Chapter 66:
Flavors of the Heart
It wasn’t her.
The light in his eyes dimmed. "Is this the person you were looking for, sir?" the receptionist asked.
A long pause. Haari’s lips parted. Then— "No."
The word barely left his mouth, but it carried the weight of all his shattered expectations.
His chest felt tight.
Haari sat on the bus, his head resting against the cool glass of the window.
Outside, the city lights blurred into streaks, but his mind was stuck in the past
Then where are you, Ashi?
Day 143 of Searching for Ashi
Welcome to Madgaon Junction. This is a major railway station on the Konkan Railway network.
Haari had visited countless hospitals by now. Each time, the answer was the same.
As he stepped out of Manipal Hospital, Goa, the receptionist’s words echoed in his mind—
"I’m sorry, sir. We don’t have any record of the person you’re looking for."
His grip tightened on the strap of his backpack.
Another dead end...
"Ah… Thanks," Haari muttered, forcing himself to remain composed.
The receptionist gave him a polite nod. "Have a healthy life, sir."
Haari let out a dry chuckle under his breath as he walked out. A healthy life, huh?
Outside, the sun was sinking into the horizon, swallowed by the encroaching darkness. The sky, once burning in shades of orange and red, was now a deep blue, scattered with the first signs of starlight.
For a moment, he just stood there, watching.
Is this what my life has become? Chasing after a fading trail, searching for someone in a sea.
He was lost—wandering through an endless thicket of uncertainty, looking for a single needle buried in a mountain of thorns.
And with every passing day, that needle felt further and further away.
Then Haari looked around the dark was taking over and he have to find a place to rest for the night, because non resting past week finally showing it's weight on Haari tierd body. After thinking a while he decided to visit a house of friend in goa who was just in next city from where he was standing.
Haari sat on the couch in the living room, his bag resting beside him. His eyes, dull and heavy, traced the patterns on the floor as if searching for answers within them.
He didn’t know what to do anymore. What could he do?
It felt like he was trapped in a never-ending maze, grasping at thin air, trying to find a needle buried in an ocean of thorns.
“Sir, water,” a gentle voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Haari blinked up at the housekeeper, an woman in her twenties holding out a glass of water.
“…Ah, thanks.” He took it absentmindedly, the cool touch of the glass grounding him for a brief moment.
Just then, the sound of heels clicking against the floor echoed through the hall.
“Ahhh, today was exhausting.” Aya walked in through the main door, stretching her arms as she slipped off her coat.
“Neha, prepare the bathroom for me please. I need a long soak today,” she sighed dramatically.
“Yes, madam,” Neha, the housekeeper, responded with a polite nod.
As Aya took a few steps forward, she froze.“Huh?” Her eyes widened as she finally registered the person sitting in the living room.
Haari. His bag sat beside him, untouched, like it had been placed there and forgotten. But what caught her off guard the most were his eyes—empty, drained, look as if all the life had been sucked out of them.
“Haari?!” she exclaimed. “What a surprise… What are you doing here?” Her voice carried forced excitement, but as she took in his expression, her tone softened. “What… happened?”
A few hours later—
On the second-floor balcony, overlooking the pool, they stood side by side against the glass railing. The soft hum of the night breeze filled the silence between them.
Haari had told her everything. His search. His exhaustion. His frustration.
Aya leaned on the railing, her gaze fixed on the park below, just like his. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, slowly, she placed a gentle hand on his back.
“Haari…” her voice was careful, hesitant. “How can I help you? I can check all the hospitals in Goa for you.”
Haari let out a slow breath. “ I know, but I already did.”
Silence.
The streetlights hummed. The occasional rustling of trees filled the void where words should have been.
Aya shifted slightly, leaning forward on the wooden bench. Her gaze flickered toward Haari, then back at the path ahead.
And then—out of nowhere—she asked something he never expected. "Hey, Haari…"
"Hm?" Haari humed without looking at her.
" I know shouldn't be asking this at time like this but, what’s your real name?"
Haari’s head snapped up. His heart skipped a beat. He turned to her, his expression unreadable. "...What?"
Aya’s face was serious. She wasn’t just throwing around random questions. She had been thinking about this.
"You never told us your real name," she said. "Your first name—Haari—it feels natural, but your last name, Kichiro…" Her eyes locked onto his. "It’s a fictional name, isn’t it?"
Haari’s breath caught in his throat. His mind raced. How…? How could she see through him so easily?It was true.
Kichiro was an fictional name. A name that didn’t belong to his bloodline, but one he had carried for years.For the first time, he felt cornered. He could lie. He could brush it off.
But Aya wouldn’t let it go. And his heart don't allow him to lie to one of his best friend. And deep down… maybe he wanted someone to ask. Haari lowered his gaze. His fingers curled slightly.
"You’re right," he admitted. "But you’re also… wrong."
Aya’s brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Haari exhaled slowly. "You’re right that ‘Kichiro’ is a fictional name," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "But… it’s also my real name."
Aya blinked. "Huh?"
Haari tilted his head up slightly, gazing at the dark sky.
"`Long ago where was a family. A perfect happy family," he began, his voice carrying a distant sorrow. "A husband, a wife. Two lovers who had everything they ever wanted. A home filled with warmth. Laughing over dinner. A mother who loved cooking for her both kids. A father whose world shined brighter than gold every time he came home to his wife and children waiting at the door to have dinner together."
