Sonal, Jay, and their wives, their anxiety peaking, finally tracked down Dr. Runa. They found her in a private clinic, and after explaining the seriousness of the board's threat and Aryan's disappearance, Runa reluctantly agreed to talk.
"Aryan isn't just hiding from the board," Runa said, her gaze steady but tired. "He's been rebuilding his life. The truth you need to understand isn't about the company; it's about the seven-year gap in his life and the years of heartbreak that preceded it."
Sonal mentioned the accident and the resignation, but Runa shook her head. "That was professional strategy. What broke him, before the accident, was his love story. You all assumed Aryan and Ayra were married, living happily ever after, right? They never got married."
Sonal and Jay were stunned. "But why?"
Runa sighed. "Ayra's older sister was the reason. Aryan has this immense respect and love for the concept of a sister; a bond he cherished. Ayra's sister took advantage of that. During Aryan and Ayra's long-distance relationship phase, Ayra's sister systematically consumed Aryan's time, which was meant for Ayra."
"Why would she do that?" Jay asked, bewildered.
"She created disputes," Runa revealed grimly. "She actively raised and encouraged Aryan's possessive tendencies, overthinking, and jealousy regarding Ayra. She played the mediator, pretending to support Aryan while poisoning his mind. When Aryan and Ayra fought fights the sister often engineered; she would then act as Aryan's confidante, advising Ayra to leave Aryan so she could be 'peaceful,' free from 'conflicts and restrictions.'"
Runa recounted the tragic culmination. "The pressure, the manipulation, and Aryan's deep-seated respect for his 'sister bond' finally fractured them. Aryan, feeling helpless and cornered, agreed with the sister's suggestion that they break up. It was a manipulative victory for her."
"Aryan plunged into a depression that lasted over a year. He rejected the entire emotion of love. He tried desperately to win Ayra back, but every attempt failed. Ayra was gone, scarred by the conflicts and believing she had been suffocated by Aryan's jealousy—jealousy that was largely stoked by her own sister."
Runa leaned forward, lowering her voice. "He was successful, yes. He was the brilliant CTO. But emotionally, he was dead. And that, gentlemen, is where the story of Mira begins."
"After a year of isolation, Aryan met Mira. She was a fast-paced, adventurous, and active extrovert who had also been through a painful past. They connected over their shared emotional scars. They weren't seeking love; they were seeking a way out of their respective phases."
Runa's expression softened. "Mira brought Aryan out of his shell. She showed him the new-generation world, its vibrancy, its culture. He experienced things he never knew existed. Mira healed completely through her bond with Aryan. But for Aryan, it was different. He couldn't fully shake Ayra's memory."
"He felt tremendous guilt, thinking he was cheating Mira, because Ayra was in everything that shaped him. But he loved Mira unconditionally. She loved him with an energetic, fresh, and complete devotion that surprised him every day. She gave him beautiful memories; she truly made him a true man; stronger, more self-aware."
"Mira's love surpassed Ayra's, not in depth perhaps, but in its ability to heal and transform him in the present. She became his definition of unconditional love. Aryan built her a new world of hope and importance."
"Their relationship, however, had an expiration date. Due to varied family backgrounds and insurmountable differences, they couldn't marry. They had a peaceful, mutual breakup, agreeing to remain the best friends and partners they had become. They saw the world together and learned every single thing about each other. They achieved a level of synch and understanding that is almost impossible to find."
"Mira taught him how to live in the world without her as his soulmate. Aryan taught her the world, and gave her hope. They stayed together for years, helping each other through every crisis, even after the romantic bond ended. Their devotion remains absolute."
Sonal took a deep breath. "So, where are they now? And what about Ayra?"
Runa looked at Sonal, a new, cold severity in her eyes. "That's the real challenge. Aryan successfully led everyone at Techinnov to believe that he resigned to be with Ayra. But that was a necessary lie, a shield."
"Aryan was never with Ayra during those seven years."