[Flashback]

Some movie was playing on the television before her, a comedy movie probably because she can hear her brother laughing hysterically beside her. Sweet melody of her mother humming some 90s bollywood song vibrated through the air accompanied by scent of hot meal being cooked in kitchen. The afternoon that day was filled with laziness of month of May as all beings, animals and humans alike, retired to the cool shade of their abodes. Only sound heard was occasional rumbling of vehicles down the main street in front of their home.

Aarushi can sense everything around her but strangely, she was unable to feel any of it. She couldn't feel herself enjoying the contagious happiness of vacations like every time, probably because this once, this vacation was going to last for lifetime.

An abrupt knock on main door jerked her awake. It wasn't exactly a knock though; someone was pounding brashly on the gate. Aarushi wondered if the visitor was trying to break the door as the smashing continued. She signaled her brother to switch off the television as her mother opened the latch closely followed by her father. A group of eight or ten men walked in followed by a couple of women.

'Mr. Raghvendra Sharma?', a man with handlebar moustache enquired in a sharp tone. Her father nodded in compliance sharing inquisitive looks with his wife.

'We are officials from Crime Branch', the man continued. Aarushi saw the color drain from her father's face at man's words. 'I hope we need not explain the reason for our arrival, and I expect your complete cooperation in our proceedings', the man said with same cold and punitive tone.

Cold sweat drenched Aarushi's palm as she deduced the meaning of man's words. These people here were employees of police department, tasked with the job to arrest her father. Her mother too had guessed the impending danger. Aarushi saw her composure stiffening as she signaled Aarushi to take her brother back to room.

'We haven't received any notice sir, it won't be a legitimate for you to arrest me', Raghvendra replied in a leveled voice. 'I have heard that you are well versed with constitutional laws sir. So I believe I needn't explain that money laundering cases do not require a notice period before arresting', the man answered plainly. A resigned look fell on Raghvendra's eyes. 'I see; I'll comply with your proceedings', he said, still managing to maintain the same leveled tone as he followed the officers out of the house.

'Ma'am, you need to accompany us', the man said again; this time directing his words directly at Pramila. 'Sir, I am a government employee, I hope you know that you need to extract judicial and departmental permission before you arrest me. Besides, my children here are underage, and constitutionally they cannot be left without supervision', Pramila replied calmly.

'We aren't arresting you just yet ma'am; that shall be decided by our superior. It's just for inquiry purposes; as for children, they can accompany you to police station', the man said. Pramila nodded before calling Aarushi and Aaditya. 'What's happening mumma?', a panicked Aaditya asked as he got in the backseat of car beside Aarushi. 'Just stay quiet for now, Aadi. It's already messed up a lot here', Pramila said putting the car into gear.

'Sir please read our documents first, if not me, then at least let my wife go. She has legally resigned from her post several years back', Raghvendra pleaded to the deputy superintendent of police.

'Apologies Mr. and Mrs. Sharma, we are arresting you both; as for children they would be legally handed over to their guardian', the officer did not pay a heed to his words as he typed in the confirmation letter. Raghvendra dropped in his seat incongruously. The incident he had feared most had happened. His children had been left orphaned while he had his wife are under police custody. Judiciary is an expensive and tedious procedure, and they haven't got necessary funds to fight it. Their future has become as hazy and dark as a long unending night.

'Mom, they are arresting you both right?', Aarushi asked seeing the self explanatory plaintive look on her mother's face. 'They are; you both go to your uncle's place. He will be here shortly. And Aarushi, take care of yourself and your brother', Pramila said with no nonsense tone.

'But mom what about my career, my school; what about Aadi? How are we even going to manage it all! Besides we were shifting cities what about that now!', Aarushi screamed with tears rolling down her cheeks. 'You never even gave it a thought. My life is standing on the verge of being ruined by you and dad!'

Pramila couldn't find words to console her daughter. Any comforting statement she made would be of no use. 'Aarushi, beta, we need to stay strong. Everything will get okay eventually. Just listen to my one request, opt for medical. Upsc is out of the list of our possible careers in today's scenario. You need a stable and safe career, that's why go for medical', her mother's word's struck her like a lightening bolt. But she didn't argue this once, she knew what her mother was saying was correct and practical.

Raghvendra's younger brother arrived briefly. Aarushi didn't turn to take a last look at her parent's face as she was leaving. No, she could not bear to see their empty defeated eyes again. She couldn't bear to digest the fact that the worst they had feared had happened.