His hands clenched slightly. "It was a dream family. A family anyone would be lucky to have." He paused.
Aya felt her heartbeat quicken.
"And then…" Haari’s voice dropped lower. " A third kid born in that family."
Aya didn’t speak. She simply listened.
Haari’s lips parted slightly, as if there was more he wanted to say.
But instead, he just let out a small, bitter chuckle. "...That’s where the dream ended."
Aya felt a chill run through her. She wasn’t sure if it was the night air or the weight of Haari’s words. She didn’t know what he meant yet.
But she could tell—
A warm breeze drifted through the open windows, carrying the soft scent of jasmine into the dimly lit hospital room. The glow of a sun cast a gentle light over the woman lying on the bed, her hand resting protectively over her swollen belly.
Beside her, a little girl, no older than six, bounced excitedly, her tiny hands pressing against her mother’s stomach.
"Mama! I’m going to have a little brother!" Teena declared with absolute certainty.
Her mother let out a soft laugh, gently ruffling her daughter’s hair. "And how can you be so sure, my love?" she teased. "What if it’s a little sister?"
Teena pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "No way! I know it’s a brother!"
Her mother chuckled at her daughter’s confidence. She could feel Teena’s excitement radiating off her in waves, as if she had already met the baby growing inside her.
"Alright, alright," her mother said, playfully surrendering. "If you’re so sure, what will you do when he arrives?"
Teena’s eyes sparkled. She leaned closer to her mother’s belly, pressing her cheek against it. "I’ll give him all my candy!" she declared.
Her mother smiled. "All of it? Even your secret stash under the bed?"
Teena gasped, sitting up straight. "H-How do you know about that?!"
Her mother giggled. "A mother knows everything."
Teena crossed her arms, but quickly returned to excitement. "I’ll give him my toys too! I’ll teach him how to play, and how to do homework! I’ll protect him!" She pressed her tiny hands against her mother’s belly again.
"You hear that, little brother? You have the best big sister in the world waiting for you!"
Her mother watched the scene unfold, a soft warmth spreading through her chest. A perfect moment.
Then Teena asked, "Mama, what’s his name?"
Her mother hesitated, placing a hand over her belly, thinking.
"Hmm… how about Kichiro."
"Kichiro?" Teena repeated, tilting her head.
"Yes," her mother nodded. "It’s a name from a manga I’ve been reading lately. The main character… he’s strong, kind, and never gives up, no matter how hard things get." A small chuckle escaped her lips. "He’s my favorite character."
Teena beamed. "It’s perfect!"
She looked down at her mother’s belly with so much love in her eyes.
"Kichiro," she whispered, "I’m your big sister, Teena! Come soon, okay? I have all my toys ready for you! I’ll help you with homework! I’ll teach you everything!"
Her mother smiled as she watched her daughter talk to her unborn sibling, heart overflowing with happiness.
"But—" Teena suddenly narrowed her eyes.
"But?" her mother asked, amused.
"You better respect your big sister, okay?! Don’t turn out like Hio!"
Her mother laughed. "Oh? And what’s wrong with Hio?"
Teena puffed out her cheeks again. "I don’t like him!"
Her mother raised a curious brow. "Why not? You love your big brother, don’t you?"
Teena crossed her arms, fuming. "No, I don’t! He broke my doll yesterday and didn’t even apologize!"
"Ahh, I see," her mother said with a small smile. "That’s very rude of him."
Teena nodded furiously. "See! Even you agree! He should apologize!"
Her mother chuckled, and then, playfully, she grabbed her own ears with both hands.
"Alright then," she said dramatically, "on behalf of your very rude big brother, I apologize for breaking you favorite doll!" She deepened her voice. "Teena, I’m soooo sorry for breaking your doll! Please forgive me! I’ll buy you a new one!"
Teena’s eyes widened, and then she burst into giggles.
"Ma'ma! You don’t have to do that!" She reached out, pulling her mother’s hands away from her ears. Her mother smiled. "So… does that mean you forgive him?"
Teena hesitated for a second, then sighed. "Okay…"
"Good girl," her mother whispered, gently petting her head.
The room fell into a comfortable silence, filled only with the soft sound of their breathing.
A moment of happiness. A moment of love. A moment that would soon become a memory. One that Haari—Kichiro—would never forget. A heavy silence filled the dimly lit hospital room.
Nia lay on the bed, her face pale yet smiling, one hand resting over her swollen belly. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor echoed softly, a quiet reminder of time slipping away.
Beside her, Hartik sat, gripping the edge of her bed, his knuckles white. His heart twisted painfully in his chest as he struggled to speak.
"Nia… we should have a surgery "His voice was tight.
Nia turned to him, her expression shifting. "What…?"
"If we go with the normal delivery , your life will be at risk," Hartik continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "But if we go with surgery, the baby will be in danger." He exhaled sharply, his hands trembling. "I can’t… I can’t risk losing you."
Nia’s fingers twitched slightly against her belly.
"Hartik, what are you saying?"
He finally looked up, eyes filled with a storm of emotions. "We… we don’t need this child. We already have two kids," Hartik admitted, his voice breaking.
Nia’s eyes widened. She never expected those words to come from him. "Hartik…" Her voice was soft, but it carried an unshakable strength. "I never thought you would be so selfish."
"Yeah, I'm selfish." Hartik let out a bitter chuckle. "Just this once… I want to be selfish. I don’t want to lose you, Nia. I can’t imagine this family without you."
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