14

May flowers grow in the

Saddest part of you

Dhruv and Reyansh stepped off the plane in Italy, the crisp air filled with the scent of fresh espresso and the distant hum of bustling streets.

Reyansh was here for an important business deal and Dhruv was here to meet his younger brother after a long time.

Reyansh and Dhruv arrived in Milan on a bright, sunny morning. The city was alive with the hum of activity, its streets bustling with tourists and locals alike.

As they checked into their hotel, Reyansh's thoughts were filled with his upcoming meetings.

Dhruv was looking forward to catching up with his brother and explore the city.

"Reyansh,when are you free from your meetings?"asked dhruv.

"Till evening,why are you asking?"

"Karan said he was missing you too,so maybe we could go together and meet him."Dhruv stated.

"Ok,I will get work done early"Reyansh said.

Dhruv nodded and exclaimed"well I am also here to meet his best friend because of whom he is here and not coming to even meet us in these years, seriously that boy whenever he calls,he would rant about his bestfriend and would often cut call in between saying he is spending time with her"

Dhruv rolled his eyes at ending.

"Are you sure they are just bestfriend?"Reyansh questioned.

"It should be as if he says,he treats her like his sister"dhruv stated.

"Well it explains a lot since he always wished for a sister"Reyansh said settling down on sofa.

"Don't sit down,get up and go get ready for your meetings, I do not want you late at all"Dhruv said firmly.

Reyansh nonchalantly nodded and stood up.

Dhruv looked at the retreating figure of his bestfriend.its been years to see him smile or be happy truly.

He knows that he doesn't deserve a second chance but he can't see his brother like bestfriend in this state.

He prays that he finds Aradhya soon and gains her forgiveness.if not maybe he moves on and forgives himself for his mistakes.

Dhruv messaged his younger brother That he has landed and would meet him along reyansh in evening.

Karan agreed and asked him to meet at a quaint cafe near Duomo di milano.

Reyansh's phone buzzed with a message,he opened to see message from dhruv"you done?"

"Yes,on my way to hotel"

He texted him back as okay and Reyansh out his mobile in pocket and wraps up his work.

"You seem so happy today,pookie?"Aradhya raised her brows questioning.

"Oh yes,today my elder brother is coming to meet me after years"he said excitedly.

Aradhya's smile faltered a little and Karan knew what she was thinking.

"Aru,i am missing my family but that doesn't mean I will ever leave you alone here and you don't need to feel guilty about me being with you and not with my family.you are also my family.when i said I will be with you forever i promised to fulfill it my Little Baby"

He slowly wrapped his arms around her and caressed her hairs.

"Why are you so nice Karan?when everyone hated me you loved me why?you are the bestest friend i couldn't even dream of.i love you so much"she sobbed.

"Shhhh your makeup will be ruined and then you will look like a witch"he said mocking and she hit her shoulder lightly.

"Btw will you also come with me to meet my elder brother? please"he pleaded showing his puppy eyes.

'this guy is so cute for his own good'

"Fine I will go with you,I want to see your so called hero brother you praise of"she muttered.

He laughed and kissed her cheeks.

"Oh yeah my brother's bestfriend is also coming,you can say brother from another mother"

She smiled seeing him excited.

"Come on if you want me to go with you,let me do my work"she said.

"Aru,not today please, let's watch movie together.i will cook please"he insisted.

"Fine but it's only for today okay?"

"Yes yes"he replied quickly.

______________________________________

"Bhaiii!,aru they are over there"Karan said excitedly waving his hand towards them and holding aradhya's arm.

Dhruv and Reyansh looked up.

Reyansh's heart pounded in his chest as he caught sight of Aradhya after five long years.

His palms were sweaty, and a wave of nervousness washed over him. Yet, amidst the anxiety, there was a profound sense of peace. He had finally found her.

Dhruv's eyes widens at the realisation that Karan's aru was none other than Aradhya.he hadn't met her in person but he has seen her wedding pictures.

Aradhya, his ex-wife, stood before him, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of hope and sorrow.

The regret for his past mistakes weighed heavily on him. Despite the turmoil inside, Reyansh felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps this encounter was a chance for redemption, a chance to make things right.

Aradhya's eyes widened as she saw Reyansh standing before her. A surge of anger and resentment welled up inside her, memories of the pain and hatred he had caused flooding back. Her heart hardened.

She clenched her fists, trying to control the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

The sight of him brought back the hurtful words, the broken heart, and the loneliness she had endured.

Aradhya had spent years trying to rebuild her life, to move past the wounds he had inflicted, and now, here he was, reopening old scars.

Her voice,when she finally spoke was cold and distant"is he your brother from another brother,Karan?"

