44

As they made their way back home, Mithran held Chaahat's hand tightly, reminding her that no matter what the future held, they had each other, and that was enough to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The moment was broken by the shrill ringing of Mithran’s cell phone.

He looked at the caller ID and found an unknown number on the screen.

He picked up the call and heard a familiar voice from the other side.

“Dhruv Khuranna?” Mithran asked and Chaahat felt her entire body freezing at that moment.

Mithran's expression shifted from surprise to a mix of emotions – surprise, disbelief, and a touch of apprehension. Chaahat's heart raced, and she held her breath.

Mithran was quite surprised by this call. Dhruv was his childhood friend. Dhruv’s father and his father were best friends. After Dhruv’s father’s demise, they shifted to Dhruv’s maternal family and eventually they lost contact. Recently, they met at a cafe and exchanged pleasantaries.