The night was peaceful, the world still except for the soft sigh of the wind through the half-closed window. Aarav lounged in his darkened room, looking up at the ceiling as if it contained secrets. His mind was spirals that had no beginning, no end-always moving in circles back to the same name, the same face, one memory.
And then, like the sound of a voice cutting through silence, he heard
"Aarav."
The voice was gentle, almost ethereal, but it had the very same warmth he was all too familiar with. His heart missed a beat. He raised his head slowly.
There she was.
Aditi.
She stood in the doorway, hair illuminated by faint light, her eyes glimmering as though the very stars had sought refuge in them. She wore the same pale blue dress he adored, the one she had worn on their previous outing to the mountains.
Aarav couldn't catch his breath for a second. He rubbed his eyes, believing it to be another sadistic trick of his mind. But when he opened them once more, she was still smiling alive, radiant.
"A… Aditi?" His voice broke.
"Yes, Aarav. I'm here," she said softly, walking towards him.
He jumped to his feet, and before he knew it, he yanked her into his arms. His chest rose and fell as he buried his face in her hair. Warm. She was warm.
Tears clouded his eyes, his voice shaking. "They said you were dead. They said you had left me. But no, you're here. You're still with me."
Aditi's arms engulfed him, strong but gentle. "I never left you, Aarav. I never could."
The room dissolved. The burden of the world disappeared. They were alone.
Together, hand in hand, they walked along the familiar path until they came to the mountain viewpoint where they had spent so many evenings together. The sun was setting behind the horizon, staining the sky in brushstrokes of crimson and gold.
Aarav sat on the creaky wooden bench, drawing Aditi close to him. His eyes were puffy but brimming with a feral happiness,the happiness of a man who had been returned the purpose of his life.
He cradled her face, his words spilling out in a frantic prayer.
"They lied, Aditi. They all lied. They told me you were gone, that you betrayed me, that you left me. But you're here. You're mine. Tell me this world is lying, tell me you'll never leave me again."
Aditi smiled, her lips curling upwards as if fighting to suppress her own maelstrom of emotions. She rested her forehead against his.
"This world is phony, Aarav. People may flee, memories may fade, but love? Love doesn't leave. See me. I'm still here with you. I always was."
He clamped his arms around her, a breakable, urgent grasp. "Promise me. Promise me you won't leave me again. Remain. Just stay with me always. Hold my hand and never let go."
She nodded gently, her eyes wet. "Where would I go? I live here now, in your heart, in your memories. As long as you remember me, I will never leave."
Her words took hold deep in his soul, calming yet breaking him. He clung to her, whispering, "Then I don't need anything else. Just you, only you."
They stood side by side at the edge of the cliff. The cold wind swirled around them. Aditi faced him, her smile soft, her voice hushed but resolute.
"Aarav, why are you punishing yourself like this? Each night you weep, each day you're overwhelmed by pain. To see you like this, it pains me more than anything."
He shook his head violently. "No! Don't say that. Don't you see? I can't live without you. My life is nothing without you."
She laid her finger softly on his lips. "No, Aarav. You have to live. For me. For us. Carry my memories, but don't let them kill you. Move on. Love doesn't die because a body does. I am in you. Every beat of your heart, every breath you take keeps me alive."
Aarav's vision grew foggy once more. "But how can I… how can I move when I only want you?"
Her smile broadened, but sadness crept into her eyes. "Because I'll always be with you, even if you can't see me."
And then she took a step back.
"Aditi?" Aarav's voice broke in desperation.
She gazed at him one last time, her face peaceful, serene. "Remember, Aarav. I am not dead. I live in your memories."
Before he could move, she leaned back and toppled off the cliff, her silhouette vanishing into the shadows below.
"AADITI!" Aarav's scream ripped through the mountains, his body jerking forward in horror.
He sat bolt upright in bed, his body slick with sweat, his voice raw as he screamed her name.
The room was dark around him, the ceiling fan whirling, the same walls closing in on him. No mountains. No Aditi. Only the dead of midnight.
The door crashed open. Annu came tearing in. "Bro!! Are you okay?" Annu screamed, sitting near him.
He was shaking, holding on to the blanket, his gasps short and ragged. Tears poured down his face as he whispered once more, "Aditi… Aditi."
Annu shook Aarav and told, "Everything is okay here, bro. Don't worry. You need some water, I think."
Then she gave him a glass of water. Aarav took it. While he was drinking, Annu told, "Brother, I'm your junior. I have no experience with this. But I know you make a mistake every day."
Slowly Aarav looked up towards Annu. She continued, "You're finding such things every day which already present in you. But you're finding this thing everywhere except inside yourself. Understood, Mr. Aarav, my elder"
Aarav suddenly gave a hug to annu and told, "Thanks, my dear. Promise me that you won't tell the whole things what happened now to anyone . Please!"
Annu smiled with a naughty thought and said, "But I'm not such a great person. I will take a favour from you. Don't worry, don't worry. It's just a chocolate."
Aarav laughed loudly, saying, "What a mad person you are."
"Oh really!! I'm mad," Annu replied suddenly and continued, "Please elder, don't shout otherwise our parents will know our schemes," and blink her one eye.
Then she left Aarav, saying good night.
Aarav thought all the things he saw in dreams and said by Annu . Then he decided some decisions and sleep by hold a pillow in his arms.
Next morning it is.
Arjun's phone rang loudly. What a such ringtone it is . He picked up. "Hello," he answered with a sleepy tone.
"Hey Arjun! It's Aarav. Will you be free today?" said by Aarav.
After listering this, Arjun woke up and saw his phone surprisely. "Is it true or am I in a dream?" Arjun told him self by shaking his head. On the other side Aarav said repeatedly, "Hello! Are you listening to me?"
Arjun replied, "Yes, yes! I'm in. But you called me, Aarav. Are you okay? I can't believe it."
By a little cough Aarav said, "Please yaar. Stop such kind of drama. Come to the point."
"Of course, you put your points, my friend," Arjun replied in a funny way.
"Let's wondering somewhere. I feel so lazy at home. Let's go outdoors."
Arjun had no option. He became agree in a few seconds.
They went to places where Aarav and Aditi had usually spent time together. Aarav collects all memories of both .
At last they went to the mountain view. Aarav stood on a cliff and thought,
"Aditi, I promise you that I never left you. Still I tried to bring you back into my life. If any situation arrives then I will stand against the world with you."
To be continued…