Monday, 7:03 a.m.
The Lotus Academy drop-off line glittered with Audis and Mercs, but the Bentley still turned heads.
Rajesh carried Priya to the **Butterfly Gate**, kissed her twice (once on each cheek), and handed her lunchbox to the class teacher, Ms. Ritu.
Inside: aloo paratha shaped like butterflies, curd in a steel lotus, and a single starfruit slice that would stay fresh till lunch.
Priya waved from the doorway. "Papa, pick me at three! I'll show you my new painting!"
Little Sheru, in his sling-bag, gave a solemn paw-wave.
Rajesh watched until the gate closed, then drove home through Gurgaon's morning haze.
The villa felt strangely quiet (no giggles, no tiny feet pattering).
He brewed filter coffee, sat on the terrace, and opened his phone.
**Missed Call (7)**
**Anjali Rao**
**Mumbai, 6:45 a.m.**
His stomach tightened.
Anjali never called before 9.
He hit callback.
She picked up on the first ring.
"Rajesh?" Her voice was hoarse, like she'd been crying.
"Mumbai's flooded. Shoot got cancelled. I'm coming to Delhi. Today."
A pause. "I want to see Priya."
Rajesh's grip on the cup stilled the coffee mid-swirl.
"Of course. When do you land?"
"IndiGo 6E-2114. 12:15 p.m. I'll take a cab straight to—"
"Send me the flight. I'll pick you up."
Another pause. "You don't have to—"
"Anjali. She's our daughter."
Click. Call ended.
He stared at the Yamuna.
Ten thousand years of war, and nothing scared him like the thought of Anjali walking into the villa (into *his* new world).
---
### 11:45 a.m. – Indira Gandhi International Airport, T3
Rajesh waited at Arrivals, leaning against the Bentley in a simple white kurta.
No driver. No guards. Just him, a bouquet of pink lotuses, and a cardboard sign: **"Mummy"** in Priya's wobbly crayon.
Anjali emerged at 12:22.
No makeup, hair in a messy bun, oversized sunglasses hiding red eyes.
She wore a faded denim jacket over a saree (the same one from their college fest).
She looked exhausted. And beautiful.
Rajesh's heart did a traitorous flip.
He raised the sign.
She saw it, froze, then laughed (wet, broken, real).
"Priya drew that?"
"Supervised every stroke."
She reached him, took the lotuses, inhaled.
"You remembered."
"Pink lotuses. Your first film's title."
She looked up. "You watched it?"
"Every screening. Front row. Fake beard."
Her smile faltered. "Rajesh, I—"
A tiny voice cut through the crowd.
"MUMMY!"
Priya (how?!).
Rajesh turned.
There she was, sprinting on stubby legs, schoolbag bouncing, Ms. Ritu panting behind.
Little Sheru had *teleported* them both (Rajesh felt the ripple of divine energy).
Priya launched into Anjali's arms.
Anjali dropped to her knees, lotuses scattering, hugging Priya so tight the child squeaked.
"Mummy, you're early! I made you a butterfly crown!"
Ms. Ritu arrived, breathless. "She insisted. Said Mummy was sad. I… couldn't say no."
Rajesh slipped her a thank-you note and a tiny gold lotus pendant.
She left, blushing.
---
### 1:30 p.m. – The Drive Home
Anjali sat in the back with Priya, listening to nonstop school stories.
Rajesh drove, stealing glances in the mirror.
Anjali's hand kept brushing Priya's hair, as if checking she was real.
"Rajesh," she said quietly, "this car. This… everything. Where?"
"Long story."
"I have time."
He met her eyes in the mirror.
"After you land, I'll tell you. All of it."
---
### 2:15 p.m. – Yamuna Riverside Villa
The gates opened.
Anjali stepped out, mouth open.
The lotus fountain, the banyan, the swing.
Priya dragged her by the hand. "Mummy, come see my room! It has stars on the ceiling!"
Rajesh carried the luggage (one duffel, soaked from Mumbai rain).
Inside, the villa smelled of rajnigandha and fresh dosas.
The smart system greeted:
"Welcome, Ms. Rao. Temperature set to 23 °C. Would you like rose milk?"
Anjali laughed, incredulous. "The house knows me?"
Priya tugged her upstairs.
Rajesh followed, heart pounding.
---
### 3:00 p.m. – The Terrace
Priya napped between them on the daybed, Little Sheru curled at her feet.
Anjali stared at the Yamuna.
"Start talking, Rajesh."
He told her.
Not the cosmic version (no star realms, no reincarnation mirrors).
The human one:
"I was gone for four hours that day. Lightning. Woke up somewhere else.
Fought. Climbed. Became someone I didn't recognize.
All to come back before her third birthday.
I made it. With seconds to spare."
Anjali's eyes filled. "You're saying you… time-traveled?"
"I'm saying I paid a price. And I'd pay it again."
She looked at Priya's sleeping face.
"You built all this for her?"
"For us. If you'll let me."
Silence.
Then Anjali reached out, fingers brushing his.
"I left Mumbai, Rajesh. The shoot, the contract, everything.
I'm done running."
Rajesh's voice cracked. "Stay. Please."
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"First, I want to see Priya's butterfly crown.
Then we talk about *us*."
From the garden, the lotus fountain sang.
Little Sheru sneezed a spark.
It floated up, shaped into a tiny heart, and dissolved into the sunlight.
Rajesh closed his eyes.
Day 14.
No wars.
Just a family, learning how to come home.