The golden morning light seeped through the curtains of Shivanjali Residency, a well-maintained apartment complex in Delhi. The city outside was already awake—horns blaring, street vendors shouting, and the distant chatter of morning walkers. But inside Flat 805, time seemed to move slower.

Aarya Mukherjee sat comfortably on her grey couch, her laptop open on her lap, fingers tapping swiftly on the keyboard. She was deep in work, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration. Her long, wavy hair, still a little messy from sleep, cascaded over her shoulders, occasionally falling onto her face. She pushed a few strands back and took a slow sip from her coffee mug, letting the rich aroma fill her senses.

She wore an oversized white t-shirt and blue cotton shorts—simple, cozy, yet effortlessly pretty. The fairy lights wrapped around the bookshelf behind her added a warm glow to the living room, making the space feel snug despite the large windows that overlooked the busy Delhi streets. From the nearby bedroom, soft snoring could be heard of Prerna Tripathi who lay sprawled on the bed , wrapped like a burrito in her blanket. Aarya stretched her arms and cracked her knuckles before glancing at the time. 9:30 AM. That was late enough.

She shut her laptop and tiptoed towards the bedroom. She took the jug from the bed side table and looked at her best friend wrapped snugly in her blanket, looking completely at ease—but not for long. Aarya raised the jug above her friend’s head, grinning like a villain.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" she poured the entire jug of water onto Prerna’s face.

SPLASHHH!

"AAAHHHH! WHAT THE—!" Prerna screamed, jolting upright like she had been struck by lightning.

Aarya doubled over laughing, clutching her stomach. Prerna blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just happened. Her hair was soaked, water dripping from her face. "Aarya.. tu bacha le aaj apni jaan!"

"Arre, tujhe uthana meri duty thi!" Aarya said innocently, stepping back as Prerna lunged for her pillow.

"Duty...let me show you your duty"Prerna growled, throwing the wet pillow straight at Aarya’s face.

THWACK!

Aarya gasped but Prerna grabbed another pillow and launched it again at Diya.

Missed!!

Aarya grinned. "Slow reflexes, Tripathi."

"Get lost"Prerna flipped her wet hair back like a Bollywood heroine.

Aarya sighed"Bas ho gaya?"

Prerna huffed. "Tujhse bura alarm clock duniya mein nahi hai!"

Aarya chuckled, standing up."Get ready now quickly, we just have one hour."

Prerna frowned. "Kyun?"

Aarya sipped her coffee."My sleepy head we are going to Udaipur... remember?"

Prerna’s eyes widened slightly before she sighed and stretched. "Haan, yaad hai… bas paanch minute aur."

"Na koi 5 minute nhi ab." Aarya snatched the blanket away.

Prerna groaned. "Theek hai, ja rahi hoon!"

Aarya smirked, walking back to the living room. "Good girl."

And just like that, their morning resumed—one getting ready, the other finishing her coffee, both perfectly in sync despite the madness.

.

.

.

At exactly 11 AM, Aarya and Prerna reached Indira Gandhi International Airport and made their way to the sitting area near their boarding gate. The large windows showed airplanes taking off into the clear sky, and the airport was buzzing with travelers, announcements, and the occasional sound of trolley wheels rolling over the smooth floor.

As they sat in the waiting area, Aarya’s foot tapped against the floor—fast, restless, and completely unconscious.

Prerna, who had been scrolling through her phone, noticed and raised an eyebrow. She watched Aarya for a few seconds before speaking.

"Aarya, tu theek hai na?" Prerna asked, tilting her head.

Aarya immediately stilled her foot and turned to her. "Haan, main bilkul theek hoon."

Prerna wasn’t convinced. "Are you sure about Udaipur Aarya?"

Aarya exhaled, giving a small smile."Yes I'm. The only thing matters right now is Yashika. Aur uski shaadi mai nhi gyi toh uk that she will kill me."

Prerna held her gaze for a moment and then nodded. "Theek hai, par agar kisi bhi moment pe tu—"

"I'm alright Prerna," Aarya cut in, smiling a little at her.

