Aarav’s Legacy: Love Never Dies

Siya's journey of love takes a perilous turn when a risky sting operation puts her life in jeopardy, igniting a complicated romance with her partner Aarav.

    

Siya sat on the edge of her bed, the faint light of dawn filtering through the thin curtains, casting shadows that danced across the walls of her small room. The world outside was waking up, but for her, time felt frozen. She stared at the worn photographs pinned on her bulletin board�"smiling faces, family gatherings, moments that felt like a lifetime ago. A single tear slipped down her cheek as memories washed over her like a wave, relentless and suffocating.

Growing up in a household that often resembled a battlefield, Siya learned early on to bury her emotions beneath layers of strength and resilience. Her father, once a proud man, had crumbled under the weight of financial struggles, leaving behind a shadow of the person he used to be. The arguments that erupted like thunder in their home left scars deeper than any physical wounds. Her mother, caught in the crossfire, became a ghost of herself�"silent, withdrawn, and haunted by the love that had turned sour.

Siya often found herself caught in the middle, a reluctant peacemaker in a home torn apart by despair. As a child, she would sit outside her parents' door, listening to their muffled voices, her heart pounding in her chest. Those moments of helplessness made her feel small, insignificant, and alone. The trauma of her childhood shaped her, leaving her with a fear of intimacy and a longing for something she couldn’t quite name�"a desire for connection, for safety, for love.

Despite her pain, Siya was determined to forge a different path. She excelled in her studies, pouring herself into her education as an escape from the chaos at home. She dreamed of becoming a lawyer, envisioning herself standing in court, fighting for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. But even as she chased her ambitions, the weight of her family issues loomed over her, casting a long shadow on her aspirations.

In stark contrast, Aarav emerged as a figure of confidence and ambition�"a rich, arrogant sigma male with a world that revolved around him. He was the epitome of success, effortlessly charming everyone around him. Aarav navigated life with a sense of entitlement, his arrogance a shield against vulnerability. He was the kind of person who walked into a room and commanded attention, his sharp features and piercing gaze leaving a lasting impression.

However, beneath the surface of his polished exterior lay a tumultuous past. Aarav had learned to mask his insecurities with bravado, projecting an image of invincibility. He had always felt the pressure to meet the high expectations set by his family, the burden of legacy weighing heavily on his shoulders. Relationships were transactional for him, a means to an end, and he had little patience for anyone who didn’t fit neatly into his world.

Siya was now in her final year of law college. Due to her talent, she was selected for Aarav Shekhawat’s case. Aarav’s construction company was facing serious allegations�"that it was using substandard materials, resulting in the deaths of several people and the devastation of their families. All these accusations were lies, orchestrated by his enemies to tarnish his reputation.

Siya was absolutely not ready to work on this case. Working with Aarav was a challenge for her. His arrogant personality and condescending attitude constantly annoyed her. On the other hand, Aarav was also unwilling to collaborate with Siya. He needed a partner to fight against his enemies, but Siya’s presence was more of a problem for him.

When they first met, the atmosphere was tense. Siya told Aarav, “I can’t help you with this case. You’re just a rich man trying to save your tarnished name. I don’t need you.”

Aarav laughed at her words and replied, “You know, Siya, this is my case. If I lose, everything will be over for me. I don’t want someone like you, who thinks she’s superior, by my side.”

In anger, Siya narrowed her eyes and said, “Your arrogance is your greatest enemy. I don’t want you dragging me down with you.”

But as time went on, they both realized that they had no other options. They began to work together, but their arguments and fights continued unabated. Aarav often tortured Siya, picking at her work and making snide remarks.

One day, while discussing court matters, Aarav said, “Do you think you can handle this case properly? You’re just a student; I’m a successful businessman.”

Siya snapped back, “Your success isn’t measured by your arrogance. I know what I’m capable of, and I am not inferior to anyone in my work.”

They constantly bickered, making their work even more challenging. Aarav’s mistreatment frustrated Siya, but she never backed down. She always believed in her hard work and dedication.

As the case progressed, Siya began to focus more on her studies. She knew that if she didn’t succeed in this case, Aarav’s company would suffer significantly.

One night, while they were working late together, Aarav suddenly said, “You know, sometimes I feel like you’re better than me. But then my ego holds me back.”

Siya looked at him in surprise. “You’ve done so much to prove yourself, but will you ever admit your weaknesses?”

For a moment, there was softness in Aarav’s eyes. “Maybe. But I see you as an incredible ally against my enemies.”

This moment created a strange bond between them. Their arguments and disputes began to take on a different hue. They started to understand each other better, but their conflicts also began to touch on deeper emotions.

Thus, the struggle between Siya and Aarav transformed into an exciting journey where both had to confront their biases and recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Here’s the continuation of the story based on your plot points:

Siya sat across from Aarav, her expression serious. "I have a plan that could help clear your name and expose Kartik’s lies," she said, her voice steady. “A sting operation. If we can catch him in the act, we can prove that he’s the one behind these allegations.”

