Tara stared at her phone for a moment, hesitating.
"Should I send it?" she thought.
Then she softly muttered,
"Maybe… this is the moment that can bring them closer."
With a quiet sigh, she tapped the screen—location sent.
---
Meanwhile, Aryan gripped the steering wheel tightly and turned on the car engine.
Without wasting a second, he started driving—his eyes fixed on the GPS location Tara sent.
---
Back at the dhaba, Aanya sat alone on a bench, her suitcase beside her. The once-bustling place was now quiet. The lights were dim, the chill in the air slowly creeping over her skin.
She glanced at the time.
"Where is Tara? Why hasn't she come yet?"
A dhaba worker approached her.
"Mam, we're closing now."
Aanya stood up and nodded.
"Yeah, okay… I'm leaving."
"Need any help?" the man asked kindly.
"No, thank you. I'll manage."
Feeling frustrated and anxious, Aanya pulled out her phone and dialed Tara.
"Tara, where are you? You said you'd come! Why haven't you—"
Tara cut in, hesitating.
"Aanya… I didn't come because… I sent your location to Aryan."
Aanya froze.
"What?!" she shouted, "Why did you do that? Why would you tell him?"
"Aanya, he called me! He asked if you were with me. I didn't know what to say. He seemed… worried."
"Worried?! Tara, you've made everything worse! Now he'll come and scream at me again. Thanks for nothing!"
And she ended the call.
Tara looked at her phone and whispered,
"Even if you're angry at me now, one day… you'll thank me."
---
Aanya stood in place, fuming.
"So now Mr. Aryan is on his way here? No way. I don't want to see his face. I have to leave before he arrives."
She picked up her suitcase and began walking into the quiet, lonely road ahead.
"There must be some hotels nearby… I'll find one myself."
"Why is this place so quiet…? Not even a single person to ask anything," she whispered to herself.
"I should've asked that worker before leaving the dhaba… but I really thought Tara would come."
Her grip tightened on the suitcase handle as the bitterness rose inside her.
"Why did Tara tell Mr. Aryan that I'm here?"
She sniffled and looked up at the empty road ahead.
"It's better staying out here on this quiet road than being with him… at least I don't have to hear his shouting for no reason."
The cool wind brushed her hair, and she blinked fast to hold back tears.
Then she murmured softly to herself—like a promise in the dark:
"Don't worry, Aanya… everything will be alright. You'll be fine. Just keep walking."
Her pace quickened—but so did the thoughts in her head.
Suddenly, in the distance, she saw three men standing near a bike.
Aanya felt a small wave of relief.
"Finally, someone to ask."
She approached carefully.
"Excuse me, sir. Is there a hotel nearby?"
The three men turned around slowly, eyes scanning her from head to toe.
"Yeah," one said, stepping closer, "but it's a bit far. Don't worry, we'll drop you."
Aanya smiled faintly, but then her eyes noticed something—empty alcohol bottles, cigarettes scattered near their feet.
Her smile faded instantly.
"No, thank you. I'll walk."
She turned to leave.
"Hey, wait," one of them said, suddenly standing in front of her.
"You have luggage. It's too far for you to walk alone. Let us drop you."
"I said it's fine."
But just as she was about to walk away, one man grabbed her suitcase.
"Let go!" she shouted, panic rising.
"Come on, we're just helping."
"I said leave it!"
"Why are you shouting now? You were sweet just a second ago when you said 'Excuse me, sir…'" one sneered.
Aanya snatched the bag back and started running.
The men whistled and laughed.
"Let's grab her!" one shouted.
Aanya's heart pounded as her suitcase slowed her down.
The sound of the bike engine roared behind her. They rode ahead, blocking her path.
She froze.
The three men stepped off their bike and walked toward her.
"P-please," she whispered, trembling,
"Take my money if you want. Just leave me alone."
"We don't want your money," one grinned. "We want you."
Aanya screamed,
"Please! Don't come near me!"
One reached for her arm. She shut her eyes tightly—
Suddenly—
A loud horn blared.
Bright headlights flooded the road.
The men turned around, blinded by the light, shielding their eyes.
Aanya opened her eyes in shock and disbelief.
—
End of Chapter 21.