Chapter 2 – Where It All Began
Aarav stood in front of the tea shop.
Rain fell again, just like the first day. The same smell of wet road. The same sound of boiling tea. But Meera was not there.
He held the envelope tightly in his hand. Her words repeated in his mind.
Meet me where it all began.
The shopkeeper looked at Aarav and said, "Your tea?"
"Yes," Aarav replied. "Two cups."
The shopkeeper paused but said nothing.
Aarav sat at the same table. Time moved slowly. Every passing face made his heart rise and fall.
Then someone sat across from him.
It was not Meera.
It was an old woman.
She looked at Aarav with knowing eyes and gently pushed another envelope toward him.
"This is for you," she said.
Aarav's hands trembled as he opened it.
Inside was Meera's handwriting.
I wanted to tell you the truth sooner, but I was afraid.
If you are reading this, it means I couldn't come today.
Please don't look for me yet.
Some stories need distance before they meet again.
A tear dropped onto the paper.
Aarav looked up, but the old woman was already gone.
On the back of the letter, there was a date.
Tomorrow.