It was Sunday.

For once, there was nowhere Akanksha had to be.

No shoot. No meetings. No interviews. No rushing from one place to another.

She had the entire day to herself.And somehow, that was exactly what she didn't need.

Akanksha sat quietly in the balcony, her legs folded beneath her, her hands loosely wrapped around a cup of tea that had gone cold a long time ago.The morning breeze moved gently through her hair, but she barely noticed it.

Her mind was somewhere else.With someone else.It had been a week since Ayush had come to sorab'place. A week since certain things had been brought back to the surface-things she had carefully pushed away and convinced herself she had moved past.

But the past had a strange way of returning when you least expected it.

For the entire week, she had tried not to think about it.She had kept herself busy.But whenever she got a moment alone, the same questions came back.

Should I meet him?

Should I listen to him once?

What if there is something I don't know?

And then another voice inside her would immediately answer-

And what if meeting him only hurts you again?

She sighed quietly.

"Akku!"

She didn't hear it.

Inside, Sorab looked toward the balcony.

"Akanksha!"Still no response.

Niharika looked at him.

"Ye sun bhi rahi hai kya?"

Sorab smiled faintly.

"Sunday ko iski body ghar mein hoti hai, dimaag pata nahi kahan hota hai."

Niharika shook her head and walked toward the balcony.

"Akku!"

This time, Akanksha blinked and turned around.

"Huh?"

"Hum dono kab se bula rahe hain tujhe."

"Oh... sorry. Maine suna nahi."

Niharika studied her face.

"Sab theek hai?"

Akanksha immediately smiled.

"Haan. Bilkul."

Niharika knew that smile.She didn't push her.

"Chal, breakfast karte hain."

"Haan."

Akanksha followed her inside.

They sat around the dining table.

Niharika started serving breakfast while Sorab went into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, he came back carrying a tray with three cups of coffee.

He placed one cup in front of Akanksha.

"Ye le, teri coffee."

Akanksha gave him a small smile.

"Thanks."

Sorab sat beside her.

"Coffee garam hai. Pehle wali to balcony mein baith ke ice bana di hogi tune."

Akanksha looked at her cup.

"Han..Thandi ho gayi."

"Obviously."Niharika laughed.

"Tu coffee peene ke liye banwati hai ya usse balcony mein emotional support dene ke liye?"

Akanksha smiled for the first time that morning.

"Very funny."

"Thank you."

The three laughed softly.But the light moment didn't last long.Akanksha slowly became quiet again.She moved her spoon around her plate without really eating.

Sorab noticed.

So did Niharika.

Neither said anything.They knew she would speak when she was ready.And eventually, she did.

"Sorab..."

"Hmm?"

She cleared her throat.

"Sun na."

Sorab immediately looked at her.

"Haan, bol."

Akanksha opened her mouth but stopped.

"Main... woh..."Sorab waited.

"Kya hua?"

She looked down at her plate.

"Actually, main kuch soch rahi thi."

Niharika put her spoon down.

"Kya?"

Akanksha took a slow breath.

"Mujhe lagta hai... mujhe usse milna chahiye."

The words came out quietly.

But both Sorab and Niharika understood immediately.

Neither asked kisse?

Sorab's expression became serious.

"Yogesh?" He asked

Akanksha nodded.

"Hmm."

There was a brief silence.Niharika looked at her carefully.

"Tu sure hai?"

Akanksha didn't answer immediately.

"I don't know."

Niharika's eyebrows knitted together.

"Akku..."

"Wait, mujhe bolne de."

She smiled weakly.

"I know what you're thinking. Aur main khud bhi confused hoon."

She took a breath.

"Main pichhle ek hafte se isi baare mein soch rahi hoon. Kabhi lagta hai ki nahi milna chahiye. Phir lagta hai ki ek baar uski baat sun leni chahiye."

Sorab remained silent.

Akanksha continued.

"Main ye nahi keh rahi ki main sab bhool gayi hoon. Ya jo hua woh theek tha."

"Hum jaante hain," Sorab said quietly.

"Bas..." Akanksha paused. "Mujhe lagta hai agar main ek baar usse milungi nahi, toh shayad mere dimaag mein ye sawaal hamesha rahega ki uske paas kehne ko kya tha."

