33 Moment Hai, bhai moment hai

Ali finally got out of his thoughts when the car came to a stop once they reached his home. Emily, ever obedient and honest to her job, left her seat in a hurry to open the door for him, while he just smiled at her in response.

As Ali raised his head to look at the familiar villa, he felt calm and relaxed for some reason.

Maybe the feeling of being home had some magic that pushed all his thoughts and troubles aside and soothed his soul. Just the air he breathed in the parameter had a feeling that said he could just relax his nerves and enjoy the moment.

'How long has it been since I felt like this?' Ali wondered in his heart not even sure when was the last time he actually enjoyed his sense of belonging.

No lies, he didn't abandon anyone. He would still come home everyday, meet his family and enjoy his precious time with them all these years too, yet he could also remember that in all those moments, in some corner of his mind, Aarvi was there too. Occupying his attention ever so subtly that he could never truly be there.

(He was there but he wasn't.)

So now actually being free from fate's control, he could truly reminish about how much he missed this feeling. How much he lost.

As he looked around, a few memories of his childhood that he could still remember came to his mind, causing him to smile sweetly.

Like the garden at the front where he spent his time playing with his little sister, teasing her or bullying her, until she started crying and complained to mom, and then both of them running to catch him.

Or the big trees a little far where he would hide every time he played hide and seek, or climb when he was angry and wanted to throw a tantrum.

Or the garage at the side where he spent helping his dad, who had the hobby of fixing his old cars himself. About how he'd drag and push those heavy things with him, or lose some small stuff here and there causing him even more work searching for it.

He looked towards an open window on his right hand side from where he could see subtle smoke signs and smell the sweet scent of aroma mixed in the air. That was the kitchen, where he'd just sit on the table telling his mom about his school and friends while she just focused on her cooking, giving small nods in his overexaggerated stories every now and then.

The balcony at the top where he'd play chess or carom with his grandpa, and laugh loudly when he won, and cry to grandma saying her husband cheated when he lost.

The empty pathway, made around the garden where he learned how to drive bicycles, or the pool at the back where he learned swimming, and nearly caused his sister to drown once in his childhood.

Or the main gate where he once tried to paint his name on it secretly but ended up tripping and falling over the bucket of paint, dying himself as the vibrant joker. A running joke, which his sister still has a photo of in her room.

Every wall, window, corner and sight here held so many memories etched onto themselves, that he could just keep looking at them and be reminded of how fast the time slipped away.

It's been ages now. And for the first time in the past few years he actually felt free.

"I'm finally home." He muttered slowly, as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia wash over his body.

The tension of fate's schemes, the title of villain and everyone's dark destinies around him, the death of shiva, his own near death experience, the bastard's luck and Emily's love - they were so many things going on in his mind these past few days that he actually felt he might just go insane and really turn into some insane villain or something, but being here at this moment he finally felt relief.

"What happened, why'd you stop?" Emily asked as she saw him just standing there.

Opening his eyes with a smile on his face, Ali just shook his head. "Nothing, let's go." He said, walking ahead.

The villa had a golden name plate etched outside the parameter walls, showing who this house belonged to called - 'Arya Bhavan' .

As the moonlight cast it's gentle light on the white walls of architecture that was just a marvel to the eyes of many and a pure work of art for everyone. The structure of the villa was the embodiment of modern development and the grace of classical culture and style of India.

The grand villa at the center was surrounded by an opulent garden filled with rare and beautiful flowers and trees, courtesy of how much his parents listened and cared for his sister, who's quite fond of everything in nature.

At the boundary of the garden was a small perimeter wall keeping the peace and privacy of this family safe from the prying eyes of the public and the pollution of an overpopulated city.

Every wall, every corner was carved out perfectly from the precious stones from the hard work of some of the country's best workers.

Some would even say the white mansion of Arya's looked just as beautiful and perfect as the seventh wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal. If not even more grand and fulfilled with warmth, love and happiness.

Not just outside, but the inside of the villa was a work of art too. As high ceilings and expansive windows invited sunlight to dance within, casting a warm glow on meticulously chosen antiques and expensive furniture decorated around the house.

The richness of this villa extended beyond material wealth; it resonated in the air, a pure energy that spoke of the family's reputation and beliefs. Where different religions merged and cultures were celebrated and prayed together.

His mother a muslim and father a hindu, it was just their love and harmony that had built this house piece by piece and filled with the love and security where he and his sister could grow safe and sound.

Nodding his head at the maids who stood by the gate waiting for his arrival, Ali changed his shoes and walked forward.

Glancing at Emily, who came back rushing after confirming the dinner for Ali was prepared according to what the doctor allowed, Ali thought for some time and said "Hey Emily.."

"Umm" she just hummed while flipping through the medicines in her hands, checking which one was to be taken empty stomach.

"..I'm sorry." Ali said seriously.

Emily just hummed without hearing or thinking as she found the medicine and looked up to see his serious expression and froze, she never saw him like this. "About what?" she asked back with some hesitation and a little hope in her voice.

"Just being blind I guess." He replied.

The two of them were just standing there looking at each other, lost in each other's eyes and their thoughts about what was going on in their own or the other person's head , when a loud squeal and a running figure broke the silent atmosphere and heat building between them.

Bringing both back to their senses and leaving them embarrassed of what they were even thinking was gonna happen next.

"I'll… just..go to my room.." Ali said, hoping to escape this place ASAP.

"Yeah me too." Emily replied with the same thoughts "I mean not in your room, my own room. Why would I go to your room, when you're going there?...."

"Yeah"

".... I'll just go back to the kitchen." She said and turned back and started walking in a rush, almost breaking her high heels in her hurry and stumbling, when Ali caught her and saved her from falling.

"You okay?" He asked, but Emily just hurriedly disappeared from her place with a reddened face and a racing heart, silently cursing who knows what under her breath with her moving lips.

Ali looked at her until she turned a corner and disappeared, a little lost in his thoughts too. Shaking his head he decided to go back to his room, when another figure rushed past his face causing him to stop and see what's been going on.

Turning his head to the side, Ali found his sister looking here and there, behind the sofas and below the curtains trying to find something or a little someone. Ali wanted to ask what she was doing, when she came to him and stood in front of him.

"Give me your phone." Aliya said, raising her empty hand in front of him.

"What happened?" He finally asked, feeling curious, about what she was doing, as he used the finger touch to unlock his phone and handed it over.

"Your little kid stole my phone and ran away." Aliya said as she dialed her number and waited for the call to connect.

'My kid???' Ali thought in confusion for a few seconds until he remembered the little girl he sent home a few hours ago.

"Arghh she even silenced it." Aliya said in annoyance as she started her search again.

Ali, who heard his sister's words, had a doubt that this little girl was really 4 years old or just some loli who didn't grow up in size. Because this courageous act of taking the phone away from Aliya who wouldn't even let him touch it, already puts her in a higher place than him.

'I was right, she really is evil.' Ali thought as he heard Aliya's next words about how that girl even knew what silence even was.

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A/N - if you're wondering about the title don't. That's just me playing around since I'm feeling playful. No other reason

But on a serious note - was that a moment? Hehehe