Chapter 28: chapter 28

2 months laterThe grand ballroom of the luxury hotel was buzzing with conversations—business tycoons, investors, and entrepreneurs mingled, glasses of sparkling water in hand. Amey adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit, glancing around with practiced calm. His name was now recognized in corporate circles, and today, he was one of the guest speakers at the prestigious Business Leadership Seminar.He moved through the lounge, grabbing a quick coffee before his session. The aroma of roasted beans filled the air. Just as he turned to find a quiet corner, a voice from behind froze him in place.“Amey?”It was a name spoken softly, but it carried a weight of memories.He turned.There she stood.Megha.His past. His once-upon-a-time. The woman he had once dreamed of building a future with.She was dressed immaculately, her hair cascading in soft waves, eyes wide with disbelief. For a second, the noise of the world seemed to fade.“Wow…” she breathed out, stepping closer, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. “Look at you. You’ve changed so much.”Amey offered a polite nod, his expression unreadable.Megha, however, couldn’t hide her surprise. She had last seen him when he was still finding his ground, constantly fighting for recognition, burning himself at both ends in the hopes of creating something meaningful. The Amey in front of her now exuded success. Confidence. Still calm, still quiet—but there was power in his presence now.She smiled faintly, more to herself than to him. “I read about you in a business magazine a few months ago. I had to do a double-take. I couldn’t believe it was you.”He offered a polite acknowledgment, but it was clear he had moved on—from her, from the past, from the version of himself that had once loved her.Megha, though, found herself momentarily trapped in that old timeline.She remembered his messy apartment full of scribbled notes and failed prototypes. The late-night calls where he spoke of ideas with fire in his eyes. The boy with nothing but dreams and heart.Back then, she wanted security. Stability. And he couldn’t offer that.So she walked away.And now, here he was—more than successful. Composed. Admired. Everything she once wanted in a partner… and everything he had become without her.Megha’s smile faltered for a moment as a quiet ache bloomed in her chest. What if…?What if she had stayed?What if she had believed in his madness?What if she hadn’t needed him to be perfect right away?There was a sudden wave of regret that washed over her, so strong she could almost taste it. She imagined herself beside him at events like these, imagined their lives intertwined in the glow of his success. In that fleeting moment, she wished she could rewind time—say yes when she had said no.But the man in front of her wasn’t looking at her with longing. There was no flicker of what once was in his eyes. He was polite. Cordial. Distant. Like someone who had filed the past into a folder labeled “done.”Megha inhaled slowly, composing herself.“Well,” she said, finally breaking the silence. “You’ve done really well for yourself. I’m… happy for you.”Amey nodded gently.As he turned to leave for his session, Megha remained frozen in place, watching him walk away—tall, successful, self-assured.The one who had once loved her madly…And the one she had let slip away.Her smile returned, but this time it didn’t reach her eyes."I wish I had stayed, we could have been something more…"