Author pov...

Deeksha sat beside the bed, her fingers tightly clutching the small bottle of medicine as if it were her last hope.

Her voice trembled, soft yet desperate."Mannat... my baby... please, just take this medicine. For me... please?"

Mannat turned her face away, her lips forming a stubborn pout, her fragile body curled slightly into the pillow.

"No, Mumma... I don't want it. It tastes bad... I hate it."

A broken sigh escaped Deeksha, her shoulders sinking under the weight of helplessness."I've been asking you for so long, Mannat... just one sip... only one. Why are you making it so hard for me?"

Her voice cracked at the end, almost like a silent plea for mercy.

The door creaked open, and Ishani stepped in. The moment she saw the untouched medicine, her heart tightened.

She walked closer, her tone gentle but laced with concern."Mannat, sweetheart... listen to me," she said, brushing a strand of hair away from Mannat's forehead. "If you don't take your medicine, how will you get better? Don't you want to get well soon?"

Mannat slowly looked at her, her eyes unusually quiet... almost as if they carried a truth no child should know.

"I won't get better, Ishani aunty..." she whispered, her voice trembling like a fading light. "I know I won't."

Deeksha's heart shattered at that moment.

"Stop it!" she snapped, her voice louder than intended, filled with fear more than anger. "Who told you that? Don't say things like that, Mannat... don't you dare."

Her eyes filled instantly, tears threatening to fall. "You will get better... do you hear me? You have to..."

Mannat shook her head weakly, tears slipping silently from the corners of her eyes."No... you didn't let me meet Papa..." she said, her voice breaking with a child's longing. "You said he'll come... but he didn't. Until I see Papa... I won't eat, I won't take medicine... nothing."

Those words pierced straight through Deeksha's soul. For a moment, she couldn't breathe. Guilt, pain, and fear wrapped around her like chains.

She forced herself to speak, her voice softer now, almost pleading."Mannat... please... take your medicine first. I promise... I swear to you... Papa will come. He'll come to meet you very soon. Just... don't do this to yourself, baby... don't do this to me..."

Before the silence could deepen, Ishani gently intervened, her tone serious now."Deeksha... come outside. We need to talk."

Deeksha looked at Mannat one last time, her heart aching, then silently nodded and walked out.

As soon as they stepped outside, Ishani turned to her, her expression firm yet filled with concern.

"Deeksha... how long are you going to

run from this?" she asked quietly.

Deeksha's breath hitched. "What... what do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Ishani said, her voice steady. "You need to talk to Deepak. Now."

The name alone was enough to shake Deeksha.

Her fingers curled into her palms, her heartbeat turning restless."How... how can I talk to him after all these years?" she whispered, fear evident in every word. "What will I even say... where do I even begin..."

Ishani stepped closer, placing her hand over Deeksha's, grounding her.

"Begin with the truth," she said softly. "Because right now, Mannat needs her father more than your fear matters."

Deeksha's eyes welled up instantly.

"Look at her condition, Deeksha," Ishani continued, her voice breaking slightly now. "Her health is slipping away... her hair is falling... this is blood cancer. This isn't something you can fight alone. No matter how strong you think you are... you can't."

Deeksha closed her eyes, a tear finally escaping. She felt exposed... defeated.

"You have to tell Deepak everything," Ishani said firmly. "We need to test his bone marrow. Time is not on our side anymore. Four days, Deeksha... we've been here for four days, and every single day you've said 'I'll talk to him.' But you haven't."

"I will..." Deeksha whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll talk to him..."

Ishani gave her a knowing look. "When?"

A long pause. A deep breath. And then

"...Today," Deeksha said, gathering every ounce of courage she had. "I'll call him today."

Ishani nodded slowly. "Good. But first, go back inside... make Mannat take her medicine. And then, without thinking... call him. Don't give yourself time to run away again."

Deeksha swallowed hard, her throat dry, her heart racing."...Okay."

"I'm going to check that building you told me about with Ishaan," Ishani added. "By the time I come back... I want you to be done talking to Deepak."

Deeksha nodded silently.

As Ishani walked away, Deeksha stood there, frozen.Between a past she was terrified to face.

Deeksha stepped back into the room quietly, as if even her footsteps were afraid of disturbing the fragile silence around Mannat.

