CHAPTER 28: FULL CIRCLE

CHAPTER 28: FULL CIRCLE

Five years had passed, and the gentle morning sun streamed through the windows of a cozy villa nestled in the green hills just outside the city. The laughter of a child echoed through the house — soft, melodic, and full of life. It was a sound that filled Arjun's heart with gratitude every single day.

"Mommmm! Look! I drew our family!" little Prisha squealed, rushing into the living room, her curly hair bouncing with each step.

Pia looked up from her laptop, her eyes instantly lighting up. "Let me see, baby!" She took the crayon-filled paper into her hands and smiled. "You made my hair look so beautiful."

Prisha grinned. "Because you are beautiful!"

From the other room, Arjun chuckled. "She gets that from me."

Pia turned to look at him. Arjun had just entered the room, holding two mugs of coffee — one for her, one for him. He handed her the cup and kissed her forehead, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Good morning, my bestselling author."

Pia flushed a little, still not entirely used to the title. But it was true. The novel she had started writing three years ago — a deeply emotional and layered story about love, loss, and memory — had touched millions. It had recently won a prestigious literary award and was being translated into several languages. Readers saw it as a masterpiece, but only a few truly understood how deeply personal it was.

The book was her healing, her therapy, and in many ways, her redemption.

"You're embarrassing me in front of our daughter," Pia teased, though her heart swelled with joy.

Prisha laughed. "I'm going to be a writer like Mommy!"

"Well, then, you'd better start writing soon," Arjun said, picking Prisha up and tossing her gently in the air before catching her. She squealed with delight. "Because Mommy just finished her second novel!"

"Yes," Pia said softly, looking down at her laptop where the last few lines of her new book glowed on the screen. "The last chapter is finally done."

Arjun looked at her. "How does it feel?"

"Like I've finally closed the loop," Pia whispered.

The past had left scars. But time had stitched most of them with love. Pia had recovered her memories gradually, the most vivid of which came the day Prisha kicked inside her for the first time in her seventh month. It had felt like a spark from the past jolting her present. Everything had come flooding back — the accident, the child they had lost, the pain, the confusion, and Arjun's unwavering love. She remembered everything.

That night, she'd cried in his arms, apologizing again and again for the words she had thrown at him during her darkest days. Arjun had only held her tighter, his lips pressed against her temple as he whispered that nothing mattered anymore except her and their baby.

And now, five years later, life had blossomed in the most unexpected, beautiful way.

Pia's parents and Arjun's parents visited often. Aryaveer had retired from the hospital last year, and Rhea now spent most of her time with Prisha, passing on her knowledge of plants, nature, and the human body in her own quirky way.

That evening, they all gathered for dinner in the backyard under fairy lights and hanging lanterns. The long wooden table was filled with dishes Pia and Arjun had cooked together — their new weekend ritual.

Aryaveer raised a glass. "To Pia, whose words have not only healed her but have now started to heal others."

"To Mommy!" Prisha added, clinking her juice glass with her grandfather's.

Pia looked around the table, her heart filled to the brim. Her family was whole again.

Later that night, after tucking Prisha into bed, Pia and Arjun sat on their balcony. The air was cool, the stars above clear. Pia rested her head on his shoulder, her hand over his chest.

"Do you think she'll remember these days forever?" Pia asked softly.

Arjun kissed her hair. "We'll make sure she does."

"I sometimes still fear forgetting again…" she murmured. "Like I'll wake up tomorrow and think we just got married."

Arjun wrapped his arms tighter around her. "Then I'll love you all over again. From the beginning. As many times as it takes."

Pia looked up, eyes glistening. "You really would, wouldn't you?"

"I already have," he smiled. "Twice."

Pia laughed through the emotion. "I'm the luckiest woman alive."

"No," Arjun said, brushing his thumb over her cheek, "I'm the lucky one. I got to love you — through every version of you."

They leaned into each other, lips meeting in a slow, tender kiss that spoke of years of love, pain, and resilience.

As the night deepened and the stars glittered above, Pia knew one thing for certain: her story wasn't just the one written in books. It was in the quiet moments, the deep embraces, and the warmth of family. It was in a daughter's laughter and a husband's eyes. Her story was still being written — every day.

And this, she thought, was her favorite chapter yet.

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And this was the end.

Thank you so much for reading this story!!