11

Aryan's POV

It's been a year.

Since she walked away. Since my Inaya left me.

I still remember that night, the way she stood in front of me, her eyes filled with pain, anger, and something else, something I couldn't understand back then. Maybe I still don't. She told me she was leaving, that she would never come back. That she would never see me again.

And you know what I did? Nothing.

For a brief moment, a part of me screamed to stop her. To hold her back. To tell her that she couldn't just walk away like that. But then another part of me, whispered, Who are you to stop her?

So, I let her go.

She said she would go far away, and I just stood there, watching her leave.

I could have found her by now. If I wanted, I could have turned everything upside down. But I didn't. I didn't try to reach out to her. I didn't call. I didn't chase after her.

Because she wanted freedom. And I gave it to her.

But what do I do with myself now?

It's been a year, and this Aryan Raizada this man who once thought he had everything, has never felt emptier. I go through my days pretending like I'm fine, like nothing has changed, but the truth is, everything has changed.

People say time heals all wounds, but they don't tell you what to do when time only makes the pain worse. When every second, every minute, every day is just another reminder of what you lost.

She left.

And I let her.

But maybe... just maybe... I was the one who truly got lost.

Does she miss me?

Or am I the only one stuck in the past?

I try to remember the last thing she said before she walked away.

"You'll never see me again."

She meant it. She really meant it. And the most painful part? She was right.

She disappeared as if she never existed.

But she did. She existed in every part of me. She still does.

I keep telling myself I let her go because I wanted her to be free. Because I wanted her to be happy, even if it meant without me. But deep down, I know that's not the whole truth.

Maybe I was scared.

Scared of what I'd do if I found her. Scared of the possibility that she might have moved on.

And if she is... what right do I have to ruin it?

Because I know... if she wanted to be found, she wouldn't have left me in the first place.

And that's the thing about love.it's not about holding on, it's about knowing when to let go.

I let her go.

But god... it still hurts like hell.

■

Inaya's POV

It's been a year.

It's nearly been a year since I left everything behind. Since I left him behind. Since I walked away from the only man I ever loved.

And now, I am here. In a place so far that sometimes I forget who I was before. There's no cricket here.

Because I left that life behind.

Not for myself. But for the life inside me.

The moment I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to go. Not because I didn't want Aryan to know. Not because I didn't want him in my life. But because I knew, the Mafia King Aryan Raizada didn't deserve to know this.

I couldn't take that risk.

I couldn't let my baby be born into a world where power and violence decided fate. I couldn't let my child grow up surrounded by threats, enemies, and bloodshed.

So, I ran.

I walked away from everything I knew, from everything I loved. From him.

And now, I am here, in the last month of my pregnancy, alone.

If it weren't for my friend, I don't know how I would have survived. She gave me a place to stay,. But at the end of the day, when the house is quiet, and I place my hands over my swollen belly, I know the truth.

I have no one.

Only this baby.

This baby is my family now. The only piece of me that belongs to me. The only piece of us that remains.

I quit cricket. I told my team I would never play again. Because the only thing that matters is the life growing inside me.

And yet...

Even after all this time, after all these months, after all the tears and sleepless nights, one question haunts me.

Why didn't Aryan find me?

I know he can. I know what kind of man he is. Aryan Raizada can track down anyone, anywhere. If he wanted, he could have torn everything apart to find me. But he didn't.

Why didn't he try?

Why didn't he come after me?

Why didn't he stop me that night when I told him I would leave forever?

A part of me aches with the thought that maybe he let me go because he didn't care enough. Maybe he moved on.

But my heart refuses to believe that.

Because I know him.

And I know, no matter how much time passes, he still loves me. Just like I still love him.

But love isn't enough.

Not when it comes with a price. Not when it could cost my baby everything.

And yet, even as I say it, I can't stop the tears from falling. Because deep inside, buried beneath all the reasons I left, all the fear, and all the sacrifices, there is a truth I can never escape.

I miss him.

God, I miss him so much.

I close my eyes, letting the tears flow freely now. I tell myself that this is what I chose. That I made this decision, and I have to live with it. That my baby, our baby, deserves a life away from the bloodshed, away from the violence, away from the danger that follows Aryan wherever he goes.

But no matter how much I try to convince myself...

I still love him.

I still want him.

And no matter how much I try to hide, no matter how far I run...

A part of me still wishes he would find me.

