An hour later, the car came to a stop near his apartment building.
"Thanks, Ananya," Arjun said quietly as he stepped out. He hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say more, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he turned and began walking toward his building, his footsteps splashing through shallow puddles.
But before he could enter, he heard the car door open.
He stopped, confused, and turned to see Ananya standing in the rain, her umbrella forgotten in the car.
"Ananya?" he called out, his voice hesitant.
She walked toward him, her eyes locked on his, a storm of emotions swirling in her gaze.
"Arjun," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "do you still remember me?"
His breath caught. The rain mingled with the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes, masking them perfectly. He couldn't bring himself to answer, so he turned away. The weight of the past, the unspoken regrets, and the sharp ache of her words rooted him in place.
"Ananya..." he whispered, barely audible.
"You're scared to turn around," she said, her tone accusatory yet laced with something softer—hurt, maybe.
He stood frozen, his heart pounding. The sound of the rain grew louder, or maybe it was just the sound of his own fears filling his ears.
Then he heard it—the unmistakable slam of her car door. The engine roared to life, and his chest tightened. He turned quickly, catching a glimpse of her through the windshield. Her face was unreadable, her eyes shadowed by the night.
But before she could drive away, he stepped forward, his hand instinctively reaching out.
"Ananya, wait!" he called out, his voice breaking.
The car stopped abruptly. The door swung open, and she stepped out again—this time with purpose.
Before he could say another word, she walked straight up to him and, without warning, slapped him.
The sharp sound echoed through the rain, leaving him stunned. He stared at her, his cheek stinging, but the pain was nothing compared to the anguish in her eyes.
"Do you think you can just walk away?" she demanded, her voice cracking. "Do you think you can disappear like that and pretend it didn't matter? That we didn't matter?"
He opened his mouth to reply, but no words came.
The rain continued to fall, drenching them both. For a long moment, they just stood there, the silence between them louder than any words could ever be.
Finally, Ananya stepped back, her shoulders sagging as if the weight of her emotions had drained her. Without another word, she turned and walked back to her car.
This time, Arjun didn't stop her. He stood there in the rain, watching as her car disappeared into the night, leaving him alone once again.
As he reached the doorstep, he hesitated for a moment. The cold wind brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of rain. He exhaled slowly, staring at the dark sky where thunder rumbled in the distance.
"Some memories never fade, no matter how hard you try. They cling to you, refusing to let go."
Raindrops pelted the streets, echoing his thoughts.
His vision blurred as he looked up, the storm raging above mirroring the storm within him.
Every thing happened 3 years 6 months back, Those 6 month changed my entire view point of life.
The spirit of youth is exhausted. The problems keep piling up. At a certain point, I don't even know what to do anymore. Drop the idea of starting a company? Take a job? Exhaust myself with work, spend what little I earn on food, wear the same old clothes?
I've learned so much.
Office politics. Backstabbing. Betrayal. I've seen it all. Days without food, nights without sleep. And when something happens, there's no one there to take care of you. No birthday wishes. No emotional support.
Someone once told me that sharing your problems makes them easier to bear. I believed them—once. I shared something, just one thing, and by the next day, it had become the biggest office joke. I'm not saying everyone is bad. But a single spoiled fruit can ruin the whole batch.
Coming home late, too exhausted to move. Shops closed. No energy left, but still, I push forward.
The only thing that keeps me going? My parents' smile. Every month, after setting aside rent and emergency savings, I send the rest to my father. The pride in his voice when he tells the neighbors, 'My son works for a big company, earning well, helping us clear our loans,' makes every sacrifice worthwhile.
For that smile, I would go to any length.
sorry, I will go to any length.
That's why I delete her photos. Uninstall social media. Stop watching movie news. All because of one name—Ananya. Her name, her face—they bring out every emotion I try so hard to bury.
I controlled myself when I saw her. I controlled myself while playing game. But when she slapped me and asked me why—why I was hiding everything—I couldn't control it anymore. It all came out.
I told you—I would go to any length for my parents' smile. But there's one more smile that keeps me moving forward.
Hers.
Everyone says that once you make a decision, you shouldn't regret it.
But when it comes to her, I stopped in that second, that minute, that hour, that day. That place. And I still regret it to this day.
Some things are beyond our control, left in the hands of fate. I can bear any insult for her, but I could never let her face insults because of me.
I search for a reason to tell her. I look for a way to reach her. But I can't find the courage to face her.
The rain will stop at some point. And I once thought that, like the rain, my love for her would fade too.
But right now, in this moment, I make a promise to myself.
I need her. I need to see that smile on her face again.
And I will go to any length to bring her back into my life.
With that thought, he opens the apartment door.....