Heartstring

Chapter 9

6 years later

Amira's POV

I made myself some coffee and was having my breakfast while looking out at the city's view, lost in my thoughts. Suddenly, my mom called my name, startling me. She smiled and said, "Go or else you'll be late."

I smiled back. "Yes, Mummy. Love you." With that, I left the house to go to school. Yes, school. Eleven-year-old me wouldn't have imagined that I would become a teacher, teaching at one of the best schools in Delhi. I enjoy my profession. While driving, I thought to myself that time is the best teacher. It teaches you things you can't possibly think of. I am proud of myself for dealing with all that life threw at me, but I do have one regret in life...

I entered the classroom, and all the students greeted me warmly. I teach at the primary level because I love kids. I believe if children have a safe environment since childhood, they will become good people in the future. Everyone in my class was excited to see me, except for Yaksh. He is the kid in my class who is so moody and never listens to me. I wonder why that is. Today, I decided to talk with him
.
After a brief morning lesson, I approached Yaksh, who was sitting quietly at his desk, staring out the window.
"Hey, Yaksh," I said softly, kneeling beside him. "How are you today?"
He shrugged, not looking at me.
"Do you like the lesson we had today?" I asked, trying to engage him.
He mumbled, "It's okay."
"Is there something bothering you?" I probed gently.
He glanced at me briefly, then looked away. "I just miss my dad. He's always so busy."
I felt a pang of sympathy for the little boy. "I understand. It's hard when someone you love isn't around as much as you want them to be."
He nodded, his eyes welling up with tears. "Yeah, and my mom... she'........" he didn't say anything I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Yaksh, you can always talk to me if you need to. It's okay to feel sad sometimes."
He finally looked at me, his small face serious. "Do you think things will get better?"
"I believe they will," I said reassuringly. "Sometimes, talking about our feelings can help. Would you like to talk to your parents with me?"
He hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Okay."
I smiled warmly. "How about a hug? Hugs can make things a little better too."
To my surprise, Yaksh stood up and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. "Thank you, Miss Amira," he whispered.
I hugged him back, feeling a wave of emotion. "You're welcome, Yaksh."

As the school day ended, I decided to arrange a meeting with Yaksh's parents. I wanted to understand more about his situation and see how we could support him better.
After arranging the meeting, I felt a sense of purpose. Helping children like Yaksh was why I loved teaching. Despite everything, this was a profession where I could make a real difference.

It was afternoon now, and all the kids had left, leaving Yaksh and me waiting for his dad to arrive so I could talk with him. It seemed like Yaksh wasn't moody after all; he just needed someone to talk to. I was smiling at him when I heard Yaksh saying, "He's here." I looked up, expecting to see his father. But the sight that greeted me left me speechless, my heart pounding in my chest. Standing there, in front of me, was Agastya.

I felt like I had seen a ghost, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. It was his face, the same face I used to love seeing, but now it seemed distant, almost unfamiliar.
For a moment, time stood still as I stared at him, unable to comprehend the situation. It felt surreal, as if I had stepped into a parallel universe where past and present collided.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I managed to find my voice. "Is he your son?" I asked, my voice trembling with disbelief.

Agastya ignored my question and asked "what do you want to discuss about him?"
There was a moment of awkward silence between us, and I could feel the tension in the air. "Yaksh has been feeling a bit down lately," I began, trying to break the ice.

Agastya nodded, his gaze distant. "I'll take care of it."
I hesitated, unsure of what to say next. "He's a bright boy. Just needs a little support."

Agastya gave a curt nod. "I'll make sure he gets it."
With that, he turned to Yaksh and said, "Let's go."
Yaksh nodded obediently, and they left without another word. As they walked away, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. It was clear that there was more to their relationship than met the eye, but Agastya seemed determined to keep it hidden. And I couldn't help but wonder why.

The hum of the engine was a comforting background noise as I drove down the winding road towards myhouse. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, painting the landscape in hues of gold and amber. My hands gripped the steering wheel, but my mind was far from the road ahead.
Memories flickered through my mind like an old film reel. It had been years since I had deactivated all her social media accounts, retreating from the digital world to heal. The decision wasn't easy, but it was necessary. I needed time to forget, to move past the heartache that had once consumed her

One day, however, I felt healed enough to get back on social media and I had felt a sudden surge of courage. I had reactivated my  accounts, tentatively scrolling through the endless feed of updates, reconnecting with the world she had left behind. That was when I saw it. The post that had stopped my heart.
A photo of Shanaya Kapoor, radiant and beaming, holding up her left hand adorned with a glittering engagement ring. The caption read: *Engaged @agastyachoudhary*. The name hit me like a punch to the gut.

Agastya. The first person whom I genuinely liked, the man I had hoped to explain herself to, someday. The man who was now someone else's fiancé.
I had stared at the screen, my vision blurring as shock turned into a dull ache. Shanaya and Agastya, together. A part of me had known that she would never get the chance to clear the air, to tell Agastya my  side of the story, but seeing it confirmed had reopened old wounds.

The flashback faded, and I blinked, bringing her focus back to the road. I  passed a park where children were playing, their laughter carried by the breeze.

I gripped the wheel tighter, my thoughts racing. Maybe Yaksh was their son. Maybe Agastya and Shanaya had built a life together, a family.

The pain was still there, a dull throb in my heart, but it was mixed with a sense of closure. I had missed my chance to explain myself , but life had moved on, and so had I.
Agastya had found happiness, and now, it was my turn to do the same.

I took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as I turned into her driveway. The past was behind me, and the future awaited. I was ready to face it, one step at a time.