■

Author's POV

The evening was quiet, just like every other day in the small town where Inaya had been living for the past several months. Inaya was folding baby clothes, carefully placing them into the tiny wooden crib she had set up beside her bed.

She smiled softly, running her fingers over the soft fabric. Just a few more weeks, and she would finally meet her baby. Her little one. The only family she had now.

She had done everything to prepare for this moment. Bought all the essentials, read all the books, and told herself a hundred times that she could do this alone. That she was strong enough to raise this child without Aryan. That she had made the right choice by leaving.

Would she really be able to do this?

Would she really be enough?

Before she could think any further, a sharp pain tore through her abdomen.

She gasped, her hand flying to her belly as she bent over slightly, struggling to steady herself. The pain was intense stronger than anything she had felt before. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she thought maybe she had just moved too suddenly, maybe it was nothing.

But then, another wave of pain crashed over her.

Stronger.

Deeper.

Her heart pounded as panic settled in.

Something was happening.

Something wasn't right.

With shaky hands, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table and dialed her friend's number. The ringing felt like it lasted forever before her friend finally picked up.

"Inaya? What happened?"

"I... I think it's time," Inaya whispered, her voice trembling. "The baby... I think the baby is coming."

There was a pause on the other end before her friend responded. "I'm coming right now. Just hold on!"

Inaya barely managed to nod before another sharp contraction hit her. She clutched her stomach, tears pricking her eyes.

Within minutes, her friend arrived, rushing into the room and immediately wrapping an arm around her.

"Come on, we need to get you to the hospital!"

Inaya could only nod as she leaned on her for support, barely able to walk as another wave of pain tore through her body.

She could hear her friend telling her to breathe, to stay calm, but the pain was consuming everything.

As soon as they reached the hospital, nurses rushed toward her, helping her onto a wheelchair.

"She's in labor!" her friend shouted. "She needs a doctor now!"

"Take deep breaths, Inaya!" her friend's voice cut through the chaos. "You can do this!"

Could she?

Could she really do this?

Tears slipped down her face as she was taken into the delivery room.

She had dreamed of this moment for months.

But not like this.

Not alone.

Not without him.

As another contraction hit, she bit down on her lip to keep herself from screaming, her mind spinning with only one thought.

"Aryan should have been here."

■

Author's POV

Tears streamed down her face as she gasped for breath, her body screaming in pain. She had never felt anything like this before. It was as if every part of her was breaking apart, as if she had nothing left to give.

She wanted to stop.

She wanted to give up.

But then she saw him.

Through the haze of pain and exhaustion, she saw Aryan.

Standing right beside her.

His eyes were locked onto hers, filled with an emotion so raw, so overwhelming, that it stole her breath away.

"Inaya," his voice was soft, filled with a tenderness she hadn't heard in so long. "You're doing so well, love. Just a little more."

Her heart clenched.

It wasn't real.

She knew it wasn't real.

Aryan wasn't really here.

But it felt real.

And in that moment, she allowed herself to believe.

She allowed herself to believe that he was right there, beside her, just like he should have been.

"Just a little more, princess," she imagined him saying. "You're strong, Inaya. You can do this. You're not alone."

A sob escaped her lips as she gripped the bed tighter.

"One last push, Inaya! You're almost there!"

She took a deep breath.

She wasn't alone.

Aryan was here.

Maybe not in reality. Maybe just in her mind. But he was here.

And with that thought, she pushed with everything she had left.

A cry filled the room.

A small, tiny, beautiful cry.

Her baby's cry.

The sound shattered something deep inside her, breaking through all the pain, all the loneliness, all the fear.

She let out a sob of relief, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. The weight of exhaustion threatened to pull her under, but nothing else mattered now.

She had done it.

Their baby was here.

Tears streamed down her face as the nurse carefully placed the tiny, wriggling bundle in her arms. Inaya looked down at the little face, her heart swelling with a love so intense it nearly broke her.

The baby was small, delicate, with soft, dark hair and tiny fingers curled into fists.

A part of Aryan.

A part of her.

She kissed the baby's forehead, whispering through her tears, "You're safe now, my love. Mama's here."

And for the first time in a long time, Inaya felt whole.

Even if Aryan wasn't here to see it.

She looked down at her newborn son, her hands trembling as she cradled his tiny body. He was so small, so fragile, yet the moment she saw him, it felt like her entire world shifted. His soft features, the curve of his lips, even the way his little fingers curled it was all so familiar.

Because he looked exactly like Aryan.

