May 30 2022

Two days. . . .

Two days since they met.

And never saw each other again.

But their feelings. . . Especially his.

Bloomed again.

Charlie was seen driving while looking at the busy road, While driving. He was lost in his thoughts about what happened two days ago. . .

Anya

Anne. . .

He sighed and continued thinking about them, Charlie didn't even realise that he saved his own daughter. His blood.

Charlie: Zindagi. . . Tu bhi kya khel khelti hai. (Life. . . You really play strange games.)

He sighed, eyes flickering to the passenger seat and muttered to himself.

Charlie: She looked almost like her. . . With my eyes. . . And Anne's fire.

He stopped at a red light, leaning back against the seat. The city lights reflected into his eyes, and for the first time in years, the silence around him felt suffocating. . .

Charlie: Kash main usse bata sakta. . . (If only I could tell her. . .)

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The house was full of silence, Anne slowly walked upstairs to check on her daughter Anya who was still asleep even though it was two p.m. For two days, Winters hasn't gone to work after Anya was beaten and almost got mugged. She was scared to leave her daughter alone especially since Anya's body aches from the assault.

Anne felt guilty and hurt, wishing she was there for her daughter. She wished she didn't let her stay out for too long, Even if she did. Anne wished she picked her up from her friend's house instead of leaving her alone But the damage was done, Anya doesn't blame her mother at all, But Anne still feels guilty as every mother would.

Winters approached her daughter's room and gently opened the door, there was a slight creak but not loud to disturb Anya. She noticed her daughter was sleeping soundly, Anne entered the room and touched her forehead, The scars on her face were slowly healing.

Winters gently kissed her forehead before walking away, leaving the room. Anne looked at the time and noticed school was over. She frowned, hoping Maya would come home safely.

She messaged Maya to come back home immediately, Anne wanted to pick her up from school herself, but Maya said to stay with Anya since she felt uncomfortable and scared being alone. As much as Anne was worried about her younger daughter, she reminded herself that Maya was strong and independent for her age. And she was proud that she cared about her older sister so much. . . However, the thought of anything happening to Maya made Anne's stomach twist.

She sat on the couch, sighing to herself. Taking deep breaths, She needed to relax herself. They were going to be fine, that's what she thought. Anne leaned back on the couch, thinking about something. . . That's when she thought about Charlie.

Her heart skipped a beat by the thought of him, Her eyes narrowed slightly. The last person she ever wanted to think about. Yet, his face kept surfacing in her mind . . . The way he looked at her that night, the guilt in his eyes.

Anne's face softened for a moment before shaking her head and sighed heavily again.

Anne: Not now. . . .

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Ten Minutes Later

Charlie drove by in silence, faint horns were heard from afar and close by. He noticed cars and busses driving since schools were finally over. He continued driving in silence and heard a notification on his phone, He parked the car near a high school and picked up on his phone, seeing a message from Alex which was photos related to the robbery case.

Charlie was examining the photos, squinting his eyes slightly before replying to Alex that he will come to the police department and discuss the case.

He closed his phone, staring at the school in front of him and began recalling memories of his school days back at India. He had a small smile on his face, There was a lot of funny yet embarrassing moments during his school time.

Charlie: Dekho toh zara. . . Waqt kitni tez bhaagta hai. (Just look at that. . . Time runs fast.)

When Charlie was about to start the car, He noticed a woman running out of the gate until she groaned in annoyance. Singh stared at her as she was looking around.

Maya: Shoot! . . . Can't believe I missed the bus.

She sighed, pulling her phone out as Charlie stared at her before his eyes lit and recognised her.

( She was at the police station two days ago. . .With Anne )

Charlie drove back as Maya glanced at his car and continued looking through her phone, She wanted to order a cab home. That's when the car's window opened as Maya looked up and saw Charlie staring at her, Her eyes lit up with surprise, recognising the commissioner.

Maya: Oh, umm Commissioner?

Charlie: *Chuckles* You remember me? Most people try to forget cops after a station visit.

Maya: *Smiles a little* Hard to forget when you saved my sister.

Charlie's eyes lit up and looked at her. Sister? He felt some kind of weight in his heart when she said that, He didn't realise Maya was Anne's daughter. . .

Maybe she remarried.

He was silent for a moment as Maya noticed him and tilted her head.

Maya: Uhh are you okay, Sir?

Charlie: Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. . . Do you need a ride?

Maya looked at him, skeptical as she shakes her head.

Maya: No, I'm taking a cab actually. I missed the bus. . . Again.

Charlie: It's okay, You can cancel it. I don't have to go anywhere so I could just drop you back home.

Maya: Sir, I-

Charlie: You can trust me, darling. If I can chase muggers at midnight, I can drive a kid home at noon. Now hop in before the sun roasts you.

Maya hesitated and kept staring at him before she cracked a smile, Charlie couldn't help but smile at her and kept his gaze on her. . . She also resembled Anne a lot.

Maya finally agreed and got in the car, fixing her seatbelt as Charlie was staring at her, When she looked at him, He immediately looked away and started the car and began driving as Maya guided him to go forward, As he was driving, Winters looked at him and spoke.

Maya: You really helped my sister that night. . . I never got to thank you properly.

Charlie: You don't have to. I just did my job.

Maya: I'm so thankful, I don't know what would happened-

Charlie: You don't have to think about it. She's safe, That's what matters.

She looked at him, quietly nodding, appreciating his calm tone as he continued driving before Maya guided him to the next route.

Maya: So umm. . . Where are you from? You don't look American.

