Night.
Ayaan slept early again.
The house was quiet.
Ananya stood near the window.
Aarav walked in.
"You should rest," he said.
She smiled faintly.
"You say that a lot."
"Because you don't listen."
A small laugh escaped her.
The first real one.
Aarav froze slightly.
Because he hadn't heard that laugh in years.
"I missed that," he said.
Her smile faded—but not completely.
"Don't."
"Why?"
"Because it makes things harder."
A pause.
"Harder to stay away?"
Their eyes met.
Silence stretched.
This time—
Neither looked away.
Aarav stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if giving her time to stop him.
She didn't.
Her breath quickened.
His hand gently reached for hers.
She didn't pull away.
"Ananya…" he whispered.
Her name sounded different this time.
Not distant.
Not broken.
But alive.
And just as the moment deepened—
The doorbell rang.
Both of them froze.
The spell broke instantly.
Ananya stepped back.
"I'll get it."
But something in her chest told her—
This wasn't just a normal interruption.
And when she opened the door—
Her expression changed.
Shock.
Confusion.
And something darker.
Because standing there…
Was someone from their past—
Who was never supposed to return.