18.
Aarya sat cross-legged on the grass, arms folded and lips pouting in full protest. Her small fingers were aggressively plucking petals from a daisy, muttering to herself.
A few feet away, Eve rushed over, breathless and flushed. She had nearly panicked after realizing Aarya was missing from the food counter.
"Aarya! Baby, what did I tell you?" Eve's voice came out firmer than she intended, but it trembled at the edges. "Maine kaha tha na, bina bataye kahin mat jaana..."
She crouched down, brushing the girl's hair back gently.
She was worried — not just because Aarav would lose his mind if anything happened to his daughter, but because she loved Aarya like her own.
Of course she did. She'd carried her for nine months, felt every kick, every hiccup.
But still... the child wasn't fully hers.
Aarya's eyes brimmed with frustrated tears as she looked up. "Papa ko bulao. He promised he would meet me at least once today," she grumbled, pulling another petal off and throwing it.
Eve's heart clenched. The girl was only five, and yet she already knew how to mourn time she couldn't have with her father.
"Aa jaayenge baby. He's here, somewhere," Eve said softly, stroking her back. "Shaayad kisi se milne gaye ho. Let's have some ice cream, hmm?"
"NO!" Aarya shook her head fiercely, cheeks puffing further. "Mujhe ice cream nahi chahiye. Mujhe Papa chahiye!"
Before Eve could think of another way to soothe her, a cheerful little voice rang out—
"Ice cream toh main khaunga!"
Both Aarya and Eve turned their heads. A little boy, grinning wide with chocolate already smeared on his cheeks, stood a few steps away.
Behind him, a bodyguard came running, completely out of breath. He placed a hand on his chest, panting hard.
"Vayu baba, please! Thoda slow bhaag lo".
Eve froze. Her breath caught the moment she heard the name — Vayu.
Aarya instinctively grabbed Eve's hand, clutching it tightly. Her eyes flicked to the tall man in black behind the boy.
Eve straightened, trying to subtly shift in front of Aarya — shielding her from the eyes of the bodyguard. But of course it's too late now since the bodyguard had a frown in his face while looking at Aarya.
Kahi ise kuch pata na chal jaaye....
Meanwhile, the boy — Vayu — looked up at her with big, hopeful eyes. "Aunty, aap mujhe bhi ice cream khila dogi?"
Aunty?! Eve blinked.
Before she could react, Vayu leaned slightly to peek at the little girl behind her.
Aarya glanced up at Eve, as if asking permission to speak. Eve gave a slight nod.
With all the confidence she could gather, Aarya stood up, dusted her frock, and gave Vayu a polite smile. "Hello! I'm Miss Aarya Chauhan."
Vayu tilted his head, trying to repeat it. "A-aar-cha-hannn...?" He gave up with a dramatic sigh. "Too hard!"
She giggled. "Try again."
Vayu grinned and puffed up his chest. "I'm Vayu! Nice to meet you!"
"Mimi, Vayu can have ice cream with us too, right?" Aarya looked up at Eve with those big, pleading eyes that made it impossible to say no.
Eve hesitated. "Uhh... y-yes, sure," she said, her voice not as steady as she'd have liked. Her eyes flicked to the bodyguard standing nearby. He gave her a small nod — permission, or maybe just indifference. Either way, she took it.
Without wasting a second, Vayu grabbed Aarya's hand with innocent enthusiasm and tugged her toward the ice cream counter. "Chalo! Chocolate waala mera favourite hai!"
Eve trailed behind, her steps reluctant. She wasn't sure what worried her more — Shaurya finding Aarya, or Aarav seeing Vayu. Either way, this scene was a ticking bomb.
As the two kids stood side by side, happily licking their cones, Vayu turned to Aarya. "Where do you live, Riya? I didn't see you at school."
Aarya gasped dramatically. "Buddhu! It's Aarya! Not Riya!" she huffed, tapping her forehead like a frustrated teacher. "And I live in Udaipur. With Papa and Mimi. Yug Uncle too."