Aarav’s face darkened. “No, Siya. It’s too risky. I won’t allow you to put your life in danger. There must be another way.”

But Siya was resolute. “Aarav, this is the only way. I can do this. I know how to handle it.”

Despite Aarav’s protests, Siya went ahead with the sting operation. She disguised herself and met with Kartik, intending to gather evidence against him. However, things took a turn for the worse when she was caught. 

In the chaos, Kartik drew a gun, and before she could react, a shot rang out. Siya fell to the ground, blood pooling around her as darkness began to engulf her vision. 

Aarav had been unaware of the unfolding disaster until he heard the gunfire. Rushing towards the sound, panic gripped him when he found Siya on the ground, unconscious and bleeding. “Siya!” he shouted, kneeling beside her.

“Please, stay with me,” he pleaded, tears streaming down his cheeks as he cradled her head in his lap. In that moment of desperation, he confessed, “I love you, Siya. I’ve loved you for so long.” But Siya was unconscious, unaware of the feelings that had finally surfaced.

Fueled by rage and heartbreak, Aarav tracked down Kartik, confronting him with fury. Their fight was fierce, but Aarav’s anger gave him strength. He beat Kartik mercilessly, sending him to jail. 

Siya eventually woke up in the hospital, and once she was well enough, she successfully fought the case, restoring Aarav’s reputation. But even as she celebrated her victory, she remained oblivious to Aarav's true feelings for her.

Once the project was over, Siya graduated and began working at a law firm. There, she caught the attention of Aaryan, the CEO, who was Kartik’s childhood best friend. Unbeknownst to Siya, Aaryan had fallen in love with her at first sight. However, their paths were now fraught with tension due to the feud between him and Aarav.

Aarav sensed the danger. One day, he approached Siya and warned her, “Stay away from Aaryan. He’s not good for you.” His voice was laced with jealousy, unable to bear the thought of her being with someone else.

But Siya brushed off his concern. “You’re just being paranoid, Aarav. Aaryan is professional and kind. I can take care of myself.”

The tension escalated when, in a crowded event, Aaryan proposed to Siya. She was taken aback and declined, looking for Aarav in the crowd. Aarav, standing at a distance, watched the scene unfold with a heavy heart.

That night, Aarav found solace at the bottom of a bottle, hurting himself in a drunken stupor. In a fit of anger and jealousy, he decided to create a diversion. He made a fake girlfriend and flaunted her in the media, hoping to make Siya jealous.

Siya, upon seeing the news, felt a pang of jealousy and confusion. She hadn’t realized how deeply her feelings for Aarav ran, but seeing him with someone else stirred something inside her.

One evening, Siya was invited to a party. She was excited, unaware that this night would change her life forever. During the party, Siya mingled with a few friends and gradually ordered a drink. However, someone slipped a drug into her beverage. 

As she started feeling dizzy, her eyes began to flutter. Just then, Aarav arrived at the party. He noticed Siya and rushed over. "Siya, are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine, just having a little fun," she slurred. But then a man approached Siya, attempting to take advantage of her vulnerable state. Aarav quickly recognized the threat and stepped in. 

"Get away from her!" Aarav shouted, lifting Siya into his arms and taking her towards his car.

Inside the car, Siya was in a haze. Her eyes were half-open, and she mumbled, "I love you, Aarav." Hearing this, Aarav's heart raced. But as she leaned in to kiss him, Aarav stopped her. "No, Siya. This isn’t right."

He dropped her off at her home. The next morning, Siya had no memory of the previous night. She couldn’t recall how she had gotten home. When Aarav visited her, he quickly realized that she remembered nothing.

Over the following days, Siya began to sense the weight of her confession. She tried to ghost Aarav, avoiding him at all costs. But Aarav wasn’t willing to let her slip away that easily. 

One day, he confronted her, "Siya, what’s wrong with you? I love you! You love me too, so what’s stopping you?"

Tears welled up in Siya’s eyes. "Aarav, I’m scared of your intensity. People change in love. My parents didn’t have a good relationship, and I don’t want that to happen to me."

Aarav wrapped his arms around her, "I promise, I won’t let that happen. We need to give each other a chance." 

That day, they spent quality time together. They took a stroll in the park, laughed, and gazed into each other’s eyes. They shared their feelings, and Siya began to realize that Aarav’s love was genuine. 

"I love you, Aarav," she finally admitted.

Aarav smiled, "And I will always love you."

Thus, they embarked on a new beginning, promising to stand by each other, understanding that love sometimes comes with fear, but together, they would face whatever came their way.

