Chapter 22
555 Words
Ishaan sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Arohi as she curled up in silence. She wasn’t the same anymore—the spark in her eyes had dimmed, the usual warmth in her voice had disappeared.
She was trapped between her past and present.
And Ishaan? He felt powerless.
He couldn’t lose her. But he also knew she needed closure—answers that only Arjun could give.
Even if it hurt him, he had to do what was right for her.
Taking a deep breath, he gently placed a hand on Arohi’s shoulder.
“Arohi,” he said softly.
She turned to him, her eyes red and tired.
“I met Arjun.”
Arohi tensed, but Ishaan continued.
“He told me everything. About how he survived. About how he searched for you but couldn’t find you. He… he wants to see you.”
Tears welled in Arohi’s eyes.
She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can, Ishaan…”
“I know this is hard,” Ishaan whispered. “But you need this, Arohi. You need to hear him out, or you’ll never truly be free from the pain.”
Arohi lowered her gaze. “I thought I had lost him forever. If only I had waited… If only I hadn’t given up on him so soon…”
She covered her face, guilt washing over her.
Ishaan’s heart clenched.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he reassured her. “You didn’t know. No one did.”
Arohi wiped her tears, taking deep, shaky breaths.
Finally, she whispered, “Okay… I’ll meet him.”
The Meeting
Arohi sat on a quiet part of the beach, the waves crashing gently in the distance. Her hands were cold, her heart racing.
And then…
“Arohi.”
She barely had time to react before Arjun ran to her, wrapping her in a tight hug.
“I’m so sorry, Arohi,” he murmured. “I should have come to you sooner. I should have looked harder.”
Arohi squeezed her eyes shut, overwhelmed by emotions.
“Arjun…” she whispered. “I’m just happy you’re here. Healthy. Alive.”
He pulled back slightly, his hands still resting on her shoulders.
“How are you? What are you doing here?”
Arjun let out a soft sigh. “After I recovered, I needed a fresh start. I left the country and started my own business. But… I never really moved on.”
Arohi’s breath hitched.
“I knew you got married,” Arjun admitted. “I knew you moved to the U.S. That’s why I never reached out. I didn’t want to interfere in your life.”
Tears rolled down Arohi’s cheeks.
“Arjun…” she choked. “You could have told me. You could have let me know you were alive.”
“I know,” he said regretfully. “I lost hope too, Arohi. I thought we could never go back to how we were. I should have tried harder to find you.”
Arohi wiped her tears, her heart torn between relief and pain.
It felt like fate had played a cruel joke on them.
She had mourned Arjun. Let go of him. Moved on.
But now, here he was.
And the biggest question remained—where did they go from here?
- Writer
