Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter - 42

Rahul felt a lump rise in his throat. "Does she know you're going without her?" he finally asked, his voice hoarse.

Ayan shook his head, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips. "Not yet. We'll tell her when the time comes. She'll be angry, obviously. Maybe even furious. But we know her well enough to understand that... deep down, she'll understand."

Arya leaned in slightly, her gaze steady but filled with unspoken affection. "And if she doesn't realize it right away, that's okay. Because sometimes, the hardest thing isn't choosing between two lives. It's learning how to live without regrets."

Rahul pressed his lips together, struggling to find words. The children were right in ways he hadn't allowed himself to admit. Keeping Meera back wasn't just about his fear—it was about her needing to figure out where she belonged. He couldn't control that for her, no matter how badly he wanted to.

Rohit let out a long breath, breaking the heavy silence. "Damn... You three are wiser than half the adults I know."

Hardik chuckled softly. "Speak for yourself, Rohit."

Even Virat's tense expression softened as he gave Ayan a brief, approving nod. "You're doing the right thing. It's not easy, but you are."

Anushka, with a thoughtful look, added, "Love is letting people make their own choices, even if it scares you." She glanced meaningfully at Rahul, her words carrying a deeper weight.

Rahul dropped his gaze to the floor, gripping the armrest of the couch as if grounding himself. His heart wanted to scream at him to hold onto Meera, but his mind—his logical, reasonable mind—whispered that it was time to let her choose.

Ayan, Arya, and Arjun exchanged another look. "We'll head out tomorrow," Ayan said quietly. "Before she has a chance to change her mind. It'll be easier that way."

Rahul felt the air grow heavy around him again. "And if..." He faltered, his voice thin. "If something goes wrong?"

Arjun's smile was small but confident. "We'll come back. We always do."

"And if not," Arya said quietly, "we'll have done what we were meant to do. That's the choice we made."

Rahul's heart clenched painfully, but he nodded, unable to argue with the quiet resolve in their voices. It was the same resolve that had drawn Meera to them in the first place.

Athiya's hand slipped into his, squeezing it gently. "Letting go isn't giving up, Rahul," she whispered. "It's trusting her."

He gave a small, reluctant nod. Trust. That was the crux of it, wasn't it? Trusting that Meera knew what was best for herself. Trusting that love didn't mean control. And trusting that, even if life took them in different directions, they'd always find their way back to each other.

Ayan straightened, giving the room a small nod. "Thank you. For understanding."

Rahul met his gaze, his chest tight. "Just... keep each other safe. Okay?"

Arya grinned. "That's the plan."

As the conversation shifted into a quieter hum, the door opened again, and Meera stepped in.

"Hey," she said, casually, pushing her hair behind her ear. "What's with all the serious faces?"

The group exchanged hesitant glances. Rohit cleared his throat but said nothing. Hardik's usual smile faltered, and Rahul looked down at the floor, avoiding her gaze entirely.

Meera's brow furrowed. She stepped closer, looking directly at Ayan, Arya, and Arjun. "What's going on?" she asked sharply. "What did I miss?"

Ayan shot a quick glance toward Arya and Arjun, almost as if asking for permission. Then, with a sigh, he decided to dive in. "We... we're going on a mission, Meera."