Chapter 41 - The Answer Hidden in My Heart
The following morning, London greeted the city with a soft golden sunrise.
After the previous day's rain, the air felt fresh, carrying the pleasant scent of wet earth through the streets.
The hotel was unusually quiet.
Most guests were still asleep.
Arjun sat alone in one corner of the hotel lounge, a steaming cup of black coffee resting on the table before him.
He hadn't taken a single sip.
Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the large glass windows overlooking the city.
His thoughts...
Were nowhere near the lounge.
They were still inside that tiny wooden bus stop.
The sound of rain.
The cold breeze.
The silence that somehow never felt awkward.
Her smile.
Her laughter.
Her eyes.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"When you're around... my mind feels peaceful."
He had actually said those words.
Not because he had planned to.
They had simply escaped.
And every single one of them had been true.
He remembered how she had looked at him after he accidentally admitted that he didn't want her getting wet.
"I don't mind."
"I do."
Even now, recalling those words made his ears turn slightly red.
"What is happening to me?" he muttered under his breath.
A month ago, he had believed this marriage would remain nothing more than a responsibility.
He had promised himself he would respect Aadhira, protect her, and give her every happiness she deserved.
Yet somewhere between quiet breakfasts, late-night conversations, bookstore visits, teasing from friends, and yesterday's rain...
Something had changed.
Without his permission.
Without him even realizing it.
A small smile appeared on his lips as another memory surfaced.
The orphanage.
The way every child had rushed toward Aadhira with bright smiles.
The warmth in her eyes.
The tenderness in her voice.
The affection she showed every child as if they were her own family.
She never asked for recognition.
She never tried to impress anyone.
She simply... cared.
Then came the bookstore.
She had spoken so passionately about history and biographies.
She had laughed at Kabir's endless dramatics.
She had listened patiently whenever someone spoke.
Every passing day seemed to reveal another side of her.
A side he had never expected.
His fingers absentmindedly tapped against the coffee cup.
Then another memory surfaced.
Kabir holding Aadhira's shopping bag.
Taking her away for photographs.
Making her laugh.
For reasons Arjun still couldn't explain...
That memory irritated him.
He sighed.
"Why does it bother me so much?"
"Because you've been asking yourself the wrong question."
Arjun looked up.
Dev stood a few steps away, holding two cups of coffee.
A knowing smile rested on his face.
Without waiting for an invitation, he pulled out the chair opposite Arjun and sat down.
"I had a feeling I'd find you here."
Arjun raised an eyebrow.
"You've become good at predicting my whereabouts."
Dev chuckled.
"No."
"You've become easy to read."
Arjun let out a quiet laugh.
"I doubt that."
"Oh?"
Dev slid one of the coffee cups toward him.
"Then tell me why you've been staring out of that window for the last ten minutes without drinking your coffee."
Arjun glanced at the untouched cup before him.
"I didn't even realize."
"I know."
Silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just... thoughtful.
Dev didn't rush him.
He simply waited.
After all, some conversations couldn't be forced.
They had to arrive on their own.
Finally, Arjun spoke.
"Dev..."
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever felt like... your own heart was trying to tell you something..."
"...but your mind refused to believe it?"
Dev smiled faintly.
"I have."
"What did you do?"
"I listened to my heart."
Arjun let out a slow breath.
"I don't think mine is making any sense."
Dev leaned back comfortably.
"Try me."
For a few seconds, Arjun remained silent.
Then, as though the words had become too heavy to keep inside anymore...
He finally began.
"I don't know when it started."
"At first, I thought she was just... different."
"Calm."
"Elegant."
"Someone who carried herself with quiet confidence."
"I admired that."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Then I started noticing the little things."
"The way she always lets others speak before sharing her opinion."
"The way she remembers everyone's preferences."
"The way she smiles at children."
"The way she never expects appreciation for the good she does."
His expression softened.
"She's stronger than anyone realizes."
Dev listened without interrupting.
Arjun continued quietly.
"When she disappears from my sight..."
"...I automatically start looking for her."
"When someone makes her laugh..."
"...I end up smiling too."
"When she's tired..."
"...I notice."
"When she's silent..."
"...I wonder what's on her mind."
He lowered his eyes.
"And when Kabir keeps dragging her away every five minutes..."
"...I feel like pulling him back by his collar."
Dev couldn't help laughing.
"So that's what this is about."
