13th August, 2024 — 11:03 AM
The city was alive under the late morning sun, but Aryan felt strangely at ease. For once, there was no rush to the office, no buzzing phone calls from clients, no mounting deadlines. It was his day off—a rare breather in the monotony of life—and he thought it'd be nice to take a stroll outside and maybe bring back something fresh from the local market.
He dressed casually, pulling on a comfortable shirt and jeans, his mind wandering toward Sonia as he stepped outside. It had been years since they parted. But she still lingered—every smile in the crowd reminded him of her, every silence echoed her absence.
As he walked along the bustling main road, weaving between vegetable vendors and rickshaw pullers, a sudden voice pierced through the chaos.
"Aryan!"
It was a girl's voice—familiar, urgent, and full of desperation.
His head snapped toward the sound.
Across the road, a girl was running toward him—but before Aryan could even react, a car came speeding past.
SCREECH—
A sickening thud echoed, silencing the street.
People screamed. A crowd formed. Horns honked but faded into the background.
Aryan's heart froze. He rushed forward, shoving through the circle of bystanders.
"S-Sonia...? No… no, it can't be…"
His voice trembled. But there she was—unconscious, blood pooling around her head, her breathing shallow and uneven.
Without wasting a second, Aryan hailed a passing auto, cradled Sonia carefully in his arms, and shouted the name of the nearest hospital.
Tears streamed down his face. The wind in the auto rickshaw was warm and sticky, but all he felt was cold.
In the emergency room, chaos unfolded. The nurses prepared the stretcher. Aryan didn't let go of her hand until they forced him to.
Then—just before the doors to the operation theatre swung closed—Sonia stirred.
Her lips moved faintly. She looked at Aryan.
"W-Why… did you break up… A-Aryan...?"
Her fingers weakly clutched his hand.
And then, silence.
Aryan had no words.
He just stood there, her voice echoing through his mind as the doors slammed shut and the red light turned on.
---
25th August, 2014 – Ten Years Ago
It was Sonia's suggestion to meet her father. Aryan, nervous yet hopeful, had agreed.
The upscale restaurant was mostly quiet that evening. Chandeliers gleamed, jazz music played softly in the background.
Sonia's father was already seated, straight-backed and cold-faced.
"Sit," he said curtly.
Aryan sat down. A waiter approached.
"What will you have, Aryan?" her father asked.
"I'll have whatever you're having, Uncle," he said, attempting a polite smile.
Her father scoffed lightly. "Sonia says you're a quiet type. That true?"
Aryan just nodded.
The waiter returned. "Two cold coffees," Sonia's father ordered.
"So... Aryan. Your parents?"
"They passed away... in a road accident. A long time ago."
There was a pause.
"Sorry to hear that."
"It's alright, Uncle. I was still in school then."
"So who do you live with now?"
"I live alone."
Her father raised an eyebrow. "How do you manage expenses?"
"Part-time jobs here and there. Plus, I survive on savings my parents left behind."
"Hmm. So your family was wealthy?"
"My father was a scientist. My mother, an advocate."
There was a longer pause. Then came the question.
"Do you love my daughter?"
"Yes, sir. Very much."
"And what can you do for her?"
Aryan hesitated. "I... I've never thought about it like that. But I would do anything for her."
A long sip of cold coffee. Then the words fell.
"Good," Sonia's father said. "Then leave her."
Aryan blinked. "S-Sorry…? I don't understand."
"I'm saying... leave Sonia. Break up with her."
"Why? What have I done?"
"It's not about what you've done. Look at yourself. No family. No secure job. No future. Sonia deserves stability. You can't offer that."
"I—maybe one day I will. I'm studying hard. I'll make something of myself!"
"I can't gamble my daughter's life on maybe, Aryan. And if you love her… truly love her… let her go."
Aryan's world went still.
He didn't argue.
He just lowered his head.
---
The Next Day – At the Park
The park was quiet that afternoon. Aryan sat on the bench, watching the clouds float lazily overhead. His mind was blank. His hands were cold.
Then—Sonia's voice, bright and playful, cut through the silence.
"Oh, hello mister! What are you staring at in the sky?"
Aryan looked at her. She was glowing with joy. Beautiful as ever.
"Nothing," he murmured, looking away.
She sat beside him, swinging her legs slightly. "So? What did you and Dad talk about?"
Aryan swallowed. "Nothing much."
A pause.
"Well, listen... Sonia…"
"Yes?"
"We should part ways. It's better to break up."
He stood up immediately. He couldn't bear to see her face twist in pain.
Sonia said nothing.
She just sat there, stunned.
Watching as he walked away.
---
Back to 13th August, 2024
Aryan stood outside the hospital room, Sonia's family now there. Her father approached, anger in his eyes.
"You! Why are you here? Where is she?!"
"She's inside, uncle..."
Before he could say more, Sonia's mother intervened.
"He saved our daughter's life! And you're questioning him? Be grateful."
Aryan quietly bowed. "I'll go home now."
He didn't wait for a reply.
---
He never made it to the market. The walk back felt endless.
Every step was heavy. His chest was suffocating.
When he entered his small home, the silence was unbearable. He slammed his bedroom door and collapsed onto the bed.
Then, suddenly—rage.
He stood up, fists clenched.
BAM.
He punched the wall. Again.
BAM. BAM. BAM.
"Why?! Why her?! It's all because of me!"
His fists were bloodied, but he didn't stop.
Then, something shifted. A dull crack. A hollow echo.
He froze.
One side of the wall had come loose. Carefully, Aryan pried it open.
Behind the wall was a hidden room—dusty, full of old files and machines.
His father's research lab.
He stepped inside slowly, like he was stepping into someone's forgotten memory.
There, on a shelf, was a box labeled Past Watch.
Aryan opened it. Inside was a sleek silver watch with strange symbols. It hummed faintly with energy.
He slipped it onto his wrist.
Suddenly—two options appeared:
1. PAST
2. FUTURE (Locked)
Confused, Aryan tapped "Past."
A mechanical voice rang in his ears:
"Past selected. Transferring in 5 seconds."
"What the—?"
"5… 4… 3… 2… 1…"
FLASH.
---
Everything changed.
Seagulls cried overhead. The scent of saltwater filled the air.
Aryan looked around. The sea stretched endlessly before him. Wind whipped through his hair.
Then—a voice.
"Aryan…!"
He turned around.
It was her. Sonia.
Alive. Smiling. Running toward him on the sand.
"Aryan! Let's go there!" she pointed cheerfully.
Aryan's eyes filled with tears.
He couldn't speak.
He could only cry.
He was back.
Back to the moment when it all could change.
---
To Be Continued…