Back home
Aanya's POV
The smell of home was different. Spicier. Stronger. More.... real.
Five years in boarding school had dulled the sounds of mumbai's madness. Now it pulsed in her veins again - honks, spice, dust, laughter, all twisted into a strange welcome hug.
As I stepped into our apartment, mom's voice called from the kitchen. But my eyes scanned for someone else.
He wasn't here.
Reyaansh.
A name that used to make my heart skip beats even when I was 14.He was 24 then. Already grown. Already unreachable.
I dropped my bag and wandered into the living room, fingers brushing over the guitar he gifted me when I turned 16.Untouched , but treasured.
"Guess who's coming for dinner? " Aarav my brother voice echoed from the hallway.
I looked up too quickly. "Who? "
"Reyaansh. He's back from Dubai for good. "
The ground tilted slightly. He was here. Back. In this city. In my orbit again.
"I didn't know he was back, " I said, pretending indifference. I had trained myself for years.
Aarav shrugged. "He wanted to surprise us. You'll see him tonight. "
Tonight.
My heart whispered his name again like a secret. Reyaansh.
I went to my room and shut the door.
Then smile