Niharika gently asked,

"Tu usse milna chahti hai... ya uski situation sunkar tujhe lag raha hai ki milna chahiye?"

Akanksha looked at her.

"Shayad dono."

She lowered her eyes.

"Jab Ayush ne mujhe uske baare mein bataya tha na... tab se mere dimaag mein wahi chal raha hai."

Sorab sighed softly.

"Akku, ek baat bolun?"

"Hmm."

"Tu sirf guilt ki wajah se ye decision mat lena."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Main guilt ki wajah se nahi ja rahi."

"Pakka?"

"Haan."

Her voice was firmer now.

"Maine socha hai. Bahut socha hai."

She looked between them.

"Ek baar milungi. Uski baat sunungi. Bas."

Niharika immediately reached for her hand.

"Dekh, agar tu apni marzi se ja rahi hai, toh main tujhe rokungi nahi."

Akanksha looked at her.

"But?"

Niharika smiled sadly.

"But main tujhe ek baat zaroor bolungi."

She squeezed her hand.

"Tu wahan kisi cheez ki responsibility lekar mat jaana. Na uske emotions ki, na uske guilt ki, na uski life ki."

Akanksha remained quiet.

"Tu sirf sunne ja rahi hai. Uske baad kya karna hai, woh tera decision hoga."

Akanksha nodded.

"Okay."

"And please," Niharika continued, "agar tujhe kisi bhi point par lage ki tu uncomfortable ho rahi hai, bas uth kar aa jaana. Kisi explanation ki zarurat nahi hai."

Sorab nodded.

"Exactly."

Then he asked,

"Toh kab milna hai?"

Akanksha looked at him.

"Aaj."

"Aaj?"

"Haan."

She gave a nervous smile.

"Aaj main free hoon. Aur agar uski tabiyat sach mein kharab hai, toh unnecessary delay bhi nahi karna chahiye."

Sorab thought for a moment.

"Thik hai."

He reached for his phone.

"Main Subhangi ko call karta hoon."

"Sorab."

"Hmm?"

"Unhe mat batana ki main aa rahi hoon."

He stopped.

"Kyun?"

Akanksha struggled to explain.

"Because... I don't know."

She rubbed her fingers together nervously.

"Main surprise dena nahi chahti. Bas... mujhe normal way mein jaana hai."

"Normal?"

"Haan."She looked at him.

"Main nahi chahti ki woh mujhe dekhne se pehle hi mentally prepare ho jaye ki main kya poochungi, kya bolungi... mujhe bas usse waise hi dekhna hai."

Sorab understood.

"Tu apni aankhon se dekhna chahti hai."

Akanksha nodded.

"Exactly."

A pause.

"Main khud samajhna chahti hoon ki woh kaisa hai. Kya feel kar raha hai. Aur... kya sach mein usse baat karni zaroori hai."

Sorab looked concerned.

"Tu ready hai?"

This time Akanksha took a moment.

Then she nodded.

"Haan."

She gave him a small, nervous smile.

"At least... jitni ready ho sakti hoon."

Sorab smiled faintly.

"Main tere saath hoon."

"And main bhi," Niharika immediately added.

Akanksha looked at both of them.

"Thank you."

Sorab stood up.

"Chal, main call karta hoon."

He stepped out toward the balcony and called Subhangi.A few minutes later, he returned.

"Woh log ghar pe hain."

Akanksha's fingers tightened around her coffee cup.

"Sab?"

"Shaam ko mostly sab honge. Shayad Gullu aur Rohit bhi."

"Okay."

Niharika watched Akanksha's face.

"Abhi se nervous ho rahi hai?".

Akanksha laughed awkwardly.

"Thoda."

"Thoda?" Sorab teased. "Tere haath dekh."

Akanksha looked down.Her fingers were indeed trembling slightly.

"Shut up."

Sorab smiled.

"Bas normal rehna."

"Easy for you to say."

"I know."

Then he picked up his keys.

"Main abhi ek kaam se ja raha hoon. Shaam ko chaar baje tak aa jaunga. Paanch baje nikalenge."

Niharika also stood.

"Main bhi chalti hoon. Raste mein mujhe drop kar dena."

She turned toward Akanksha.

"And you..."

"Hmm?"

"Overthinking band."

Akanksha sighed.

"I'll try."

Niharika leaned closer.

"Try nahi. Kar."

