Chapter 47

Subhi

T

he wind brushed against my face as I led Abhimanyu through the park, his hesitant footsteps following mine. I could feel the weight of his emotions—how much he had been holding in, how much he had buried inside himself. But today, I wanted to remind him of something simple.

Life wasn’t just about surviving. It was about living.

We stopped near a small open area where kids were playing. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. I turned to face him, a small smile playing on my lips.

“Okay,” I said, catching my breath. “Now, close your eyes.”

Abhimanyu gave me a skeptical look. “Why?”

I rolled my eyes. “Just trust me.”

He sighed but closed his eyes anyway.

“Now, listen,” I said softly. “Listen to everything around you.”

For a moment, he was still. Then, slowly, I saw the tension in his shoulders loosen.

“What do you hear?” I asked.

His brows furrowed slightly as he focused. “The wind… the laughter of kids… the rustling of leaves.”

I smiled. “Good. Now take a deep breath.”

He did.

“And now?”

His voice was quieter this time. “It feels… lighter.”

I nodded. “Because sometimes, we forget how beautiful the little things are. But they’re always there. Just like hope.”

His eyes opened, and for the first time in a long time, I saw something in them—something softer, something lighter.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then, suddenly, he reached out and gently flicked my forehead. “You’re really something, you know that?”

I laughed, rubbing the spot. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Abhimanyu shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Thank you.”

I tilted my head. “For what?”

He looked at me, really looked at me. “For reminding me what it’s like to feel… okay.”

A warmth spread in my chest.

Maybe this was all he needed. Maybe this was all we both needed.

A moment. A reminder. A feeling of being alive.