The orientation session had ended almost an hour ago.

Yet Aradhya still couldn't believe what had happened.

After years...

She had found Siya again.

Or rather-

Siya had found her.

The moment Siya spotted her outside the auditorium, she had screamed loud enough for half the campus to hear.

"ARRRUUUUUUUUU!"

Before Aradhya could even process what was happening, Siya had launched herself at her.

The force nearly knocked her backward.

"Siya?"

The next second both girls were crying.

Laughing.

Talking.

Crying again.

As if all the years between them had disappeared.

Now both girls sat under a large tree near the campus.

For the first time in years, Aradhya found herself smiling genuinely.

"So..." Siya narrowed her eyes. "Remember when you blamed me for stealing your chocolate?"

"You did steal it."

"I didn't!"

"You ate it in front of me."

"I was protecting it."

"By eating it?"

"Exactly."

Aradhya laughed softly.

A real laugh.

One Siya hadn't heard in years.

And somehow...

It hurt.

Because she remembered another Aradhya.

The cheerful girl.

The bubbly girl.

The girl who used to talk nonstop.

The girl sitting beside her now looked older than her age.

Quieter.

Sadder.

As if life had stolen something precious from her.

Siya gently held her hand.

"Aru..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you happy?"

The question froze her.

For a few moments she didn't answer.

Then she smiled.

A small smile.

The kind that hid pain.

"I'm okay."

Siya immediately understood.

She wasn't okay.

Not even close.

After a while Siya casually asked,

"Waise, where are you staying?"

Aradhya's smile disappeared.

Siya frowned.

"Aru?"

"I..."

"Hostel?"

Aradhya shook her head.

"PG?"

Again she shook her head.

Siya's heartbeat quickened.

"Aru... where are you staying?"

Silence.

Then suddenly-

Tears filled Aradhya's eyes.

Siya panicked.

"Aru!"

"I don't know."

The words came out broken.

"I don't know where I'll stay."

Siya stared at her.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

And slowly...

Everything came out.

No phone.

No accommodation.

No money.

No guidance.

No support.

No one asking whether she reached safely.

No one caring.

She told Siya everything.

About the train.

About being scared.

About planning to sell her gold chain.

About sleeping on a footpath if necessary.

By the time she finished speaking, she was crying uncontrollably.

Siya sat frozen.

Anger burned inside her.

How could parents do this?

How could they send their daughter to another city without caring whether she would survive?

But looking at Aradhya's broken face...

She swallowed her anger.

Because right now Aradhya needed comfort.

Not rage.

Without saying anything Siya stood up.

"Come."

"W-where?"

"My house."

"No."

"Yes."

"No, Siya."

"Yes, Aradhya."

"I'll become a burden."

Siya glared.

"If you say burden one more time, I swear I'll throw you into the college fountain."

Despite her tears, Aradhya let out a tiny laugh.

"Aru."

"Hmm?"

"You are coming home."

And for the first time...

Aradhya didn't have the strength to argue.

Inside the taxi...

Aradhya sat beside Siya.

The constant stress.

The sleepless night.

The exhausting journey.

Everything finally caught up to her.

Within minutes her eyes closed.

And her head slowly fell onto Siya's shoulder.

Siya looked down.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

This was the same girl who once protected her from bullies.

The same girl who shared her lunch.

The same girl who cried for three days when Siya left.

Yet now...

She looked so fragile.

So exhausted.

Carefully, Siya rested her own head against Aradhya's.

And allowed her best friend to sleep.

A few minutes later they arrived.

The Malhotra residence.

Not a mansion.

Not luxurious.

But beautiful.

Warm.

A home.

As they walked toward the entrance, Siya grinned mischievously.

"Hide behind me."

"Why?"

"Surprise."

Aradhya obediently hid.

Siya rang the doorbell.

A maid opened the door.

Before she could say anything-

A woman's voice echoed from inside.

"Siya!"

The woman walked out carrying a water jug.

"Subah jo mess create kiya tha, woh clean kiya ya nahi? Aur tum-"

She stopped.

The jug slipped from her hand.

Crash.

Water spread across the floor.

Because standing behind Siya...

Was a girl she hadn't seen in years.

A girl she loved like her own daughter.

For a moment neither moved.

Then the woman whispered,

"A...Aru?"

