Author's POV

Aadir had come to the hospital with Nisha, and Siya was also with them. As they were heading toward the car, accompanied by security, someone suddenly bumped into them.

Aadir instinctively stepped back upon seeing it was a girl. However, the moment he saw her face, he immediately reached out and grabbed her hand. He pulled her close and placed his other hand around her waist to steady her.

Now, the girl was in his arms, and he gazed at her intently, not blinking for a moment, as he absorbed every detail of her face.

Her eyes were squeezed shut, anticipating a fall, her fair pink cheeks framed by strands of hair. Her pink lips were pressed tightly together. Aadir reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her soft cheek in the process.

He observed the dark circles beneath her closed eyes, stark against her pale skin, as if she hadn't slept in days. This sight stirred a mix of emotions within him, causing his eyes to darken with concern and intrigue.

When the girl didn't feel herself falling, she realized someone's arms were around her waist. She opened her eyes and saw a young man in front of her who had saved her from the fall. Her gaze swept over his entire face before she stood upright and gave him a gentle push to encourage him to remove his hand. She also removed her hand from his shoulder.

Stepping back, she glanced at Nisha, who was standing behind the young man. Lowering her eyes, she murmured, "Sorry," and left with her friend.

Nisha, who had been observing everything, turned to Aadir, who was still watching the girl leave. With a light smile, she said, "Your choice is very good."

Hearing Nisha's voice, Aadir tore his gaze away from the departing girl.

"Please wait in the car; I'll bring Badi Maa," Aadir instructed as Nisha settled into her seat. Just as he turned to return to the hospital, Siya arrived, seeking an update on Nisha's condition.

"I was just about to come," Aadir assured her.

"No worries, let's head home now," Siya replied calmly. They both settled into the car, and soon they were on their way back.

Later that evening, Angad returned home weary from work. After freshening up and changing, he made his way to Divit's room, finding Aadir lounging on the bed while Divit played a new video game.

"Divit, get ready; we're going to see Samar," Angad announced warmly. Divit's face lit up with excitement, and he hurriedly prepared himself for the outing.

Angad glanced over at Aadir, who seemed lost in thought. He approached him, grabbed a nearby pillow, and playfully tossed it onto Aadir's face.

Aadir, distracted by thoughts of the girl he had recently encountered, found it hard to focus on anything else. He kept seeing her face in his mind, making concentration a struggle.

Suddenly, something hit his face, and he looked up to see Angad standing there, raising an eyebrow at him.

"What—"

"What's going on? Hurry up, we're going to see Samar," Angad interrupted.

"Just give me five minutes," Aadir replied, walking out of the room.

Angad shook his head in amusement and left the room just as Divit emerged, ready to go.

---

At the second location, a spacious and beautifully decorated hall welcomed visitors with plush sofas arranged for seating. In one corner, a grand piano stood gracefully, adding to the elegance of the room. Adorning the walls were numerous framed pictures, each telling its own story.

A man hurried down the stairs, checking the time on his watch with a sense of urgency.

Kabir spotted his wife bustling in the kitchen, preparing dinner in anticipation of their guests' arrival—children who were expected to dine with them that evening.

On the opposite side of the room, Samar waited eagerly, anticipating the arrival of someone special.

Aakriti emerged from the kitchen and approached her son, who immediately asked upon seeing her, "Mumma, when will they come?"

"They will be here soon, sweetheart. Maybe they got stuck in traffic," Aakriti replied lovingly, reassuring him.

Just then, they heard the sound of a car. They looked up to see Angad, Aadir, and Divit walking towards them with smiles. Samar ran towards them, and they embraced each other tightly. Shortly after, Kabir also appeared.

They all entered the house and took their seats. "What have you prepared for us today choti maa?" Divit asked eagerly, addressing Aakriti.

Aakriti's smile widened as she replied, "Everyone's favorite dishes," while gracefully serving their dinner.

"Maa sent this for all of you," Angad announced, passing around a box containing Kabir's favorite moong dal halwa, along with puri and aloo ki sabzi.

Kabir eagerly grabbed the box and placed it on his plate, digging in without hesitation. It had been ages since he last savored this dish. As he took the first bite, a wave of nostalgia swept over him, momentarily overwhelming his senses. He clenched his jaw, struggling to contain his emotions. The unmistakable taste confirmed it was his mother's cooking — a taste he could never forget, laden with memories. He continued eating, unconsciously emptying his bowl.

Aakriti observed Kabir closely, sensing his reaction. She couldn't bear to see him like this. Pretending to scold him, she turned to her husband with a stern look. "Kabir."

"Sorry, Aakriti. Don't worry, I'll save some for you too," Kabir snapped out of his reverie, addressing her in a husky voice, aware of how much they both loved the dish.

"Then it's settled," Aakriti replied warmly.

The evening continued with laughter and conversation as they finished their meal. Aakriti was relieved and happy to see Angad and Aadir chatting amiably, recalling the tension from their last visit when they weren't on speaking terms. This time, there was no Aadarsh or Aarush to mediate.

They stayed up late playing games and eventually decided to spend the night together. As morning dawned, the impending departure weighed on everyone's hearts, casting a shadow of sadness over their farewell.

After their departure, Aakriti approached Kabir with a heavy heart. She embraced him from behind and whispered, "Sorry, Kabir... Because of me, you had to be separated from your family." Her voice trembled with sorrow as she spoke.

Kabir turned to face her, gently pulling her into a hug. "It's not just you, Aakriti. It's only my fate," he murmured softly.

In that tender moment, they found solace in each other's arms.

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