The soft dim light fell on her daughter's pale face, and for a moment, Deeksha just stood there... watching... memorizing... as if time was slipping through her fingers.

She sat beside her, her hand trembling as it reached for Mannat's hair, gently stroking it.

"Mannat..." her voice came out softer than a whisper, almost like a prayer.

"Please... take your medicine, baby... please don't make me beg like this..."

Mannat turned her face slightly, her lips forming that same stubborn pout, but her eyes... her eyes were tired.

"I don't want it, Mumma... it's bitter... I hate it..."

Deeksha let out a shaky breath, her eyes already glistening.

"I know you hate it... I know," she murmured, her thumb softly wiping the corner of Mannat's eye. "But sometimes... the things we hate the most... are the ones that save us, baby..."

Mannat didn't respond.

Deeksha's voice broke a little more as she leaned closer."You want to meet Papa, right?" she whispered.

Mannat's eyes instantly lifted toward her, filled with that one emotion Deeksha feared the most hope.

Deeksha forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes."When Papa comes... and he sees you like this..." her voice trembled, "...if he finds out I didn't take care of his little girl properly... he'll get really angry at me..."

Mannat's small brows frowned, her voice soft but serious."He'll scold you...?"

Deeksha nodded slowly, her lips quivering."Yes... he will. He'll say... 'Deeksha, you didn't even take care of our Mannat?'" she tried to smile, but a tear slipped out anyway.

Mannat went quiet, thinking deeply in her little world.

Then, almost hesitantly, she asked "Papa will come... right? Pakka na, Mumma... you're not lying?"

That question shattered something inside Deeksha.

She held Mannat's face gently, forcing herself to stay strong.

"I swear to you... Papa will come. Very soon. Just to see his Mannat... just to hold you..."

Mannat's lips slowly curved into a faint smile."Okay..." she whispered. "Then give me the medicine..."

Relief didn't come like happiness it came like pain loosening its grip for a second.

Deeksha quickly picked up the spoon, her hands still shaking."That's my brave girl... my strongest girl..." she whispered, almost as if she was convincing herself too.

The moment Mannat tasted the medicine, her face scrunched up.

"Mumma... it's so bad..." she almost cried.

"I know... I know, baby..." Deeksha said, her voice breaking as she wiped

Mannat's tears. "Just a little more... please... for me... for Papa..."

And somehow... Mannat finished it.

Deeksha closed her eyes for a second, as if thanking every god she knew.

"Now sleep... okay?" she whispered, pulling the blanket over her carefully, tucking it around her like a shield. "I'm right here... nothing will happen to you..."

Mannat slowly drifted into silence, her breathing soft.

Deeksha stood up, her fingers lingering on Mannat's forehead for a second longer... then she turned off the light and walked out, quietly closing the door behind her.

The moment the door shut her strength broke.

She walked to the sofa and almost collapsed onto it. Her chest felt heavy... her hands cold... her heart unbearably loud.

She picked up her phone.

Stared at it.

Her fingers hovered... trembling.

A deep breath.

Another.

And then... she dialed.

The ringing felt louder than it should.

Once.

Twice.

Then-

"Hello?"

That voice.

Deeksha's entire body froze. Her throat went dry. Her heartbeat slammed painfully against her chest.

She opened her mouth... but nothing came out.

"...Hello? Who is this?" his voice came again, slightly sharper this time.

Her fingers tightened around the phone. Her past... everything she had buried... came rushing back all at once.

She didn't want this.

She never wanted to come back here.

"...Hello? Why aren't you speaking?" he asked again.

Deeksha shut her eyes tightly, gathering the shattered pieces of her courage."...Hello... Deepak..."

Silence.

A long... suffocating silence.

"...Yes? Who's this?" he asked, but this time his voice had softened... like he recognized something... but couldn't place it.

Her lips trembled.

"It's me..." she whispered, barely holding herself together. "Deeksha... Deeksha Thakur..."

On the other hand, everything stopped.

Deepak's breath caught, like time itself had paused.Years... just collapsed.

He didn't speak.

"Hello... Deepak?" her voice came again, fragile... almost scared.

"...Deeksha...?" he finally said, disbelief, shock, and something unspoken tangled in his voice.

Her grip on the phone tightened."Hm..."

"Deepak... I'm in Delhi," she said slowly, each word heavy. "I... I need to meet you."

