THE SKY OUTSIDE was sunny when she first walked out the airport. The air smelled salty from the beginning of summer. It had been four years and yet the city felt the same. A smile was brought on her face when she saw her three best friends standing outside with posters, flowers and gifts in their hands. Julie, Paris and Sydney were the only people she stayed in touch with from her city life.

She lunged to hug each one of them. "The regular video calls weren't nearly enough!" They circled together and gave a long hug "I missed you all so much."

"We missed you too," Sydney said as they broke the hug. "How are you, babe?"

She licked her lips and looked at each one of them. She opened her mouth to speak but her eyes caught three men watching the women reunite. She had heard their stories on the call but her best friends truly had found fine young men.

After she moved back to India, she didn't know how life was going to be. She was moving in with her mother whom she had no memories with and her father who was never present. She was going to be in a land of total strangers–she might look like them but that's about it. She didn't have any savings. She didn't have any friends there. The first few months were absolutely hell–she spent most of her time taking care of her mother and visiting the hospital. Her father switched turns with her on days she scored a freelance job. And eventually, it got easier.

But her heart was heavy all the time. A part of her heart was missing.

She learnt to ignore it.

The ache was always there, always.

"I have been better but I am back now and ready to restart my life here." She took a deep breath and turned to Julie. "I am sorry I have to crash at your and Neel's place. I promise I will be out the moment I find a cheap apartment."

"Oh, shut up. You can stay as long as you want. I will kick Neel but never you."

"Sorry I can't stay any longer—" Sydney said. "But I should get going. I have a meeting with my agent. I'll see you tonight for dinner, okay?"

"Yeah, I should go too. I have to pick up Rain from her swimming lessons. I will see you later. Bye!" They blew her a kiss and left her alone with Julie.

Laavanya turned to Julie and gave her a sigh. "It wasn't easy." She gulped the lump in her throat, tears staining her eyes. "It wasn't easy at all." Julie started to cry too. They hugged each other again.

"Hey, hey—" Julie rubbed her back. "But you survived."

"At what cost?" She croaked. They cried in each other's arms for several minutes. She had cried alone for the past four years. Finally, she was with someone who knew everything she had been through. Julie was her only friend who knew her body and soul. After another few silent moments, Laavanya broke the hug and sniffed. "I want to visit that cafe from across the street that I went to. I miss the chocolate muffin from there. I'll find my way back to your new apartment. Send me the location, okay?"

"Okay. I am so happy to have you back."

"Me too."Laavanya loaded her luggage in Neel's car and found a cab. She looked around as she travelled in the car. The city was more or less the same. And so was her old neighbourhood. She got down from the cab and looked at the cafe from across the street. It was comparatively crowded for a Saturday morning. She stepped forward to cross the street but as soon as her feet hit the street, her ankle twisted and she stumbled in front. A loud honk reverberated in her ears. She turned her head towards her right and froze when the car sped towards her.

A force pulled her back.

"Breathe," a whisper came in her ear. Her panic intensified. "Laav, breathe," he said in a soft voice. His hand was rubbing her arm. Her back was resting against his chest and she could feel the breath on her neck. "It's okay. You are okay." She took a deep breath and brought herself back to reality.

She pushed herself from him and turned to look at him. A shiver ran down her spine when their eyes met. Her breath caught in lungs when Ryker offered her a small, unexpected smile. He was wearing a suit, his hair had slightly grown but his eyes still gleamed. Yet something felt missing in them.

"Hi," she finally said.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Uh...do you want to talk inside? Get something to drink?"

"No, I should go. I have a meeting—" He paused. "Um, nevermind. Sure. Let's go in."

They crossed the street and went into the cafe. They ordered their drinks and looked back at each other. Neither of them knew what to say. How do you say anything to someone whom you never expected to see again? How do you lay your four years without telling them that the only thing you thought of was them? How do you tell them that you never loved anyone again?

It's easy.

You don't.

"How is your mother?" He asked, finally.

"She passed away last year. We, um. We knew it was coming."

"Oh, I am sorry about that." He bit his lips. "You could've called. I know it mustn't have been easy."

Her heart dropped at his question. She didn't expect him to ask her anything. She wasn't even sure why he agreed to have a coffee right now. She had broken his heart. She shouldn't be with him right now. She had agreed to let him go but had she?

A breath left her mouth. "I was scared."

"Of what?"

"That you still loved me."

There, she said it.

In a soft whisper, he said, "I do." He closed his eyes and sunk his hands in his pocket. He pulled out a box and placed it between them. He blew a breath out and opened it. Within the small box stood a delicate sapphire ring. "I have been carrying this for four years."

She took the box with water pooled eyes. "You had this the entire time?"

"I waited for you. I will always wait for you." He licked his lips and looked into her eyes. "There is no one else for me."

Her lips quivered. "Four years is a long time," she murmured. "We have a lot to catch up on."

"There is a 'we'?"

His eyes found something again.

The return of love.

"I think there will always be a we."