Akanksha laughed softly.

"Okay, madam."

Niharika blew her a flying kiss.

"Bye."

"Bye."

Sorab stopped beside Akanksha before leaving.

"Lunch kar lena."

"Haan."

"And Akku..."

"Hmm?"

"Jo bhi hoga, tu akeli handle nahi karegi."

He gently kissed her forehead.

"Main hoon na."

Akanksha's eyes softened.

"Thank you, bhai."

"Always."

And he left.

The moment the door closed, the house became strangely silent.

Akanksha sat on the sofa.She picked up her phone.Put it down.Picked it up again.Opened Instagram.Closed it.

Tried watching television.

She couldn't concentrate.

Finally, she opened her Jaipur friends' group.She stared at the names for a few seconds before starting a video call.

Manav picked up first.

"Madam! Sunday ko yaad aa gayi humari?"

Akshita joined.

"Finally! Celebrity ko hum jaise normal log yaad aa gaye."

Disha laughed.

"Akku, kya kar rahi hai?"

Akanksha smiled.

"Kuch nahi."

Manav immediately narrowed his eyes.

"Ye 'kuch nahi' wali shakal kyun hai?"

"Kaunsi shakal?"

"Jo tu tab banati hai jab dimaag mein 500 cheezein chal rahi hoti hain."

Akshita laughed.

"Exactly."

Akanksha couldn't help smiling.

"You guys haven't changed."

"Tu bhi nahi," Disha said.

For a few minutes, they talked about random things.

But Akanksha's smile slowly faded.

Disha noticed.

"Okay. Ab bata. Kya hua?"

Akanksha was quiet.

"I need to tell you guys something."

"Bol," Manav said.

Akanksha took a breath.

"Main aaj Yogesh se milne ja rahi hoon."

Silence.

The joking atmosphere disappeared immediately.Akshita looked at her seriously.

"Are you sure?"

"Haan... I think."

Manav leaned closer to his camera.

"Akku, 'I think' aur 'I'm sure' mein bahut difference hota hai."

"I know."

"Then?"

Akanksha looked down.

"Main confused hoon."

Disha spoke softly.

"Why do you want to meet him?"

Akanksha took her time.

"Because I want to hear him."

She swallowed.

"Not because I have forgotten anything. I haven't."

Her voice became quieter.

"But I feel like... maybe I need to hear his side once."

Then she told them all about the day ayush comee...and how she take this decision..

For some time no one spoke anything thenAkshita asked,

"Are you doing this because you feel sorry for him?"

Akanksha immediately shook her head.

"I don't know."

Then she corrected herself.

"Maybe somewhere I do feel bad. But that's not the only reason."

She looked at the three of them through the screen.

"Last one week se mere dimaag mein bas ek hi baat hai... ki agar main usse ek baar mil loon aur uski baat sun loon, toh shayad mujhe khud samajh aa jayega ki main actually kya feel karti hoon."

Manav nodded slowly.

"That makes sense."

Akanksha looked surprised.

"You're not going to tell me not to go?"

"Why would I?"

He paused.

"But I'll tell you to be careful."

Disha nodded.

"Very careful."

Akshita added,

"Because we know you. Tu saamne wale ka pain dekhkar apna pain bhool jaati hai."

Akanksha didn't respond.Because she knew it was true.

Disha continued,

"Tu strong hai, Akku. But strong hone ka matlab ye nahi ki tujhe sab kuch tolerate karna hai."

"I know."

"And forgiveness," Akshita said,

"doesn't mean you have to go back to the same relationship."

Akanksha nodded slowly.

"Yes."

Manav smiled gently.

"Tu uski baat sun. Agar woh genuinely regret karta hai, Agar woh apology karta hai, Agar woh apni mistake accept karta hai, toh sun."

He paused.

"But don't decide anything there."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because emotions high honge. Tu usse dekhkar emotional ho sakti hai. Woh emotional ho sakta hai. Us waqt jo decision lega dimaag, woh zaroori nahi ki baad mein bhi sahi lage."

Akshita immediately agreed.

"Exactly. Aaj sirf mil. Talk. Come back. Sleep on it. Then decide."

Disha smiled.

"Humari Akku ko first time koi sensible advice de raha hai."

"Excuse me?" Manav protested.

They all laughed.The laughter relieved some of the tension.But then Akshita became serious again..