Prerna also smiled. "Fine."

They both went back to their own distractions—Prerna checking social media, and Aarya simply watching people around her.

After five minutes, something caught Aarya's attention.

A few seats away, two teenage boys were engaged in a dramatic struggle. One of them—a shorter, lean boy with curly hair—had wrapped his arms tightly around his taller friend’s neck in a suffocating hug, almost choking him.

"Bhaiiii! Tu jaa raha hai mujhe chhodke!" the first boy wailed loudly, shaking his friend dramatically. The second boy—a taller, broad-shouldered guy—struggled to break free. "Arre, chod mujhe! Ghoomne ja raha hoon bas, shaadi nahi kar raha!"

"Mere liye toh same baat hai!" the shorter boy sobbed, squeezing harder.

"Saans toh lene de, bewakoof!" the taller boy shouted, his voice strained. Before things got too intense, the taller boy shoved the first one away with full force. The curly-haired boy stumbled backward and fell straight on his butt. Aarya, who had been silently watching, burst out laughing—loud and unapologetic.

Prerna turned to her, surprised. "What’s so funny?"

Aarya wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye. "Nothing… just remembered something ." She shook her head, still chuckling to herself, while Prerna gave her a curious look. "Care to explain?"

Aarya just smiled, her mind drifting back to a similar chaotic moment from her past….but her smile faded remember a someone specific.

And for the first time since she had sat down, she wasn’t tapping her foot anymore but still breathing heavily.

.

.

.

.

.

The atmosphere in the airport was a mix of excitement and anxiety, but for Aarya, it felt more like a heavy blanket draped over her thoughts. The laughter from the boys faded as she lost herself in memories, the vibrant colors of Udaipur suddenly dulling in her mind. She tried to shake off the creeping sensation of dread, reminding herself that she was here for Yashika, not to revisit shadows from the past.

Prerna nudged her again, breaking Aarya's reverie. "Are you sure you're okay? You seem... distant."

Aarya forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Really, I'm fine. Just... thinking about the wedding."

Prerna raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You sure it's not about someone else?"

Aarya's heart skipped. She quickly diverted her gaze to the bustling crowd. "No, no. Just wedding stuff."

As they waited, the flight was announced for boarding. The two friends gathered their bags and made their way to the gate, the excitement in the air slowly lifting Aaryaa's spirits. They joined the queue, and as they approached the boarding area.

Aarya caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the airport, just a few feet away, boarding the same flight as theirs. A tall frame, sharp features, and an unmistakable presence.

But soon the person was lost in queue of passengers.

She quickly dismissed the thought. "Was he?"...."No, it can’t be him. He isn't in Delhi."

Brushing away the momentary unease, she moved forward, focusing on the trip ahead.

Once inside the plane, Aarya and Prerna settled into their seats. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, the hum of passengers talking, the soft chime of flight attendants making announcements.

As Aarya adjusted her bag, Prerna glanced around absently—until her gaze locked onto a face sitting just two rows ahead.

Her entire body froze for ten whole seconds.

Ansh Pratap Singh.

Sitting there, unaware of the storm brewing inside her.

And then, as if sensing her stare, he turned.

Their eyes met.

A moment stretched between them, thick with unspoken words and forgotten emotions.

Ansh gave a small, subtle smile—gentle, almost familiar.

But Prerna’s heart pounded too loudly for her to acknowledge it. She immediately looked away, breaking the contact like it had burned her.

With a sharp inhale, she quickly took her seat, her hands gripping the armrest as she tried to steady herself.

Aarya noticed the shift in her friend's demeanor. "You okay?" she asked casually.

Prerna forced a small smile, trying to mask the storm raging inside her. "Yeah. I’m fine."

And maybe, just maybe, if she said it enough times, she would start believing it too.

After buckling her seatbelt, Prerna closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat.

She took a deep breath… and then, a faint smile touched her lips. Because behind her closed eyes, a memory played softly—of someone, of something, of a time she hadn’t dared to revisit until now.

...................

7 YEARS AGO......