"Whispers of Fate"

Night.

The city lights blurred outside the bar window as Ranveer sat with a drink in his hand - untouched for the last ten minutes.

His fingers curled tighter around the glass, jaw clenched.

Aarya.

Just hearing that name again after five long years... it shouldn't have hit him like this.

But it did.

He knocked the drink back in one go and signaled for another.

The burn in his throat wasn't enough to drown the fire inside.

"She must be happy now..." he muttered bitterly, a humorless smile playing on his lips. "Living her perfect life. Probably married to the man she left me for."

His laugh was sharp, hollow.

"Cheated on me, walked away without a damn explanation... and I-" he cut himself off, running a hand through his hair, frustrated.

"Five years," he whispered, staring at the amber liquid swirling in his glass. "Five bloody years and still..."

Still, her name wrecked him.

Still, the memories came uninvited.

"She made me a fool," he muttered, eyes glassy.

He stood abruptly, tossing cash on the bar counter, nearly stumbling as he walked out.

But even as the cold wind slapped his face...

Even as logic screamed that she was gone...

His heart whispered her name.

And for the first time in years, Ranveer couldn't ignore the feeling rising in his gut-

That maybe, just maybe...

Aarya never really left him.

She just disappeared.

And now?

Fate had whispered her name back into his life.

And he wasn't ready for what that meant.

---

Next day

The next day, Aarya arrived at the office after dropping Aarveer off at school, but her mind was still consumed by the events from yesterday. She couldn't shake the weight of the words Aarveer had heard. "I was born by mistake." The thought gnawed at her, pulling her thoughts into a downward spiral. But she knew she couldn't afford to dwell on it now, not with the presentation looming.

Just as she walked into the office, lost in her thoughts, a voice called out to her from behind.

"Aarya! Where are you lost?" Neha, her colleague, asked with a concerned smile.

Aarya snapped back to reality, offering a quick smile. "Nowhere. Just tired, I guess."

Neha raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You left so suddenly yesterday. Is everything okay?"

Aarya hesitated for a moment, then quickly responded, "Yes, it was a call from Aarveer's school. Something happened."

Neha frowned. "What happened? Is he okay?"

Aarya's heart squeezed at the thought of Aarveer's pain. She forced herself to remain calm. "Yes, he's fine now. Just a little scare."

Neha's gaze softened with understanding. "Alright, but you still need to get that presentation ready. Boss will be here soon, and today's meeting is crucial."