Riya could hear the city sounds faintly behind him.
Cars, distant voices, the hum of lights — but all she could focus on was his voice.
"Riya… I don't know how long I'll be away," Arnav said softly.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"Then I'll wait," she whispered, almost forgetting how fragile the words sounded.
There was a pause, and then a small laugh came through.
"Even after all this?" he asked.
"Even after all this," she repeated, her voice firmer now.
They stayed on the call until midnight, talking about small things, silly things, anything to hold onto the moments they had.
When they finally said goodbye, it wasn't just a goodbye.
It was a promise — silent, unspoken, but strong enough to carry them through the nights ahead.
Riya put down the phone, her heart lighter, but still restless.
Somehow, she knew this was only the beginning.