As Padma stepped into her car and drove off, Ayaan stood silently outside the café, the confidential file clutched tightly in his hands. The weight of the symbol stamped on it—a sword etched in silver—pressed into his fingers like a phantom reminder: this wasn't just a mission. This was history choosing him again.
The wind blew gently across the street, and for a moment, everything stilled.
And then the memory surfaced.
---
1.3 Years Ago
He had been asleep in his small room, the light from the TV flickering softly. A late-night news broadcast hummed in the background:
"...sharpening criticism of the special recruitment notice signed directly by President Aditya Rajan. Many are questioning the ethics behind drafting normal citizens into classified training programs ...."
The screen blurred, but the voices down the hall were sharp and unmistakable.
Tanvi. Padma.
They weren't arguing over Dev. This wasn't about rivalry or politics. It was something deeper. Something personal.
Padma's voice, calm but firm:
"Tanvi, listen to me. It's his right. This may be the only chance we have—"
Tanvi snapped back, raw with grief responded back "I already lost my husband to this world's illusion of purpose. I cut ties with my family so I wouldn't pass that curse to my sons! And now you want to drag my second child into this madness too?"
A beat of silence.
Then Tanvi's voice cracked, full of restrained fury.
"My elder son went missing trying to find the truth behind my husband's disappearance. And now you want to gamble Ayaan? What's next, Padma? You want to bet your own son in this sick game?"
Padma, sharply:
"Then fine. I will. If this is just a training program, I'll bet my son. Dev will go too. But… if Ayaan joins… there's a chance—just a chance—he may be find your elder son too."
---
One Day Later
Ayaan sat by the window, confused as his mother gently placed a sealed envelope in front of him. Her hands trembled slightly, but her expression wore a quiet, heavy smile.
Tanvi:
"Ayaan… please take this. It's a recommendation letter. Only for a year."
He opened the envelope, expecting a standard form—but his eyes froze on what was inside.
A crisp paper. A glowing spear symbol.
And beneath it… a name written in sharp ink:
"Rudra."
"…Who is this?" he whispered aloud back then.
But the question never left him.
---
Back to Current Time
Standing beside the café, Ayaan finally snapped the file open. The same symbols echoed back—sword now, not spear. But somehow, it all felt connected.
Then soft chime of the café door rang as Ayaan stepped inside. His eyes quickly scanned the room—familiar chaos greeted him.
At the far end, Dev and Riya were once again at war—arguing like no one else existed.
Dev, arms flailing dramatically:
"Imagining you as my bride—ewww! What kind of cursed universe would allow that?!"
Riya, shooting daggers with her eyes:
"Ugh! Just hearing that made me want to bash my own head in. I'd rather jump off this café counter!"
Across from them, Pooja and Sneha were casually sipping tea and munching on biscuits like they were watching a live soap opera.
Pooja, whispering:
"Do you think this counts as their honeymoon argument?"
Sneha, grinning:
"If so, I'm crashing their honeymoon. The drama's too good."
Amid the chaos, Ayaan's eyes landed on Anaya—sitting calmly near the window, her fingers pressed to her ears as if trying to mute the world.
She looked… oddly peaceful, like a child trying to hide from the noise of grown-ups.
Ayaan blinked, watching her.
"She's… actually cute like that."
Anaya opened one eye and spotted him. Her fingers slowly fell from her ears as a gentle smile appeared on her lips. She stood up wordlessly and made her way over to him, her steps light.
Anaya, quietly:
"Let's go… somewhere else?"
Ayaan gave her a nod, his lips curling into a rare, relaxed smile responded
"Yeah. Another place sounds perfect."
Just as they turned to leave, another round of bickering shot through the café:
Dev:
"You as my wife? I'll change my name and leave the country."
Riya, clutching her throat theatrically:
"I'm going to throw up. Kill me now!"
Everyone in the café turned to stare at them.
The waiter paused mid-order. The couple in the next booth stopped chewing.
Pooja and Sneha? Still laughing. Unbothered.
Anaya glanced at Ayaan and bit back a laugh. He tilted his head toward the exit.
Ayaan, before stepping out, called out loud enough to cut through the noise:
"Yo, Dev!"
Dev looked over, eyebrows raised.
Ayaan raised his hand and jiggled Dev's bike keys with a sly grin.
Ayaan:
"Thanks for the ride."
Dev groaned audibly.
Riya gave him an exaggerated "see-you-never" wave as Anaya smiled sweetly and mirrored the gesture.
