[39]

Three Years Later…

Bangalore

The city stretched endlessly before him, a shimmering maze of lights and life, but Ved Agarwal felt nothing as he gazed out from the 20th floor of his glass-walled office. His hands rested in his pockets, his suit pristine, his expression unreadable. The world had changed in these three years—he had changed.

A sharp knock on the cabin door broke his trance.

"May I come in, sir?" A soft, feminine voice echoed through the room.

Without turning, he responded, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Come in."

The assistant stepped inside, standing with practiced professionalism. "Mr. Agrawal aapse milne aaye hain, Ved sir."

At the mention of the name, Ved's sharp gaze snapped toward her. The composed mask he wore cracked ever so slightly, urgency flickering in his dark eyes.

"Unhe jaldi yaha bhejo," he ordered, his voice laced with impatience. The assistant gave a quick nod before leaving.

Minutes later, the door opened again, and Mr. Agrawal stepped in. Ved didn’t waste a second.

"Kuch pata chala?" His voice was steady, but his fingers curled into fists at his sides.

Mr. Agrawal nodded. "Haan, Aarohi Cape Town mein hai."

For a brief moment, time seemed to pause. Ved exhaled slowly, his eyes darkening with something intense—determination, longing, or perhaps, something more.

Without another word, Mr. Agrawal turned and left, but Ved remained still, the weight of those words settling over him.

"Cape Town... Mein aa raha hoon, Aarohi Mehta," he muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening.

Three years.

Three years of silence, of distance, of endless nights wondering where she was. Now, he finally had a name, a place—a chance.

And this time, he wouldn’t let her go.

********************

Oberoi Mansion

Laughter echoed through the grand living room as little Rivaan ran across the marble floors, his tiny feet pattering against the surface. His giggles filled the air, full of innocence and mischief, as he sprinted ahead, evading the arms that reached out to catch him.

"Riiivaaannnn!" Vaani's voice rang through the space as she chased after her 2.5-year-old son, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face. Her baby bump was evident now, and though her movements were slower, she refused to let her little whirlwind get away so easily.

Just then, the front door swung open, and Rishit stepped inside, loosening his tie after a long day. The moment Rivaan spotted him, his face lit up with pure joy.

"Paaapaaaa!" he squealed, his tiny arms flailing as he ran straight into Rishit’s open embrace.

Rishit lifted him effortlessly, pressing a kiss to his son’s forehead before glancing at Vaani, who stood there, catching her breath.

"Rivaan, aap mamma ko bahut pareshan karne lage ho," Rishit scolded lightly, though his tone held nothing but fondness. His gaze dropped to Vaani’s belly, his eyes softening. "Unki tummy me aapki chhoti behan hai na?"

Rivaan pouted for a second, deep in thought. Then, his eyes widened as realization dawned upon him.

"To phir hame unta thayal lakhna tahiye na?" he said in his adorable, innocent voice, still struggling with his words. (Toh phir hume unka khayal rakhna chahiye na?)

Rishit chuckled, nodding. "Exactly, my baby. Ek kaam karte hain—tum mumma ka khayal rakhna, aur main tumhara. Bolo, done?"

A wide grin stretched across Rivaan’s face. "Done!" he chirped, clapping his tiny hands together.

Father and son sealed their deal with a high-five, their laughter filling the room, while Vaani stood there, watching them with a smile that reached her heart. In that moment, everything felt perfect.

*******************

A soft glow from the bedside lamp bathed the room in warmth as Vaani lay comfortably on the bed, her head propped up on pillows. The atmosphere was peaceful, filled with nothing but love and laughter.

Beside her, Rivaan sat with his tiny legs folded, carefully picking up pieces of grapes with his small hands and feeding them to his mother. His little fingers brushed against her lips each time, his eyes gleaming with joy at the task he had taken so seriously.

On the other side, Rishit was feeding grapes to Rivaan, making sure their little one was just as cared for.

After offering another piece to Vaani, Rivaan suddenly turned towards Rishit, his innocent eyes shining. He extended his tiny hand, a single grape resting in his palm.

"Papa, glape (grape)," he said, his words still slightly muddled.

Rishit chuckled at his son’s cuteness, leaning in to take the offered grape with a playful bite. "Mmm, best grape ever!" he teased, making Rivaan giggle.

Vaani, watching them, raised an amused eyebrow before asking, "Waise, Rishit… aapko kaise pata ki ladki hi hogi?"

