Friendship is love and love can have second chance

### Chapter 20: The Reunion

Neil stood at the edge of the sprawling Rajvansh estate, the memories flooding back like the gentle waves of the nearby river. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the lush gardens that had once been his playground. It had been six long months since the accident, six months filled with guilt, worry, and an overwhelming sense of loss. Yet today, there was a flicker of hope in his heart as he contemplated returning to the house where he had grown up, where laughter echoed in every corner.

He glanced at the clock, each tick amplifying his anxiety. **"What if she hates me?"** he thought, biting his lip. Aarohi, his chipkali, the one person who had always understood him, even when he was at his worst. Their playful banter—**Chamgadhar and Chipkali**—had been a source of joy, and now it felt like a distant dream. How would she react after all that had happened? Would she even want to see him?

As he turned to leave the Rajvansh house, he noticed Abhinav's parents sitting quietly in the living room, their eyes brimming with tears. They had been his anchor during this stormy period, reminding him that life continued even in the face of despair. He approached them, kneeling down to take their hands in his.

"Maamaa, please, please don't cry," Neil urged, his voice thick with emotion. "Abhinav will come back to us. I promise." The ache in his chest felt heavier as he saw the pain etched on their faces. **"What will he think when he finds out you've been crying? He needs to know we're strong for him."**

His words hung in the air, a fragile thread of hope woven into their shared sorrow. He watched as they nodded slowly, trying to muster a smile that didn't quite reach their eyes. In that moment, Neil felt a surge of determination. He couldn't change the past, but he could try to mend what was broken.

With a final look back at Abhinav's parents, he made his way to the door, his heart racing. The thought of Aarohi filled his mind; her laughter, her teasing, and the moments they had shared. The house felt emptier without her presence.

As he drove towards the familiar path leading to his childhood home, memories flooded back—Aarohi's bright smile, their adventures in the woods, and the secrets they had shared. He could almost hear her voice calling out to him, **"Chamgadhar!"** He smiled despite his nerves, imagining her reaction when she saw him.

Arriving at the house, he took a deep breath, the air thick with nostalgia. Each step towards the front door felt monumental. He hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him. Would she even want to see him? What if she had moved on? Gathering his courage, he knocked softly.

The door creaked open, and there she stood—Aarohi, looking both familiar and changed. Her eyes widened in shock, and for a heartbeat, time stood still. Neil's heart raced as he searched her face for a hint of the warmth they once shared.

"Aarohi..." he began, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Neil?" she breathed, disbelief etched on her features. The air crackled with unspoken emotions, a mix of joy and fear swirling around them.

He stepped closer, feeling the weight of the moment. "I'm back," he said, his voice steadier now. "I missed you."

In that instant, everything else faded away—the past, the pain, the uncertainty. All that mattered was the connection they once had, and the hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.

"Arohi, agya hoon may," Neil said softly, his heart aching as he watched her tears flow. "Don't cry, please. I hate tears in your eyes." His voice was filled with concern, but it only seemed to make her cry harder. "I miss you so much," she managed to say between sobs. "What happened? Where were you?"

Neil took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and reassure her. "Jaan, where is everyone?" he asked, glancing around with a furrowed brow. "Ruhi, Abhimanyu Bhai, Mahima Tai ji, Anand Chachu, Nishta, Parth Bhai, Shefali Bhabhi..." He started shouting for them, the urgency in his voice rising as he heard the commotion echoing through the house.