Rolls of fabric were stacked like colorful cliffs, sketches pinned to the walls waiting for transformation. Each piece carried a story — of her grandmother’s looms, the sweat of countless hands, the pride of heritage.

But fashion was a cruel teacher; heritage alone rarely survived the pace of modernity.

One evening, as Pritesh watched her sketch tirelessly, she confided, “This city is changing so fast. Sometimes I wonder if my grandmother’s loom is just a relic of the past.”

Pritesh shook his head, his voice gentle. “You carry a powerful story, Prerna. And stories are what connect people. LoopLocal isn’t just technology — it’s a stage for your art, your ancestors, your city.”

Her eyes shimmered with something fragile yet fierce. “Maybe, together, we can weave the old into the new.”

It was more than a promise — it was the beginning of a tapestry neither of them fully understood yet.

Deccan Gymkhana buzzed with innovation and chatter. Pritesh, nervously adjusting his laptop bag, presented LoopLocal: a digital thread connecting every corner of Pune’s artisanal world. Prerna unveiled her eco-conscious bridal collection — a riot of colors and culture that seemed to defy the sleek modernity around her.

After the presentations, their conversation was quiet but electric.

“You build bridges to places forgotten,” Prerna said, testing the waters.“And you breathe life into stories dying in silence,” Pritesh replied with a grin.

They laughed over chai cups, sharing dreams and small disappointments. By the time they parted that evening, it was clear: their journey wasn’t just about tech or fashion, but about hope, partnership, and a city they both loved fiercely.

Monsoon’s last breaths left Pune sparkling. Streets shimmered, reflecting twinkling lights as Diwali approached. LoopLocal’s soft launch coincided with the festival — a courtyard near Koregaon Park transformed into a living mosaic of color and craft.

Artisans, bakers, designers, and tailors set up stalls. Pritesh monitored the platform, heart racing between lines of code and the laughter around him. Prerna floated among her creations, her fingers tracing fabric with care, her smiles steady even under pressure.

Suddenly, an influencer’s live stream caused a technical hiccup. The app froze. Panic fluttered in Pritesh’s chest as he dashed behind the scenes.

Prerna took the microphone, her voice commanding yet warm. “Remember Ganesh Chaturthi when the power failed? We lit candles and sang until dawn. Tonight, we ignite the real light — your stories.”

From bakers, tailors, painters, and poets, voices rose — filling the courtyard with stories that flickered brighter than the Diwali lamps. When the app came back online, the applause wasn’t just for technology, but for the community it had awakened.

Among fireworks and sweets, Prerna received a call from Mumbai — a national fashion house wanted her to launch her bridal line.

Later, on a rooftop drenched in firework light, she whispered, “I must go… maybe for months. Maybe years.”

Pritesh’s chest tightened. “You should go. You deserve it. But… what about us?”

Her gaze held love and fear in equal measure. “How do we survive miles and dreams?”

He took her hands, voice breaking yet firm. “We’re more than places. Together, we shape this future.”

And in that moment, the storm outside felt smaller than the one they were ready to face together.

The grand Diwali event arrived — a celebration of the city’s artists and dreamers. LoopLocal had become a beacon for Pune’s creative souls.

Then, darkness struck. Screens died. Gasps filled the courtyard. Anxiety prickled the humid air.

Pritesh’s fingers fumbled, desperate to restore the app.

Prerna stood tall, microphone in hand. “This night isn’t about technology. It’s about us. Our stories are our lights.”

Voices of artisans, bakers, and young painters rose in chorus, illuminating the courtyard with laughter, song, and tales. When power returned, so did joy — and a renewed sense that dreams, like light, cannot be dimmed.

On a rooftop in Koregaon Park, wrapped in shawls against the cool Diwali breeze, Pritesh and Prerna watched the city sparkle beneath fireworks.

Prerna’s voice trembled. “I’m scared of losing this… us.”

Pritesh held her hands firmly. “Love is faith stitched from uncertainty. We’re woven from the strongest fabric.”

She smiled, tears shimmering. “Promise me… no matter where dreams take us, we come back to each other.”

“I promise,” he said, pulling out a small velvet box. “Not just a promise of love… but a commitment to a future we’ll weave together.”

She nodded, laughing through tears, as fireworks mirrored the joy in her heart. Around them, Pune breathed — a city of light, craft, love, and hope.

That night, Diwali became more than a festival. It became a memory of courage, partnership, and a love committed not just to each other, but to the city and dreams they cherished.

Diwali delight dissolved doubts, destiny decided

The End

About the Author

Dr. (HC) Prachetan Potadar is a dynamic creative director, writer, advertising & PR strategist, based in Pune, India, known for his multifaceted storytelling across branding, short stories, and comic poetry. As the founder of Stay Featured, he connects brands with their audiences by crafting compelling narratives that inspire and engage. Beyond his strategic roles, Dr. Potadar is an accomplished author whose short stories and comic poems blend humor, creativity, and meaningful messages. Notable works like his short poem "New Phase" and his stories published on The Momma Clan platform demonstrate his narrative versatility. You can read some of his engaging stories and columns such as "Pune to Paris: Love Rekindled," "Beyond The Finish Line," "Shadows of the Past, Echoes of Love," "When Vow Weds Verdict," and "The Canvas of Us," available on The Momma Clan website.

He is recognized in the Kalam Book of World Records, has won multiple awards including Best Influencer Award and Best Extraordinary Personality of the Year 2022, and has mentored teams in Guinness and India Book of Records projects. Dr. Potadar also actively uses comedy to deepen engagement, exemplified in works like his comic poem "Main Beemar Tha," which employs black humor to explore life's ironies. His storytelling acumen spans keynotes at global conferences and advisory roles such as with TEDx Kharadi, making him a thought leader in creative content innovation and brand storytelling