LOVE BEYOND THE CLOUDS

​The night was dark and unruly. Heavy sheets of rain drummed relentlessly against the roof, accompanied by sharp cracks of thunder that rattled the windowpanes. Flashes of lightning illuminated the darkened room, briefly casting long, lonely shadows across the walls.

​Riya stirred from her bed, pulled from sleep not just by the storm, but by the familiar ache in her chest. She walked over to the glass window, pressing her hand against the cold surface, watching the water cascade down in thick streams.

​Rain had become the soundtrack of her grief. It was on a night like this that the universe had taken the person she loved more than life itself. Every downpour reopened the wound, bringing silent tears that mirrored the storm outside. Gazing out into the darkness, her mind drifted back two years into the light of the past...

​Two Years Earlier

​The air was alive with laughter, music, and the festive colors of her cousin brother’s wedding reception. Riya was in her element. She loved to dance, her spirit naturally light and free whenever music filled the air. Swept up in the celebration, she spun across the floor with her cousin Rashmi.

​Mid-turn, Riya felt a gaze upon her. Standing near the edge of the hall was a young man with gentle eyes, watching her with a quiet, captivated smile. Their eyes locked for a fleeting second, sending a warm flutter through her chest.

​Gently pulling Rashmi aside, Riya nudged her. "Hey, Rashmi... who is that guy over there?"

​Rashmi followed her gaze and grinned slyly. "Ah, that guy? That’s Aakarshan. He’s my brother’s childhood friend. Why the sudden interest?"

​"Just curious," Riya replied, trying to hide the blush warming her cheeks.

​Later that evening, while Riya and Rashmi were having dinner, a voice gently interrupted them. "Hi."

​Riya looked up to find Aakarshan standing there. He smiled directly at her—a soft, sincere smile that made her lower her gaze in shyness. Sensing the quiet tension and mutual hesitation between them, Rashmi chuckled and stepped in to introduce them properly.

​That simple introduction marked the beginning of everything. In the weeks that followed, Aakarshan and Riya became inseparable. Simple text messages turned into hours-long phone calls that carried them through the night. Neither could imagine a single day without hearing the other's voice.

​On February 14, 2009, they met at their favorite cozy café near Bhatbhateni in Naxal. After placing their order, Aakarshan leaned across the table, looking unusually serious yet deeply tender.

​"Riya, can I ask you something?"

​"Of course, what is it?" she asked, surprised by his solemn tone.

​"How much do you love me?"

​Before she could answer, Aakarshan stood up, walked to her side of the table, and knelt down on one knee.

​"Riya, from the moment I saw you dancing at the wedding, I knew my life would never be the same. Your shyness, your smile, your warmth—you captured my heart completely. I want to love you, protect you, and cherish you for the rest of my days. Will you marry me?"

​Tears of joy brimmed in Riya’s eyes. "Yes," she whispered, leaning down to embrace him. In that moment, surrounded by the warm aroma of coffee and gentle background music, the world felt completely full.

​Both of their families knew of their deep bond and gave the relationship their full blessing. While Riya’s parents were ready for an immediate wedding, Aakarshan asked for two years to complete his Master’s Degree in IT in America. He wanted to build a strong foundation for their future together. With his gentle persistence, he convinced both families to wait until his graduation.

​Knowing how much this dream meant to him, Riya kept a tender secret close to her heart: she was pregnant with his child. She knew that if he found out, he would gladly stay and give up his scholarship. Because she loved him too much to let him surrender his ambition, she resolved to wait quietly for his return, dreaming of the day she could present him with their child.

​The Fateful Night

​Three months later, the day of departure arrived. Riya and Aakarshan’s family gathered at Tribhuvan International Airport to bid him farewell.

​At 9:30 PM, after final hugs and tearful goodbyes, Aakarshan walked through the security gates, turning one last time to wave at Riya with his radiant smile.

​Shortly after the plane took off into the night sky, severe weather unexpectedly rolled over the valley. Torrential rain hit the aircraft, blinding visibility. Trapped in the violent storm, the plane went down, crashing into the dense forest terrain. There were no survivors.

​When the devastating news reached the terminal, Riya’s world shattered into absolute silence. The shock overwhelmed her body and mind, plunging her into a deep state of unconsciousness that lasted for over a month in the hospital.

​Present Day

​A soft, faint cry echoed from the adjacent crib, gently pulling Riya out of the painful depths of memory.

​Wiping the tears from her face, she walked over to the crib and lifted her baby girl into her arms. The infant settled against her chest, her dark eyes looking up at Riya with a familiar, gentle gaze. The resemblance was striking—every feature of the little girl’s face was a living reflection of Aakarshan.

​As Riya held their daughter close, listening to the rain beat against the glass, she felt the bittersweet weight of her love. Aakarshan was gone, stolen by a storm on a dark night, but he had left behind his greatest legacy. Their daughter was the living symbol of a love that death could not erase—a promise of hope born from the deepest part of her past.

​holding her close as the storm gradually softened outside, Riya whispered into the quiet room, "You live on through her... and I will love you forever."