As Aara and Minnie reached home, they were greeted with an unexpected sight. The door to their small rented apartment was slightly open, immediately setting off alarm bells in both of their minds. Sharing a quick anxious glance, they cautiously stepped inside only to found their landlord and café owner, Mrs. Gupta, sitting on the couch, her face etched with worry. Beside her sat Ransh, equally tense, his brows furrowed in concern.
The moment she saw Aara, Mrs. Gupta stood up and rushed over, wrapping her in a tight, motherly hug. Her voice trembled with worry as she began firing questions without a pause. "Aara! Where were you? I was so scared! The customers at the café said you fainted, and someone took you away. You didn't have your phones, how was I supposed to know if you were okay?"
Aara, feeling touched by the genuine concern, melted into the hug. "We're okay, Aunty," she whispered, her voice soft and reassuring.
However, Minnie, true to her dramatic flair, decided to take a different approach. She stomped over to the couch, arms crossed and cheeks puffed out. "Wow, wow, wow! so all this concern is only for her, huh? What about me? I went missing too. No phone. No Update. But no one's crying over me!" She pouted like a child denied their favorite treet.
Ransh couldn't help but laugh at Minnie's antics and playfully pinched her cheek, "You're really a drama queen, Minnie."
Mrs. Gupta gave her mock glare. "Forgot concern, I should scold you both for not carrying your phones! What if something serious had happened?"
Minnie immediately switched gears, looking up sheepishly. She shuffled over and hugged Mrs. Gupta from the side, her tone repentant. "Sorry, sorry, sorry... You know right, I won't do anything like that on purpose. I was so worried about Aara that I forgot about everything else. Please forgive me, pretty please?"
Mrs. Gupta sighed, but her smile gave her away. "Alright, just this once. But next time, you're both in trouble."
Minnie grinned and hugged her tighter. "Never again, my beautiful young lady!"
Meanwhile, Ransh rose from the couch, still visibly unsettled. "But seriously... where were you two all night? And Aara, what exactly happened to you yesterday?"
Before Aara could answer, Mrs. Gupta gently stepped in. "Let it go for now, Ransh. Look at her, she looks so pale. Aara, dear, go take a nice warm bath. you'll feel better. Minnie, you too as well. I'll cook something healthy while you both freshen up."
Ransh nodded, though concern still lingered in his eyes. "Alright. But we'll talk later," he said softly, before heading out, giving Aara one last glance filled with quiet worry.
As the door closed behind him, both girls turned to Mrs. Gupta with grateful smiles. Her fussing felt like a warm embrace, a comforting reminder of the support system they had in their lives.
With a gentle nod, Aara made her way to her room, and Minnie trailed behind. Their soft laughter filling the apartment, mixing with the faint sounds of kitchen clatters wrapping them in the comfort of a place that felt more like family than just a home.
In the bathroom, Minnie couldn't resist teasing Aara.
"So, Ms. Queen got the royal treatment today. Fainted in public, being carried by a handsome, rich stranger, and now getting all of Aunty's love and fussing."
Aara rolled her eyes. "Well, someone's gotta take the drama queen title from you once in a while."
"And as for him" she paused, remembering the series of moment before fainting from yesterday "He's must be a kind person who happened to be there when we needed help."
"Now go out," she said, pushing Minnie toward the bathroom door. "I need a bath."
Minnie gasped dramatically, "Why are you pushing me? Let me assist my Highness."
Aara gave one last firm shove and shut the door on her, laughing. "Just go."
Outside, Minnie stood with a teasing smirk, shaking her head. Their playful banter carried a lightness, a bond only close friends or sisters shared.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mrs. Gupta was busy preparing a delicious and nutritious meal, her way of showing love and care for the two young women who, while not blood-related, were like daughters to her. It was a simple act, but spoke volumes about the bonds they had formed.
By the time all sat for lunch, Aara and Minnie couldn't help but share a glance filled with gratitude. They knew that their lives were intertwined not just with each other but with the kind souls who surrounded them. They didn't say it out loud, but they felt it... they weren't alone in this world.
As they enjoyed their meal, the atmosphere shifted from concern to lightheartedness. Minnie, true to her nature, couldn't keep things quiet for long. She decided to recount Aara's fainting episode in a dramatic manner, fluttering her hands and gasping like a heroine from bollywood movie. Mrs. Gupta laughed so hard, she nearly dropped her spoon.
Between giggles and bites of food, Mrs. Gupta glanced at Aara and asked, "Do you girls know Mr. Shah before? I mean, before yesterday?"
Aara and Minnie exchanged glances and shook their heads in denial. Minnie chimed in, "I've seen him in magazines and on TV. After all he's a famous business tycoon in such a young age, but I never thought we'd meet him in person."
Aara, meanwhile, continued to look at her plate, absently playing with her spoon. Her mind was elsewhere. The memories from the day before were still blurry, but one thing stuck out... his eyes. Dark. Familiar. Like she'd seen them before, but she couldn't quite remember where.
Mrs. Gupta let out a thoughtful "Hmm" but didn't press further. The conversation moved on and lunch continued with warmth, comfort and easy laughter, a welcome pause in the chaos.
The afternoon passed with laughter, love, and the warmth of their cozy apartment, a sanctuary in the midst of the mysterious events they had encountered.
.............
Later that night, in the quiet of her room, Aara sat by the window, lost in her thoughts. The moonlight spilled into her room, soft and silver, wrapping everything in a gentle glow. It was peaceful, but her mind was far from calm. She couldn't escape the undeniable truth that had unfolded on her 21st birthday. G.P.'s cryptic words echoed in her ear.
"This is the only way. Remember your 21st birthday. Be aware."
Her 21st birthday was supposed to be a turning point... and it had been. Just not in the way she'd imagined.
She had a gift now. A strange, overwhelming gift. The ability to see someone's future. Sometimes a glimpse, sometimes more. The idea of helping others with this ability was enticing, but she couldn't ignore the implications it held for her own life.
The thought about the loss of her true identity, the life she had to leave behind to protect herself and the constant fear of being pursued by unknown. It was a lonely existence, and her power had become both a savior and a jailer.
"Why me?" she whispered into the night, her voice barely audible. A single tear rolled down her cheek. Quiet. Unnoticed by the world. But it carried everything... the pain, the fear, the weight of knowing too much and feeling too alone.
Still, she knew this was just the beginning. Whatever came next, she had to face it.
As moonlight filled her room, she took a deep breath and whispered to herself, "You'll figure this out." And in that moment, even with all the uncertainty, there was a spark of quiet strength.
Because she wasn't just running anymore. She was starting to choose her path.