TOGETHER

CHAPTER FOUR

The walk from Marine Drive to my place felt quieter than usual. Ashutosh was beside me, his hand loosely holding mine as we strolled through the Mumbai streets. The evening breeze carried with it the scent of the sea, but my mind was miles away, caught between the present and the memories of our past.

Three years had changed so much, yet somehow, being here with him felt like no time had passed at all. We talked about everything and nothing, filling the silence with comfortable familiarity.

When we reached my stay, he stopped at the entrance, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I should head back to the hotel," he said, running a hand through his hair, a little unsure. "You've got a big day tomorrow."

I nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of tomorrow's fashion show. "Yeah, I do. But... it was good, you know? Seeing you again."

"It was better than good," he said softly, and before I could respond, he leaned down and kissed my forehead. A simple gesture, yet it sent a warmth spreading through my chest.

"Goodnight, Ahana."

"Goodnight, Ashu," I whispered, watching as he walked away, disappearing into the night.

Once inside, I felt the shift immediately. Tomorrow was fashion week in Mumbai, and I had work to finish, final touch-ups that couldn't wait. My mind switched gears, focusing on the task at hand as I sat down at my desk. There were fabrics to check, sketches to finalize, and models to coordinate. My phone buzzed occasionally with updates from the team, and I lost track of time as I dove deeper into the final preparations.

Despite the stress and excitement, Ashutosh lingered in the back of my mind. I knew he would be there tomorrow, ready to cheer me on like he always had. He'd been my biggest supporter through all of this, encouraging me through the late-night phone calls, when I doubted myself and my designs. And now, he was here, in Mumbai, just a short distance away, ready to be by my side.

The next day arrived in a blur of excitement and nerves. The Mumbai Fashion Week was everything I had dreamed of and more—the lights, the runway, the buzz of anticipation as the audience settled in. I could feel the energy as my collection finally made its debut, each piece a reflection of the passion and hard work I had poured into it over the past few years.

When the show ended, the applause was thunderous. I stood backstage, breathing in the moment, feeling both exhausted and elated. Everything had gone perfectly, and I couldn't wait to see Ashutosh, to celebrate this moment with him like we'd planned.

But just as I was about to head out, I spotted my parents in the audience. My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't expected them to be here—they hadn't mentioned anything about coming to Mumbai. But there they were, smiling proudly at me, standing right in the middle of the crowd.

I rushed to them, my heart filled with happiness at seeing their faces. They had always supported my dreams, and having them here for this moment meant the world to me.

"Maa! Daddy! You didn't tell me you were coming!" I exclaimed, hugging them tightly.

"We wanted to surprise you," maa said, beaming. "And we're so proud of you, Ahana."

My dad nodded in agreement, his arm around my mom. "It was a great show. You've done something incredible."

We chatted for a few minutes before my mom suggested, "Let's go out for dinner to celebrate. Just the three of us, like old times."

I hesitated for a moment, glancing around for Ashutosh. We had plans for dinner, just the two of us, to celebrate after the show. But my parents had flown all the way here, and I couldn't say no to them. I figured Ashutosh would understand.

"I'd love to," I said, trying to ignore the pang of guilt in my chest.

We left the venue, and as we drove away, I couldn't help but wonder if Ashutosh was waiting for me somewhere, expecting me to show up. I wanted to send him a text, to explain, but I didn't. I kept telling myself he would understand. After all, we'd been through so much. He knew how much my family meant to me.

But deep down, something felt off. Something I couldn't quite shake as the night went on.