I was going back.

Even after everything I had learned, after all the memories and revelations, I needed to hear the truth from them.

From my parents.

Rudraksha, however, wasn’t happy.

"You do not need to go," he said, standing in front of me like a stone wall.

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Rudraksha, I need to do this."

His jaw ticked. "You already know the truth."

"I need to hear it from them," I said firmly.

He exhaled sharply. "What if you get stuck there?"

"I won’t."

"You do not know that," he countered. "The mirror has a will of its own. What if it refuses to bring you back?"

I stepped closer, placing my hands on his chest. "Then you come and drag me back."

His golden eyes softened just a little. "Aranya—"

I shook my head. "Please. Let me go."

He clenched his fists, then exhaled, his shoulders dropping.

"...Fine."

I smiled. "Thank you—"

But before I could step away, he caught my wrist, pulling me against him.

I gasped, my hands landing on his chest. His arms wrapped around me, caging me in his warmth.

His voice was low, filled with an emotion I couldn't name. "Come back to me. No matter what."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "...I will."

He sighed, pressing his forehead against mine. "I will be waiting."

I closed my eyes for a second, breathing him in.

Then, I stepped back and turned to the mirror.

One deep breath.

And I stepped through.

The moment I opened my eyes, I was in my room.

The house was quiet. I looked down. My hands were shaking.

I was scared.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear this.

But before I could gather my thoughts, the front door opened.

"Aranya?"

I turned.

My parents stood there, their expressions shifting from relief to shock in seconds.

My mother dropped her purse. "You’re home!"

I opened my mouth—then froze.

I wasn’t ready.

Not for this.

But I had no choice now.

I clenched my fists. "Maa… Papa. I need to talk to you."

Their smiles faded. My mother stepped closer, reaching for me, but I stepped back.

"Just… tell me the truth," I whispered.

My father’s brows furrowed. "What are you talking about, beta?"

I took a shaky breath. "I know I’m not your daughter."

Maa gasped. Papa stiffened.

I swallowed, my voice wavering. "I know .. I know I wasn’t born here."

Maa covered her mouth, tears forming in her eyes.

"Tell me everything," I begged.

Silence stretched.

Then, finally, Papa spoke.

"We found you… in the middle of the forest. You were a small child, barely older than five."

I stiffened.

"You were crying," Maa whispered, her voice breaking. "You were shivering, covered in blood. We thought you were hurt, but there were no wounds on you."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

"It was the mirror," I realized. "It didn’t just send me through time. It… it reduced my age."

Maa nodded, sobbing. "We tried to find your parents. We searched for months. But no one… no one claimed you."

I covered my mouth, tears welling in my eyes.

Papa looked at me, his voice raw. "You were ours from the moment we found you."

I sniffled. "So you never planned to tell me?"

Maa shook her head. "We were going to tell you today as I placed the cloth there . Wanted to tell you On your birthday cause it's the day we found you on ."

I froze.

My birthday.

Oh my god.

I had forgotten.

That’s why Maa had been acting strange before I left. That’s why she had left the velvet cloth on the table.

She was going to tell me.

I let out a shaky breath.

And in that moment, I forgave them.

Because even though I wasn’t born to them, they had raised me. They had given me love, a home, a family.

I stepped forward and hugged them both.

Maa let out a sob, clutching me tightly. Papa placed a trembling hand on my head, holding me close.

No words were needed.

This was enough.

A Breaking Mirror, A Waiting King

After dinner, I knew I had to go back.

I hugged Maa and Papa again, thanking them for everything.

And then, I stepped toward the mirror.

But just before I touched it—

I noticed something.

A crack.

A long, thin fracture running along the surface.

My heart dropped.

The mirror… it was breaking from this side too.

Panic settled in my chest, but I didn’t stop.

I reached out with again a cut in my hand —

And the world turned black.

Home

When I opened my eyes, I was back in Vyantara.

The first thing I saw was him.

Rudraksha sat in front of the mirror, his elbows on his knees, his head bowed.

His eyes lifted the moment I stepped out, and for a second, he just stared.

Then, in a heartbeat, he was in front of me, pulling me into his arms.

I gasped as he buried his face in my neck, his hold almost crushing.

"Aranya," he breathed, voice trembling.

I wrapped my arms around him, feeling my chest ache.

"I just left hours ago," I whispered.

He stiffened. "Same time difference?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He exhaled in relief, pulling back just enough to look at me.

His golden eyes were dark, intense.

And then, before I could say anything—

He kissed me.

It wasn’t gentle.

It was raw, desperate, filled with emotion.

I melted into him, my fingers clutching his robes as he deepened the kiss, pouring everything he couldn’t say into it.

When we finally broke apart, I was breathless.

He cupped my face, his forehead resting against mine.

"I’m sorry," he whispered.

I frowned. "For what?"

"For everything. For the past. For the pain. For not remembering sooner." His voice was thick. "For making you go through this alone."

I shook my head. "You didn’t do anything wrong, Rudraksha."

His eyes darkened. "I loved you once, Aranya. And I failed you."

I swallowed. "And now?"

His grip tightened. "Now, I will never fail you again."

Tears burned in my eyes.

I pulled him into another hug, holding him tightly.

"I’m here," I whispered. "I’m not leaving."

And as we stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I knew—

No matter what the past held, our future was ours to rewrite.