Karan walked thoughtfully through the park. So much had changed in the last 4 years. Hell, even this park wasn't the same. He remembered it very well, there used to be no fences, and those slides were definitely new. Baby used to play here. She was 13 now, did she still do it?

He had spent 4 years on a mission. 4 years. It was too long, but the mission was successful. And now he was home, if he could call it that.

He had visited the academy. Not a single familiar face, other than Ustaadji. If Batra sir was still there, he had no idea. All he was ordered to do was sent a written briefing of the mission to the head officer of the academy.

Tired, emotionally an physically, he sat on a bench nearby, sighing a little. He felt much older than 33. There were so many people he had to meet. And he had no idea what was he supposed to say to them. 'Hi, I'm back! Let's talk!' Definitely not. He had no idea how, or even where was everyone. The cadets would have long passed, how many stayed, and how many left. The agents would have been transferred, where or even if they were transferred, he had no idea where were they. He didn't see them at the academy atleast.

He had met Bhabhi and Baby. Baby had grown up so much. She was 13. And when he met her, he was out of words. The warmth and closeness they shared 4 years back was replaced by something...else. It felt like they had just met. And it hurt. Would it be the same way with the others? Did they...grow up too..?

The only comfort he had was that Monami, his Monami was still there. In love with him. And it had not decreased, at all. He felt guilty, for leaving her. And it felt grateful, painfully grateful when she said she understood. Talking to her didn't feel like talking to a stranger. The same warmth, the same love, the same joy. She hadn't changed at all. And he couldn't figure out a way to thank whatever stars had landed him with her. He smiled, in a very long time, closing his eyes and tilting his head back.

He opened his eyes, sensing someone in front of him. A man with loose brown curls and a headset was standing open-mouthed in front of him. He looked at him for a while and then it struck him. It was Sid...

"Sir...Karan...sir" he said pointing at him, disbelief evident in his tone.

"Sid.." Karan whispered, standing up slowly. This wasn't the Sid he had left...he was no longer as jumpy, and instead of the twinkle he knew, his eyes now reflected maturity. And were those track shoes that he was wearing? He definitely appeared slightly more muscular.

Before he had the time to react, Sid engulfed him in a hug. Maybe he wasn't that changed. Karan smiled and returned the hug.

"Its been so long..."

Karan's smile wavered. It definitely had. But seeing a familiar face in a wholly different world was so relieving, he couldn't express it in words. Right now, he needed answers.

~~~

A/N: part 2 coming soon! 

Ps- my first trial at a TS!