Riya/Ariya FF: Aakhri Umeed {A/N on p.1 | Update 15} - Page 8

Part 10 and 11...I loved their understanding

Will read 12 and 13 soon

Part 12 and 13...Yayyy shes gonna fight and just because she has Arjun by her side His comforting words to her are so romantic

will read part 14 soon

finally caught up

Loved their phone convo at the end

Pls continue

Part 15

Riya stood on the balcony of her apartment, her hands curled around a steaming mug of chai.
The morning sun painted the sky in hues of amber and gold, and the faint chill of the dawn breeze kissed her cheeks.
The city was slowly coming to life—the distant hum of vehicles, the chirping of birds, and the faint murmur of early risers filled the quiet.

She stared into the distance, her eyes tracing the faint outline of the horizon.
For the first time in years, she felt… still.
Not hollow.
Not empty.
Just… still.

Her mind was quieter today.
The voices of self-loathing, the heavy guilt, the swirling storm—they were still there, but muted.
Soft.
Bearable.

She took a slow sip of her chai, her hands slightly warm from the heat of the mug.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she exhaled softly.

And she let herself breathe.
Deep.
Slow.
Free.

***

The ETF office was bustling as always.

Phones were ringing.
Officers were moving swiftly in and out.
Whiteboards were filled with case details and scribbled notes.

But despite the chaos, the moment Riya walked in, the entire team seemed to subtly shift.
It was almost imperceptible.
But she felt it.
The way Shree’s eyes immediately lifted from his laptop and softened.
The way Chotu’s face broke into a wide grin the second he spotted her.
The way Sameer glanced up from the file he was reading, his lips twitching faintly in a barely hidden smile.
And the way Arjun’s eyes found hers across the room—dark, sharp, and piercing as ever, but warmer.
Softer.
Steady.

She felt it.
The subtle shift.
The unspoken relief.
The silent, unsaid "Tum theek ho?" in their gazes.

Her chest tightened faintly, but it didn’t hurt.
Not this time.
This time, it made her want to smile.
So she did.

She walked over to her desk and plopped herself down into her chair, deliberately bumping her shoulder against Shree’s.

“Bohot kaam hai ya baithke bas acting chal rahi hai?” she teased lightly, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness.

Shree’s eyes widened dramatically as he clutched his chest in mock offense.
“Excuse me?! Acting?” he gasped, his voice filled with exaggerated disbelief.
“Madam, main toh yahan desh seva mein laga hoon! Tum toh gayab ho gayi thi! Matlab… shayad NASA join kar liya ho tumne!”

Riya snorted, rolling her eyes at his theatrics.
“Haan, haan. Tumhari faltu theories na… hamesha entertainment value deti hain.”

Chotu, who had been walking by with a file in hand, grinned mischievously as he added,
“Riya ki baat toh sahi hai. Shree ki theories kaafi ‘doosre grah’ se hoti hain.”

Shree shot him a dramatic glare.
“Tum dono mujhse jalte ho, bas!”

Riya chuckled softly, the warmth of their banter settling into her chest like a balm.
She missed this.
Their easy camaraderie.
Their ridiculousness.
Their unshakeable bond.

She turned back to her laptop and began typing.
And for the first time in a long time, she felt like she belonged.

***

Later in the day, Riya was summoned to Sameer’s office.

The door was slightly ajar when she arrived, and she could hear the faint rustle of papers being stacked.

She knocked softly.
“Sir?”

Sameer glanced up immediately.
The moment his eyes met hers, he straightened slightly in his chair.

For a moment, he simply stared at her, taking in her appearance.
The faint color on her cheeks.
The steadiness in her eyes.
The subtle lift in her shoulders that hadn’t been there before.

And he felt it.
The change.
The fight.
The strength.

His lips twitched faintly into the slightest of smiles.
“Baitho, Riya.”

She took the chair across from him and folded her hands in her lap.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
And then, softly, he said,
“Tumse baat karni thi.”

Her hands stilled faintly.
Her pulse quickened slightly.
But she kept her gaze steady.

“Ji, sir?”

He exhaled softly, leaning back slightly in his chair.
His gaze was calm, but piercing.
Unwavering.
Like it always was.

“Tum theek ho?”
His voice was low.
Gentle.
Unassuming.

And yet, she knew it wasn’t a casual question.
It was loaded.
It was heavy.
And it came from somewhere deeper.

Her throat bobbed faintly.
She met his gaze steadily.

And softly, she nodded.
“Haan, sir. Main theek hoon.”

For a moment, he simply stared at her.
As if he was measuring her words.
Weighing them.

And then, slowly, he nodded.
He reached into the drawer of his desk and pulled out a small box, placing it on the table between them.

Her eyes flickered to it.
Her brows furrowed faintly.

“Yeh kya hai?” she asked softly.

He pushed the box toward her.
“Khud dekh lo.”

Her fingers curled around the edges of the box as she slowly lifted the lid.

And she froze.

Her breath caught sharply in her throat.
Her eyes widened slightly as she stared down at the small, elegant golden badge nestled inside.
It gleamed faintly under the light.

Her heart stuttered violently.
Her hands trembled slightly.
She glanced up at Sameer, her eyes wide and disbelieving.

“Yeh…”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Yeh toh…”

His voice was steady.
Warm.
Firm.
“Promotion letter hai, Riya.”

Her eyes burned faintly.
Her throat tightened.
She blinked sharply, her vision slightly blurred.

“Sir…”
Her voice cracked faintly.
“Mujhe… kyun?”

Sameer’s eyes softened.
And then, he leaned forward slightly, his voice low but resolute.

“Kyunki tumne uss cheez se ladne ki taqat dikhayi… jo logon ko tod deti hai.”
His voice was soft, but filled with unwavering pride.
“Tumne sirf ek case nahi jeeta, Riya… tumne khudko jeeta hai.”

Her lips parted slightly.
Her chest ached faintly with emotion.
Her fingers curled around the box, trembling slightly.

And before she could stop herself, she blinked sharply and whispered,
“Thank you, sir…”

Her voice was raw.
Sincere.
Filled with more meaning than the two words could ever convey.

And he simply nodded, his eyes steady.
Proud.
Knowing.

***

Later that evening, Riya found herself sitting on the hood of Arjun’s SUV, parked near the lake.

The water was calm, shimmering faintly under the soft, golden hues of the setting sun.
The wind was cool against her skin.

Arjun stood nearby, leaning against the SUV, his arms crossed, his eyes trained on her.
Silent.
Steady.
Just watching.

She felt his gaze on her.
Warm.
Unwavering.
Safe.

And softly, she smiled.
Her eyes stung faintly.
But this time, the tears didn’t burn.
They soothed.

She glanced at him and softly whispered,
“Tumhare bina shayad main yeh nahi kar paati.”

His eyes softened.
And he slowly walked over to her, his fingers brushing against her cheek.
His voice was low.
Rough with emotion.

“Tumne khud kiya, Riya.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Tum khud jeeti ho.”

And when she leaned into his touch, he let her.
No words.
No promises.
Just him.
And her.
Whole.