Back in India, Manisha and Manoj had made the difficult decision to leave the Poddar mansion, a place that held a mix of fond and painful memories. The opulent halls, once filled with laughter and warmth, now seemed empty and hollow. The pain of their past still lingered, a constant reminder of what they had lost. Their daughter, Kiara, was no longer with them, and the weight of that separation was crushing.

Despite the distance between them, Manisha and Manoj made it a point to talk to Kiara every day, cherishing the brief moments they shared with her over the phone. They would ask her about her day, her friends, and her studies, listening intently to every word. Kiara's voice was music to their ears, a soothing balm that calmed their frayed nerves.

However, Kiara had made one thing clear: she didn't want them to meet her, at least not for now. Manisha and Manoj respected Kiara's wishes, even though it tore them apart. They longed to see their daughter, to hold her in their arms, and to tell her how much they loved her. They yearned to apologize for their past mistakes, to make amends, and to start anew.

But they knew they had to give Kiara the space she needed, no matter how hard it was for them. They understood that their daughter was still hurting, still trying to come to terms with her past. And so, they waited patiently, hoping that one day Kiara would forgive them and welcome them back into her life.

As they settled into their new life in Jaipur, Manisha and Manoj couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. Their home was quiet, devoid of the laughter and chatter that once filled it. They would often find themselves wandering the empty rooms, searching for a glimpse of Kiara's smile, a whisper of her voice.

But even in the midst of their sorrow, Manisha and Manoj found solace in each other. They held on to the love they shared, the love that had seen them through the darkest of times. And they held on to the hope that one day, they would be reunited with their beloved daughter, Kiara.

........

"Kiara, uth jaa, kitna soegi!" Dhvani exclaimed, trying to rouse her best friend from slumber for what felt like the hundredth time. She gently shook Kiara's shoulders, attempting to stir her awake. Kiara's eyes fluttered open, and she gazed at Dhvani with a disoriented expression.

"Aaj agar late ho gaya toh cafe ki job haath se jayegi," Dhvani warned, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and concern. "Aaj AB aane wale hain," she added, emphasizing the importance of the day. Dhvani's eyes sparkled with excitement as she tossed Kiara's duvet aside. 

"Ab agar tu nahi uthi toh yeh baalti ka paani tere upar jayega!" Dhvani warned, her eyes glinting with mischief as she brought a bucket of water from the bathroom. She stood beside Kiara's bed, the bucket poised precariously over Kiara's sleeping form. Kiara's eyes, which had been closed in blissful slumber just moments before, snapped open to behold the menacing bucket.

Kiara's eyes widened in alarm as she gazed at the bucket in Dhvani's hands. "Dhvani, pagal hai kya? Yeh kya kar rahi hai?" she exclaimed, scrambling to get out of bed and escape the impending deluge. She tossed aside the covers and made a frantic grab for her pillow, holding it up like a shield to deflect the anticipated splash. Dhvani's grin only grew wider as she watched Kiara's frantic attempts to evade the bucket's contents.

Dhvani grinned, her face set in a determined expression. "Main yeh kar rahi hoon taki tu uth jaye! Abhi tak toh tu so rahi thi, aur ab humein cafe jaana hai," she said, her voice firm but playful. She took a step closer to Kiara, the bucket still poised ominously over Kiara's head. Kiara's eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape route or a way to deflect the bucket's contents. But Dhvani was relentless, her determination to rouse Kiara from slumber unwavering. 

Kiara laughed, holding up her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! Main uth gayi! Ab yeh paani wapas le jao!" she exclaimed, watching as Dhvani giggled and poured the water back into the bucket. Kiara breathed a sigh of relief as the bucket's contents were safely contained once more. She tossed aside her pillow and swung her legs over the side of the bed, planting her feet firmly on the ground. "Thanks for the wake-up call, Dhvani," she said dryly, "but next time, can we just stick to coffee?"

Dhvani giggled and skipped over to the kitchen, where she had already prepared a steaming hot cup of coffee. "Arre, I knew you'd see things my way!" she exclaimed, handing Kiara the cup. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted up, enticing Kiara's senses and helping to shake off the remnants of sleep.

Kiara took a sip of the coffee, feeling the warmth spread through her veins. "Mmm, this is just what I needed," she said, smiling at Dhvani. "You're a lifesaver, Dhvani. I don't know what I'd do without you." Dhvani beamed with pride, happy to have been able to help her friend.