With a shaky breath, she pulled him close to her chest, holding him as tightly as she could without hurting him. "You're all I have now," she whispered, her voice breaking. "And I promise... I'll never let you feel alone."

Her tears fell onto his soft skin, but he didn't cry. Instead, he nuzzled against her warmth, his tiny heartbeat steady against hers, as if reassuring her that no matter what had happened, no matter who was gone, she wasn't alone either.

The nurse walked into the room with a soft smile, her voice gentle as she spoke. "You need to rest, dear. We'll put him in the nursery, right beside your room. You can see him anytime."

Inaya's grip on her baby tightened instinctively. She wasn't ready to let go. Not yet. He was so warm in her arms, his tiny chest rising and falling with every breath. He looked just like Aryan. Every little feature, every soft curl of hair everything about him was a reminder of the man she had lost.

Tears welled up in her eyes again. She had already lost Aryan. How could she bear to part with their son, even if just for a little while? The thought of handing him over, of not having him in her arms, sent a wave of panic through her.

The nurse noticed her hesitation and stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He'll be right next to you, Inaya. You need to take care of yourself too."

Inaya looked down at her baby. His tiny fingers twitched in sleep, his lips slightly parted. He looked so peaceful, so safe. Maybe the nurse was right. She was exhausted her body felt weak, her eyelids heavy. But the emptiness she would feel without him scared her.

For a long moment, she couldn't move. She just sat there, holding him close, trying to memorize the way he felt in her arms. Then, with a shaky breath, she slowly loosened her grip.

Her arms trembled as she handed him over. The moment he left her embrace, a deep ache settled in her chest. The nurse cradled him carefully, adjusting the blanket around his tiny body. "You can see him anytime," she promised again.

Inaya nodded, but the tears kept falling. She watched as the nurse walked toward the door, carrying her baby away.

She lay back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling, her arms now empty. A fresh wave of loneliness crashed over her. She had been holding onto him like he was the last piece of Aryan she had left. And now, just for a little while, even that was gone.

■

Inaya slowly opened her eyes, her body still weak from exhaustion. For a moment, she lay still, trying to shake off the heaviness in her chest. But then she remembered her baby.

She pushed the blanket off her and sat up, a strange sense of urgency washing over her. Without wasting another second, she got out of bed and walked toward the nursery.

But the moment she stepped inside, her heart stopped.

The crib was empty.

Her breath caught in her throat as she hurried forward, her hands trembling as she touched the soft sheets where he was supposed to be. But there was nothing. No baby. No sign that he had even been there.

Panic surged through her as she turned to the nurses nearby. "Where is my baby?" Her voice was shaky, desperate.

The nurses exchanged confused glances before one of them spoke. "Your baby? He should be right here."

"He's not," Inaya said, her heartbeat thudding loudly in her ears. "He's gone! Where is he?"

The nurse frowned, checking the records on her clipboard before looking around. "I... I don't know. He was here a while ago. Let me check with the staff."

Inaya didn't wait. She turned on her heel, searching the entire nursery, her hands pulling back every curtain, checking every crib. But her baby was nowhere to be found.

A sick feeling twisted in her stomach as she rushed back to the nurse. "Find him! Now!" she demanded, her voice breaking.

"We're looking, ma'am," the nurse said, but the uncertainty in her voice made Inaya's blood run cold.

She couldn't breathe. Her mind was spinning.

And then, without thinking, she reached for her phone. Her fingers shook as she dialed the number she swore she'd never call again.

Aryan.

Her hands clenched the phone tightly as it rang. Once. Twice. Then, after just a few rings

"Inaya?" His deep voice filled the silence.

Her heart clenched, her breath unsteady. Tears burned her eyes as she whispered, "Where is my baby?"

There was silence on the other end of the call. Aryan frowned, confused. "What? Inaya, what are you talking about?"

"Don't play games with me, Aryan. I know you took him. Bring my baby back!"

Aryan's brows furrowed. "Your baby?" he repeated.

"Our baby, Aryan!" she snapped, her desperation pouring through the phone. "I swear, if you do anything to him, I will never forgive you!"

Before he could say another word, she hung up.

Aryan sat frozen, the phone still pressed to his ear.

Her words echoed in his mind. Our baby.

His chest tightened as realization crashed into him like a storm.

Inaya had his child.

He had a son.

To be continued

So how's today's chapter?

Where do you think the baby is?

Will be back soon with the final chapter

Jaldhi jaldhi comment Karo, then I will update final chapter

Till then, do vote. Comment and let me know your review