Aryan stood still at the staircase, stunned.
His mother's voice broke through the heavy silence.
"Aryan... what have you done? Is that the way to speak to someone?"
But Aryan didn't answer.
---
Upstairs, Aanya sat on her bed, tears spilling silently down her cheeks. Aryan's words replayed in her mind—
"You're just a guest… behave according to your age… you have no right to argue with me."
Her heart ached.
With trembling hands, she wiped her tears and whispered to herself,
"I will not stay in this house any longer… not even a second more."
She stood up, pulled out her suitcase, and began packing in a rush. Her hands were shaking, but her resolve was strong.
---
Downstairs, Aryan's mother and Prerna saw her coming down with the luggage and rushed toward her.
"Aanya! What is this? What are you doing?!" his mother exclaimed, panic in her voice.
Aanya stopped, holding back her emotions.
"Aunty… from now on, I don't want to stay here anymore."
"What are you saying, beta? This is your home too! Please don't take Aryan's words to heart. I'll talk to him. I'm sorry on his behalf."
Aanya's voice cracked, but she stayed composed.
"You don't need to apologize for something you didn't do, Aunty."
Upstairs, Aryan heard everything. He didn't move. He couldn't.
Prerna stepped forward.
"But where will you go, Aanya? It's already night. It's not safe out there."
Aanya gave a faint smile.
"It's okay, Prerna. I'll manage… maybe I'll go to my friend's place."
She turned to Aryan's mother with a bittersweet smile.
"Thank you… for everything. You took care of me like your own daughter."
Aryan's mother's eyes welled up.
Aanya looked once toward Aryan—he didn't look back.
Her voice fell to a whisper.
"Goodbye."
And she walked out.
---
Outside, she looked at the nameplate of the house one last time, remembering the day she had arrived.
She turned around and walked away—this time, not looking back.
Inside the house, Aryan's mother shouted, "Aryan! Go stop her!"
But he didn't move.
"She left on her own, Mom. Just let her go."
He walked away toward his room, trying to convince himself he was unaffected.
---
In his room, Aryan sat on the bed… but his mind was anything but calm. Every word he had said echoed in his ears. Every expression on Aanya's face haunted him.
He lay down.
Then sat up.
Then stood.
He began pacing. Restless.
---
Outside, Aanya sat at a roadside dhaba, her suitcase beside her. She hugged her knees close, her heart breaking all over again.
"How could he say that to me…? Did I really do something so wrong…?"
She wiped her tears and whispered,
"He didn't even stop me… maybe this is what he wanted… to get rid of me."
A waiter came near.
"Madam, should I bring something?"
Aanya shook her head.
"No, I'm fine."
---
Back at Aryan's house, he sat for dinner. His face looked calm, but inside, his heart twisted.
Prerna sat silently.
"Where's Mom?" he asked.
"I don't know…" she said.
Aryan went to her room and found her sitting silently, eyes red.
"Mom, it's late. Please eat something."
"I'm not hungry."
"Please don't do this…"
"No, Aryan. I won't eat until Aanya comes back."
He looked at her, defeated.
She turned to him sharply.
"Find her. Bring her back. Right now."
Aryan hesitated.
"But she left on her own—"
"Enough!" she snapped.
"You scolded her so harshly. I don't know what happened between you two, but that girl is only 20. She cried… and you just stood there? We promised her parents to keep her safe here, Aryan. And now she's gone."
Aryan had no words.
Then softly, "Where will she go? Her parents aren't here. It's not safe."
He stood up.
"Fine, Mom. I'll find her. I'll bring her back. But you please eat something, okay?"
---
Outside, Aanya took her phone.
She hesitated, then called Tara.
"Aanya? Why are you crying? What happened?"
"Tara… I left his house…"
"What? Are you serious?!"
"I couldn't stay there after everything he said. Please… come pick me up."
"Where are you?"
"At a dhaba… I don't know the area's name… but I'll send you the location."
"Okay, stay there. I'm coming!"
---
Meanwhile, Aryan sat in the car.
He dialed Aanya's number.
She saw it.
She cut the call.
He called again.
She rejected it again.
"God damn it! Why is this girl so stubborn?! Just pick up the damn call!"
Then he remembered her words:
"If possible, I'll go to my friend's house."
He searched his call logs, found Tara's number, and called.
Tara was just about to leave when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Tara. Is Aanya with you?"
"No, but she's at a dhaba—she just called. She's alone."
Aryan's eyes widened.
"Which dhaba?"
"Actually, she sent me her location—
"Send it to me. Right now.
But—"
The line cut.
"Aryan started the engine, his hands gripping the steering wheel like he was about to break it."
---
End Of Chapter 20