From Heartbreak To Love

Chapter 39 : The Surprise

Ankita's POV

Today is one of those days I’ll remember forever. I'm getting my MD degree after years of relentless dedication. The path to this moment hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every sleepless night, every long shift, every moment I spent doubting myself. And now, here I am—standing on that stage, feeling a sense of pride that I’ve never felt before.

My parents are here, my in-laws are here, and they’ve all been so supportive. But there’s one person I wish could be standing right beside me, sharing in the joy of this moment. Arjun. I know he’s been apologizing for days, but I can’t help but feel his absence. I wanted him here, by my side, cheering me on. Still, I know how hard he’s been working on a major project. His ambitions, his drive, are things I admire so much, and even though it’s hard not to have him here, I understand.

As my name was announced—Dr. Ankita Kaushik—I walked to the stage, my heart racing, my hands trembling ever so slightly as I gripped my degree. The saree I wore rustled as I moved, the black coat and headcap feeling both ceremonial and important. As I stepped onto the podium to receive my degree, I glanced into the audience. My gaze swept over the sea of faces, but then, for just a moment, I saw him.

Arjun.

He was standing in the crowd, his phone raised, capturing every second, his eyes full of pride and warmth. It felt like everything in the world stopped in that instant. It wasn’t just the camera that captured this moment, but him. His smile said it all. The love, the pride, the support—everything that had carried me to this moment. I couldn’t hold back the tears that stung at my eyes. Even though he wasn’t physically beside me, his presence was here in my heart.

The ceremony ended, and I rushed out of the auditorium, eager to find my family and share my joy with them. And then, as I walked toward the exit, I saw him again. Arjun, waiting with a bouquet of flowers in hand, a proud smile on his face.

“Congratulations, Doctor ,” he said softly, pulling me into a tight hug. I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of him. “Thank you for being here, Arjun. Even if you couldn’t be here for the whole ceremony, your presence means the world to me.”

He pulled back slightly to look at me, his eyes glinting with affection. “There was no way I wasn’t going to be here, Ankita."

I showed him my degree, and he took it in his hands, his expression serious. “You’ve worked so hard for this. I couldn’t be prouder of you,” he said, his voice full of reverence. “And you’ve earned it.”

I beamed at him, my heart fluttering. The others congratulated me, but my eyes never left Arjun. We clicked a few pictures together, and as we got into the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was about to happen.

“Arjun,” I asked curiously, “This isn’t the way to our home. Are we going somewhere for a celebration?”

He turned toward me, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Oh, we’re celebrating all right, but you’ll have to wait for the surprise.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. I was both nervous and excited at the same time. What was he up to?

We drove for what felt like an eternity, but my anticipation only grew. Finally, the car stopped. We got out, and as we walked toward an unfamiliar area, I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.

“Arjun,” I began, “Where are we going? I don’t see any restaurant or venue around here.”

He smiled at me, taking my hand in his. “You’ll see. No peeking, Mrs. Bansal. Close your eyes.”

Before I could protest, he gently cupped my eyes with his hands, guiding me through the path. The world was suddenly dark, and I couldn’t help but smile at how much he loved to surprise me. My heart raced as we walked, and the sound of gates creaking open filled the air.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice full of excitement.

I nodded, my hands trembling with excitement. “I’m ready.”

“Okay, now open your eyes in three, two, one…”

The moment he removed his hands, I opened my eyes, and what I saw made my heart stop.

Before me stood a beautiful, two-story building, surrounded by lush greenery, with a simple yet elegant sign in front. The sign read: Ankita’s Old Age Home.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I looked at Arjun, unable to believe what I was seeing. “Arjun… What is this?”

He smiled softly, taking a step toward me. “Do you remember that conversation with Smriti, before her wedding? She was telling how Nikhil is gifting her a penthouse and when she asked you what your wish was from your future husband, and you said you wanted to build an old age home with him. I never forgot that.”

I stared at him in shock. “You remembered that?”

“Of course,” Arjun replied, his voice tender. “Everything you say, everything you care about—I remember it. I’ve always remembered it. And now, here it is. This is for you, Ankita. For your heart, for your dream.”

I blinked back my tears, struggling to find the right words. But all I could do was step forward, throw my arms around him, and whisper, “Thank you, Arjun. Thank you for making this happen. This is more than I could ever have imagined.”

He kissed the top of my head, his arms tightening around me. “You don’t need to thank me,” he murmured. “This is your dream. I’m just making it real.”

I looked around at the building, taking in the beauty of it. This was more than just a building. It was a place where people would find care and love in their later years. It was a place where I could give back, just as I’d always wanted to. And it was all possible because of Arjun—my best friend, my husband.

I pulled away from him and wiped my tears, looking into his eyes. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever dreamed of, Arjun. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” he replied, his eyes full of love. “This is what love is. This is what we do for the people we love.”

I looked around at our families, who were all beaming with pride, and then at Arjun. It was a perfect moment, a moment where I realized that all of our hard work, all our dreams, were finally coming true. Not just mine, but ours. Together.

“I never imagined this moment, this life, could be so beautiful,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “But with you, Arjun, I know I can have everything I ever wanted. You’ve made my dreams come true.”

He smiled, brushing a lock of hair from my face. “We’ve only just begun, Ankita. This is just the beginning.”

I leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his love surrounding me. I had everything I needed. I had him. And together, we would build a life filled with love, laughter, and more dreams waiting to come true.

And as we stood there, surrounded by our families, the building that now bore my name, I realized one thing: this was just the start of everything. Arjun and I had built something beautiful together, and with him by my side, I knew we could face whatever the future had in store for us.

In that moment, I was certain of one thing—our love story was just beginning. And with every step we took, it would only get more beautiful.

**************************THE END***************************