Chapter 5: Homeward Bound

Kiara's POV

The last five days in Rajasthan had been a whirlwind—colorful markets, magnificent palaces, and endless sightseeing. There was something magical about the place, but as much as I had enjoyed the trip, I was ready to return home. West Bengal, with its familiar streets and the comfort of my own bed, was calling to me.

I stood by the hotel window, gazing out at the bustling streets below, trying to calm the storm of thoughts that had been swirling inside me ever since that encounter with Reyaansh. It had been five days, but I couldn’t seem to shake him from my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, his face would appear—dark eyes, a knowing smile, and that aura of mystery that made him impossible to forget.

“Kia, we’re ready to go,” Sneha’s voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to find her standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. “Are you just going to stand there all day or are you coming with us?”

I forced a smile. “Yeah, just a minute.”

I grabbed my bag and hurried out of the room, trying to push the lingering thoughts of Reyaansh to the back of my mind. It wasn’t like I was in love with him—of course not. I barely knew him. But there was something about the way he looked at me, the way he made everything feel more intense than it should be. It was unsettling, and that made me even more determined to focus on the journey ahead.

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The drive to the airport was quiet. My parents were talking, discussing the last-minute details of our trip back to Kolkata, but my mind kept wandering back to that conversation with Reyaansh. How had he even known where to find me? How had he managed to get my anklet back when I hadn’t even realized it was missing until I’d left the palace?

It was all so strange, so surreal. I should’ve been more cautious, but there was something about him that made me feel like I could trust him, even though I had no reason to.

“We’re finally heading home!” Arjun’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He turned around from the front seat with a grin. “I’ve missed the food back home. Nothing compares to Bengali cuisine!”

I chuckled, grateful for the distraction. “Same here. I can’t wait for some good old panta bhat and macher jhol.” I looked over at Sneha, who was half-rolling her eyes but smiling nonetheless. “You’re both obsessed with food,” she teased.

I laughed, but the familiar banter did little to ease the knot that had formed in my chest. The more I thought about Reyaansh, the more I realized how much he had disrupted my sense of normalcy. I’d met so many people in my life, but I couldn’t remember a single one who had left such a mark on me in such a short amount of time.

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As we reached the airport, I let out a deep breath, trying to push away the thoughts of the mysterious man. I needed to focus on the present—my family, the journey home. As we checked in and settled into our seats on the plane, I tried to lose myself in a book, but my mind kept returning to him. What was it about Reyaansh Rathore that had me so captivated?

I was being ridiculous. I didn’t even know him. He was just some guy I had met for a brief moment, and yet… I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward him. It wasn’t just his looks—it was something in the way he spoke, the way he carried himself like he was untouchable. But beneath all that, there was a warmth. A strange, quiet kindness that made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t realized I needed.

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The flight was smooth, and after what felt like an eternity, we finally landed in West Bengal. As soon as I stepped off the plane and felt the warm, humid air hit me, I couldn’t help but smile. There was no place like home.

“Kia, why do you look so serious?” Sneha asked as we made our way to the baggage claim.

I shook my head, trying to push the lingering thoughts of Reyaansh out of my mind. “Nothing. Just happy to be back.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. I was happy to be back. But something had shifted during these last five days—something I couldn’t explain, and certainly something I wasn’t ready to face. And I had a feeling that somehow, some way, Reyaansh Rathore wasn’t done with me yet.

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As we made our way out of the airport and into the bustling streets of Kolkata, I felt a strange sense of relief. The familiar sights and sounds of home were soothing, like a warm embrace. The aroma of street food wafted through the air, the honking of cars and rickshaws, the lively chatter of people—everything felt so ordinary, yet comforting. I needed this normalcy after the whirlwind of emotions I had been through in Rajasthan.

Sneha nudged me as we waited for the car. "You’ve been awfully quiet," she said, giving me a pointed look. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

I forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil swirling inside me. "No, I’m just happy to be home." It wasn’t a complete lie, but I knew she wasn’t convinced. Sneha could always tell when something was off, but I wasn’t ready to share my thoughts with her—at least not yet.

As we settled into the car, I stared out the window, watching the streets of Kolkata unfold before me. The familiar chaos of the city seemed so distant compared to the serenity of Rajasthan, but I was thankful for it. I needed the distraction, the noise, the comfort of being surrounded by family and friends who didn’t have an air of mystery about them.

But even as the city passed by, I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something was missing. The emptiness I had felt when I lost my anklet was still there, despite having it returned. It was more than just the anklet—it was Reyaansh. That connection, that undeniable pull between us, wouldn’t leave me. He was still in my thoughts, as if his presence had left an indelible mark on me.

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That night, as I lay in bed, I replayed everything that had happened during the trip. Every moment with Reyaansh felt like it had been loaded with unspoken meaning, and I couldn’t understand why I was still thinking about him. I tried to convince myself that it was just a brief encounter, that it didn’t mean anything. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple. I closed my eyes, wishing for peace of mind, but Reyaansh’s face lingered in my thoughts like an unfinished puzzle, a mystery I couldn’t let go of.