Shree stood at the departure gate of the bustling airport, her carry-on bag clutched tightly, eyes scanning the illuminated flight information boards. The urgency in her voice was evident as she repeatedly dialed Madhav's number, her heart sinking with each unanswered call. "Madhav, please, just one call," she pleaded, her voice trembling with a mix of worry and despair.

Meanwhile, in his office nestled in a high-rise building, Madhav sat behind his polished desk, his brow creased with concern. His phone, a constant vibration on the sleek surface, flashed incessantly with Shree's name, each call a pang of guilt that weighed heavily on him. He hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen, a silent battle raging within him. Yet, in a regretful moment, he powered off his phone, choosing to shut out the calls rather than face the brewing turmoil.

Amidst the commotion of the airport, the announcement system crackled to life, its cheerful tone contrasting sharply with Shree's distressed state. "Final boarding call for Flight 287 to London, now boarding at Gate 12," echoed throughout the terminal, each word carving a deeper sense of urgency within her.

"Where is he?" Devi, Shree's sister asks as she looks around her, admiring the children who try to help their parents push the luggage trolleys. "Didn't he say he'd come here straightaway from work?"

"He should be here by now, right? It's almost 10 PM." Madhav's father RK wonders. Taking his phone he calls Madhav's office. "Come on, you stubborn little baby, pick up! Pick up! Pick- Shree speak to him."

Shree quickly took the phone from him, with shaking hands. "Hello Madhav. Where are you?"

He abruptly ends the call.

Shree returns the phone to RK and sighs.

"What is that urgent thing you wanted to tell him?" Shree's mother Lakshmi asks concerned, holding Shree's arm.

"I'm pregnant." Shree whispers. "I'm on my second week. I found out in the morning."

"That's-that's amazing. Oh! I am so happy for you!" She says hugging Shree.

"This is- this is wonderful!" RK exclaims in happiness. "God, I wish you weren't going to London right now. It breaks my heart to know that you'll be pregnant and alone in an unknown city."

"It's okay father-in-law , I can manage." Shree says smiling. "I want to follow my dreams and I want to proceed with this pregnancy. It can be difficult to raise a baby while doing a degree, but I'm sure I can do this."

"You have our support, Shree." He says. "If you say you want the degree as well as the baby, then we will do all what we can to support you. You aren't alone. I'll send some money, every month. Your mother or myself will be visiting you every month. I can hire a nurse to look after the baby after the birth. My point is, you won't be alone, dear. Don't worry."

"My only worry is that I can't tell Madhav before I leave."

"You can tell him the day he puts he decides to put his stubbornness aside and starts to talk to you." Lakshmi exclaims. "Go catch that plane, my dear. I feel that a better life awaits you in the UK."

Shree's eyes darted towards the departure gate, with a heavy heart, she resigned herself to the reality before her and joined the queue, the shuffle of passengers becoming a blur in her tear-filled gaze.

Approaching the gate, Shree handed her boarding pass to the gate agent, the vulnerability in her eyes belying the facade of composure she attempted. The agent offered a gentle smile, oblivious to the inner turmoil of the passenger before him. With one last glance over her shoulder, a yearning for a familiar figure, a glimpse of Madhav, she stepped onto the jet bridge.

"Thank you," her voice wavered, a bittersweet farewell that lingered in the air, a hope, a wish, unheard and unfulfilled.

In the silent expanse of his office, the absence of the phone's incessant buzz created an eerie void. Madhav stared at the now-blank screen, the weight of his decision settling heavily on his chest. Regret gnawed at him, a sinking realization of what he had allowed to slip through his fingers.

The room felt suffocatingly quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of emotions brewing within him. He knew in that moment that he had made a grave mistake, one that could cost him everything he held dear.

As Shree settled into her seat on the plane, she gazed out of the window, the distant lights of the airport twinkling like stars against the dark canvas of the night. Her mind drifted back to a time when their world was adorned with joy and shared laughter.

In the hallowed corridors of her memories, she found solace in a beautiful recollection-the first Diwali after their wedding. The air had been filled with the fragrance of marigold flowers and the warmth of shared glances. Madhav, with his eyes aglow, had surprised her with a cascade of fairy lights that adorned their home.

The memory unfolded like a cherished tapestry. They had stood together, hand in hand, smiling as the night sky exploded with the vibrant hues of fireworks. Madhav's eyes reflected the sparkle of the crackers, and Shree's laughter harmonized with the crackling sounds. In that moment, amidst the Diwali spectacle, their souls danced in celebration of their love.

As the festivities continued, Madhav, captivated by the twinkle in Shree's eyes, gently pulled her into a secluded corner of their house. The soft glow of fairy lights provided an intimate backdrop as he looked deep into her eyes. The air crackled with anticipation as he presented her with a small velvet box. Inside lay a pair of delicate anklets, adorned with tiny bells that tinkled like a sweet melody. Shree's eyes widened with delight, and Madhav smiled, capturing the joy mirrored in her gaze.

