The office felt quieter that evening.
Not because people had left—
But because something important was about to happen.
Anika stood near the window again.
Same place.
Different emotions.
She kept replaying his words.
"I was wrong."
"I miss you."
"I'll try."
But this time—
She wasn't ready to believe easily.
Footsteps.
She didn't turn.
"I knew you'd come here."
A pause.
"Yeah… you always do."
She closed her eyes for a second.
Then turned.
Arman Khurana stood there.
Not distant.
Not controlled.
Just… real.
"Why are you here?" she asked softly.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He walked closer.
Slowly.
Like he didn't want to scare her away.
"Because you asked for effort."
Silence.
Her heart skipped.
"And for the first time," he continued,
"I'm not overthinking it."
Anika crossed her arms slightly.
Guarded.
"Talking isn't effort."
He nodded.
"Then let me show you."
A pause.
Then—
"I spoke to my father."
That surprised her.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
"I told him about us."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
"And?" she asked quietly.
Arman exhaled slowly.
"He doesn't agree."
Her expression dropped slightly.
"But I don't care."
That brought her eyes back to him.
"For the first time in my life," he said,
"I chose something for myself."
A pause.
"I chose you."
Her breath caught.
"I've made decisions based on logic my whole life."
"Control. Reputation. Power."
He stepped closer.
"But you…"
His voice softened.
"You made me feel something I couldn't control."
Anika's eyes filled slightly.
"And I ran from it."
A small pause.
"But I'm not running anymore."
Silence.
Deep.
He stood right in front of her now.
No distance.
No walls.
"I don't want something easy."
"I don't want something safe."
His gaze locked with hers.
"I want you."
The words landed.
Clear.
Strong.
Unshakable.
Anika's heart raced.
"Not secretly."
"Not temporarily."
A step closer.
"Completely."
Her voice trembled slightly—
"Arman…"
"I'm not asking you to forget what I did," he said quickly.
"I'm asking you to give me a chance to fix it."
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Because this—
This was everything she had wanted to hear.
But it wasn't easy anymore.
"You hurt me," she said softly.
"I know."
"You made me feel like I didn't matter."
His voice dropped—
"You matter more than anything."
A tear slipped from her eye.
"And I hate that it took losing you for me to realize that," he admitted.
Silence.
Then—
Slowly—
Anika stepped closer.
Her voice barely above a whisper—
"Don't do that again."
Arman shook his head immediately.
"I won't."
A pause.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
That was it.
She closed the distance.
And hugged him.
Tightly.
This time—
Not out of pain.
But acceptance.
Arman held her just as firmly.
Like he wasn't letting go again.
After a moment—
She pulled back slightly.
"You're lucky I love you."
He smiled faintly.
"You're lucky I'm worth it."
She rolled her eyes.
"There he is."
He leaned closer.
"And you still chose me."
She smiled softly.
"Always did."
And this time—
When he kissed her—
It wasn't uncertain.
Wasn't hidden.
Wasn't temporary.
It was a promise.