Arjun shook his head immediately.
"No."
"It isn't just Kabir."
"It's everything."
"I've been trying to convince myself that I'm only being protective because she's my wife."
"But yesterday..."
His voice grew softer.
"When I lost sight of her in that crowd..."
"I panicked."
"I've never felt that kind of fear before."
"It lasted only a few moments..."
"...but it felt like hours."
His grip tightened around the coffee cup.
"And when I finally found her safe..."
"I felt like I could breathe again."
He looked at Dev, confusion evident in his eyes.
"I don't understand why."
Dev remained silent for a moment before asking gently,
"Can I ask you a few questions?"
Arjun nodded.
"Were you relieved when you found her?"
"More than relieved."
"Do you feel peaceful when she's with you?"
Arjun smiled unconsciously.
"Yes."
"Do you look for reasons just to spend time with her?"
"...Yes."
"Do you get jealous when someone else gets her attention?"
Arjun sighed dramatically.
"I hate admitting it..."
"...but yes."
Dev smiled knowingly.
"And when you imagine returning to India..."
"...what's the first thing you look forward to?"
Arjun didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he found himself smiling without realizing it.
"Coming home..."
"...and seeing her."
The words left his mouth so naturally that even he froze.
Dev noticed.
"So..."
"What does your heart say now?"
Arjun looked down at the coffee in his hands.
Then slowly...
A smile spread across his face.
It wasn't confused anymore.
It wasn't uncertain.
It was peaceful.
As though he had finally found the answer he had been searching for all along.
He looked at Dev.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I've been asking myself what's happening to me..."
"...since the day we got to here."
He let out a quiet laugh.
"But the answer was right in front of me all this time."
His eyes shone with quiet happiness.
"I'm in love..."
A brief pause followed.
Then, with a smile that reached his eyes, he completed the sentence.
"I'm in love with my wife."
For the first time...
Saying those words didn't frighten him.
Instead...
They felt like the most natural truth he had ever spoken.
Dev couldn't help smiling.
There it is...
The answer he'd been waiting for.
He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.
"I was wondering how long it would take you."
Arjun looked at him in confusion.
"You... knew?"
Dev laughed softly.
"Not at first."
"But after the coming here..."
"...then the play area..."
"...and especially yesterday..."
"It became impossible not to notice."
Arjun rubbed his forehead.
"Was I really that obvious?"
"To everyone?"
"No."
Dev shook his head.
"Only to those who know you well."
He smiled knowingly.
"You're a terrible liar when it comes to your feelings."
Arjun sighed.
"That's disappointing."
"It's actually refreshing."
"For years, all you've cared about was work."
"Meetings."
"Business."
"Targets."
"I honestly thought I'd never see the day you fell in love."
A faint smile tugged at Arjun's lips.
"Neither did I."
Silence settled between them once again.
This time...
It was lighter.
As if a weight had finally lifted from Arjun's shoulders.
After a few moments, Dev spoke again.
"So..."
"When are you going to tell her?"
Arjun looked at him.
"Tell her what?"
Dev raised an eyebrow.
"Don't act innocent."
"That you're in love with her."
Arjun's smile slowly faded.
He looked down at the coffee cup in his hands.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I've only just realized my own feelings."
He let out a slow breath.
"And honestly..."
"I still don't know enough about Aadhira."
Dev frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I know she's kind."
"I know she's strong."
"I know she's selfless."
"But..."
"There are still so many things about her that I don't know."
He looked out through the glass window.
"I don't know what scares her."
"I don't know what makes her cry."
"I don't know what dreams she had as a child."
"I don't know what she truly wants from life."
His expression softened.
"I know the woman everyone sees."
"But I want to know..."
"The woman she hides from the world."
Dev listened quietly.
"I don't want to confess just because my heart says so."
"I want to understand her."
"I want to know every side of her."
"Only then..."
"I'll tell her."
For a brief moment, Dev remained silent.
Then he smiled.
"That's exactly where you're wrong."
Arjun looked at him.
"You think you'll confess after you know everything about her."
"But tell me..."
"Does anyone ever completely know the person they love?"
Arjun didn't answer.
Dev continued.
"You don't learn someone by waiting."
"You learn them by walking beside them."
"By asking questions."
"By listening."
"By sharing your own fears."
He leaned forward slightly.
"If you keep waiting for the perfect time..."
"...you might spend your whole life waiting."