..You're my honeysuckle...?

---

Me and mama reached home after a long journey. I hadn’t taken a nap throughout the trip, as the thought of him haunted me every minute, keeping my eyes wide open. 

I was losing my mind, wondering about him and the day we might meet again after two years. Would he remember me? Would he still accept me? He once said, *"We’ll work it out,"* but even that didn’t sound certain. 

*Ugh,* I sighed in confusion. 

What if he ends up with someone else during this gap? How could I bear that? These thoughts were suffocating. 

By then, we had reached mama’s home. As soon as we walked in, amma, appa, and athha ran out, alerted by the sound of the car. Their eyes brimmed with tears, and their faces glowed with smiles. 

Amma and appa hugged me tightly, while athha took a plate, lit some camphor, and circled it in the air, murmuring prayers to ward off evil eyes. She asked me to spit and smiled warmly as she placed her hand on my head. 

“My dear, you’ve suffered enough,” she said. “It’s time for all of it to end.” 

An emotional outburst followed. For nearly an hour, we all cried and talked about everything that had happened to me—the struggles, the uncertainties, and the pain. 

Noticing my swollen eyes and tired face, appa gently urged, “Go take a bath, have some good food, and rest for a while.” 

I nodded, took a hot shower, and came downstairs. Athha had cooked all my favorite dishes. Amma insisted on feeding me, so I sat on the sofa beside appa, holding his hand tightly and leaning on him as I ate. 

Afterward, I stretched out on the sofa, resting my head in appa’s lap. He ran his fingers through my hair, his face struggling to hide his tears. Though he wasn’t good at expressing emotions, his love spoke volumes. 

“*Mona...*” he whispered softly. 

“Hmmm, appa?” 

“I’ve been thinking lately... What if I sent you to the North, where Arjun could take care of you? He’ll look after you well.” 

His words shocked me. I stared at him, my eyes wide, my lips trembling in confusion. 

“How does he even know about me?” I asked, my voice breaking. “Even though he’s always been one of the best people in my life, I can’t leave you all behind.” 

“Mona...” Appa hesitated. “One day, you’ll have to leave us, right?” 

“What exactly do you mean, appa?” 

“I can’t bear to see you suffer anymore. I failed to protect you when you were kidnapped. I couldn’t take good care of you.” 

“Appa, stop blaming yourself. None of it was your fault. You and amma are the best parents anyone could ask for.” 

“That’s not the point,” he said, sighing. “I’ve heard troubling things about Raju Bhai. I want your safety above all else. Your father—” 

“Don’t say his name, appa!” I interrupted. “Even though you aren’t my biological parents, I’ve never thought of you as anything but my real family. The love you’ve given me is all I need.” 

I took a deep breath and continued, “I don’t want to go back to that terrible past. That place suffocates me. I just want peace, freedom—a life without fear or restrictions.” 

Appa listened silently as I explained. 

“The past is a nightmare that still haunts me. After my mom’s death, everything there turned into hell. Fake people, fake love—I despise even the thought of them.” 

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “I understand, Mona. But... your father insists. He even wants to take you back himself.” 

“I’ll take care of it. You don’t have to worry. I’ll talk to Arjun—he’s my only hope. He’ll help us.” 

“Mona...” 

“Don’t you want me to stay with you, appa?” I asked, tears streaming down my face. 

Appa hugged me tightly. “Of course, we do. We can’t live without you, not even for a day. But if your father insists, I—” 

“Don’t worry, appa,” I said, cutting him off. “I’ll handle it.” 

After a long emotional conversation, I convinced everyone. Later, I went to my room and shut the door behind me. 

I sat on my bed and saw my old phone, which I hadn’t used since getting a new one a month ago. I unlocked the screen, and to my surprise, it was flooded with missed calls and message notifications—all from the same familiar number. 

I was stunned. 

Every message was from Arjun. 

Seeing his name, I couldn’t hold back my tears. 

Arjun... my bava, my childhood companion. He loved my mom deeply and was the only one in the family who genuinely cared for both of us. 

My biological father, blinded by his family’s influence, was always absent, prioritizing work and wealth over his own family. My mom endured endless torture from his relatives, yet she never complained. Arjun was the only bright spot in our lives. 

He used to spend all his time with me and my mom. We shared countless adventures, fought like siblings, and made the sweetest memories. He protected me from bullies and always stood by my side. 

When he left for the city with his parents, he promised to return for holidays. I waited for him every time, but as the years passed, his visits became less frequent. 

After my mom’s death, I was taken in by Vijaya amma, my mother’s sister. She and her family gave me a loving home, but I always missed Arjun. 

Though he occasionally visited and called, our bond remained special. He even tried to reunite me with my biological father, but that led to a bitter fight. Since then, we hadn’t spoken—until now. 

The endless notifications from Arjun made my heart race. Just as I was processing it all, a new message popped up: 

**From Arjun to Mona:** *Teddy...* 

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Let’s see what unfolds in the next chapter