Then the café door shut softly behind Ayaan and Anaya—leaving the chaos behind as they stepped into the sunlit street.
-----
It was the first time Ayaan had Anaya riding pillion behind him.
Even with the chaos still echoing faintly from the café, the world outside had gone quieter. As he climbed onto the bike and started it, he tried not to glance at the side mirror too often—but the blush creeping up his neck betrayed him.
Just before Anaya got on, she casually adjusted the rearview mirror and glanced into it.
Anaya, softly:
"How many times have I told you to fix this mirror properly…?"
She paused, then smiled.
"…Never mind."
"Please drive safely."
Ayaan blinked and questioned himself
"How many times…? This is the first time I'm riding with her…"
But instead of questioning it, he just gave a small nod and focused on the road ahead.
Ayaan asked
"Where are we going?"
Anaya responsed "NRM Park."
Ayaan:
"Okay."
The engine purred, and the city slowly blurred behind them.
After a few minutes of calm riding, Ayaan spoke—almost unsure if now was the right time.
"Thanks… for defending me back there."
Anaya, without hesitation and smile
"It's my right to defend my man."
Ayaan's hands twitched on the handlebar, a flush rising on his face. "My man…?"
Ayaan:
"Wait… when did I become—"
He didn't get to finish.
Anaya reached forward and lightly pinched his arm.
Anaya, playfully:
"I'm a bit tired. Don't mind me if I say strange things."
Then it happened.
Ayaan felt it—the soft weight of her head gently resting against his back.
The traffic faded. The streetlights flickered by. And all he could feel was the warmth of her presence, her breath, and the quiet truth in her silence.
Anaya, quietly:
"I really missed you…"
Ayaan kept his eyes on the road.
Anaya (again):
"Do you feel the same, Ayaan?"
Ayaan:
"We… just saw each other yesterday. At the hospital."
Anaya smiled softly behind him.
"Even a few seconds apart feels too long… That's how I feel. So—what about you? What do you do when you miss me?"
Ayaan didn't answer immediately.
Because in that moment, Rathore's words echoed in his mind.
The mission.
The bomb.
Her safety.
"What would I do if I missed her?"
"...I'd protect her. Even if it means…"
Just as he gathered his thoughts, a whisper from behind caught him off guard.
Anaya (softly, near his ear):
"We're near NRM Park…"
Her hands gently wrapped around his waist as she whispered.
Ayaan froze.
His heart thudded.
The world spun for a second—then he hit the brakes, stopping the bike suddenly.
Anaya stepped off gracefully, laughing:
"Ayaan… you really are too easy to fluster."
He turned off the engine slowly, still trying to catch his breath—not from the ride… but from her.
----
Anaya stood quietly near the park ticket counter, her hands behind her back as she watched the entrance with a peaceful smile—but her eyes drifted, unconsciously pulled toward a nearby family.
A young couple stood with their two children—an older girl, maybe nine or ten, carefully holding the hand of her little brother, who was pointing excitedly at a cotton candy cart. Their parents smiled softly behind them, guiding them gently through the crowd.
Anaya's eyes lingered longer than she expected.
Her fingers clenched slightly.
Ayaan returned from the ticket counter, holding out the slips with his usual calm expression.
Ayaan:
"Anaya, I got the tickets."
She didn't look at him immediately—her gaze still fixed on the family.
Anaya:
"Ayaan… look at that family. Especially that girl and her little brother…"
Ayaan turned and followed her eyes.
He smiled faintly.
"Yeah… they look beautiful."
Anaya nodded, her voice dropping to something softer.
Almost… fragile.
Anaya (softly):
"Yeah… they do look beautiful."
Then her voice shifted again—barely a whisper.
Anaya murmured herself
"At least this time… I'll find where my little brother is…"
Before Ayaan could ask or react, she snapped back to her usual bright tone and turned toward him with a small, playful smile.
"Sorry for the wait! Let's go inside and enjoy our first date!"
She gave a short, teasing run past him through the gates of the park.
Ayaan blinked in place, confused for a moment and questioned ,in less voice
"Wait—first date? It's not a date, it's a…?"
His voice trailed off as she disappeared into the crowd of the park's entrance path, laughter on her lips.
He looked down at the tickets in his hand. Ayaan questioned himself
"Wait… is this really my first date…?"
He stood there for a second longer, unsure whether to smile or panic—then quietly stepped forward to follow her in.