"Money launderer Raghvendra arrested; wife too in custody"

The newspaper headlines flashed before Aarushi's eyes. Tears of resentment welled up in her eyes as she progressed to read the report. 'Bloody liars', her mind screamed. The newspaper words varied by extensive degrees from reality projecting her parents as hideous criminals; it's been two days since her parents arrest and nothing had improved, instead it had went on to get worse. Public had caused an embarrassing uproar the other day when her parents were being taken to court. Media had gone crazy, writing lengths of paragraphs describing Raghvendra and Pramila as thieves of public money.

'What are you saying?!', Aarushi heard her uncle exclaim angrily. She quickly closed the newspaper as he came into living room talking to someone on his cell phone. 'What happened uncle?', Aarushi asked as he cut the call.

'It's about Jaswant; he had bribed a sum of five lakhs to deputy superintendent for arresting your parents, especially your mother. And now, he is encouraging other people to launch more complaints against them so they can remain entangled in multiple court cases for lifetime', her uncle said.

'Now what are we going to do?', Aarushi asked. The road ahead was plunged into immeasurable darkness and there weren't any ray of hopes shining even at distances.

'First of all, you and Aadi both will be leaving for Jaipur. Bhaiya had rented a house there and your school sessions will be beginning shortly. I had a chat with your maternal uncle; he said that your grandmother will stay with you until these cases are solved. Just go and concentrate on your studies for now', her uncle replied pragmatically.

'But uncle, Nani has grown old and weak. How is she even going to look after us both, besides that, last year she had a heart attack, what will we do if something ever happened to her', Aarushi voiced out her fears. 'Don't worry, everything will be fine. Right now your education is our uttermost priority, that's why listen to us and leave the city with your grandma', her uncle replied calmly. Aarushi didn't argue further. Currently it did appear like the only option.

'Okay, when do we leave?'

'Two days later. I am booking your train tickets', her uncle said. Aarushi gave a short nod before departing to pack her luggage.

The train rattled past the outskirts of city. Aarushi sat with her head propped against the closed window. Her brother was dozing off in the seat in front of her. Her tears had dried up. The once bubbly girl had suddenly lost her genuine smile; the place, where her heart once existed, was conquered by an endless blackhole, which had the strength to suck in all her happiness.

The phone in her hand suddenly rang. It was her maternal uncle.

'Aarushi what have you thought about your career?', he said as soon as she picked up. 'Why are you asking that uncle?', she said, startled.

'You know about the financial, legal and mental crisis our family is stuck in. Your parents are in custody. All we have left is your and Aadi's future, and you need time to prepare for anything. That's why just tell me what do you plan to do?', he explained calmly. Aarushi paused momentarily before answering.

'I want to become a doctor', she eventually said, with determination but no zeal. The wings of her dreams were blood stained and damaged beyond repair. The decision that day drifted her faraway from her dreams and her childhood. World is cruelly realistic, the statement, she never believed, did seem to make sense now.

[Flashback ends]

Dear Ajay,

This is the first and last time I ever mentioned you by your first name in this letter.

Do you know why I like you even after all these years? Do you know why I resolved to wait even with no hope of ever getting a chance to see you again? Do you know why I gave up my efforts to move on from that teenage infatuation?

You don't. And sadly, even after four years, you never know anything. You believe what you want to believe. You think what you want you think. You say what you want to say. I was just eight when I saw you for first time, that day I didn't know that the last time I see you, would leave me bleeding with perennial wounds for a lifetime.

I never regretted a moment of liking you without any hope all these years, but now I am questioning myself. You light my candle of dreams and then extinguish it with one icy blow.

I should give up this teenage infatuation... isn't that what you said?

Ever since I met you in school, my whole school life became surrounded by those little banters with you. Somehow I ended up learning to enjoy even those heated arguments. I never heeded to you, always doing what I wanted to.

But this once, you won this argument. I'll do as you want me to. I'll forgive and forget you. Maybe we were never made for each other. Maybe... we'll just become each other's pasts, as you always wanted.

I won't say, I loved the wrong person... but maybe I loved the right person with my wrong destiny.

Aarushi

Silent tears trickled down her cheeks as she closed her last letter. Her laptop was lying on her bed with screen shining with all the appreciative comments for her story. She threw back her head, chuckling a broken laugh, how weird her destiny was. It just took few hours for her fantasies to tremble and shatter.

'This author's diary was bound to stay empty... even after all these years...', she thought with a fresh surge of tears falling down.

A/N:

Been a long time I know, but here I am! 

I do hope this chapter reveals the crucial elements of Aarushi's past. Ajay's backstory will come up in upcoming updates. Till then have a great time reading!

P.S: As I don't own an insta account, I have updated my email id in bio. In case you have suggestions and opinions about story, you can write to me there. I would love to read it all!