From the rearview mirror, Aryan glanced back.
There she was—Aanya—standing alone, teary-eyed, hugging herself against the cold silence. But he didn't stop.
Aanya watched the car driving away. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She blinked hard, trying to hold them back. "Don't cry, Aanya... not for him," she whispered to herself, turning away.
Meanwhile, inside the car, Aryan's grip on the steering wheel tightened. His chest felt heavier with every passing second.
Suddenly, his memories hit like a punch—
Aanya screaming, locked in that dark room...
Those goons trying to snatch her away...
"God damn it!" Aryan slammed his palm on the steering wheel, cursing under his breath. He jerked the wheel, made a U-turn, and sped back.
Aanya was still walking down the road when she heard the screech of a car beside her.
The window rolled down.
Aryan leaned out. "Get in."
Aanya didn't stop. She looked ahead, face cold, and continued walking.
"I said get in, Aanya!" His voice rose behind her.
She kept walking. Aryan clenched his jaw, furious. He drove slowly behind her, honking continuously like a man possessed.
People started watching. Aanya stopped in embarrassment and frustration. She turned sharply.
"What do you want from me, Mr. Aryan?!"
He got out of the car, walked to her, and opened the passenger door.
"Get in."
Aanya crossed her arms. "What do you think I am, Mr. Aryan? Some stupid girl who'll blindly follow you?"
Aryan stared, lips pressed into a line.
"You think I'll come and sit in your car after everything you said to me? You scold me, push me away, then suddenly ask me to 'get in' like I'm some robot?" Her voice trembled with anger.
Aryan took a step forward, but she raised her hand.
"No, Mr. Aryan. I'm not some machine you can control. I won't follow your orders like a remote toy. You... you haven't changed at all!" Mr. Aryan, you still have those mood swings and that arrogance I can never tolerate."
Aryan's fists clenched. "I don't want my mom to worry again because of you!"
Aanya looked at him, hurt flickering across her eyes.
"Oh, so now it's about your mom?" she snapped. "Don't worry, Mr. Aryan. I won't tell aunty anything. I'll go on my own. I have money. I don't need your help."
She turned to walk away again.
But Aryan had enough. He walked after her, grabbed her wrist.
"What the hell are you doing Mr. Aryan? Let me go!" Aanya struggled.
"You never listen, do you?" Aryan growled.
"Mr. Aryan, I told you I'm not coming with you! Let me go!"
"Let's see how you don't come now." He lifted her—yes, actually lifted her!—and placed her in the passenger seat like she weighed nothing.
"Aryan! You've lost your mind Mr. Aryan!"
He slammed the door shut. Aanya tried to open it—locked. The windows too—no response.
"Why isn't this opening?!" she yelled.
Aryan sat in the driver's seat calmly and said, "I turned on the child lock."
Aanya turned to him in shock. "Why are you doing this?! I told you I'll go alone!"
He ignored her and started the engine.
Aanya banged on the door. "Help! Someone help me!"
Aryan snapped his seatbelt on and shouted, "No one can take you away from me!"
Aanya froze.
She turned and looked at him. Their eyes locked.
Aryan slowly leaned toward her, and she instinctively backed away. But instead of what she feared, he simply pulled her seatbelt across her and buckled it gently.
Her heart was thudding like a drum.
He glanced at her once more, then started driving.
---
Back at home, Devika heard the doorbell and rushed to open it, thinking excitedly, Looks like Aryan brought Nandini bhabhi!
She flung open the door.
A graceful woman in a saree, wearing spectacles, stood there, eyes kind and sparkling. She held a couple of bags in her hands.
"Sister-in-law! Namaste! Why are you carrying all this? Didn't you give it to Aryan?"
Devika rushed to take the bags.
Nandini smiled politely. "I would've... if he had come to pick me up." I came by myself instead."
Devika froze. "W-What do you mean? Aryan didn't come?! But... but he told me—"
"He didn't answer my call either," Nandini replied, a little disappointed. "Looks like he's far too busy these days to remember his aunt."
"No, no! Bhabhi, you know Aryan! Even when he's busy, he makes time. Something must've happened," Devika said nervously.
Nandini didn't argue. "Where's Prerna?"
"In her room," Devika said, then called out, "Prerna!"
Prerna peeked from the staircase and her eyes lit up. "Aunt!"
She hurried downstairs and bent to touch her aunt's feet.
"My blessings are always with you," Nandini said warmly, placing a kiss on her forehead. "You've gotten so thin. Are you not eating well?"
"No, aunt. I eat fine. You're just seeing me after long, that's why," Prerna replied with a soft laugh.
Devika smiled. "Sister-in-law, you've had a long journey. Go freshen up and rest."
"I will, but first I want to see Aryan. Let's see how much that boy has changed."
Devika forced a smile, silently wondering, Where the hell is Aryan?!
---
Just then, a car pulled up outside. Aryan stepped out, opened the door, and looked at Aanya.
She didn't wait. Without glancing at him, She marched inside without a word, her face unreadable.
Aryan stood there for a moment, watching her back disappear into the house — a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
She stopped in the living room.
Everyone turned to look at her.
Nandini's eyes fell on her, confused.
Aryan walked in next.
He stopped too—his eyes meeting Nandini's.
Aanya looked at Aryan.
Aryan looked at Aanya.
Silence.
---
End Of Chapter 29.