Rishit smirked confidently, glancing at her baby bump before replying, "Bas pata hai. Rivaan ke liye ab ek chhoti sister hi aayegi. Hai na, Rivaan?"

Rivaan, always quick to agree with his papa, nodded excitedly. "Sistel (sister)!" he repeated, his voice high-pitched with happiness.

Vaani couldn’t help but smile at the scene before her—her husband and son, already dreaming about their little girl.

"Chalo, ab jaldi-jaldi khao dono," Rishit instructed playfully, picking up another grape and popping it into Rivaan’s mouth, while Rivaan in turn continued feeding Vaani.

Once they were done, Rishit took the empty bowl from Rivaan’s hands. "Main ye rakh kar aata hoon," he said, standing up. But before leaving, he leaned down, gently pressing a soft kiss on Vaani’s forehead. Then, with the same tenderness, he placed another kiss on her baby bump.

Rivaan, who had been watching his father closely, suddenly got up and mimicked his actions. He leaned forward, pressing a tiny kiss on his mother’s forehead before carefully placing another one on her belly.

Vaani’s heart melted at the sight, and Rishit, watching their little boy, felt an overwhelming warmth in his chest.

They smiled at each other, knowing that moments like these were what truly made life beautiful.

******************

Cape Town

The dim glow of the laptop screen illuminated Aarohi's face as she sat on her bed, her eyes fixed on the wedding photos displayed before her. Her fingers moved idly over the trackpad, scrolling through the images—some where they stood together, others where he smiled, completely unaware of the silent emotions she had harbored for him.

Then came the photoshopped ones—pictures she had edited, imagining them standing side by side, closer than they ever truly had been. A wistful smile played on her lips, bittersweet and laced with unspoken words.

"I guess my love for you was always one-sided," she murmured, her voice soft yet heavy with emotions.

Her gaze lingered on his face, the features she had memorized over the years, the warmth she had once longed to call hers.

"But I will always love you, the way I used to. It will never fade… only deepen with time."

With that, she let out a quiet sigh and continued scrolling, getting lost in memories that had only ever belonged to her.

Meanwhile…

Ved had just arrived in Cape Town, the foreign city buzzing with life around him. Seated in the back of a cab, his fingers tapped impatiently on his phone before he finally dialed a number. The moment the call connected, urgency laced his voice.

"Pata chala wo kaha reh rahi hai?"

On the other end, Mr. Agrawal replied, "Main pata karne ki koshish kar raha hoon, sir. Jaldi hi pata chal jayega."

Ved's jaw clenched. "Fast," he ordered, disconnecting the call without another word.

Minutes later, he reached his hotel. The exhaustion of travel weighed on him, but there was no room for rest—not when she was in this city, just out of reach. He stepped into the washroom, splashing cold water on his face, hoping to shake off the heaviness in his chest.

Returning to the bed, he lay down, staring at the ceiling, yet all he could see was her.

"Aarohi, main tumhe jaldi dhoond lunga… kyunki ab yeh mohabbat ek tarfa nahi rahi. Yeh do tarfa ban chuki hai."

A soft smile curved his lips as memories of her filled his mind. This time, he wasn’t here to let her go. He was here to bring her back.

The Next Morning

As Ved woke up, his first instinct was to reach for his phone. His heart pounded with anticipation, hoping for an update.

Just then, his phone rang. Mr. Agrawal.

Without wasting a second, he swiped to answer. "Kuch pata chala?" he asked urgently.

"Yes, sir. Pata chala hai ki har Wednesday subah-subah ek mall mein jaati hai. And luckily, aaj Wednesday hai," Mr. Agrawal informed.

Ved sat up instantly, his sleep completely forgotten. "Send me the address. Fast."

Without waiting for a response, he disconnected the call, his pulse quickening.

Aarohi was close. And this time, he wasn’t going to let her slip away.

********************

Ahuja Mansion

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room. Vidhi stirred, her head resting against Vidhan’s chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she gazed at his sleeping face.

But then, an unsettling sensation gripped her. Her stomach churned. She shot up abruptly, rushing towards the washroom.

Minutes later, she emerged, her face pale, her hands trembling as she clutched the fabric of her dress. A sharp pang of pain—not just physical, but emotional—settled in her chest. As she sat on the couch, silent tears began streaming down her cheeks.

