Morning in Kathmandu had already begun.
The streets were slowly filling with people rushing toward their daily routines. Buses passed by one after another, horns echoing in the air, while the cool breeze of early morning still lingered.
Among them stood Ren Thapa.
Dressed in a slightly wrinkled office shirt, a bag hanging from his shoulder, and tired eyes that showed no excitement for the day ahead—he looked like just another ordinary man trying to survive life.
But today… was not ordinary.
---
A small hand tightly held onto his shirt.
"…Dad."
---
Ren froze.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even breathe properly.
---
Inside his mind, chaos had already begun.
Where did I get stuck now…? I'm going to be late for the office…
Why is something like this happening right now…?
---
He slowly looked down.
A little girl stood there.
Small.
Fragile.
With innocent eyes looking straight at him, as if she had finally found what she was searching for.
---
Ren forced himself to stay calm.
He took a slow breath.
"…Hey."
The girl looked up immediately.
---
"What's your name?"
---
She answered in a soft voice—
"…Aanya."
---
The name lingered in the air.
For some reason, Ren felt a strange discomfort hearing it.
Like something deep inside him was trying to remember… but couldn't.
---
He shook his head slightly and spoke again.
"Aanya… I think you've misunderstood something."
His voice was gentle, but firm.
"I'm not your dad."
---
The girl didn't argue.
She didn't cry.
She simply tightened her grip on his shirt… just a little.
---
Ren frowned slightly.
"…Then who are you?"
"Where are your parents?"
---
Instead of answering directly, Aanya slowly reached into her pocket.
Her small fingers carefully pulled out a photograph.
---
She handed it to him.
---
Ren took the photo.
And the moment his eyes landed on it—
Everything inside him stopped.
---
It was him.
A younger version of him.
Wearing his graduation uniform.
---
Behind him stood a large peach blossom tree, its petals gently falling around him, frozen in that moment.
A memory he clearly remembered.
And yet—
"…When did I take this…?"
"…And why do you have it?"
---
His voice was no longer steady.
---
Aanya lowered her gaze.
"…I live in an orphanage."
---
Ren's expression stiffened.
---
"…Today… I left."
"…Or maybe… I ran away."
---
Her voice was quiet, almost afraid.
But she continued.
---
"When I was left there… this photo was with me."
"And… a letter too."
---
Ren's heart began to beat faster.
A strange uneasiness filled his chest.
---
"A letter…?"
---
Aanya nodded.
She carefully took out a folded paper and held it out to him.
---
"They told me…"
"If I ever find my dad… I should give this to him."
---
Ren stared at the paper for a few seconds.
As if opening it would change everything.
---
His mind refused to accept it.
But his hands… still moved.
---
He took the letter.
Walked a few steps.
And sat down on the nearby bench.
---
"…What kind of situation is this…?"
He pressed his hand against his forehead.
Trying to think.
Trying to understand.
But nothing made sense.
---
His eyes slowly moved toward Aanya again.
She stood there quietly.
Not demanding anything.
Not crying.
Just… waiting.
---
Ren let out a heavy breath.
"…Give it to me."
---
He unfolded the letter.
The paper was old.
Slightly worn out.
---
And then—
He began to read.
---
> I'm sorry…
I left your child at the orphanage.
But if she ever finds you… please take care of her.
You may have forgotten me…
And that's fine.
There's no need to say my name.
But understand this…
She is your real daughter.
If you want… you can even do a blood test.
---
Ren's eyes froze on the last line.
---
The noise of the city around him slowly faded.
As if the world itself had gone silent.
---
"…This is… impossible…"
---
His fingers trembled slightly.
The letter felt heavier than it should have.
---
Aanya gently held onto his sleeve again.
Not forcefully.
Not impatiently.
Just enough… to remind him she was still there.
---
And in that moment—
A memory he had buried deep within his past…
Started to surface.
---
High school.
That night.
That one night.
---
Ren's breathing became uneven.
---
"…No way…"
---
For the first time in years—
The life he thought he understood…
Began to fall apart.
---
To be continued…