"Akku, ek aur baat."

"Hmm?"

"If he says something that hurts you, don't sit there just because you came prepared to listen."

Akanksha's eyes became slightly moist.

"I won't."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Disha looked at her carefully.

"And if you feel like crying?"

Akanksha gave a small smile.

"Then I'll cry."

"Good."

"If you feel angry?"

"I'll be angry."

"If you want to leave?"

"I'll leave."

Manav smiled.

"That's it."

Disha nodded.

"We're not going to tell you what decision to make. That's yours."

Akshita added,

"But whatever you decide, we're with you."

Akanksha's eyes filled slightly.

"Thank you."

"Arre pagal," Disha smiled. "Thank you kyun?"

"Because I was scared you guys would think I'm making some stupid decision."

Manav shook his head.

"No. We may worry about you, but we trust you."

Akshita smiled.

"Bas ek cheez. Phone on rakhna."

Akanksha laughed through her tears.

"Why?"

"Because if you don't call us after the meeting, we'll call you twenty times."

Disha nodded seriously.

"Twenty? Main toh thirty karungi."

Manav laughed.

"Main uske ghar pahunch jaunga."

Akanksha laughed.

"Okay, okay. I'll call."

"Good."

Disha's voice softened.

"Just remember one thing, Akku. You don't have to decide today whether you forgive him or not."

Akanksha looked at the screen.

"You only have to decide whether you're ready to listen."

A quietness settled over the call.

Akanksha took a deep breath.

"I think... I am."

"Then go," Manav said gently.

"Listen."

"Come back."

"And then we'll talk again," Akshita finished.

Akanksha smiled.

"Deal."

The call ended.

For a few seconds, she continued looking at the blank screen.Then she placed the phone down.Her heart was still beating faster than usual.But the confusion felt slightly lighter.

The afternoon passed slowly.

Akanksha spent most of it thinking.

Not about what she would say.But about what she might hear.She imagined Yogesh sitting in front of her.

Would he look the same?

Would he avoid her eyes?

Would he apologize?

Would he try to explain?

Would she be able to speak?

She didn't know.

At four, the front door opened.Sorab walked in.He looked at her and immediately understood that she had spent the entire afternoon thinking.

"Don't tell me."

Akanksha raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Tu abhi tak overthinking kar rahi hai."

She gave him a helpless smile.

"Thoda."

"Thoda?"

"Okay, bahut."

Sorab laughed softly.

"Chal. Ab aur nahi."

He put his keys down.

"Ready ho ja."

Akanksha stood up.

And goes to her room for getting ready.For a moment, she looked at herself in the mirror.

She wasn't preparing for a date.

She wasn't preparing for a reunion.

She was preparing to face a part of her past that she had spent a long time avoiding.

She took a deep breath.

Then she turned toward Sorab.

"Chalein?"

He nodded.

"Chal."

At five, they left.As the car moved through the evening traffic, Akanksha sat silently beside Sorab.He didn't bombard her with questions.He knew she didn't need advice anymore.She just needed someone beside her.After several minutes, Sorab glanced at her.

"Nervous?"

Akanksha looked outside the window.

"Haan."

"Dar lag raha hai?"

She thought for a moment.

"Thoda."

Sorab nodded.

"Normal hai."

She looked at him.

"Sorab..."

"Hmm?"

"If things become awkward..."

"They will."

She laughed nervously.

"I was asking seriously."

"Main bhi seriously bol raha hoon. Awkward toh hoga hi."

She smiled.

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

Then his tone became softer.

"Bas ek baat yaad rakh."

"Kya?"

"Tu wahan akeli nahi hai."

Akanksha looked at him.

"I know."

Sorab turned his eyes back toward the road.

"Good."

The car continued toward Subhangi's apartment.

And with every passing kilometre, Akanksha felt her heart beating a little faster.She didn't know what would happen when the door opened.

She didn't know what Yogesh would say.She didn't know what she herself would feel.

Maybe there would be tears.

Maybe anger.

Maybe silence.

Maybe an apology neither of them knew how to begin.

Or perhaps nothing would happen the way she imagined.

But one thing was certain.After months of distance, avoidance and unanswered questions...Tonight, they were finally going to stand face-to-face.And sometimes, one meeting is enough to change everything.

To be continued...