"Meet me...?" he repeated, still trying to process.

"Yes," her voice broke slightly. "Please... if you can... take out some time..."

A pause.

"You're really... in Delhi?" he asked again, like he still didn't believe it.

"Hm..." she nodded faintly, even though he couldn't see her. "Whenever you're free..."

Another silence.

"...Okay," he said, his voice was low. "We'll meet."

"Tomorrow?" she asked, almost quickly, like she was afraid he might change his mind. "It's already evening..."

"Haan... tomorrow is fine," he replied.

"I don't know the city well..." she added softly. "You decide the place... a café... anywhere... just send me the location on WhatsApp... on this number..."

"...Okay." Deepak said

Silence again.

But this time, it was heavier... filled with everything they weren't saying.

Deeksha swallowed hard.

"...Okay then," she whispered. "Bye... we'll meet tomorrow..."

"...Hmm."Deepak said

The call ended.

And Deeksha just sat there... staring at the dark screen.

Her hands were still shaking.

The police car stood frozen in a line of traffic, its presence commanding silence without a siren.

Inside, Rahul sat still but his eyes were anything but still. They moved, measured, calculated... absorbing everything.

Pandey exhaled lightly.

"Traffic's not moving anytime soon, sir..."

Rahul didn't answer.Because in that moment something shifted.

Across the road, in the middle of ordinary chaos, stood something that didn't belong.

A boy.

Well-dressed. Clean. Out of place.

And beside him a woman.

Rahul's gaze sharpened.He didn't just see the boy. He read him.

The restless fingers. The distant eyes. The uneven rhythm of his body like he was trapped in a world no one else could hear.

Rahul's jaw tightened.

Autistic.

And then his eyes dropped to the

woman's hand.

Gripping the boy's wrist.Not gently.

Not protectively.

Her eyes kept moving left, right, behind like she was afraid of being seen.

Something cold settled in Rahul's chest.Without a word, he opened the

car door and stepped out.

"Sir?" Pandey called, confused. "Where are you-"

Rahul didn't stop.Didn't slow.Didn't explain.He walked like a man who already knew the truth.

Pandey hurried behind him.

"Sir, what happened?"

Nothing.Just silence and purpose.

Rahul reached them.

"Stop."

The word wasn't loud.

But it cut through everything.

The woman froze. Slowly turned.

And the moment her eyes landed on his uniform-Fear.

Raw. Instant. Unhidden.

Rahul stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his voice low but unyielding.

"Where are you taking this boy?"

The woman swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile."S-sir... he was lost. I was just helping him... taking him to the police station..."

Rahul's eyes didn't blink.

Didn't soften."Helping?" he repeated quietly.

He took another step forward.

"Then tell me," his voice dropped, sharper now, "why are you going the wrong way?"

Her face fell.Her lie... collapsed.She opened her mouth Nothing came out.

Rahul's tone turned lethal."Pandey."

"Sir."

"Take her."

Pandey moved instantly, gripping her arm.

"Sir! I didn't do anything!" she cried, panic spilling out. "I was just helping him!"

Rahul's jaw tightened, his eyes turning colder.

"Helping?" he echoed. "You were kidnapping him and you call that helping?" His voice dropped, quieter... more dangerous. "Where did you take him from?"

"No, sir! I swear!" she pleaded. "I found him on the road... he was looking for his mother... I was just-"

She shook her head desperately.

"No, sir! I found him on the road he was alone I was just-"

"Enough," Rahul cut her off sharply. "Pandey, take her. And find out how many children she's taken like this.

"Ji, sir."Pandey dragged her away as she kept shouting, pleading, denying.

But Rahul had already turned his back.

Because she didn't matter anymore.

The boy did.

Rahul walked toward him slowly this time.Carefully.

Like approaching something fragile... something easily broken.

Up close, the signs were louder.

The boy's eyes avoided everything. His fingers moved in patterns only he understood. His body stayed slightly turned away... like the world itself was too much.

Rahul felt something shift inside him.

His voice, when he spoke, was no longer sharp.

It was... human."Hey..."

The boy flinched.

Just slightly.

But Rahul saw it."I'm not going to hurt you," Rahul said softly, lowering himself to the boy's level. "You don't have to be scared of me..."

