By your side

Coming back to you

Ishaan was carefully packing his things when his phone rang repeatedly. Aadya's name flashed on the screen, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Aadya," he whispered to himself, dropping the stack of shirts he had been holding, as if her mere name held a magnetic pull.

"Hey, Aadya, is everything alright?" Ishaan answered, his voice tinged with a mix of eagerness and concern.

"I want to meet you, Ishaan." Her voice came through the phone from the other side.

"Of course, I can come down to Bangalore." Ishaan began, ready to rearrange his plans.

"No need for that, Ishaan. I am in Mumbai," she interrupted.

"What? When did you arrive? Where are you?" Ishaan's curiosity surged.

"I don't know where you live, Ishaan. Where can we meet?" Aadya inquired.

"Just tell me your location, and I'll pick you up."

"I am at the Ibis Hotel near the airport," she replied.

Aadya strolled into a quaint park situated just in front of the hotel, her eyes scanning the horizon. When she spotted his car approaching, she couldn't help but break into a smile, her heart brimming with a mix of emotions.

With a cheerful wave, she beckoned him from the park as Ishaan stepped out of his car. She was adorned in an enchanting blue summer dress, radiating a happiness that seemed to mirror the Aadya he had known five years ago. Ishaan's heart quickened as he approached her, taking a seat beside her on the weathered park bench.

"What brings you here, Aadya?" he asked, his eyes searching her face.

She patted the bench next to her, gesturing for him to sit. He did so.

"I'm here to hold you accountable, Ishaan," she declared with a hint of mischief.

"Accountable?" Ishaan couldn't help but smile at her enigmatic words.

"You told me we couldn't be together," she began, her voice trembling with a mix of vulnerability and determination.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, a flicker of remorse shadowing his features.

"I don't deserve a second chance, Aadya. I've always ended up hurting you," he admitted, his words softly spoken, carrying the weight of his past mistakes.

Aadya continued, her eyes locked on his. "You know, Ishaan, when I lost our baby, I blamed you for it. I hated you."

A pained expression crossed his face as her words struck their mark. She was right, and he carried the guilt of it with him.

"So," she continued, her tone shifting into something unexpectedly mischievous, "you need to pay a penalty for it."

He looked at her, puzzled, trying to decipher the twist in her words. Aadya's mischievous tone left him perplexed, unsure of what penalty she was referring to.

"Ok? What kind of penalty are you talking about?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"Give me another chance to have a baby," she said, her request hanging in the air.

"What?" he exclaimed, utterly taken aback.

She chuckled at his surprised reaction.

"Is this some sort of joke, Aadya?" He inquired, his face flushed, which only added to his endearing charm.

"I'm serious," she affirmed.

He folded his arms and held his chin with his right hand. His brows furrowed as he tried to process her unexpected request.

"I don't know what to say, Aadya."

"How about 'yes'?" she suggested with a playful grin.

"Aadya, are you drunk?" His bewilderment was palpable, unsure of what to make of her sudden proposal.

"No, in fact, I'm completely sober now, Ishaan. Do you love me?" She asked, her gaze searching his eyes.

"Is that even a question? Of course I do," he replied sincerely.

"I love you too, Ishaan," she confessed, her words carrying a weight of longing and hope that had been absent for far too long.

Hearing those words after such a prolonged silence felt like a sweet melody to his ears. She moved closer to him; her hand reached up and caught his chin, pulling his face towards hers, and his musky scent enveloped her.

She explained in a soothing, gentle voice, "Our memories have been torturing us. It's time to let them go. Stop blaming yourself."

"But, Aadya..."

She gently placed a finger on his lips, silencing his protests.

"Every time you've left me, things have gone wrong. I need you in my life, Ishaan. Please come back to me."

Tears welled up in his hazel eyes as he pulled her into a tight embrace, forgetting for a moment that they were sitting in a park.

"I love you, Aadya. The last five years have been hell without you," he confessed, his voice filled with raw emotion.

"I love you too, Ishaan," Aadya whispered, burying her face in his shirt and finding the peace she had long yearned for in his embrace.

"Young people are shameless these days!" an elderly woman grumbled under her breath as she strolled along the path, her disapproval clear in her hunched posture.

When Aadya and Ishaan saw the old woman's disapproving look, they couldn't help but giggle softly. This shared moment of laughter eased the stress between them.

Speaking with a playful grin, Ishaan brought up the topic that had sparked their recent conversation.

"So, Aadya, about that baby idea—how soon do you want it?" He inquired, his eyes filled with curiosity and a touch of mischief.

A flush of embarrassment coloured Aadya's cheeks. Perhaps she had been too bold in her suggestion, but she didn't regret it. "All in good time, Ishaan," she replied with a smile, her voice carrying a hint of mystery.

As the evening sun bathed them in its warm glow, casting a soft halo around them, Ishaan seized the moment. "Aadya, will you marry me?" he asked, his voice gentle and sincere.

Aadya playfully folded her hands and pouted, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and affection. "Is this your idea of a romantic proposal? What about dating before marriage?"

He chuckled, his love for her shining through. "I'll buy you the largest ring possible. We have done enough dating. I can't wait anymore. Will you marry me?"

Aadya's grin widened. She had never been one for traditional proposals, anyway. "Yes, Ishaan, I will."

He swooped in to kiss her, but she stopped him. "We'll be kicked out of this place," she teased.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked.

"Just come with me," he replied.