Kiara's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked the question, her coffee cup paused mid-air. "Waise who is ASB?" she asked, her voice laced with intrigue. Dhvani's grin faltered for a moment, and she looked around the room cautiously before responding in a hushed tone.

 "Arrey, the whole cafe staff calls our boss ASB, we don't know his full name!" she whispered, her eyes wide with excitement. Kiara's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she leaned in closer to Dhvani, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Really? That's so mysterious! What's his story, do you think?" Kiara asked, her curiosity piqued. Dhvani shrugged, her expression mischievous, and she began to speculate.

"Nobody knows, but there are rumors that he's some kind of billionaire or something. He's always traveling, and when he's here, he's super strict but really fair," Dhvani said, her voice barely above a whisper. Kiara's eyes grew wide with wonder, her imagination running wild with possibilities.

"Log kehte hain ki woh anath hai, aur bahut kam baat karta hai," Dhvani explained, her voice low and conspiratorial. Kiara's eyes widened with surprise, and she leaned in closer to Dhvani, fascinated by the rumors surrounding ASB.

"Really? An orphan?" Kiara repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. Dhvani nodded, her expression serious.

"Yeah, people say he lost his parents when he was a kid. And he's built this cafe from scratch, fighting against all odds," Dhvani said, her eyes shining with admiration. Kiara's heart went out to ASB, and she felt a pang of sympathy for the mysterious cafe owner.

Dhvani's eyes sparkled with excitement as she revealed another piece of the puzzle. "You know, the 'A' in The "A' Cafe is actually the first letter of his father's, mother's, and his own name," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

 Kiara's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's so cool!" she exclaimed. Dhvani nodded, a smile spreading across her face.

"Yeah, he named the cafe "A" as a tribute to his family. It's like, a way of keeping their memory alive," Dhvani explained, her voice filled with admiration. Kiara's heart swelled with emotion, and she felt a deep respect for the mysterious ASB.

"That's so beautiful," Kiara said, her voice filled with sincerity. "I can see why he's so passionate about the cafe. It's not just a business, it's a way of honoring his family's legacy." Dhvani nodded in agreement, and the two friends sat in silence for a moment, lost in their own thoughts.

"I've heard that ASB has another job, but for the life of me, I just can't remember what it is," Dhvani said, scrunching up her face in concentration. She tapped her forehead, as if trying to jog her memory. "It's driving me crazy! I know it's something unusual, but the details are just out of reach."

 Ah, wait, it's on the tip of my tongue!" she exclaimed, tapping her forehead in frustration.

Kiara watched her friend with amusement, curious about what Dhvani might remember. "Take your time, Dhvani, it'll come to you," Kiara encouraged, sipping her coffee.

Dhvani's eyes sparkled as a look of determination crossed her face. "I know it's something... unusual. Not a typical 9-to-5 job, that's for sure," she muttered to herself, pacing back and forth across the room.

Kiara raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Dhvani's words. "Unusual? What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. Dhvani stopped pacing and turned to face Kiara, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Dhvani's eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "Ohh yes! He's a singer, a rockstar!" .

Dhvani's words hung in the air like a challenge, striking a chord deep within Kiara's soul. As she processed the revelation, Kiara's eyes widened in shock, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. Her heart began to pound faster.

The memories Kiara thought she had long buried came flooding back, like a tidal wave crashing against the shores of her mind. She felt herself being pulled back into the past, reliving the pain and heartache she had endured when her love had rejected her.

It was as if the wound had never fully healed, and the mere mention of a rockstar had torn the scab off, exposing the raw, tender flesh beneath. Kiara's heart felt like it was breaking all over again, the ache and anguish threatening to consume her.

She remembered the way her love had walked away, leaving her shattered and alone. The way he had rejected her, not just her love, but her very being. The memories still lingered, a constant reminder of the pain she had endured, and the love she had lost.

But she also saw the darker side of her past. The broken relationships, the shattered dreams, and the crippling self-doubt that had once threatened to destroy her. Kiara's heart began to pound faster, as if it was trying to outrun the memories that were chasing her.

Dhvani's voice cut through the fog of Kiara's memories, bringing her back to the present. "Kiara, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Dhvani said, her voice laced with concern. Kiara took a deep breath, trying to shake off the memories that still lingered in her mind. "I'm fine, Dhvani. Just a little... surprised," Kiara said, trying to smile. But Dhvani's eyes told her that she wasn't fooling anyone - least of all herself.