Days had passed, and the atmosphere in the family had grown heavy with unspoken words and guilt. Each member—Naitik, Kartik, Kairav, and even Kirti—felt the void Naira’s absence had created in their lives. They realized it wasn’t enough to regret their actions; they needed to make amends.

1. Naitik’s Apology

Naitik was the first to approach Naira. He found her sitting in the hospital garden during her break, her eyes closed as if seeking solace in the quiet.

Naitik: “Naira, I need to talk to you.”

Naira opened her eyes, her expression unreadable. She gestured for him to sit.

Naitik: “I’ve wronged you. As a father, I should have protected you, stood by you no matter what. But I failed. I let my grief and the circumstances blind me, and in doing so, I lost my daughter. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m asking for it anyway. Come back, beta. Let me make it right.”

Naira listened, her face calm, but her eyes reflected the pain she’d carried for so long.

Naira: “Papa, I respect you, and I’ll always love you. But the trust we had—it’s broken. I learned to live without your support when I needed it most. That kind of hurt doesn’t just go away.”

Her voice wavered, but she stood firm. Naitik nodded, his heart heavy with regret.

2. Kartik’s Plea

Later that evening, Kartik found Naira in the cafeteria. He approached her hesitantly, holding two cups of coffee, just like old times.

Kartik: “Peace offering?” he said, setting a cup in front of her.

Naira gave him a faint smile but said nothing. Kartik took a deep breath.

Kartik: “Naira, I don’t even know where to start. I thought I was protecting my family, but in doing so, I hurt the one person who means the world to me. I should’ve stood by you, trusted you, and been your partner in the truest sense. I failed you as a husband, and I hate myself for it. Please, Naira. Come back. Let me fix this. Let me fix us.”

Naira stirred her coffee, her voice soft but firm.

Naira: “Kartik, I appreciate your words, but words aren’t enough. I fought my battles alone because I couldn’t rely on you. I’ve built a life for myself without depending on anyone. I’m not sure I can go back to being the Naira who always put others first, even at her own expense.”

Kartik’s heart sank, but he understood. He reached for her hand, but she pulled away gently.

3. Kairav’s Turn

The hardest conversation was with Kairav. He hesitated for days before finally gathering the courage to face her. He found her in the hospital’s children’s ward, playing with the young patients.

Kairav: “Naira…”

She looked up, surprised to see him there. He walked closer, his hands trembling.

Kairav: “I don’t even know how to begin. I’ve been such a terrible brother to you. I broke every promise I made to Mom. I hurt you, ignored you, and treated you like an outsider when all you ever wanted was to be my sister. I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive myself for the way I made you feel. But I want to try to make it right. Please, Naira. Come back. I need my little sister.”

Naira’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she shook her head.

Naira: “Kairav, I waited for years for you to come back to me. When you didn’t, I learned to live without my big brother—the one who was my superhero. I’m not angry anymore, but I’m too broken to go back to the way things were. I’m sorry.”

Kairav felt his chest tighten, but he nodded, realizing the depth of her pain for the first time.

4. Kirti’s Attempt

Even Kirti, still recovering, reached out to Naira. She called her to her room one afternoon.

Kirti: “Naira, I owe you my life. And yet, I can’t help but feel like I failed you too. I didn’t do enough to stand up for you, to show you that I cared. I know you’ve built a new life for yourself, and I’m so proud of you. But this family isn’t complete without you. Please, think about coming back. Not for them, but for me.”

Naira hugged Kirti, holding her tightly.

Naira: “Di, you’ll always have me. But I don’t know if I can be part of this family again. It hurts too much.”

5. Naira’s Stance

After listening to each of them, Naira retreated to her small apartment that night, feeling overwhelmed. She loved them all, but the wounds they had inflicted were too deep.

Naira (to herself): “They want me to come back, but I don’t think they understand—I can’t go back to being the old Naira. That part of me is gone.”

Her phone buzzed with messages from Kartik, Kairav, Naitik, and Kirti. Each message was filled with apologies and promises. She read them, tears streaming down her face, but she didn’t respond.

For the first time in years, Naira chose herself.