“Are you thinking of wandering into the woods again?” Aadhya asked, gently guiding her chestnut mare along the trail.Aabroo turned her own steed, a pale grey stallion, to face her friend.“Of course. You know I love visiting my musk deer,” she replied with a radiant smile.‘And perhaps… my dear stranger, too,’ she mused silently, a secret smile playing at the corners of her lips.She wasn’t sure she would see him again. But she hoped. Somehow, she always felt his presence near—like a whisper in the wind.Aadhya rolled her eyes.“You and your ridiculous adventures. I’m not going up there. I’ll stay down here and enjoy a peaceful ride with my horse.”Aabroo chuckled softly.“As you wish. Farewell,” she said, turning her horse towards the rising slopes of the mountain.The steady rhythm of her horse’s hooves echoed softly against the rocky earth as she rode uphill. Aadhya remained behind, watching in silence before heading in the opposite direction.Meanwhile, Aabroo made her way throug
When Aabroo returned, she was met by an angry Inayat, who scolded her for being so careless. Inayat had been worried about her the entire time. Aabroo’s habit of climbing mountains and touching peaks always unsettled her, because Aabroo was someone who would do anything for others — no matter the cost. And sometimes, that kind of kindness could come at a steep price.But Aabroo had her ways of making it up to Inayat. With her soft words and starry eyes, she always managed to win forgiveness.Afterwards, she and Aniruddha enjoyed the wild raspberries together. Meanwhile, Akshara had her share at home with her father, and she made sure to pass them around to everyone.That same night, it happened.Aabroo lay in her bed, not in deep sleep — just like her brother. The soft breeze of the night swayed the net curtains of her room. She rested on her plush bed, her gentle snores filling the air. Then, a sound shattered the silence.Footsteps.Though they were cautious, they still caught Aabro
Ten years had passed. Much had changed — Aabroo most of all.She was no longer the timid, shy girl of the past. She had become a wild, learned, and fierce woman. She was fire walking across stone, a phoenix soaring in the sky — untameable, her wings wide, setting the air ablaze.She had grown into a woman. A beautiful one. She had inherited her brother’s spirit — the refusal to give up — as she stared at her goal and smiled wide.“Finally…” she whispered, standing tall.“Aabroo!” a voice called from behind, loud and pleading.She turned, pressing her staff to the ground as she faced the rising figure. She smiled, watching the younger girl struggling to climb the mountain, taking heavy steps, leaning on her own staff for support.Aabroo waited patiently, settling herself on a rock, her eyes fixed on the girl.The girl climbed with effort, drawing long, deep breaths, as if trying to drink in the air itself.“It was... it was hard,” the girl said at last, dropping beside the rock and lea
After the baby was washed and gently cleaned, the midwives wrapped him in linen straps and brought him to Inayat. Her arms reached out eagerly to receive him. For a moment, she simply stared — gazing at the child in silent wonder. He was pink, fair, and delicate — beautiful in a way that made her breath catch. She looked at him as if seeing a miracle, awestruck by how God had blended her and Samarth’s features so perfectly into this tiny creation. In his face, she saw divine artistry — and the undeniable mark of Samarth. The realization that this was their son brought fresh tears to her eyes. She drew the baby close. Her motherly warmth soothed him instantly, as though this comfort was the one thing he had been longing for all along. Once she had held him, the midwives allowed Aabroo and Akshara into the room. Aabroo stepped forward first, her smile soft and full of awe. She leaned down, touched the baby's cheek, and whispered, “He’s so cute.” Akshara giggled quietly b
A few more days had passed since Samarth’s burial. Inayat had not spoken much since then. She could not bring herself to. The only words that echoed in her mind were the ones Aabroo had said to console her — “He’s gone to be with the Lord.” Those words gave her a fleeting peace, but now, silence had become her constant companion. She smiled at times, but used her voice only to read scripture or answer the occasional question from those around her. Beyond that, there was no idle talk, no laughter, no unnecessary chatter. It was as if she were sinking quietly into the comfort her environment could offer. During that time, Akshara, Raj’s daughter, had arrived safely. Raj was relieved to see her unharmed — not a single scratch on her. Her arrival brought joy to the household, especially for Aabroo, who now had a companion of her age to dance with, sing with, play with, and learn skills beside. Among the children of the village, the two girls were forging new and beautiful bonds. Both w
Inayat gently dismissed the women gathered around her and walked toward Aabroo. Her boots pressed softly against the smooth pebbles that filled the path, each step slow and deliberate as she approached the girl seated alone by the riverbank.The water whispered quietly in the stillness of the night, its surface glowing under the canopy of stars. Yet Aabroo seemed lost in a different world — until Inayat spoke her name.“Aabroo...”The girl turned at the sound, a small smile blooming on her lips without hesitation. She remained seated on the rock, looking over her shoulder.“Inayat, you should be in bed,” she said gently. “It’s late. You need your rest.”Inayat paused for a moment, struck by the calm wisdom in the child’s voice. Aabroo had changed — there was something older now in her gaze, something that pain had etched into her.“And so should you,” Inayat replied, her voice carrying across the hush of the river. “You think I shouldn’t be out, but don’t you think the same goes for y