"'Unknown number,' baby," Ankush said to Rohini.
"Okay… just receive it. Who is it?" she asked.
So Ankush picked up the call.
I don't know why, but the moment he answered, my heartbeat shot up for no reason I could understand.
Rohini leaned closer and said, "Put it on speaker."
Ankush nodded and switched it on.
"Hello? Hello, Ankush?"
The moment I heard that voice, my heart stopped—then started racing all over again.
A voice I had been secretly longing to hear.
Nineteen years.
It had been nineteen long years.
Then the voice continued,
"Hey Ankush! I've reached… but I can't find the villa. Can you come pick me up? I'll send you my location."
And this actually my new number...
It was… Subho.
I froze.
I'm still shaken.
This feeling… it's so strange, so overwhelming—
I don't even have the right words to explain it.I heard him after nineteen years.
That voice…
the one I pretended I didn't know anymore.
Rohini and Shakshi kept glancing at me, worried.
Of course they were — they knew Subho would be here soon.
They knew what he used to be for me... And still
"Ankush," Rohini said softly, "acha, main usko lene jaa rahi hu. Baby, bye!"
Priyanu laughed, "Arey bhai, wait I'll come too."
"Okay then, bye. We'll be right back," both of them said before leaving.
And just like that, I was alone with the truth I'd been avoiding.
Moment by moment, my entire world felt as if it was cracking open.
I would see him again.
After nineteen years.
How am I supposed to look at him?
What do I say?
What does he think of me now?
A part of me wanted to run.
Another part whispered that it was too late.
But phir bhi… I kept it all inside me.
But inside, I was collapsing.
For Rohini's sake, I had to pretend I was fine.
If I didn't, she would worry too much.
So I smiled… or at least tried to.
But she knew.
They both knew.
The pain behind that fake smile was loud enough for anyone who loved me.
"Yeh kyun aagaya…" Rohini muttered under her breath, staring at my face.
"Yaar, now look at you. Look at your face!" she said, half-worried, half-annoyed.
I forced a laugh. "Arey behen, it's okay. Uska bestfriend hai yaar. Woh nahin aayega toh kaun aayega?"
My voice sounded casual…
but my heartbeat wasn't.