Hello dear readers,

Here's an update that I wanted to give before you start the chapter. For a few chapters ahead, both Aadhira's past and present scenes will be given together in the chapter, to make sure nobody gets confused I will be mentioning the timeline in the chapter too, but just in case, I added it here too!

Please vote and comment.

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Present day

Agnihotri Mansion

A sleek back car pulled up at the gates of the Agnihotri's Mansion.

Imside seated on the drivers seat was Aadhira.

Five years.

Five years since she had entered the very mansion that still stood the way it had when she had left.

It's just a little different now.

It didn't feel like home anymore.

Maybe because it was where her own people had betrayed her.

Had wronged the purest heart of all. Purer than the one that could not be easily found.

Maybe because this place had been the one that held many memories that were now the cause of her unbearable agony.

But isn't this how life worked?

Some things are never meant to be completed.

Not because they weren't important enough.

But because their sole pupose had been to make you a better version of what you are.

A little nicer, a little stronger.

And it had been true for Aadhira too.

It really did make her stronger.

Yet somewhere her heart ached and asked...

What's the point of existing if the one I beat for is no longer with me?

No longer there to hold on to me when I feel like I am not enough?

No longer there when I need them the most?

No longer there when all I want is them to be close to me?

Once again "some questions are better left unanswered," or maybe we should just wait.

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As soon as me car stops in front of the gates of the Agnihotri's Mansion, the gatekeeper, Pawan Kumar, an elderly man I remember ever since I was a child, quickly came beside my car's locked door and tapped on the car's window.

Once.

Twice.

Before another tap followed, I pulled down my blackend windows of my car.

His eyes squinted.

Trying to remember who I was and from where he remembered me.

Surely an old man by now.

After an eye contact that lasted for nearly 5 seconds, his eyes widened.

First first suprise and a moment later, with guilt or something I didn't know how to name.

His eyes started to fill up slowly.

"Baisa"

He said after a moment's hesitation, his voice cracking.

A memory flashed before my eyes as soon as he said that word.

Flashback

A 9 year old Aadhira, standing in the courtyard of the masion, aimimg to throw timy stones at the gates of the mansion that stood tall and proud in front of her.

Aiming. That's what was on her agenda of the day.

Ever since her summer vacation had started this had been her daily routine, picking up some or the other hobby or activity and trying to perect it in as little time as possible.

And today was the day for aiming, to shoot.

And so she practiced.

Amongst the 25 stones she had spent collecting for almost half of the day, she was now left with only five.

Just as she was about to throw that stone, a figure appeared in front of her.

Tall.

Hands placed in his hips.

A tiny bumpy tummy out of the body.

The gatekeeper.

His mustache and hair neatly set in place, not a single one was out of its place.

Aadhira knew she was in trouble now.

"What were you doing Baisa?"   Pawan said looking down at Aadhira who ny now gad thrown those five stones she had on the ground behind her, hoping it wouldn't be visible to Pawan, but they were.

"Don't call me that kaka"  said Aadhira a small frown forming in between her brows.

"Why not??"  asked Pawan. "Everyone calls you that."

"I don't like it, that name"

"But you are the Baisa!! Why should we not call you that??" asked Pawan.

"Because then everyone treats me like I am a grown adult and not a 9 year old!!" Aadhira replied frustrated.

He laughed out loud hearing her complain.

"Haww, you are laughing???" Aadhira said, somehow hurt.

"No, no, Baisa!!!" said Pawan in between laughs.

"Againnnnnn" said Aadhira, now convinced that this man was not understanding her huge problem.

"Maafi." Pawan said, holding his ears, and continued "But you are the baisa of Jaipur right?? And you too will grow up someday"

"So why not get used to that?? I'll make sure you get so used to hearing this word that it won't feel weird anymore" he continued.

"Pakka??"

"Ji Baisa" replied Pawan with a content smile on his face.

"No get back inside before your Maa Sa comes out yelling at you for being in the sun for so long." 

"Hehe you are a smart man. Good job kaka"  said Aadhira patting Pawan's legs and went runnibg inside the house.

Flashback ends...

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Present day continued...

Aadhira's POV continued

"Namaste"  I said to him, folding my hands.

"Baisa yo-you are back" replied kaka, still processing the fact that I was here, right in front of him after so long.

"For a few day, yes I am" I said.

He was thinner than what I remember, hair turned white with the passage of time.

Wrinkles were visble on his face, eyes tired from working h=long hoursa at duty.

So much has changed, everyone, everything.

"I still can't believe you are here, my son, Virendra, he's in college now, always says he'll become like you, strong, independent, rich. Humesha kehte rehta hai didi jaia banunga. Aapki bhut yaad aati thi Baisa, mujhe, aur ghar par sabko bhi" he said all in one breath as if he had been waiting for a long time to say these words to me.

(He always says he'll become like his didi someday. I missed you a lot, Baisa, and so did everyone at home) 

"Kaka aap bhi bhut yaad aaye mujhe prr main uss samay aa nhi skti thi, koi baat nhi, yahan ka kaam khtm kar lun tab aapke ghar chalungi" a big smiled appeared on his face listening this.

(Uncle, I missed you a lot too, but couldn't come at that time. It's okay, I'll finish my work here and then I'll go to your house)

I continued "Aur haa meri party yaad hai na?? jo aapne kitne time pehle dena ka wada kiya tha?? Ab toh kaki ke haath ka khana kha kar hi jaungi, aur aapke Virendra se bhi milungi, kitna bada hogya hoga, college bhi jaata hai ab toh"

(And yes, do you remember my party? The one you promised to throw a long time ago? Now I'll go only after eating food cooked by autn. and I'll also meet you Virendra, he must be so older now, he's even going to college now!)

"Ji baisa"

"Kaka" I said

"Ji??"

"Abb mujhe andar jaane denge"

(Now can I go inside?)

He immediately blinked two times, as if realising my car was was still waiting outside the mansion's gate and the gates were still closed.

"Maafi Baisa, main abhi gate khulwata hun"

(Sorry Baisa, I'll get the doors opened)

Saying this he went off to order the two guards waiting for hi orders to open the the gates.

The heav iron door swung open a moment later and I drove straight.

Time to face what I left behind.

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Hello dear readers, hope you'll are doing well.

Do tell me how the chapter was.

Hope you all are doing well ^_^

Thank you for reading!!