30
Chapter 30
A Family Worth Fighting For
Three days later...
Life slowly returned to normal.
Or at least, it tried to.
The kidnapping had made headlines, but thanks to Aarav's influence and the police investigation, Kabir's identity was kept out of the media.
Aarav made sure of it.
He didn't want his son growing up with cameras following him.
He wanted Kabir to have the childhood he deserved.
A normal one.
---
Anaya stood in the kitchen one Sunday morning making breakfast.
Kabir was at the dining table, building a tower with toy blocks.
Every few seconds he looked toward the front door.
"Mumma?"
"Hmm?"
"What time is Dad coming?"
The word no longer sounded unfamiliar.
It sounded... natural.
Anaya smiled without realizing it.
"He said nine."
Kabir looked at the clock.
"It's nine-oh-two."
"He'll be here."
Almost as if on cue, the doorbell rang.
Kabir jumped off the chair.
"Dad!"
He rushed to the door before Anaya could stop him.
The moment it opened, Aarav bent down with a smile.
"Good morning, buddy."
"You're two minutes late."
Aarav blinked.
"I am?"
Kabir nodded seriously.
"I counted."
Aarav put a hand over his heart.
"I'll try to do better next time."
Satisfied with the answer, Kabir grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.
Anaya watched the scene quietly.
It still felt unreal.
Only a week ago, they had been strangers.
Now Kabir couldn't wait for him to visit.
---
Aarav placed a paper bag on the table.
"I brought breakfast."
Anaya raised an eyebrow.
"I already made breakfast."
"I know."
"So why did you buy more?"
He looked almost guilty.
"I wasn't sure what Kabir likes."
Kabir immediately opened the bag.
"Dad!"
He pulled out chocolate croissants.
"My favourite!"
Aarav looked surprised.
"Really?"
Anaya smiled.
"It was a lucky guess."
Kabir shook his head.
"No."
He looked proudly at Aarav.
"Dads just know."
For a second, Aarav forgot how to respond.
Then he quietly smiled.
"I'll take the credit."
---
After breakfast, the three of them went to a nearby park.
Kabir insisted.
He wanted to fly his new kite.
Unfortunately, the kite seemed determined not to cooperate.
After crashing into a tree for the third time, Kabir sighed dramatically.
"I think it hates me."
Aarav knelt beside him.
"No."
"Then why won't it fly?"
"Because even kites need practice."
Kabir looked doubtful.
"So I'm bad?"
"No."
Aarav gently adjusted the string in his son's hands.
"You don't have to be perfect the first time."
Anaya watched from a nearby bench.
A year ago, she would have imagined Aarav teaching Kabir business or martial arts.
Instead, he was patiently teaching him how to fly a kite.
Without raising his voice.
Without taking over.
Just encouraging him.
The sight warmed her heart.
---
After several attempts, the kite finally caught the wind.
Kabir's eyes widened.
"It's flying!"
He laughed so loudly that people nearby turned to look.
Aarav stepped back.
He didn't hold the string.
He let Kabir do it himself.
Anaya noticed that.
He wasn't trying to control every moment.
He was letting Kabir enjoy it.
It was a small thing.
But it meant a lot.
---
On the way home, Kabir fell asleep in the car.
His head slowly leaned against Aarav's shoulder.
Aarav stopped talking immediately.
As if he didn't want to disturb him.
When they reached the apartment, he carefully picked Kabir up.
Slowly.
Supporting his head with one hand.
Making sure he stayed asleep.
Anaya unlocked the door quietly.
Inside, Aarav gently placed Kabir on the bed and covered him with a blanket.
He was about to leave the room when Kabir sleepily reached for his hand.
"Don't go..."
Aarav's heart clenched.
"I'm not."
He stayed beside the bed until Kabir settled again.
Only then did he quietly step outside.
---
Later that evening, Anaya found Aarav standing on the apartment balcony.
The city lights stretched endlessly before them.
Neither spoke for a while.
Finally, Anaya broke the silence.
"You've changed."
Aarav smiled faintly.
"I've had a good reason to."
She looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For taking away these years."
He looked down for a moment.
Then back at her.
"I can't get those years back."
She nodded sadly.
"I know."
"But..."
He took a slow breath.
"...I can decide what I do with the years ahead."
Anaya felt tears sting her eyes.
"You really mean that?"
"I do."
He wasn't pretending the past hadn't happened.
He wasn't saying it didn't hurt.
He was choosing not to let it define their future.
---
Before leaving, Aarav walked to the front door.
Then he suddenly stopped.
He turned back toward Anaya.
"There is something I want to ask."
She frowned.
"What?"
He smiled.
"A chance."
She looked confused.
"A chance to know you again."
Not to start where they left off.
Not to forget the past.
Not to force forgiveness.
Just...
A new beginning.
No pressure.
No expectations.
Only honesty.
Anaya looked at the man standing in front of her.
He wasn't the same Aarav she had left five years ago.
And she wasn't the same Anaya either.
Maybe that wasn't a bad thing.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I think..."
She paused.
"...we can start with coffee."
Aarav laughed softly.
"I'd like that."
As he walked out of the apartment, neither of them noticed a black car parked across the street.
Someone inside lowered a camera.
A photograph had just been taken.
And although Rhea was behind bars...
It seemed she wasn't the only enemy they had.
To be continued...