The boy didn't reply.Didn't look at him again.Just silence.Rahul didn't force it.Didn't rush it.

"My name is Rahul," he said gently, placing a hand on his chest. "What's your name?"

Nothing.

The silence stayed.

But this time... Rahul didn't see it as a distance.

So he nodded slightly, accepting it without pressure."That's okay," he whispered. "You don't have to talk."

He stayed there... steady... patient.

No sudden movements. No questions that demanded answers.Just presence.

Then Rahul tried again, softer this time, almost like a friend instead of a stranger."Hey... do you like cars?"

The boy's fingers paused for a second.

Just a second.

But Rahul noticed.

A small opening.

Rahul pointed gently toward the police vehicle."That one's mine," he said with a faint, reassuring smile. "Big one, right?"

The boy slowly glanced in that direction... then back... then away again.

But this time he didn't completely shut down.

The boy's shoulders shifted slightly.

A pause.

Then, almost like the word had been sitting inside him for a long time, waiting for the right moment"Ishaan."

It was barely audible.

But Rahul heard it.

His expression softened instantly.

"Ishaan..." he repeated gently, like it mattered. "That's a nice name."

Ishaan didn't look at him, but he didn't pull away either.

"Are you looking for someone?" Rahul asked carefully.

A small nod.

"My mumma..." Ishaan whispered, his voice fragile.

Something tightened in Rahul's chest.

"Okay..." he said softly. "We'll find her. Don't worry."

He paused, then asked gently, "What's your mumma's name?"

Ishaan's lips parted slowly."Ishani..."

And just like that-Everything inside Rahul stopped.

His breath caught.

Ishani?

For a second, he thought he heard wrong.

But his instincts his instincts never lied.

His voice came out quieter now... heavier"What did you say?"

"Ishani," Ishaan repeated, a little clearer this time.

Rahul felt his heartbeat start to rise.

No... it couldn't be that simple.

It couldn't be her.

He leaned in slightly, his eyes searching the boy's face.

"What's your full name, Ishaan?" he asked, his voice steady but something underneath it had changed.

A pause.

Then-"Ishaan... Thakur."

The world around Rahul seemed to blur for a second.

Thakur.

A thousand memories, questions, and possibilities crashed into him all at once.

His jaw tightened slightly, his breath uneven.

Ishani's child...?

But how...?

And more importantly-

Why was he here?

Rahul looked at Ishaan again, really looked this time. Not just as an officer... but as someone trying to connect the past with the present.

"You came here with your mumma?" Rahul asked slowly.

Ishaan nodded faintly, his fingers starting to move again."I was holding her hand... then... she wasn't there..."

Lost.

Rahul exhaled quietly, trying to steady himself.

Ishani was in Delhi?

But she was supposed to be in Banaras.

So what was she doing here?

And how did her child end up like this... almost taken... right in front of him?

Rahul stayed beside Ishaan, not rushing him, not overwhelming him just being there.

Slowly very slowly he noticed the change.The boy wasn't as tense anymore.

His fingers still moved, his eyes still wandered but there was less fear now. Less distance.

Rahul let out a quiet breath.

Good...

He leaned slightly closer, his tone turning lighter, almost playful.

"Ishaan... do you like chocolate?"

Ishaan's fingers paused mid-air.

A tiny reaction.Then, after a second, he gave a small nod."...Yes."

Rahul smiled faintly.

"Come on then," he said gently. "Let's go get you some chocolate."

But Ishaan didn't move.

Instead, he looked at Rahul this time a little more directly and shook his head."Mumma said... we shouldn't take chocolates from strangers..."

For a moment, he just looked at him... then a soft smile appeared on his face.

"I'm not a stranger, Ishaan," he said quietly.

Ishaan tilted his head slightly, as if trying to understand.

Rahul continued, his voice steady, reassuring."I know your mumma."

A pause.

Ishaan's eyes finally stayed on him for a second longer than before.

"Really?"

Rahul nodded."Yes. And don't you want to go to her?"

That was enough.

Ishaan nodded quickly this time.

Rahul's voice softened even more.

"Okay then I'll take you to her. But before that" he gave a small smile, "you have to eat chocolate. Deal?"

A small hesitation.

Then another nod.

Without breaking the moment, Rahul gently lifted Ishaan into his arms, careful, steady making sure the boy didn't feel startled.

