The Whispers of Recognition
Sonal and Jay were out for a family dinner, the buzz of conversation around their table a gentle background hum. Nearby, a person was streaming a public forum on his phone. They had been paying little attention until a familiar name cut through the noise: Ayra.
The men froze. Sonal immediately approached the person, asking about the speaker on the screen.
"Nobody knows who he is," the man replied, confused. "The host introduced him as a surprise guest, but kept his identity hidden. I'm trying to figure out who he is myself!"
Sonal returned to Jay, his eyes wide with an impossible suspicion. "Was that him?"
Jay, equally doubtful, shook his head. "It's been seven years since we saw him—since the day he resigned. We have absolutely no clue where he is."
But the name, Ayra, was enough. A flicker of hope ignited. They agreed instantly: they had to find him. Sonal inquired about the show's location, and plans for a journey began forming immediately.
The Legend of Aryan
Sonal's wife, overhearing their excited fervor, asked the fundamental question: "Why are you both so intent on finding this person?"
"It's Aryan, we think," Jay replied, his voice brimming with pride. He took his daughter onto his lap. "Our best friend. And once, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Techinnov Group—the very company we work for today."
Jay's daughter, captivated, asked, "Then why did he resign, Dad?"
Jay smiled, pulling her close. "No one knows the real reason, sweetheart! Aryan always made surprising decisions that led to spectacular results. From the day he was appointed CTO, until the day he resigned, he took this company to a level where we could compete with the biggest players in the market. His ideas and plans were always shocking, just like his results."
Jay continued, recounting the timeline: "He joined Techinnov after resigning from his previous job, leading this startup to great heights. Remember that accident, Sonal, when we went to see you?"
Sonal nodded grimly. "That was when he was still the Project Director and a board member. We only found out after he spoke to Ayra in the hospital that he had traveled to Mumbai for corporate work besides seeing me."
The friends recounted the entire timeline of their accident, followed by Aryan's discharge.
"The very next year, he was appointed CTO and led the company. The growth graph never dipped for two years. He had a successful career and a happy marriage. Ayra was amazing—she loved him, cared for him, and they were like one soul in two bodies. No personal or professional disappointments."
The Unbelievable Resignation
Jay then recounted the fateful day of the resignation:
"One day, he called for an official meeting. He looked straight at us and said: 'Despite being at such a high point in my career, Ayra is worrying that she is gradually losing time with me. True love demands time. And despite our profound love, we lack the time to express ourselves and truly care for one another. Nothing else can make her happy—no gift, no money, no jewel.' "
Aryan's voice, even in Jay's memory, was compelling: "What finds me important is the love of my soulmate. I am now leading you and this company, and I am now before many of you, delivering some speech. There is great respect surrounded me here. But remember years back I was sitting in one of those chairs, listening to the speaker here and clapping my hands. What made me a speaker here and surrounded with such great respect is her love. The love of my soulmate Ayra! So I have decided: I am Resigning as the CTO of the Techinnov.'"
He signed his resignation papers, walked out, and never looked back.
"We thought he just needed a break," Sonal finished. "But when we went to see them, their contacts were gone. It's been seven years. That man on the screen, mentioning Ayra... that has to be him."
"So, Dad, Aunt Ayra really is the reason behind Uncle Aryan's resignation?" Jay's daughter asked again.
Sonal shook his head, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. "No. I don't believe that's the full story. He loved her fiercely, but he balanced every segment of his life flawlessly. Ayra would never accept Aryan sacrificing his pillar for her unless there was a much stronger, unrevealed reason."
Inspired by the legend of their friend, both families agreed to join the search.
"Where do we even begin?" Jay asked.
"The host of that show," Sonal said, already reaching for his keys. "Move quickly. I'll get the car ready; you guys hurry up!"