9:00 PM...
Inside Aditya’s cabin...
Aditya was still engrossed in his work when his phone rang. It was Saaniya.
He answered the call, "Yes... the reservation is for 10 PM. I’ll send you the address... just be there by 10!"
"Okay... sounds good," Saaniya replied briefly before the call ended.
Aditya glanced at his phone’s wallpaper.
It was a painting—the same one Anamika had drawn on the wall the day they met for the first time. A photo Aniket had clicked years ago... and Aditya had kept it as his wallpaper ever since.
Just as he was about to change it, Aniket walked into the cabin.
He had come straight from work, carrying a small handbag.
When he noticed Aditya trying to change the wallpaper, he teased him playfully,"Oh? Looks like Devdas doesn’t want his Paro anymore?"
Aditya gave a painful smile and said,"Paro never belongs to devdas,... and Devdas should’ve accepted that long time ago."
Hearing that, Aniket snatched the phone from Aditya’s hand and stuffed it in his pocket.
"What the hell, drama king?! Give me my phone back!" Aditya snapped.
But Aniket, now serious and slightly angry, said,"No! Absolutely not! Because right now, Devdas here is acting like a lunatic. What if you end up deleting every memory that keeps you alive?"
Aditya shouted,"I should’ve burned those memories long ago! I should’ve known they meant nothing!"
Before he could finish, Aniket slapped him across the face.
In all these years, Aditya had never seen this kind of rage in his friend’s eyes.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Aniket took a deep breath and said,"Do you even realize... what you were about to say?! That your reason to live is meaningless?!
If those memories meant nothing... then why did you hold onto them like they were your last breath?!
Do you think I hate these memories because I think they’re worthless?! No!
I hate them because they never found closure.
They aren’t meaningless... they’re just incomplete.
They have your waiting... your confession... but not your happy ending. And neither does your love!"
Aditya lowered his eyes and said quietly,"There’s never going to be a happy ending. We don’t have a future."
To that, Aniket smiled and replied,"Exactly. You knew from the beginning that your love had no tomorrow... but still, you tried.
Why? Because of your today.
Aditya... don’t drag her into the past again. Don’t drown in it yourself either.
And don’t worry about the future—it hasn’t happened yet.
But what you do have... is today.
You can still create it.
And I know... your 'today' will never be complete without her presence.
These pictures... this painting... they're all a part of her presence.
Don’t kill your reason to live."
Hearing that, Aditya chuckled and said,"Since when did you become a love guru?"
Aniket grinned,"Ever since my idiot Romeo friend turned into Devdas!"
Silence lingered between them for a few seconds.
Then Aniket asked with a mischievous glint,"By the way... does Romeo still want his Juliet?"
Aditya laughed out loud, his eyes glistening with a tear as he said,"Want her? Of course, I do!"
Aniket pointed toward his bag,"Then I have a plan. So tell me... are you ready to make new memories with your love?"
Aditya looked at the bag, curious,"What’s in there?"
Aniket smirked,"I’ll tell you on the way."
"On the way? Wait—you’re coming with me?" Aditya asked, and added."But Saaniya strictly said not to bring you!"
Aniket narrowed his eyes and said sarcastically,"Wow... so I become your love guru, and you still listen to that witch instead of me? What a friendship!"
Aditya pouted innocently,"No no, bro! Just tell me what’s in the bag?"
Aniket grinned,"Office romances are trending nowadays... this has something that will turn your love story into an 'office love story'!"
Aditya reached for the bag,"What do you mean by that?!"
Aniket quickly pulled the bag away,"I’ll only tell you if you take me along. Or else—stay here and cry over your lost love like a broken-hearted loser!"
Aditya made a puppy face,"Come on, man! Don’t be mad... I lost my mind for a moment back there.
You know me, right? I’ve never given up on my love... and I never will!"
Aniket placed a hand on Aditya’s shoulder and said proudly,"That’s the spirit, my lion! Now come on—let’s rewrite your love story from the beginning. And also, give that witch Saaniya a good reason to regret ever messing with me!"
Aditya laughed,"Why are we taking revenge on Saaniya?"
"Because that witch said I’m not allowed to come! Now hurry up, pack your stuff and meet me downstairs," Aniket said, storming out of the cabin.
As he walked out, his phone buzzed with a new notification.
It was a message from his father.
Aniket opened it and read:
"I’m going to the US for a month. There’s an issue at the manufacturing unit.
I’m sorry, I won’t be able to be with you for your birthday this year."
Aniket smiled faintly and whispered,
"This year, huh? You should’ve just said like every year...
Not that I expected you to come. If you did, it would’ve been weird.
Anyway... I’ve gotten used to living alone too, Dad."
To be continue....
But what exactly is the story between Aniket and his father?
Why was he so sure his father wouldn’t be there on his birthday?
And if his father owns a business—why does Aniket work a regular job?
And the biggest question of all... what’s inside that bag?
What’s Aniket’s mysterious plan?
Stay tuned... and don’t forget to drop your thoughts in the comments! ??