"Let's go," he murmured.

He carried him to a nearby shop, bought a chocolate, and carefully opened the packet.

"Here..." he said softly.

Ishaan took it, still a little unsure... but then slowly began eating.

Rahul watched him quietly.

His expression turned serious again.

With one hand, he took out his phone and dialed.

The call connected."Hello?"

"Di..." Rahul's voice came low, controlled. "Is Ishani in Delhi?"

On the other end, Divya sounded confused."Yes... why? What happened?"

Rahul took a breath, his eyes still on Ishaan."Di... Ishaan got lost in the market."

A pause.

"But he's with me," Rahul added quickly, his tone firm but reassuring. "He's safe."

"What? Ishaan got lost?" Divya's voice filled with panic.

Rahul closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself.

"He's not lost, Di," he said calmly. "He's with me. Just call Ishani and ask where she is... I'll bring him to her."

Divya exhaled shakily."O-okay wait I'll call her right now."

"...Hmm."

The call disconnected.

Rahul stood a few steps away, his eyes fixed on Ishaan. He didn't move. He couldn't.

Watching the little boy in front of him, so small, so fragile, so painfully unaware of how heavy life already was it stopped him.

Ishaan's tiny hands fidgeted with the chocolate wrapper, his fingers twisting and untwisting it as if the motion could steady him against the confusion of the world.

A sharp, sudden guilt knotted in Rahul's chest. He couldn't look away. Because in Ishaan, he saw all the pain that had been inflicted long before this moment.

The loss of Abhay. The weight of a father who had vanished too soon. The small, helpless boy left to navigate a world that didn't yet understand him.

Ever since Rahul had heard the news Abhay was gone something inside him had shifted.The guilt wrapped around his heart, squeezing tight.

He had wanted her. He had longed for her. He had prayed with every fiber of himself that she be his. And now seeing her son, so small, so fragile, so defenseless Rahul felt the unbearable weight of the consequences.

It's my fault the thought hit him like a jagged stone. It's all my fault.

He had begged God day after day, night after night, to bring her into his life, for her presence, for her love... he couldn't shake the thought that maybe, somehow....somehow, the universe had answered but cruelly.

Abhay... gone. Ishani... a widow. Her child... suffering. All because of me.

Maybe... maybe God heard me too literally. Maybe He punished her for my selfishness. Maybe He took Abhay because I never stopped wanting her.

Rahul's hands shook at his sides. He couldn't look away from Ishaan, but he couldn't look at him either. The boy's tiny frame, his innocent, autistic movements, his quiet pain... it was too much.

I wanted her. I begged for her. And now... this is what came of it. Her happiness... destroyed. Her love... lost. Her child... alone. All because I couldn't let her go.

Rahul exhaled slowly, his shoulders sagging, his eyes fixed on the boy who didn't yet know the cruelty life had already dealt him.

He couldn't speak. Words would have been meaningless.All he could do was stand there... helpless, guilty, broken.

Rahul's thoughts were tangled, heavy, suffocating.He barely noticed the phone vibrating in his pocket.

Finally, he pulled it out.

The screen lit up: Divya di

"Yes, Didi?"

Divya's voice came. "Rahul, Ishani is at the station. She's... crying, Rahul. She's broken. Please, you have to take Ishaan to her."

Rahul said "Don't worry, Didi. That station is under my jurisdiction. I've got this. I'm taking Ishaan to her right now."

Divya exhaled a jagged breath of pure relief. "Please, just hurry."

"I will," Rahul murmured, ending the call. He turned his gaze toward little Ishaan. "Hey, buddy. Shall we go see Mamma?"

Ishaan, trapped in the quiet world of his autism, usually remained distant, but at the mention of 'Mamma,' a small, rare smile touched his lips.

It warmed Rahul's heart for a fleeting second. He gently lifted the boy into his arms and carried him to his police car.

After settling Ishaan into the front passenger seat and carefully clicking the seatbelt into place, Rahul leaned in. "You okay, Ishaan?"

The boy gave a slow, rhythmic nod.

Satisfied, Rahul closed the door, rounded the hood, and slid into the driver's seat.

As the siren-topped car sped toward the station, Ishaan stared wide-eyed at the flashing lights and the rugged interior of the vehicle.

Rahul watched him from the corner of his eye, moved by the boy's silent wonder.