Aradhya's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Aunty..."

The next second-

She was pulled into a tight hug.

"Meri bachchi..."

Both broke down.

The woman cried while kissing her forehead repeatedly.

"Kitni badi ho gayi tu..."

Aradhya simply hugged her tighter.

For years...

She had craved a mother's embrace.

And now...

Someone was giving it freely.

Siya's mother, Meera Malhotra, refused to let Aradhya leave her side.

By lunchtime she had already filled Aradhya's plate three times.

"Bas aunty-"

"No."

"Aunty please-"

"Bilkul nahi."

Another bite.

Another spoonful.

Another bite.

Suddenly tears slipped from Aradhya's eyes.

Meera froze.

"Beta?"

No one had fed her like this before.

Not once.

Not even when she was little.

Meera immediately understood.

Her own eyes filled.

And before the atmosphere could become heavier-

Siya protested dramatically.

"Mummy! This is favoritism."

Both looked at her.

"Excuse me?"

"You've adopted my best friend."

"Good."

"Mummy!"

"Ab tumhari jagah Aradhya meri favourite beti hai."

"MUMMYYYYY!"

For the first time in years...

Aradhya laughed loudly.

That evening...

The main door opened.

"Meera, chai milegi?"

A familiar voice entered.

Raj Malhotra.

Siya's father.

The moment he entered the living room his eyes landed on Aradhya.

He froze.

The briefcase slipped from his hand.

"Aru?"

Aradhya immediately stood.

"Uncle..."

Before she could say anything-

Raj pulled her into a hug.

The same way a father hugs his daughter after years apart.

"My princess."

And just like that...

The tears returned.

Again.

Because another person had welcomed her home.

That night it was officially decided.

Aradhya would stay with them.

"No."

"Aru."

"No."

"Aru."

"I can't."

"You can."

"I'll be a burden."

The entire family glared at her.

Finally Meera spoke softly,

"Beta, daughters are never burdens."

The words shattered whatever little control Aradhya had left.

She burst into tears.

Violent.

Broken.

Years of pain pouring out.

Meera immediately sat beside her and pulled her into her lap.

The way a mother comforts a child.

"It's okay."

"Why?" Aradhya cried. "Why did they leave me? Why didn't they take me with them?

Why don't they love me?"

The room fell silent.

Even Siya started crying.

Meera gently stroked her hair.

"I don't know, beta."

"Am I that bad?"

"No."

"Then why?"

Meera kissed her forehead.

"Because sometimes parents fail."

Aradhya cried harder.

And Meera simply held her.

Letting her grieve.

Letting her break.

Letting her finally feel safe.

After a long time she whispered,

"Now you're here."

Aradhya looked up

Meera smiled through tears.

"And we're not letting you go anywhere."

Later...

Meera showed Aradhya her room.

A beautiful room prepared lovingly.

Siya immediately announced,

"I'm sleeping here."

"No."

"Mummy!"

"No."

"Mummy!"

"No."

Everyone laughed.

For once.

Aradhya wasn't the reason for someone's anger.

She was the reason for their happiness.

After changing into the night suit Meera had given her, Aradhya sat quietly on the balcony.

The cool breeze brushed against her face.

For the first time in years...

Her heart felt lighter.

Knock.

Knock.

She opened the door.

Raj and Meera stood there.

"Can we come in?"

She nodded.

The three sat together.

For a while they simply talked.

About studies.

About Mumbai.

About KK University.

Then suddenly-

The dam broke again.

Aradhya rested her head in Meera's lap and started crying.

Everything came out.

Every insult.

Every beating.

Every lonely birthday.

Every moment she spent wondering why she wasn't enough.

Raj clenched his fists.

Meera silently cried.

Yet neither interrupted.

They simply listened.

When she finally stopped, exhausted and sleepy, Raj gently placed his hand on her head.

"Listen carefully."

Aradhya looked at him.

"From today..."

His voice softened.

"I am your dad."

Tears gathered again.

"And I am your mom," Meera whispered.

"No arguments."

"No formalities."

"No distance."

"Understood?"

Aradhya nodded.

Unable to speak.

Meera kissed her forehead.

Raj tucked a blanket around her.

And for the first time in her life...

Aradhya fell asleep feeling like someone's daughter.

Loved.

Protected.

Home.