Vayu gave her an impressed look. "Ooooh! I want to live in Udaipur too!"
Just then, Eve cleared her throat — a little louder than necessary.
"Aarya, chalo baby. Papa is waiting for you," she said quickly, throwing a cautious glance toward the bodyguard again. She could feel the weight of his eyes, the silent questions in them.
Aarya's smile faltered. "Okay..." she said reluctantly, stepping back.
"See you, Vayu!" she called over her shoulder.
"Promise?" Vayu asked, holding out his pinky.
Aarya turned around, lit up again, and linked her tiny pinky with his. "Promise."
Eve didn't wait. She gently tugged Aarya's hand and hurried off, almost half-jogging.
Behind them, Vayu stood licking his cone, smiling at nothing in particular.
A new friend, a pinky promise, and chocolate ice cream.
What else did a five-year-old need?
Udaipur.
There's something about the air here — maybe it's the lakes, or the quiet breeze brushing through the old palaces... or maybe, just maybe, it's because Aarav and I are breathing the same air again.
My Aarav.
Do I even have the right to call him mine anymore?
Six years.
Six years without his laugh. Without those golden-brown eyes that used to look at me like I was his whole world.
Six years of not holding him. Not hearing him call my name like only he could — soft, teasing, full of love.
But more than anything, it's been six years of guilt.
Of being stuck — trapped between my love for him... and the monster I became.
I hurt him.
I tried to harm the person I love most in this world.
It's a sin I never imagined myself capable of. A darkness I can't undo.
So I stay away. Not because I want to... but because I have to.
Because if I go near him again, I'm not sure I'll survive the weight of what I've done. But I'm sure I won't be able to hold myself back if he shows up in front of him.
And yet... here we are.
In the same city.
Breathing the same air.
But a lifetime apart.
Maybe God was hearing my thoughts and playing with me again.
I couldn't breathe.
For a second, I thought the heat was messing with my head—maybe I was hallucinating. But no, this was real. Too real.
He was walking toward me.
Not just anyone.
Aarav.
The man I had loved with every fiber of my being. The man I had lost because I was too broken to hold onto him. The man I had hurt.
And now... he was here. Alive. Angry.
He looked different—older, yes. Sharper. No longer that boy who used to laugh with his whole chest, who used to call me "old man" and look at me with soft eyes.
No. This Aarav had fire in his eyes. Golden brown, searing into mine like a punishment.
His jaw was clenched, his steps heavy with fury. He didn't smile.
Not even a twitch.
His curls fell perfectly, like they always did, but now they framed a face that carried the weight of time, pain...
My feet were rooted to the ground.
He was coming closer, and I—
I didn't know what to do.
My hands were trembling. God, I didn't want them to. I didn't want to show weakness, not in front of him. But I had dreamed of this for six years.
I had begged fate for one moment to see him again. To touch him. To tell him—
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
And when he stopped just inches from me, I forgot the world.
I raised my hand. Slowly. Carefully. Like he was made of flame and I was made of regret.
I just wanted to touch him. Just once.
But before my fingers could even brush his wrist—
CRACK.
Pain exploded through me like a thunderclap.
His knee. My balls. Direct hit.
A guttural sound escaped my throat as I folded forward, the world tilting sideways.
I tried to breathe. I tried to understand. I tried not to cry like a wounded animal in front of him. Not here. Not now.
Aarav leaned in, his breath brushing my ear.
"Don't fucking try touching me".
And then he walked away.
Just like that.
I stayed where I was, one hand on my thigh, the other curled into a fist against my side.
Ravi who was there all along shook his head and sighed.
"You deserved it", he said with a low voice.
My body hurt.
But my heart?
My heart was beating again.
For the first time in six years.
Even if he kicked me, I felt his touch.
And somehow, despite the kick...
Despite the ache...
I smiled.
Because he hadn't forgotten me.
He still burned.
And so did I.