Chapter 5 – The Return

The office was quieter than usual that morning, yet an electric tension hung in the air. Word had spread quickly: Roli Diwedi was back. The woman who had vanished without a trace weeks ago had returned—and no one could guess what storm her arrival would bring.

Siddhant stood near the window of his corner office, gazing out at the bustling city below. His thoughts churned like restless waves, every memory of Roli stirring his heart anew. The ache inside him had never fully healed. Not a day had passed when he hadn’t thought of her—her laughter, her sharp wit, the way her sapphire eyes had captivated him from the first moment.

And now she was back.

The glass door swung open, and there she was—more radiant than ever. Her black curls framed her face like a dark halo, and her deep blue eyes met his without hesitation. The confident stride she carried had not faded, but Siddhant could see something else beneath the surface: vulnerability, hesitation, and a silent plea for understanding.

As she approached, the room seemed to shrink around them. Every whispered conversation outside ceased, as if the whole office was holdingits breath.

“Siddhant,” Roli’s voice was soft but steady.

He closed the distance between them, every muscle tense. "Why did you leave without telling me?”

She swallowed hard, her lips trembling. “I had my reasons...reasons I couldn’t explain at the time. I was scared, and I thought it was better to protect you by staying away.”

“Protect me?” He echoed, incredulous. “From what?”

Roli looked down, then back up, her eyes glistening. “From something dangerous. Something that could have hurt you—badly.”

Siddhant’s heart pounded. “Why didn’t you trust me enough to share it?”

“I wanted to,” she whispered, stepping closer. “But I didn't know if you’d understand. I was trapped between my past and what I felt for you.”

He studied her face, searching for any sign of deceit. Instead, he found only honesty, raw and fragile.

“Do you realize what you did to me? Leaving like that, not even a word?” His voice cracked, revealing the hurt he had kept buried.

Roli’s hand found his. “I know, and I’m sorry. More than anything, I’m sorry.”

For a moment, they simply stood there, two souls tethered by pain and longing.

Finally, Siddhant exhaled. “If what you say is true... then tell me everything. No more secrets.”

She nodded, a tear escaping down her cheek. “I will. But no there—not now.”

He wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. “Where then?”

Roli hesitated, then smiled faintly. “Dinner. Tonight. At my favorite place. I’ll explain everything.”

He pulled back to look at her, determination in his eyes.“I’ll be there.”

That evening, Siddhant found himself pacing nervously outside the small, cozy restaurant tucked away in a quiet street. The soft glowof candles and the warm aroma of spices welcomed him inside, but his mind raced with questions.

When Roli arrived, radiant in a simple yet elegant dress, Siddhant’s breath caught. She looked more beautiful than ever, but the guardedlook in her eyes told him she was bracing herself too.

They sat opposite each other, the clinking of cutlery and low murmurs around them fading into the background.

“Tell me everything,” Siddhant urged.

Roli took a deep breath. “Before I joined your company, my family was tangled with some dangerous people—people involved in illegalbusiness. When I started working, I was trying to distance myself from that life, build something better.”

Her voice faltered. “But when I got close to you, those people threatened me. They warned me to stay away or face consequences.”

Siddhant’s eyes darkened. “Why didn’t you tell me? We could have faced it together.”

“I wanted to protect you,” she said firmly. “If they knew you were involved with me, you’d be in danger too.”

He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. “You should've trusted me.”

She smiled sadly. “I know now. And I’m sorry.”

The tension between them softened, replaced by a fragile hope.

“But there’s more,” she continued. “The fiancé I mentioned…he’s connected to those people. The engagement was a way to keep me safe, but I never loved him.”

Siddhant’s jaw tightened. “So, you were caught between protecting me and protecting yourself.”

Roli nodded. “Exactly.”

Silence settled over them as they absorbed the weight of the truth.

Finally, Siddhant said, “We have a choice now. Either we let the past control us, or we fight it. Together.”

Her eyes sparkled with tears. “Together,” she agreed.

As they left the restaurant hand in hand, the cool night air seemed to wash away months of pain and uncertainty.

Siddhant knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Trust broken takes time to rebuild. But for the first time since she left, he felt somethinghe hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.

And maybe, just maybe, love could conquer even the darkest secrets.