Her eyes never leaving Reyansh.

"Yes"Karan said chirpingly but then noticed the change in her tone and looked at her to find her looking more like glaring at Reyansh who was also staring at her.

Something in their eyes flickered.her eyes filled with anger,hatred and pain while his eyes held regret,pain and longing.

Her giref came back in the form of anger.

"I am going back Karan,you meet your brothers"she muttered trying to leave.

With a swift motion, Reyansh rose from his seat and hold her hand not wanting her to go.

"What do you want, Reyansh?"she demanded, her tone laced with the anger she had kept buried for so long.

This was the first time she called him by his name but her cold and distant tone didn't settle well with him.

She couldn't understand why he had come back, and part of her didn't want to know. The pain of their past was still too raw, too real.

As she looked into his eyes, she saw the regret and longing, but it only fueled her anger.

How dare he come back now, after all this time, expecting forgiveness? Aradhya's heart was a fortress, built to protect herself from the hurt he had caused, and she wasn't ready to let him in again. Not now, and maybe not ever.

Reyansh felt a sharp pang in his chest as Aradhya's cold, hostile words hit him. He had expected anger, but the intensity of her hatred was like a punch to the gut. His heart sank, and he struggled to find the right words to respond.

He could see the pain and anger in her eyes, and it mirrored the regret he had carried for years. Reyansh's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of his past mistakes pressing down on him.

"I am again sorry, aradhya"his voice soft,ringed with sorrow"i know I have hurt you so much and I do not expect you to forgive me but please don't go away from me,give me a chance to mend everything"

The air between them was thick with unresolved emotions. Reyansh's tentative movements contrasted sharply with Aradhya's rigid, unyielding stance. It was a silent battle of wills, each movement and gesture revealing the deep-seated pain and unresolved feelings that still lingered between them.

"I don't want you in my life,let alone giving you a chance"she snapped.

"And I need you in my life, Jaan"he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

Her initial reaction was a mix of shock and disbelief. How could he, after all the pain he had caused, dare to use such a term? Her heart clenched.

"Don't call me that," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and pain"I am not your jaan and never was,say those sugar coated words to your girlfriend not me"

Reyansh felt a sharp sting as Aradhya's words cut through the air. Her rejection was like a dagger to his heart, and he struggled to maintain his composure.

He felt a mix of emotions-regret, sorrow, and a deep sense of loss. The realization that he might never be able to mend what he had broken weighed heavily on him. Despite the pain, he knew he had to respect her feelings and give her the time and space she needed.

Reyansh's reaction was a blend of acceptance and heartache. He had come seeking redemption, but he understood that some wounds take longer to heal, and some bridges might never be rebuilt. All he could do now was hope that, in time, Aradhya might find it in her heart to forgive him.

Reyansh's voice trembled with desperation as he spoke, his eyes pleading with Aradhya. "Hate me all you want, but never go away from me again," he said, his tone raw and vulnerable. "What if I don't find you again? I won't be able to live."

His words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. Reyansh's heart ached with the fear of losing her forever. He knew he had made unforgivable mistakes, but the thought of a life without Aradhya was unbearable.

His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and he took a tentative step closer, hoping she could see the sincerity in his plea.

" please, don't disappear from my life. I can't bear the thought of never seeing you again." his voice breaking down.

Reyansh's vulnerability was laid bare, his usual composure shattered by the intensity of his emotions. He was willing to face her hatred, her anger, anything, as long as it meant she would still be a part of his life. The fear of losing her again was a torment he couldn't endure, and he hoped, with all his heart, that she might find it within herself to stay.

'what if I do not find you again?i won't be able to live'

She scoffed at his words.

"Then die"she snapped and freeing her hand from his hand,she leaves from there.

Karan who stood there understood the situation that happened around him.

The ex husband of her was no other than Reyansh.he never asked her about the name of her ex husband.

He cursed her husband Many times not that he regrets even a bit of it even if he came to know that it's Reyansh,he deserves it.

"You are her ex husband?"Karan asked confirming his doubts.

When Karan referred to him as Aradhya's ex-husband, Reyansh felt a sharp pang of pain and regret. The words "ex-husband" echoed in his mind, a stark reminder of the mistakes he had made and the consequences he now faced.

His heart sank, and he felt a lump form in his throat. The label was a harsh reality check.

Reyansh's hands clenched into fists at his sides, a physical manifestation of the turmoil inside him. He struggled to maintain his composure, forcing himself to take a deep breath. The regret he felt was overwhelming, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.

"Yes"he mumbled,his voice barely audible.

~ख़ामोशी तुम समझोगे नहीं

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