Aarav stood frozen.
The noise of the mall faded into nothing.
All he could see… was the boy.
Big, bright eyes. Sharp features. A calm confidence beyond his age.
Something about him felt… familiar.
Too familiar.
"I'm sorry, Uncle," the boy repeated politely, looking up at him.
Aarav's throat went dry.
"It's… fine," he managed to say.
His gaze didn't move.
"What's your name?"
The boy smiled.
"Ayaan."
The name echoed in Aarav's mind.
Ayaan.
"Where are your parents?" Aarav asked softly.
Before the boy could answer—
"Ayaan!"
A voice cut through the air.
Aarav's heart skipped.
He turned slowly.
And there she was.
Ananya.
Six years later.