With a tender caress, he took one of her feet into his hands, the touch a silent promise of love. As the fireworks painted the sky with bursts of color, Madhav tied the anklets around Shree's ankle, each movement filled with affection and devotion. The tinkling sound of the bells seemed to harmonize with the beating of their hearts.

Completing the gesture, Madhav leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that conveyed all the unspoken emotions swirling between them. Time seemed to stand still, the world around them fading into the background, leaving only the echo of their heartbeat.

Breaking the kiss, Madhav's eyes held a promise of a lifetime of love. They lingered in that intimate corner, wrapped in the warmth of shared memories and the anticipation of a future yet to unfold.

As the plane taxied on the runway, Shree couldn't help but smile through her tears, reminiscing about the love that once illuminated their lives. The beauty of that Diwali felt like a distant dream, now shrouded in the shadows of the present.

Meanwhile, in his quiet office, Madhav stared at the empty space where his phone lay dormant. The weight of his decisions bore down on him, a heavy realization that he had allowed something precious to slip away. A sense of longing tugged at his heart, as if he could almost hear the echo of their shared laughter from that memorable Diwali night.

Back in the plane, Shree's fingers traced the windowpane, drawing invisible patterns that mirrored the complexities of her emotions. The plane ascended, carrying her away from the familiar into the unknown. She clutched the small heart shaped pendant around her neck, a sentimental piece that now felt like a lifeline connecting her to the love she hoped could weather any storm.

As the city lights beneath faded into tiny specks, Shree closed her eyes, the rhythmic hum of the plane merging with the echoes of their joyous past. The distance between them expanded, but the flicker of hope persisted-a hope that Madhav might chase after the remnants of their shared Diwali, rekindling the flames of their love.

Amidst the clouds and city lights below, Shree's mind painted vivid scenes of that night-the sultry glow of candles casting shadows on their entwined bodies, whispered promises and fervent caresses igniting the air. It was a night where desire and love collided, a dance of passion that left an indelible mark on their shared history.

In the hushed cabin of the plane, Shree traced the contours of that memory-the hunger in Madhav's eyes, the silkiness of his touch, and the symphony of their bodies responding to the call of desire. She reminisced about the electric charge that lingered in the air, the whispered promises that ignited the room. Their love making had been a symphony of moans and sighs, a crescendo of passion that left them breathless yet sated.

It was a night that transcended the ordinary, a night that sowed the seeds of life within her.

The yearning for Madhav's touch lingered, now intertwined with the ache of missed connections and unanswered calls. The distance between them, not just physical but also emotional, felt like an insurmountable chasm.

Gazing out of the window at the patchwork of clouds below, Shree's mind became a canvas painted with memories. She recalled the warmth of Madhav's smile, the gentle cadence of his voice, and the shared dreams that once wove their lives together. The echoes of their laughter, the whispered promises in the quiet moments-they reverberated in the recesses of her mind.

A week after their wedding, Madhav surprised Shree with a spontaneous evening getaway. He whisked her away to a charming lakeside retreat surrounded by lush greenery and the gentle whispers of nature. As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm palette across the sky, Madhav and Shree found themselves strolling hand in hand along the tranquil lakeshore.

A soft breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the rhythmic lapping of water against the shore set the stage for an intimate escape. The air was filled with an unspoken promise-a promise of moments to be cherished and a love that would deepen with every passing day.

They settled on a secluded spot adorned with fairy lights, creating a magical ambiance under the velvety canopy of the night sky. A blanket was spread out, a makeshift picnic waiting to unfold.

As they shared laughter and indulged in the culinary delights Madhav had arranged, he couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of his bride. Shree's eyes sparkled with a happiness that radiated from within, and every smile she shared became a testament to the joy of their union.

The night unfolded with a symphony of shared dreams and whispered promises. Madhav, his gaze fixed on Shree, reached for her hand, their fingers intertwining in a dance of tenderness. They swayed to the rhythm of their love, the soft melodies of nature and the distant sounds of the lake serving as their private soundtrack.

The moon, a silent witness to their dance, cast a gentle glow upon the lakeside sanctuary. In the quietude of the retreat, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warmth of each other's presence, Madhav and Shree found a sanctuary in the simplicity of shared moments.

As they lay on the blanket, gazing up at the celestial tapestry above, the stars seemed to reflect the twinkle in their eyes.

Yet, intertwined with the sweet nostalgia was the ache of the bitter recent wounds. The unanswered calls at the airport, the unspoken words that lingered between them, and the palpable distance that had grown. Shree couldn't escape the weight of the unresolved emotions that accompanied her on this journey.

As the landscape below shifted from clouds to city lights, Shree acknowledged the bittersweet truth-sometimes, to move forward, one must navigate the currents of the past. The University of London awaited her, a realm of new possibilities, but the shadows of her shared history with Madhav clung to her like a lingering fragrance.