The quiet sobs stirred Vidhan awake. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light of the room. The sight of Vidhi, curled up and crying, sent a jolt of panic through him.

He immediately got up, rushing to her side. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into the warmth of his embrace.

"Kya hua baccha? Why are you crying?" he asked gently, his fingers threading through her hair in an attempt to soothe her.

Her grip on his shirt tightened as she let out a shaky breath. "I got my periods again, Vidhan. I… I want a baby. Why am I not able to conceive?" she sobbed, burying her face in his chest.

Vidhan’s heart clenched at her words. He held her closer, but his mind was in turmoil.

“I’ve been hiding this for three years… should I finally tell her?”

A deep sigh left his lips as he made his decision.

"Me abhi aata hu, baccha," he whispered, reluctantly pulling away.

Vidhi watched as he strode towards the locker, pressing in the password with steady fingers. The sound of the metallic click filled the silence as he retrieved a file.

With careful steps, he approached her, extending the file with a solemn expression.

And then, he told her everything.

How the reports had shown that her chances of conceiving were low. How he had married her early. How he had hidden the truth, fearing it would break her.

Vidhi’s world came crashing down.

She stood up abruptly, fists clenching. And then, with all the emotions welling up inside her, she started hitting his chest, her sobs turning louder.

"Why didn’t you tell me this earlier, Vidhan? Kyu aapne mujhe meri zindagi ka itna bada sach chupaya?" she cried, her voice filled with heartbreak.

Vidhan let her hit him, let her pour out every ounce of pain she had held inside. He had known this moment would come, but it still shattered him.

Pulling her back into his arms, he whispered against her hair, "Main nahi chahta tha ki tum dukhi ho, baccha. Tumhari khushi mere liye sabse zaroori thi."

Her sobs didn’t stop. She trembled in his arms, her fingers digging into his back. "Par Vidhan… main ab bhi dukhi hoon, aur aapne jo kiya wo galat tha," she murmured between her tears.

Vidhan tightened his embrace, resting his chin atop her head. He let her cry, let her release the pain she had unknowingly been carrying for so long. His hands moved in slow, soothing motions over her back and hair.

At first, she fought against him, her fists weakly hitting his chest. But eventually, she gave in. Her hands clutched onto him, her body melting into his as she sobbed into his warmth.

Vidhan held her as if he would never let go—because no matter what, he never would.

*******************

Capetown

Ved had been wandering through the mall for over two hours, his sharp gaze scanning every aisle, every face. Yet, there was no sign of Aarohi.

Frustration gnawed at him. "Kahi galat information toh nahi mil gayi?" he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple.

But just as he was about to turn away, his steps halted.

His breath hitched. His heart skipped a beat.

Standing in the dry fruits section, dressed in a neatly fitted trouser and shirt, was Aarohi.

Time seemed to still.

Ved’s gaze locked onto her face—the face he had yearned to see for the past three years.

A soft, unbidden smile curved his lips. "Meri kismat acchi hai ya meri mohabbat sacchi? Kyunki tum itni jaldi mil gayi," he whispered under his breath.

He had prepared himself for a long search, but fate had been unexpectedly kind to him today.

"Jo bhi ho… at least mujhe Aarohi mili toh."

His eyes softened with an unspoken emotion as he watched her pick up some almonds and place them into her shopping basket.

Without wasting a second, he began following her—his steps measured, careful, ensuring she wouldn’t notice his presence.

Every time she stopped to browse something, he pretended to check the racks beside her. Every little movement of hers—tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, furrowing her brows in thought, the way she chewed on her lip while deciding—he observed it all, as if engraving the moment into his memory.

After checking out, Aarohi stepped out of the mall, and Ved followed at a safe distance.

She walked with an unhurried pace, carrying her shopping bags, oblivious to the shadow that trailed behind.

After a while, she stopped in front of a grand house, its gates opening automatically as she stepped inside.

Ved’s sharp eyes took in the place. It was clear she lived here.

Without thinking twice, he followed her inside, slipping in quietly before the gates closed.

Careful not to make a sound, he moved stealthily, scanning his surroundings. Spotting an open doorway leading to what looked like a storage room, he quickly slipped inside and pressed his back against the wall.

His heart pounded in his chest.

She was right here. After three long years, Aarohi Mehta was within his reach.

And this time… he wouldn’t let her slip away.

__________________________________________

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