ch-2

After Ten Years

At the airport, the boy finally breaks the silence.

“Dad… where are we going?”

His father smiles softly and replies,

“Beta, we’re going to meet someone very special.”

Soon, the three of them get into the car. After a long drive, the car stops in front of a massive, grand villa—elegant, royal, and overwhelming in its presence.

They step out of the car.

An elderly lady welcomes them with aarti, her hands steady, her eyes warm with respect. Moments later, a man approaches them with a smile.

“So, you’ve arrived,” he says warmly, then turns to a servant.

“Shift their bags to the rooms.”

He leads them inside and adds,

“You all should rest. Dinner will be sent to your rooms. We’ll meet in the evening.”

The journey has left them exhausted, so they go to their rooms and soon fall asleep.

That evening…

“Babes, hurry up,” the man says while adjusting his watch.

His son looks at him nervously and asks,

“Dad… how do I look?”

His father smiles proudly.

“You’re looking handsome, my son.”

Turning to the lady, he adds,

“Sweety, you’re looking beautiful too. Please hurry.”

Soon, all three of them are ready and make their way to the party venue.

As the boy enters, his eyes freeze.

There—on the wall—is a huge photograph of a girl. Beneath it, written in elegant letters, are the words:

‘May God bless you, Varenya.’

He reads it slowly.

Then again.

“Varenya…”

“Varenya…”

The name echoes in his mind.

Suddenly, everything connects.

It’s her.

The same one.

The baby whose face appeared in his dreams every single night.

The name that had slipped from his lips without thought.

The name he had unknowingly chanted like a mantra all these years.

It’s her.

The girl whose name he had given.

The girl his destiny never let him forget.

And at that moment, without realizing it, his fate quietly stepped back into his life.

Soft golden lights glowed in the hall.

People were talking, laughter echoed in the air.

And then… Varenya entered.

Wearing a pink dress, soft curls framing her face, and an innocent smile—

it felt as if her presence changed the color of the entire room.

In one corner of the crowd, an introverted, shy boy stood still, unable to look away from her.

Suddenly, everyone else blurred.

Voices faded into the background.

Only one thing remained clear—

Her.

His heart was pounding so fast he felt like everyone around could hear it.

Just then, his parents spoke from behind,

“Come on, son… it’s getting late. We still have to pack tonight.”

He snapped back to reality and moved forward with them.

A little ahead, both families came face to face.

Varenya’s mother smiled warmly and said,

“Beta, meet them. They’re leaving tonight.”

Varenya stepped forward and extended her hand,

“Hi… I’m Varenya.”

For a few seconds, the boy simply stared at her.

Words had completely disappeared from his mind.

Slowly, he reached out and held her hand.

The moment their hands touched—

his heartbeat raced again.

So fast that it scared him, afraid the moment might show on his face.

Nervously, he pulled his hand back.

At that very moment, Varenya’s friends called out loudly,

“Varenyaaa! Come here!”

She turned and walked away.

The boy returned to his room with his parents, where open bags lay scattered around.

While packing, a sudden thought struck him—

I should give her something… a small memory.

But he had nothing.

He looked at his mother and asked hesitantly,

“M… mom… do we have something? I want to give her something.”

His mother smiled and took out a small silver pendant from her drawer.

“Give her this… your childhood chain. She’ll remember you.”

His eyes lit up.

Holding the pendant, he rushed back to the hall.

He found her sitting on a couch in the corner—

legs folded, a storybook in her hands,

as if she were lost in a fairytale world.

For a few seconds, he stood at the doorway, just watching her.

Then he gathered courage and spoke softly,

“Hey… Varenya…”

She looked up and smiled.

Shy, he lowered his gaze and said quietly,

“You’re… very beautiful.

Just like the prince in this book.”

He awkwardly pointed toward the book.

Varenya laughed lightly and said,

“Really? Then… will you marry me?”

He froze in shock.

Marriage? Does she even know what it means?

But… what should I say?

After a moment, he replied softly,

“Okay… but… I have to leave now.”

He stepped forward and placed the pendant around her neck—

his hands trembling slightly.

As soon as he finished, he turned and ran away,

because his parents were calling him repeatedly from downstairs.

Varenya held the pendant and watched him leave—

as if a small fairytale had quietly entered her life.

Sitting in the car, the boy looked out of the window and smiled faintly.

I don’t know if you’ll remember me in the future…

I don’t know if you’ll ever love me…

But I will always remember you.

And this promise… the one you unknowingly tied me to.

Seeing him smile, his parents thought,

“He’s happy because we’re going home.”

They had no idea—

he was happy because he had met someone.

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