Charlie: *Smiles* I'm Indian and from New Delhi.

Maya: *Gasps* Really!? Oh my god, My mom always talks about it!

She had a huge smile on her face as Charlie looked at her with slight wide eyes and felt his heart beating. . . Does Anne talk about him?

Charlie: Really?

Maya: Mmmm, She actually lived there for two years but then returned to America.

Charlie: That's. . . Interesting.

He smiled a little but couldn't stop thinking about Anne, Has she told her kids about him? Has she mentioned stories that happened years ago?

Maya: It's funny that she never really talks about why she came back. Just says "life happened" You know?

Charlie's fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel. His gaze stayed on the road as he muttered, loud enough for her to head.

Charlie: Haan. . . Life does have its ways.

Maya: *Giggles* You sound like her when you say that.

Charlie: *Chuckles* Then your mom must be a very wise woman.

Maya: *Laughs* Oh, she's smart all right and scary when she's mad.

Charlie: Ah, that hasn't changed then.

Maya: What?

Charlie: Uh, I mean- . . Most mothers are like that. Protective, strict. it's in their nature, you know?

He forced a smile on his face as Maya nodded, agreeing on his words. She didn't realise about his slip. She continued speaking to him as Charlie was listening to her, smiling but also felt heavy deep down.

Maya: Our house always has a bunch of flowers, Indoor and outdoor. I feel like Mom's secretly obsessed with it.

Charlie: *Smiles* . . . She always did have a thing for them.

Maya: Hmm?

Charlie: Nothing, What were you saying?

Maya tilted her head, confused for a moment but thought she misheard it. Maya continued speaking to him as Charlie glanced a few times, It made him smile. . .

She had Anne's same spark in her eyes.

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Eventually they made it to the house as Maya took off her seatbelt, smiling at him. Charlie was staring at the house, admiring the backyard that had a lot of flowers and potted plants until she said something which interrupted him.

Maya: Thanks for dropping back home, Commissioner.

Charlie: No problem. . . Just call me Charlie by the way.

Maya: Charlie? You have an American name.

Charlie: *Chuckles* It's Chandramohan actually, But People call me Charlie.

Maya: That's pretty cool, Bye Charlie.

Charlie: *Smiles* Bye.

She opened the car door and got out as Charlie looked back at the house, smiling a little. He watched Maya walking towards the front door and pressed on the doorbell as Singh continued watching her. That's when he noticed her phone was in the passenger's seat.

He looked and quickly grabbed it, getting out of the car and ran towards the house, Even though he knew this was a bad idea. . .

Charlie: Beti (Daughter) You forgot something!

Maya turned around and saw Charlie walking towards her with the phone as she gasped and took it from him.

Maya: Oh gosh, Thank you! Mom would have killed me.

Charlie: *Chuckles* Guess I saved the day, Didn't I?

She laughed until the front door opened as Charlie felt his heart drop and saw Anne, wearing casual clothes as his heart skipped a beat.

Anne: Hey Maya, Glad you're-

She saw Charlie and her eyes were widen in shock. He stood awkwardly as Maya turned around, smiling.

Maya: Hey mom! No need to worry about anything, I bumped into the commissioner and he dropped me back home.

Anne and Charlie stared at each other quietly, Neither spoke. . . The air felt heavy. . . Too heavy and yet Maya stood between them, smiling, completely unaware of the history she had just stepped into.

Maya: *Smiles* Thank you again, Commissioner.

He nodded with a forced smile on his face as Anne glared at home, quietly letting her daughter in the house before shutting the door behind her. Charlie stared at her in silence, feeling his heart race as Anne walked towards her.

Anne: What were you thinking? Showing up here?

Charlie: It wasn't planned, Anne. She missed her bus. I was just-

Anne: *Grits her teeth* Just what? Following my daughter now?

Charlie froze, a flicker of hurt on his face. . . She spoke to him like he was a stranger.

Charlie: Anne, I dropped her back because I know you're terrified by what happened to Anya two days ago. . . I just wanted her to feel safe.

Anne's anger disappeared for a moment, The truth in his words struck her. . . But she quickly turned away, unwilling to show it.

Anne: You shouldn't have come here, Charlie. You shouldn't be anywhere near us.

Charlie: I-I didn't come here for you. I came to make sure your daughter got home safe. That's all. . .

Both of them stared at each other with silence before Anne took a deep breath, her face hardened.

Anne: Right. You did your good deed. Now go.

He looked at her, hurt by her words. . . But he couldn't say or do anything.

Charlie: Okay. . . Take care, Anne.

She didn't respond, just stood there, biting her lip with anger. He turned and walked away as Anne continued watching him before walking back to her house.

Anne took a deep breath, shutting the door behind her, Maya was already upstairs, getting changed while Anya was awake, sitting in the living room as she noticed her mother's face.

Anya: Mom, What's wrong?

Anne looked at her, forcing a smile on her face.

Anne: Nothing, I'm gonna prepare lunch now, okay?

Anya looked at her mother, nodding as Anne felt her heart pounding before walking to the kitchen.

Meanwhile Charlie was seen driving back to the police station, Anne's words replaying in his mind as he quietly watched the road. He thought about Anya. . . Maya. . . It's like Anne wanted him to be a stranger to her kids. . . One of his kids.

( Mujhe nahi pata zindagi ne humein phir se kyun milaya. . . (I don't know why life made us meet again. . .)

( Par maine hamesha tumhe yaad kiya hai. . . (But I always missed you. . .)

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and stay strong!!! :)