The moment the SUV pulled into the station, the atmosphere shifted.

Constables and officers, recognizing the IPS officer's vehicle, snapped to attention.

"Jai Hind, Sir!" they echoed in unison.

Rahul gave a curt nod. He stepped

out, walked around to the passenger side, and lifted Ishaan into his arms once more.

As he entered the station, the heavy thud of his boots commanded silence. Officers stood straight-backed as he passed, but Rahul's eyes were searching for only one person.

There, sitting on a wooden chair, was Ishani.

She looked small, her shoulders hunched in fear as she watched the police activity around her. How could he face her? How could he show his face after everything?

He set Ishaan down gently. "Ishaan, look. There's Mamma."

Ishaan's eyes locked onto the familiar drape of a saree from behind. His face lit up with pure joy. "Mamma!" he cried out.

Ishani stiffened. She turned around, her eyes wide with shock, and then the floodgates opened. She collapsed into a sob, rushing to pull Ishaan into a fierce, desperate embrace. "Ishaan! Oh god, are you okay? Where did you go, baby? Why did you let go of my hand?" She pulled back, her hands trembling as she checked his arms and legs for any sign of injury.

Standing a few feet away, Rahul felt the world stop.

Seeing her after all these years sent a physical jolt through his chest. His heart, which had remained steady and cold for so long, began to

hammer against his ribs with a violence he hadn't felt in a lifetime.

The old rhythm was back suffocating and electric.

He couldn't do this. He couldn't speak.

Turning to a nearby subordinate, Rahul cleared his throat, his voice sounding foreign even to himself. "Ensure these two are escorted home safely and with full respect. I'm leaving."

The officer looked confused. "Sir? You... do you know them?"

"Yes," Rahul replied, his gaze lingering on Ishani for a split second longer than he intended. "They are my relatives."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out. He wasn't ready. What could he possibly say to her? The words were lost in the wreckage of their past.

Inside, Ishani finally looked up, her eyes scanning the room.

The presence she had felt that familiar, commanding aura was gone.

"Ishaan," she whispered, "where is the uncle who brought you here?"

Ishaan looked around, but the space beside him was empty.

One of the officers stepped forward. "Rahul Sir has already left, Ma'am. He gave strict orders for us to escort you home personally."

Ishani sat there, a profound confusion clouding her eyes. Why had he left?

"Shall we go, Ma'am?" the officer asked, breaking her train of thought.

Ishani looked up. "It's alright. I can manage on my own."

The officer shook his head firmly. "I'm sorry, Ma'am, but Sir's orders were very specific. We have to ensure you reach home safely."

"I'm staying at a hotel," she replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "I'll be fine."

"That doesn't matter, Ma'am. We will drop you off at your hotel."

Ishani felt a flicker of annoyance. She hated being a 'responsibility'. But looking at the determined faces of the policemen, she knew there was no point in arguing with the authority he commanded.

With a heavy sigh, she nodded. She picked up Ishaan, who was now weary from the day's chaos, and followed the officers out.

She walked toward the waiting police jeep.The ride to the hotel was silent, the city lights blurring past the window as Ishani's mind.

The weight of Rahul's silent departure pressed heavily on Ishani's heart throughout the journey. Why? she wondered, staring out at the passing streetlights. Why did he leave without a single word?

When the police vehicle finally pulled up at the hotel, Ishani thanked the officers with a distracted nod and hurried inside. Reaching her room, she found Deeksha busy feeding little Mannat.

Deeksha looked up, her face etched with worry. "Ishani Di! What took you so long? I was getting so scared."

Ishani let out a long, shaky breath and recounted the entire harrowing ordeal the panic of losing Ishaan, the police station, and the sudden, ghostly appearance of Rahul.

Deeksha's eyes widened as she pulled Ishaan into a hug. "Ishaan, my boy, are you alright?" The child gave a small, tired nod.

Deeksha sighed in relief, then looked at Ishani searching. "So... did you talk to him? Did you meet Rahul?"

Ishani's gaze dropped to the floor. "No. He left before I could even see his face properly. He didn't even wait."

"I see..." Deeksha murmured, sensing the hurt in her voice.

She tried to shift the mood. "Okay, don't think about it now. Go, get freshened up. I've already ordered dinner for you."

Ishani managed a weak smile. "Thank you."

