Morning came quietly.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains, soft and warm—so different from the storm of the night before.
Karan opened his eyes.
For a moment, he lay still, staring at the ceiling, as if grounding himself back into reality. Then, without a word, he got up and walked to the bathroom. He picked up his toothbrush, moving through his routine in silence—mechanical, controlled.
Water ran.
Steam filled the air.
By the time he stepped out, dressed only in a towel, the world outside already felt distant again.
He walked to his wardrobe.
Opened it.
And paused.
Among his neatly arranged clothes—there were others.
Not his.
Ananya's.
His eyes lingered on them for a second longer than usual.
Before he could react—
Arms wrapped around him from behind.
"Are you going somewhere?"
Her voice was soft, almost fragile.
Karan didn't turn immediately. He simply reached for his clothes and began getting dressed. "Yes… I have to go to work."
A small pause.
"Hmmm…"
There was a sadness in that sound.
"So… you're leaving me alone again?" she said quietly, her grip tightening just a little. "Without you… I feel lonely here."
Karan turned this time.
He held her gently, steady, as if trying to calm something unspoken. "I'll be back as soon as possible," he said. "Okay… dear?"
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Ananya didn't smile.
"I don't want you to leave," she whispered.
Before Karan could respond—
His phone rang.
The sharp sound cut through the moment.
Karan picked it up, his voice instantly returning to its usual calm tone. "Hello, sir."
"Karan, come here fast," Rajveer's voice came, urgent and tense. "I need to go to the police station."
"I'm coming."
The call ended.
Karan didn't waste a second.
He grabbed his keys and walked out.
Behind him, the house fell silent again.
—
When he reached Rajveer's house, the man was already waiting outside.
Still. Rigid. Serious.
Karan stopped the car in front of him.
Rajveer opened the door and got in without a word.
"Let's go to the police station," he said, his tone sharp and controlled.
Karan nodded slightly. "Okay, sir."
And the car drove off—into a day that looked peaceful on the outside…The car came to a halt outside the police station.
Rajveer stepped out first, adjusting his coat. "Wait here," he said, his tone firm, before walking inside without another glance.
Karan remained in the driver's seat, hands resting on the steering wheel, eyes fixed ahead.
Time passed slowly.
Then—
A commotion near the entrance.
A hawaldar dragged a man toward the station, his hands bound in handcuffs. The man struggled weakly, but it was useless.
Beside him, a small boy clung desperately to his father.
"Please, sir… don't take my dad!" the boy cried, his voice breaking. He held onto the hawaldar's leg, his tiny hands trembling. "Please… leave him!"
The hawaldar didn't even look down.
"Go away!" he snapped, pushing the child aside.
The boy fell hard onto the ground.
His cries echoed—raw, helpless.
Karan's gaze shifted.
Locked onto the child.
And in that moment—
The present blurred.
—
A small boy.
Crying.
Holding onto his father's leg—
But this time, it wasn't moving.
It hung lifeless from the ceiling fan.
"Karan…"
Silence answered.
The boy shook the leg desperately, tears streaming down his face. "Papa… wake up…"
But nothing changed.
Then—
Footsteps.
The same little girl.
She froze at the sight, her eyes widening in shock—then immediately turned and ran.
"Help! Someone come quickly!"
Neighbors rushed in.
Voices. Panic. Chaos.
They brought the body down, laying it on the floor.
But it was too late.
Karan sat there, staring at his father's lifeless face, his small hands shaking, his world collapsing in front of him.
Then—
A soft touch.
A little hand held his.
He looked up.
The girl.
She wiped his tears gently. "I'm here with you."
—
Time shifted again.
Footsteps approached.
A younger Rajveer entered, urgency in his stride.
The moment the little girl saw him, she ran toward him.
"Baba!"
Rajveer picked her up briefly, his expression tightening as he took in the scene. Then he walked toward Karan.
Without a word, he pulled the boy close with one arm.
"You can stay with us…" he said quietly.
A pause.
"Karan."
—
"Karan… Karan… KARAN—"
The voice broke through everything.
Karan blinked.
The memory shattered.
He was back.
Back in the car.
He turned slightly.
Rajveer sat in the back seat, looking at him.
"What are you thinking?" he asked. "Let's go home."
Karan said nothing.
He simply started the engine.
And drove.