The sun was setting over the iconic Eiffel Tower, casting a golden hue over the City of Light. Aarav had chosen this enchanting location for a very special moment. With the twinkling lights of the city around them, he took Siya's hand and led her to a secluded spot in the Champ de Mars, a beautiful park with breathtaking views of the tower. The atmosphere was electric with romance.

As they stood together, the gentle breeze played with Siya's hair, and her heart raced with anticipation. Aarav turned to her, his expression serious yet tender. "Siya," he began, "you’ve changed my life in ways I never imagined. You’ve taught me the true meaning of love, and I can’t imagine a future without you."

Siya’s heart fluttered as Aarav knelt down, pulling out a stunning ring that sparkled like the stars above them. "Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice filled with sincerity.

Tears of joy filled Siya's eyes as she nodded vigorously, unable to contain her happiness. "Yes! Yes, Aarav, I will marry you!" 

Cheers erupted from the small gathering of friends and onlookers who had been capturing the moment on their phones. Laughter and joy filled the air as they celebrated the couple's love, the lights of the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the background, creating a picture-perfect scene.

**The Heart-Wrenching Truth**

But the joy was short-lived. Just days before the wedding, Aarav received alarming news from his doctor�"he had a major heart issue that required immediate attention. The prognosis was grim; he had only a few months to live if he didn’t undergo surgery soon. Aarav's heart sank as he realized he couldn’t put Siya through the pain of losing him.

On the day of their engagement, Aarav made the hardest decision of his life. With a heavy heart, he broke off the wedding, telling Siya he couldn’t let her marry him knowing the truth. "You deserve a future, Siya, and I can’t give you that," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Siya was shattered. The dreams of their future together crumbled before her eyes. She felt anger rise within her, mixed with heart-wrenching sadness. 

**The Journey to Paris**

When Siya learned of Aarav’s condition, her heart raced with worry. Without a second thought, she booked a flight from India to Paris, determined to confront him. Upon reaching the hospital, she stormed into Aarav's room, her emotions boiling over.

"Aarav! How could you do this to us?" she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Why didn’t you tell me? You should have trusted me!"

Aarav, pale and weak, sat on the hospital bed. "Siya, I wanted to protect you," he replied softly, his eyes filled with regret.

"You think leaving me would protect me? You’re wrong!" she cried, feeling the weight of their love and the pain of their separation. In that moment, all the beautiful memories they had created flooded her mind, and her heart shattered even more.

Aarav opened his arms, and Siya rushed into them, breaking down as she sobbed. "I can’t lose you, Aarav. I love you too much!" she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest.

He held her tightly, whispering sweet nothings and comforting her, trying to ease her pain even as he battled his own. 

*

In the days that followed, Siya stayed by Aarav's side. They reminisced about their time together, creating new beautiful memories amidst the hospital’s sterile environment. They shared laughter, stories, and dreams of a future they still hoped to have.

One evening, as they watched the sunset from his hospital window, the golden light spilling into the room, Siya turned to Aarav. "You know, love doesn’t fear the unknown. It embraces it," she said softly. "I want to be with you, no matter what happens."

In that moment, as Aarav looked into her eyes, he felt a surge of hope. He realized that love could transcend even the greatest challenges. 

Taking a deep breath, Siya surprised Aarav with a proposal of her own. "Aarav, will you marry me?" she asked, her heart pounding with vulnerability.

His eyes widened in disbelief, then softened with admiration. "Siya, are you sure?"

"Absolutely," she replied, a determined smile spreading across her face. "I want to face every moment with you, even if it's just a little time we have left. I don’t want to live without you."

Tears of joy and sorrow mingled in Aarav's eyes as he nodded, overwhelmed by her love. "Yes, I will marry you," he whispered, pulling her into a warm embrace. 

Their wedding was held in a grand ceremony, attended by all their friends and family. From colorful flowers to the band, everything doubled their joy. Siya and Aarav made promises to each other�"to never part, to support each other, and to stand by one another in every circumstance.

"I will always love you, no matter what, even if I cease to exist in this world," Aarav said.

"And I will too," Siya replied with a smile.

But after this moment of happiness, Aarav's health began to deteriorate further. One day, he lay unconscious in the hospital. His eyes were closed, and his face showed signs of stress. Seeing him, Siya cried out, "Aarav, listen to me! You can’t leave me!"

Aarav slowly opened his eyes. "Siya, I love you. I’m not going anywhere; I will always be in your heart."

Tears welled up in Siya's eyes. "Aarav, don’t leave me. I cannot live without you."

Aarav held her hand tightly. "I belong to you, and I’m a part of you, whether I’m here or not. My heart is already connected to yours. Never think of yourself as alone; I am always with you in this life and the next. Don’t be sad; I am not going anywhere, understand?"

Aarav's breaths became slow. He expressed his feelings in his final words. "Siya, promise me that you will be happy."