After a quick wash, Ishani changed Ishaan into his pajamas and brought him back to the bed. While Deeksha tucked Mannat in, Ishani patiently fed Ishaan and lulled him to sleep.

Only after the children were lost in dreams did Ishani sit down to eat, though the food felt like ash in her mouth.

Later, Deeksha stepped out onto the small balcony area. Ishani followed her. "Did you speak to Deepak?"

Deeksha leaned against the railing. "Yes. I'm supposed to meet him tomorrow."

"Everything will be fine, Deeksha," Ishani said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't stress too much."

Deeksha nodded, then changed the subject. "And what about the house? Did you check the building today?"

"I did," Ishani replied, her mind momentarily shifting to the logistics of their new life. "The building is secure and the flat is in good condition. It's been empty for a long time, so it needs a thorough cleaning, but it's a good space for the four of us."

"Good," Deeksha said with a small sense of hope. "Then we won't have to stay in this hotel much longer."

"No," Ishani agreed softly. "Not much longer

Back at his apartment, Rahul stepped into the darkness, the silence of the rooms echoing his own hollow mood.

He flicked the light switch, and the sudden glow revealed Deepak sitting slumped on the sofa.

Rahul started, eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here this late?"

Deepak looked up, his expression unreadable. "Deeksha called me today."

The air seemed to leave Rahul's lungs. He stood frozen for a second. "What? Deeksha called you?"

Deepak nodded slowly. "She asked to meet me tomorrow."

"Oh," Rahul replied. "Then go. Go and meet her."

"You aren't coming with me?" Deepak asked, watching his friend closely.

Rahul said. "She didn't call me, Deepak. She called you. She wants to talk to you, not me."

"Maybe," Deepak muttered, "but after all these years... it's strange. She could have called you too. We were both her friends. Or maybe..." He paused, eyeing Rahul. "Maybe she still loves you."

"Don't be ridiculous," Rahul snapped. "It's been years. She's probably forgotten I even exist. Don't overthink it."

Deepak sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "I just don't get it, man. What are we even going to talk about?"

Rahul walked over and sat beside him, his tone softening into that of a weary protector. "Don't stress so much. Just go. Everything will work itself out."

Just then, Deepak's phone buzzed a loud, jarring sound in the quiet room. He checked the screen, it was his mother.

He picked up quickly. "Yes, Ma? I'm on my way. No... no, I haven't been drinking. I'm coming home now."

He hung up and stood from the sofa, grabbing his keys. "Okay, I'm heading out. Ma is waiting."

"Go on," Rahul nodded, watching his friend leave.

As the door clicked shut, the silence returned, heavier than before. Rahul leaned his head back against the sofa, closing his eyes.And as his heart began that slow, painful thudding again, he knew he hadn't forgotten her.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the hotel curtains as Deeksha checked her watch 9:00 AM.

Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled on a pair of jeans and a crisp shirt, tying her hair back into a neat ponytail.

She was meeting Deepak at a nearby cafe at 10:00 AM, a place she had scouted carefully on the map.

Ishani, watching her from the bed, noticed the frantic energy in her movements.

"Ishani Di," Deeksha said, checking her bag one last time, "when Mannat wakes up, tell her Mamma will be back soon. And please... somehow, make sure she takes her medicine."

"I will," Ishani promised softly. "Don't worry."

Deeksha took a cab, her heart hammering against her ribs the entire way.

By the time she arrived at the small, quiet cafe, it was exactly 10:00 AM. The place was nearly empty, devoid of the usual morning rush.

She quickly texted Deepak: Where are you?

His reply was instantaneous: I'm here. Inside. Where are you?

She scanned the room, her eyes landing on a man sitting near the corner. Her breath caught. This wasn't the lean, lanky college boy she remembered.

The man before her was an IPS officer his frame was muscular, his posture commanding, and he wore a pair of sharp spectacles that gave him an air of stern maturity.

She walked over, her footsteps faltering. Deepak was looking down at his phone until she reached the table.

"Hi," she whispered.

Deepak looked up, and for a second, it seemed as if the world had stopped spinning. His breath hitched in his throat. Seeing Deeksha after all these years felt like a physical blow to his chest. He stood up slowly, his eyes locked onto hers.

"Hi," he managed to say.

