Chapter 47 The Secret They Hid #3
"You burn everyone's patience."
The group burst into another round of laughter.
---
An hour later...
Everyone gathered in the hotel restaurant for their final dinner in London.
It wasn't extravagant.
Just good food.
Good company.
And countless memories.
Naina clicked picture after picture.
"Nobody touch your food!"
"I need one more photo."
Rohan groaned dramatically.
"My fries are getting cold."
"They're making memories."
"They're making my fries suffer."
Shanaya laughed as she stole one from his plate.
"Problem solved."
"THAT WAS MY FRY!"
"It was."
Everyone laughed while Rohan looked personally betrayed.
Across the table, Aadhira watched the scene unfold with a soft smile.
Seven years ago...
She never imagined she would one day sit at a table like this.
Laughing.
Feeling safe.
Feeling... loved.
Arjun noticed her expression.
"What are you thinking?"
She looked around at everyone before answering quietly.
"I'm thinking..."
"I'm going to miss this."
His gaze softened.
"We're not saying goodbye."
"We're just going home."
Home.
The word lingered in her mind.
Home.
A place she had once been forced to leave.
A place she was now returning to... as Arjun Rathore's wife.
She smiled faintly.
"I know."
---
Later that night...
The group returned to their rooms to pack.
Suitcases lay open across the beds.
Shopping bags were scattered everywhere.
Kabir looked at his overflowing suitcase in horror.
"Who bought all this?"
Dev looked at him without looking up from his own luggage.
"You did."
"I don't remember."
"I do."
Kabir sighed dramatically.
"I need another suitcase."
"You need self-control."
"I prefer another suitcase."
---
Next door...
Aadhira carefully folded the last of her clothes.
She paused when she picked up a small keychain shaped like London's famous red telephone booth.
She smiled.
A tiny souvenir.
A reminder of the city where everything between her and Arjun had changed.
She gently placed it inside her handbag.
Behind her, Arjun zipped his suitcase shut.
"Done."
She nodded.
"So am I."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Both looked around the room.
This hotel had witnessed awkward silences...
Endless teasing...
Unexpected confessions...
And the beginning of a love neither of them had planned.
Arjun picked up their luggage.
"Ready?"
Aadhira smiled.
"Ready."
Together...
They switched off the lights.
Closed the hotel room door one last time.
And walked toward the next chapter of their lives.
Back home.
Back to India.
Neither of them realized...
That the peace they had found in London would remain behind those closing doors.
Because waiting for them in India...
Was a storm seven years in the making.
---
The next morning...
The hotel lobby looked more like a battlefield than a reception area.
Suitcases were everywhere.
"So..."
Rohan looked at his luggage.
"Anyone know why this suitcase suddenly weighs thirty kilos?"
Kabir folded his arms.
"Because you bought half of London."
"I bought memories."
"You bought seven jackets."
"I needed options."
"You live in India."
The group burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Naina was busy taking selfies.
"Everyone smile!"
"I haven't had coffee yet," Siddharth complained.
"You don't need coffee."
"I absolutely do."
Click.
Another photo.
"And one more!"
Rohan groaned.
"At this rate we'll miss the flight."
---
The journey to the airport was filled with laughter.
No one wanted to admit it...
But everyone was sad the trip had come to an end.
After checking in their luggage, they waited near the boarding gate.
Kabir returned carrying a large bag.
Dev raised an eyebrow.
"What now?"
"Chocolates."
"You already bought chocolates yesterday."
"These are different chocolates."
Dev sighed.
"I'm dating a child."
Kabir grinned proudly.
"A very handsome child."
---
A few hours later...
The flight finally took off.
One by one, everyone drifted off to sleep.
Rohan was snoring.
Naina leaned against Shanaya's shoulder.
Kabir had somehow fallen asleep with his headphones still on.
Dev quietly removed them and placed them in his bag before covering him with a blanket.
Across the aisle...
Aadhira sat beside the window.
She watched the white clouds pass by in silence.
Arjun noticed she hadn't slept.
"Tired?"
She nodded slightly.
"A little."
Without saying another word, he adjusted the small travel pillow behind her and gently draped a blanket over her shoulders.
She looked at him.
"Thank you."
A few minutes later...
Without even realizing it...
She rested her head against his shoulder.
Arjun smiled to himself.
He didn't move.
He simply let her sleep peacefully.
Outside the window...
The clouds slowly gave way to the bright morning sun.
London was behind them.
India was waiting.
---
Several hours later...
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to India."
The announcement woke everyone.
Rohan stretched dramatically.
"Finally!"
Kabir looked out of the window and smiled.
"Home."
As the aircraft touched down on the runway, Aadhira took a slow breath..
She looked at Arjun.
He smiled reassuringly.
She returned the smile.
Together, the group walked out of the airport, laughing as their families waved excitedly from a distance.
Tight hugs.
Happy tears.
Countless questions.
The airport echoed with the joy of reunions.
For everyone else...
It was simply the end of a beautiful honeymoon.
But for Aadhira...
It was the beginning of something far greater.
Far away, inside a dimly lit room, a phone vibrated.
A man answered the call.
"Sir..."
"They've returned."
A slow, chilling silence followed.
Then a cold voice spoke.
"So..."
"After seven years..."
"The game finally begins."
End of Chapter 47
Author's Note ??
Hi, my lovely readers!
This ended up being a pretty long chapter, but I hope you enjoyed every bit of it.
Also, I created an Instagram account today! The link is in my Wattpad profile description if you'd like to follow. I'll slowly start posting story updates, character content, and reels there.
I'm still new to making reels, so if they're not perfect, please bear with me. ?? Thank you for your support and encouragement-it truly means a lot!
See you in the next chapter! ??