Shreya had long resolved to shield her parents from Numan's clutches, keeping them safe at all costs. Yet she harboured no desire to harm Raghav or Arjun. The delicate balance she tried to maintain between protection and restraint had become her quiet burden.
That afternoon, inside a modest roadside dhaba on the outskirts of Barasat, Numan's patience had worn thin. The sensitive data he urgently needed was delayed, and frustration boiled over into a heated argument. His voice rose sharply, slicing through the clatter of plates and the murmur of travellers. Shreya, though far from the scene, could almost hear the echo of his growing impatience in her mind.
She had placed her mother and father in a secure corner of Bardhaman, a place distant enough from Numan's watchful eyes. There, in the peaceful embrace of a farmhouse belonging to Mansi's father, they lived quietly. The landowner practised organic farming with dedication, and the family often retreated there during holidays, finding solace amid green fields and open skies.
It was on her way to visit her parents that fate orchestrated an unexpected reunion. Shreya had boarded the train to Bardhaman, dressed in the simple attire of a labourer—plain clothes meant to conceal her identity. Yet when Arjun's gaze fell upon her, he recognised her instantly, even beneath the disguise. For a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them. She forgot to alight at her station, lost in the shock of seeing him after so long.
Days later, an unknown number flashed on Arjun's phone. When he answered, Shreya's voice drifted through the line like a ghost from the past. Surprise flickered across his face, quickly giving way to suspicion.
Perhaps she had seen the missing-person advertisement in the newspapers, he thought. That must be why she called."I'm Shreya speaking," she said softly.
"How can I believe it's really you?" Arjun replied, his tone guarded.
"What proof do you have that you're not some scammer trying to trick me?"
Shreya paused, then reminded him of their encounter at Bardhaman station—how she had bitten his hand in panic and fled into the crowd, terrified and desperate. A bitter chuckle escaped Arjun.
"Yes, running away after pulling your hand free is an old habit of yours. Every time we've met, you've come with dangerous intentions."
Irritation flared in Shreya's voice. "Arjun, I didn't call to gossip or flirt."
"Then why did you call?" he snapped.
"I need your help right now." She told him gently.
"Why should I help you?" His words were laced with resentment.
"How do I know you won't betray me again?
You're not trustworthy. How can I believe you after everything?"
"I know I've given you many reasons not to trust me," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "But this time, please believe me. Just once."
"It's pointless. You'll only break it again," he said abruptly.
"Come on video call," she pleaded. "I'm telling the truth. I swear."
"On whom?"
"On anyone you say."The video call connected. Shreya's face appeared on the screen, weary yet determined."
Who are the people who published my childhood photo in the newspaper with the missing-person notice?" she asked. "Do you know them?"
"Go find out yourself," Arjun replied curtly. "The contact details of those who report missing persons are usually printed. You can trace them. Besides, I'm also searching for a missing girl who hasn't been found yet."
"What will you do if you find her?" Shreya asked quietly.
"I don't know," he said, his voice softening for a fleeting second. "There was so much I wanted to complain about, so many grievances. But now I won't say anything. I have no right over her anymore."
"That missing girl took a long time to find her way back, Arjun," she whispered. "And now that she has come, it feels too late."I've been sitting in the park outside your lane for a while," she continued. "I just want to meet you once."
Arjun sounded incredulous. "Are you crazy? You came all the way here but didn't come home?"
"I didn't have the courage," she confessed. "I know there won't be any warm welcome for me. I won't be able to bear the coldness from all of you. After what I did, I deserve no expectations, no kindness. That's why I couldn't gather the strength."
"You fool," he muttered, a strange mix of anger and tenderness in his voice. "Stay right there. I'm coming."
Joy and irritation collided on Arjun's face as he dashed out. His mother and Ranjana tried to stop him, but he didn't pause.
"I'll explain when I return, Bitty! Let me go now!" he called, sprinting without looking back.
Even as a child, the mere mention of her name had sent him running breathlessly toward her. Today was no different. When he reached the park, his chest heaved, lungs burning. He scanned the benches beneath the trees. There she was sitting on a bench beneath a shady tree, wearing a cream-coloured top and blue jeans, sunglasses perched on her nose, pretending to chat on her phone while clearly waiting only for him.
It was afternoon. A few scattered souls strolled along the paths, soaking in the mild winter sun. On the far side, small children laughed on swings, their voices rising like birdsong.The moment Arjun called out "Rani," she turned toward him. Their eyes met, but words failed them for a long moment."
Don't call me by that name anymore, Arjun," she said firmly. "That name and all the identities attached to it slipped away from me long ago. Rani was weak; she couldn't fight for herself. I am not like her anymore. I know how to fight my own battles."
Her words hardened something in Arjun. His tone turned rough. "Tell me, what help do you need?
Though I should inform you—no one is searching for you. But Rani's biological father and elder brother Raja are still looking for her."
The sarcasm stung, but she knew she had earned every bitter word."Should I draw you a map?" he continued mockingly. "Or will you take a taxi and go yourself?
Wait a minute—I'll speak to Suyash and get their live location shared with you."
Shreya's heart ached at his taunting words. Tears welled up, but she held them back, listening in silence. Then, in a calm, steady voice, she asked:"Will you come with me?"
The park seemed to hold its breath around them. Sunlight filtered through leaves, casting dappled patterns on the grass. Children's laughter floated in the distance, a stark contrast to the heavy silence between the two. Arjun stood there, caught between the boy who had once run to her without hesitation and the man who had been wounded too many times. Shreya sat motionless on the bench, her sunglasses hiding eyes that carried the weight of regret, fear, and quiet resolve.
She had risked everything by reaching out. Numan's shadow loomed large, and her parents' safety depended on her next moves. Yet in this moment, facing Arjun, the complications of her world felt distant. Only the raw, unresolved feelings between them remained.
Arjun's jaw tightened. He wanted to turn away, to protect himself from another betrayal. But something, perhaps the memory of the girl who once filled his childhood with joy, or the vulnerability in her voice kept him rooted.
The afternoon sun continued its slow journey across the sky, as two broken hearts stood at the crossroads of forgiveness and farewell, unsure which path the coming hours would force them to take.
© Copyright Pushpa Chaturvedi.
All rights reserved