An awkward, heavy silence stretched between them until Deepak cleared his throat. "Sit down."

"Hmm," Deeksha murmured, sliding into the chair opposite him.

They sat in a vacuum of unspoken words until a waiter approached. "What can I get for you, Sir? Ma'am?"

Deepak didn't take his eyes off Deeksha. "A coffee."

"And for you, Ma'am?"

Deeksha looked at the menu blindly. "Just water, please."

Once the waiter left, Deeksha gathered her courage. "How are you, Deepak?"

"I'm fine," he replied, his voice clipped. "And you?"

"I'm... I'm okay too." She paused, twisting her fingers in her lap. "How is Aunty?"

"She's good. She's fine."

Deeksha nodded, the conversation stalling again. Suddenly, her phone began to vibrate.

Seeing Ishani's name on the screen, she looked at Deepak. "One minute."

"Go ahead," he said, leaning back.

Deeksha stepped a few feet away and answered the call. Immediately,

Mannat's small, tearful voice came through. "Mamma? Where are you?"

"Sweetheart, I'm out for some work,"

Deeksha said, her voice softening into a mother's comfort. "What happened?"

"Why did you leave before I woke up?" the little girl pouted.

"I just had some important things to do, baby. Mamma will be home soon. Please, take your medicine for me, okay?"Deeksha replied

Mannat let out a disappointed huff and abruptly hung up the phone.

Deeksha sighed, knowing her daughter was now officially upset.

She walked back to the table, but the atmosphere had shifted violently.

Deepak had heard everything. The words Mamma.

He sat there, frozen, the realization shattering his world into a million jagged pieces. She's married. She has a child.

His heart, which had been holding onto a secret, desperate hope for years, didn't just break it felt as though it had been crushed under the weight of a truth he wasn't prepared to face.

Deeksha looked at Deepak, whose face had turned ghostly pale, as if the blood had been drained from his body. "Deepak, are you okay?" she whispered.

Deepak stared at her, his voice trembling. "You... you have a child?"

Deeksha lowered her gaze. "Yes. A girl. Her name is Mannat."

Deepak felt as though a knife had been driven into his chest. "I see... when did you come back to India?"

"I came back with Abhay Bhaiya's body," Deeksha explained, her voice small.

"Ohh," Deepak replied distractedly, his mind spinning. "How is Ishani Di? Is she alright?"

"Yes, she's okay now."

A painful, suffocating silence fell between them. Deepak wanted to scream, to cry, but he forced himself to stay composed even as his heart shattered into a million pieces.

The waiter placed the coffee and water on the table and retreated.

Deeksha took a sip of water, her throat feeling like sandpaper. She didn't know how to begin how to tell him that Mannat wasn't just her daughter, but theirs.

Deepak felt an overwhelming urge to get up and run away. He asked bluntly, "Did you have something important to discuss with me, Deeksha?"

Deeksha's lips went dry. She gathered every ounce of courage she had and placed her trembling hand over Deepak's. He looked down at her hand, then up at her, startled.

With a shaky breath, Deeksha spoke. "Deepak... seven years ago, when we were both drunk and... and we were physically intimate. You remember that, right?"

Deepak froze in shock. He couldn't understand why she was bringing up something from so long ago, especially now that she was a mother.

"Yes," he managed to say.

Deeksha licked her dry lips, her voice breaking. "After I moved to London with my mother... a month later, I found out I was pregnant."

Deepak's eyes widened, his breath hitching. He stared at her, unable to blink.

"Deepak, when I found out about the baby, I didn't abort her. And I didn't tell you either. That child... she is your daughter and mine. Her name is Mannat."

Deepak felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. His mind went numb. But before he could even process the fact that he was a father,

Deeksha dropped the second bombshell.

She squeezed his hand tightly, tears finally spilling over. "Mannat has blood cancer, Deepak! I tried to match my bone marrow in London, but it didn't work. That's why... that's why I need your help. If you could just get your bone marrow tested for her... it would be the greatest favor. Please."

Deepak couldn't believe his ears. For years, he had no idea he had a child, and the moment he finds out, he learns she is fighting for her life against cancer. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He was paralyzed by the weight of the revelation, unable to find words.

Seeing his stony silence, Deeksha's heart sank. She began to panic, terrified that his silence meant he was angry or worse, that he would refuse to help save their daughter

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