Siya nodded. "I promise, I will always belong to you, and my happiness lies in this, understand?"

With one last smile, Aarav closed his eyes. His breath stopped, and tears began to fall from Siya's eyes.

Aarav’s last wish was to be buried in the place where they first met, in the botanical garden near their college. Respecting Aarav's wish, Siya buried him there.

When she arrived, she remembered the moment of their first meeting�"how she had seen him for the first time, and how the seeds of quarrel and hatred had begun to grow from there. She planted a tree there as a symbol of a new beginning. Every time Siya felt sad or missed Aarav, she would go to that tree and share her heart’s thoughts with it.

"You will always be with me, Aarav. I will never forget you," she said, tears in her eyes.

Siya began living with Aarav's family and took on the responsibilities of their business. Her mother-in-law urged her to remarry, but Siya firmly refused. "I am already married," she said. "Aarav is always with me. He lives in my heart."

She decided to fulfill Aarav’s dreams. Siya immersed herself in managing the business, her hard work and dedication impressing everyone. She lived Aarav's memories in her work, thinking that he was always with her.

Every day, she would go to the tree where Aarav was planted and talk to him. "Aarav, I promise to keep your memories alive. I will fulfill your dreams and live only for you. You will always be with me," she said.

Siya moved forward with her life, but Aarav’s memories remained alive in her heart. Love never dies, and the story of Siya and Aarav is a testament to this… Though Aarav’s existence may have faded, he still lives on in Siya’s mind.

Author's Note

Hope you will feel the presence of love while reading

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

it was heart-wrenching read, a powerful story filled with dramatic turns. the opening paragarphs were powerful and gave the main plot the high-stakes any good story needs.
my only complaint is the pacing. i wished the dramatic plot points could be stretched out to allow the reader to anticipate, feel, and digest the events.
but your writing is extremely sharp. i was never bored and the whole book has an ambience. i wanted to spend more time with the characters and consume more of your beautiful writing.

[JayG]

After all the work you’ve put in I’m not going to make you happy. But I can tell you how to fix the problems. And since, for reasons invisible to you there are things you need to address, I thought you would want to know. After all, who addresses the problem they don’t see as being one?

The good news is that the problems I see not only aren’t your fault, and not a matter of talent, they’re so common I call them the result of, The Great Misunderstanding. So you have a LOT of company.

Look at paragraph 1. You introduce Siya, and place her on the bed. Then you abandon her there and spend 137 words talking TO the reader about her life and background. But who cares what once happened/ That’s history not story, and a dispassionate lecture on her past and her family is as interesting as any history book because there’s nothing happening.

Paragraph 2 is 151 words, an info-dump of backstory. And that cascade of information continues for another 263 words, for a total of 551 words in which the only thing that happens is poor Siya is sitting on her bed wishing that the narrator would shut up and let her get on with her life. We’re close to the bottom of page three of a standard manuscript submission and she’s not done anything. In fact, though you placed her on that bed she never leaves it, and you NEVER come back to her.

In short, this, from start to finish is you, talking TO the reader, providing a short synopsis of her life, not a story.

Think about it. When you read a story, are you there to learn about the life of a fictional character? Or do you want to be entertained by being made to feel as if you’re living the events in real-time, as-the-protagonist? That can’t be done with the report-writing, nonfiction writing skills we learn in school as they ready us for the needs of employment.

So it’s not a matter of your “doing it wrong,” it’s one of missing knowledge. It’s a matter of knowing the tricks that can excite the reader, and make them NEED to turn the page. As E. L. Doctorow puts it: “Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it’s raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” And that can’t be done without the skills unique to the Commercial Fiction Writing profession.

But as I said, this story works perfectly for you because it’s doing exactly what you expect. And for you, the narrator’s voice contains the emotion the reader can’t know to place there. For you the narrator’s performance: gesture, facial expression, body-language, and more, is there, breathing life into the words. For the reader? Not so much.

So, to get you started, try this:

Dwight Swain took the scattered knowledge of writing fiction that had been developed over the years, analyzed and codified it, and collected it in his book, Techniques of the Selling Writer. It’s a book published way back in the 1960’s, but I’ve found few even close to matching his ability to clarify the whys and hows of pulling the reader into the story as a participant.

It’s not the easiest book to read, and like any other professor, he goes deeply enough into the subject that at times it can be a dry read. But at the same time, he’ll often have you saying, “But wait! That’s so, so...how can I not have seen that myself?”

And once you’ve mastered the techniques you’ll find that the act of writing becomes a LOT more fun.

So, grab a copy from the site below and dig in.

https://dokumen.pub/techniques-of-the-selling-writer-0806111917.html

Jay Greenstein
Articles: https://jaygreenstein.wordpress.com/category/the-craft-of-writing/the-grumpy-old-writing-coach/
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@jaygreenstein3334

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“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
~ Mark Twain