Arc 2 ; Chapter 26 : The Song of Love Birds

It was around 4:30 in the evening. The golden light of the sun spilled through the trees of the park, casting long, soft shadows on the worn pathways. The temperature had started to drop, just enough for the breeze to carry a gentle chill. Children's laughter echoed across the park—loud, full of life—slowly replacing the quiet hum of the afternoon.

On a quiet bench near the far end of the park, Ayaan and Anaya sat side by side, watching families play and chatter around them. Parents smiled while chasing their toddlers, and giggles bounced in the air like bubbles.

Anaya's expression, however, carried a strange mix of melancholy and mischief. Her voice came out low but teasing.

"I'm jealous…" she said.

Ayaan turned to her with a puzzled look. "Jealous? Sitting here on this bench, watching kids laugh?" He smiled lightly. "So… you really like children?"

Without a word, Anaya gently leaned her head onto his shoulder. Ayaan tensed up just slightly, blushing as he subtly tried to adjust his posture to make her more comfortable.

But Anaya, clearly not satisfied with just silence, huffed in mock frustration. "I'm bored. You seriously lack the basic skills required to treat a girl properly on a date." She peeked at him with a sly smirk and added, "Especially when I wore this… thinking it might be the last time I get to wear it."

Ayaan blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, wha—?"

With fake tears forming in the corners of her eyes, she exaggerated, "And you didn't even compliment my dress. Not even once."

Looking almost panicked, Ayaan stammered, "W-what? Your dress is really beautiful! I just… I didn't know how to say it properly…"

Anaya leaned in a little, her voice dropping into a low, intimate whisper. "Oh… so you do think it's beautiful?"

Ayaan caught the faint scent of her perfume, and the warmth of her breath sent his heart racing. He swallowed hard, utterly flustered.

He was about to respond—maybe even say something bold—but the moment shattered when a sudden thwack echoed nearby.

A cane struck the ground.

A raspy voice followed.

"This is a city children's park, not some lovers' paradise!"

They both startled and turned to see a stern-looking park keeper—a grumpy man in his sixties with a crooked cap and a stick in hand—glaring at them. Several nearby children paused mid-play to stare, some giggling at the scene.

Anaya, wide-eyed, pulled back quickly from Ayaan's shoulder.

Ayaan, stiff as a statue, cleared his throat and avoided eye contact with anyone.

The moment was ruined… but the red tint on both their faces?

Still very much alive.

Then, Anaya leaned closer again and whispered, lips barely moving, "Before that old man calls the security… let's run away."

Without missing a beat, Ayaan's lips curled into a playful grin. He grabbed her hand and said softly, "Let's run away."

For a brief second—just as they darted off—a memory flashed in Anaya's mind:

A wedding ceremony. A bride sitting alone, eyes dim. Then—one hand reached out, grabbing hers with determination. A familiar male voice echoed, "Let's run away."

Anaya's eyes blinked back into the present as Ayaan pulled her with him.

She smiled—warm, nostalgic, alive.

"Yeah… just like you said back then… let's run away."

----

After dashing away hand-in-hand like mischievous teens escaping detention, Ayaan and Anaya slowed down as they realized the park keeper wasn't following them. Both of them looked at each other—and then burst out laughing. The tension melted into joy, a rare moment of carefree freedom.

As they wandered deeper into the park, their steps slowed when they saw a small crowd gathered near a play area. Ayaan's eyes focused on a parent trying to separate two young boys locked in a scuffle, while Anaya quietly observed a girl helping her little brother to his feet after he tripped.

Suddenly, Anaya spoke—not playfully, not teasing, but in a calm, grounded tone. "Yesterday at the hospital… I told you I'm an orphan," she said. Her gaze remained fixed ahead. "I want to be honest with you. I trust you so much, Ayaan. But there's still something I've been hiding. It's not because I don't want to share it… it's just…" She paused. "It still needs time."

Before Ayaan could respond, her eyes lit up with sudden energy. "Look! Sweet candy!" she pointed excitedly at a nearby vendor. "I don't have money right now. Buy me one, please!"

Caught off-guard by the emotional switch, Ayaan chuckled softly. "Okay, okay."

As they walked together toward the candy cart, Ayaan glanced sideways. "Anaya… can I ask you something?"

She turned toward him with a soft smile. "Hmm? Go ahead."

He took a deep breath. "I know you want to participate in this singing competition because of your late friend's wish… but—"

"But?" she echoed, her smile fading just slightly.

Ayaan's voice lowered with concern. "What if something happened at the competition? Like a fire… or an earthquake… or…" He hesitated. "A bomb blast?"

For a brief second, Anaya's expression froze. In her mind, she saw flashes—visions that flickered like déjà vu. Two paths: one ending in darkness, one still filled with light. But her smile returned, softer this time.

"With the blessings of Eswar uncle, who admires me like his own daughter… and the sense of security I feel from Ayaan, whom I admire as my partner… nothing will happen to me."

Ayaan froze. Her words struck deep, not as affection—but as faith. His heart thudded heavier than before.

He murmured, barely audible, "Captain Rathore… now I'm slowly understanding what you meant. The balance between bond… and mission."

Anaya noticed the distant look on his face and leaned closer. "You look like you're overthinking again. So, allow me to distract you. Let me sing something. A special one. The song is called… 'The Song of Love Birds.'"

She began to hum.

The melody was gentle, airy, almost ethereal. As the notes carried through the cool evening air, something strange happened—something beautiful. The flowers, dim under the dusky sky, seemed to regain their color. Children paused mid-play, their faces lifted in innocent awe. Parents looked at one another with quiet, nostalgic smiles.

When her song ended, a small wave of applause rippled across the park. Ayaan, caught in the moment, moved without thinking—he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Anaya, without hesitation, cupped his face and kissed him—softly, deeply—on the lips.

Gasps echoed. Some parents scrambled to cover their children's eyes.

And from a distance, a familiar voice shouted.

"Security!"

The park keeper, red-faced and furious, stormed forward.

---

7:00 p.m.

The bike rolled up in front of the hostel gates. The cool breeze had settled, and the night had begun to stretch its arms across the sky.

"So… this is your hostel," Ayaan said, half-smiling.

Anaya nodded. "Mhm. Thank you… for giving me such beautiful memories of our first date."

Ayaan, still flustered, nodded. "Bye. See you later. And by the way… your songs are beautiful. All of them sound so unique. Who's your inspiration?"

Anaya smiled.

"One is my late best friend," she said gently. "And the other one is…"

A flash appeared in her mind—of a young girl lying on a hospital bed, watching a boy quietly write something at a desk beside her.

"What are you doing?" she had asked.

The boy had smiled faintly. "Since you're the singer… I'm writing our journey as a song."

The memory faded.

"…It's a secret," Anaya finished with a playful tone.

Ayaan chuckled. "Okay, secret-keeper. See you tomorrow."

As he rode away, Anaya stood at the gate, whispering under her breath.

"Idiot. From the past four loops… you wrote all these songs."

She smiled—not at the past, but at the boy who finally, this time, stayed.