The skies over Bokaro were painted in golden streaks that evening — not just with the sun’s light, but something more.

Something powerful.

Something that felt like a promise kept.

Zoya sat by the window of her room, head resting against the glass, eyes far away. The same streets, the same neighborhood, the same cage… but her heart refused to feel caged anymore.

Because today… something felt different.

Downstairs, chaos was blooming. Nida had been running around in excitement since morning. Her khala kept fixing the cushions in the drawing room. Her ammi, though still stern, kept peeking at the door every ten minutes.

And Zoya?

She didn’t know why, but her heart was beating like it remembered something important.

Until—

The honk of a car.

The slam of a door.

And then…

“Zoya!”

That voice.

She ran.

Barefoot, heartbeat wild, dupatta trailing behind her as she dashed down the stairs and flung open the door.

And there he stood.

In a crisp white shirt tucked into black pants, watch gleaming on his wrist, hair perfectly set, and the kind of confident smile that said:

"I did it."

“Akif…”

He stepped forward and just — opened his arms.

She didn’t even wait.

She crashed into his chest, her fists clutching the fabric of his shirt as she let out the breath she’d been holding for months.

“You came back.”

“I told you I would,” he whispered into her hair, voice steady. “Not just as your Akif... but as the man who promised to build something real — for both of us.”

Her eyes widened, pulling back just enough to look at him.

“What happened? What changed?”

He grinned now, eyes bright. “I launched it. The startup. The app we built in secret, it’s live. And guess what?”

“What?” she whispered.

“We got funded. I’m officially the CEO.”

Her breath caught.

CEO.

The dream.

The boy who once sat beside her in a library, sketching his ideas on the corner of a page, now stood tall, sure, shining.

“You did it,” she whispered, tears collecting in her lashes.

He cupped her face gently. “We did it. You were the reason I never gave up. The reason I kept going even when I thought I couldn’t.”

A soft sound came from behind them — her father, standing at the doorway with folded arms. He wasn’t smiling. But he wasn’t frowning either.

And Zoya’s heart almost stopped.

Akif turned to him.

“Uncle,” he greeted, firm and respectful.

Her father gave a small nod. “Come in. I heard what you’ve achieved. Sit. We’ll talk.”

No rage.

No accusations.

Zoya blinked.

Akif glanced at her one last time, and she gave the smallest smile, like saying:

“You’re home.”

---

That evening, as the sun set, Akif sat across her father with calm dignity.

They discussed business. Responsibility. Dreams. Family.

And this time… her father didn’t ask if he was serious.

He already knew the answer.

He only said one thing before leaving the room:

“You’re still young, both of you. But if your love is real, you’ll prove it with patience.”

Akif nodded. “We will. Just… allow her to breathe.”

Her father’s eyes softened. “She’s not a prisoner anymore, beta. You’ve earned that trust.”

Zoya, listening from the stairs, let the tears fall silently.

Not from pain.

But from peace.

---

That night, Akif and Zoya sat on the terrace, just like they had in the beginning.

The stars were brighter now. Or maybe her world finally let them in.

He leaned back on his elbows, gazing at the sky.

“I wanted to be someone worthy of your fight,” he said.

“You were always worthy,” she replied, gently slipping her hand into his. “You just had to see it too.”

He smiled.

Not the flirty one. Not the teasing one.

The real one.

The one he reserved for her.

And in that silence, nothing needed to be said.

Because they had arrived.

Together.

And the journey had only just begun.

---

Emotional chapters are over! Did I gave tooo long? Aish I just went in flow (😅). No worries no more drama for NOW.

~Anniewrites😉💗