Arun couldn't let go. The lack of a body left too many questions unanswered. Against everyone's advice, he hired private investigators, combed through police reports, and even visited the site of the accident multiple times, searching for clues.
"What if she's out there somewhere, hurt or lost?" he argued to his best friend, Vikram.
"Arun, you have to think about Aarya," Vikram said gently. "She needs you. Don't lose yourself in something you can't change."
But Arun couldn't stop. Every night, after putting Aarya to bed, he would sit by his computer, scrolling through news articles and forums, desperate for a lead.
Despite her young age, Aarya seemed to sense her father's pain. She would crawl into his lap during his darkest moments, wrapping her little arms around him.
"Don't be sad, Papa," she would say. "Mama said she loves us."
Her words were a reminder of Ria's spirit—her love, her strength, and the joy she had brought into their lives.
One day, as Arun was sorting through a box of Ria's belongings, Aarya found a painting Ria had done of their family.
"Mama painted this," Aarya said proudly. "It's us!"
Arun looked at the painting, his heart aching. "Yes, she did. She was so talented, wasn't she?"
"Like me!" Aarya declared with a grin.
Her confidence brought a small smile to Arun's face. "Yes, sweetheart. Just like you."
Months passed, and though Arun tried to focus on Aarya, the emptiness Ria's absence left was undeniable. Then, one evening, as Arun was putting Aarya to bed, his phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.
The message contained a single photograph. It was blurry but unmistakable—a woman who looked exactly like Ria, standing in a crowded marketplace in a distant town.
Arun's heart raced. Was it possible? Could Ria be alive?
He stared at the image, torn between hope and fear. If it was her, why hadn't she come back? What could have happened to her?
Arun knew he couldn't ignore this. He showed the photo to Vikram, who urged caution.
"It could be someone who just looks like her," Vikram said. "Don't get your hopes up too high."
But Arun couldn't shake the feeling that it was her.
The next day, he made arrangements to travel to the town in the photo, leaving Aarya in Vikram's care.
As he boarded the train, Arun felt a mix of emotions—hope, fear, and the faint glimmer of a possibility that his family might be whole again.
What awaited him in the distant town was a mystery, but Arun knew one thing: he wouldn't rest until he found the truth.