The rain hadn't stopped when Vedant's car pulled up in front of Megha's house. Megha stood outside, her umbrella forgotten in her hand, her face etched with worry. The moment she saw Niranya stepping out of the car, soaked to the bone and visibly broken, her heart clenched.
"Niru!" Megha rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Niranya's body was cold, trembling from both the rain and the emotional turmoil she'd endured. But she didn't respond. She didn't say a word, didn't even lift her arms to hug Megha back.
Vedant stood nearby, he knew Niranya was shattered, but seeing her like this made the guilt in his chest tighten. He had seen Ashtram's desperation and Niranya's pain, but he had no idea how to fix it.
"Let's get you inside," Megha said softly, brushing a wet strand of hair from Niranya's face. She guided her friend into the house, signaling to Vedant to follow.
Once inside, Megha led Niranya straight to her room. "Change into something dry," she said gently, her voice filled with concern. Niranya didn't argue or resist; she simply walked into the room like a ghost of herself. Megha sighed, her heart heavy as she closed the door behind her.
When she returned to the living room, she turned her attention to Vedant. He stood near the doorway, his hands shoved into his pockets, his face unreadable but tense. Megha's eyes narrowed.
"What happened to her?" she demanded, her voice a mix of anger and worry. "Why is she like this? What did Ashtram sir do?"
Vedant's gaze flickered to her, but he didn't answer immediately. His mind was still replaying the stormy scene between Ashtram and Niranya. He knew something had broken between them, but the details were beyond him.
"I don't know everything," he admitted finally, his voice quiet but firm. "But something happened between her and Ashtram. Something that hurt her deeply."
Megha frowned, crossing her arms as she stepped closer. "You were there, Vedant. You must have seen or heard something. I need to know."
Her insistence struck a nerve. Vedant ran a hand through his wet hair, his frustration evident. "I didn't see everything, Megha," he said, his tone sharper now. "But I can tell you this-Ashtram cares about her more than anything. Whatever happened, he didn't mean to hurt her."
Megha's lips tightened, her worry outweighing her curiosity for now. "That doesn't matter," she said softly. "What matters is that Niru is hurt, and I need to make sure she's okay."
Vedant nodded, his expression softening. His eyes lingered on Megha for a moment, the weight of unspoken feelings hanging between them. He admired her strength, her determination to protect the people she cared about. It was one of the many things he loved about her, though he'd never found the courage to say it aloud.
"I know," he said quietly. "And I'm here if you need me. For anything."
Their eyes met, and for a brief second, the tension between them shifted into something warmer. But Megha broke the gaze, shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts.
"For now, I just need to take care of Niranya," she said firmly. "You should go. It's late, and you're drenched."
Vedant hesitated, his instinct to stay warring with the knowledge that she needed space. "Call me if you need anything," he said finally, his voice softer.
Megha nodded, watching as he left, his shoulders heavy with the weight of the night.
As the door closed behind him, Megha took a deep breath, her mind already racing with ways to help Niranya. Whatever had happened between her and Ashtram, she would find out eventually. But for now, her priority was her best friend.
She walked back to Niranya's room, gently knocking on the door. When there was no response, she opened it slowly to find Niranya sitting on the bed, staring blankly out the window. Megha's heart ached at the sight.
"I'm here for you," she said softly, sitting beside her. "Whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone."
But Niranya didn't reply. Her silence spoke volumes, and Megha knew it would take time for her to open up.
The morning light seeped through the curtains, but it brought no warmth, no comfort. I was still sitting by the window, the same spot I had been in all night. My thoughts were tangled, my heart shattered. Everything felt surreal, like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.
Ashtram... My Ash. Or at least, the man I thought I knew.
How could he hide something so huge from me? A mafia king. A man who decides who lives and who dies. The man who holds lives in his hands while pretending to be the same person who held mine with such tenderness.
Tears burned my eyes again, but I had no strength left to wipe them away. I had cried too much, yet the pain didn't lessen. It only grew heavier, suffocating me. My chest ached every time I thought about him-his piercing gaze, his warm smile, the way he called me "his angel."
An angel? How ironic. He wasn't my savior; he was my destroyer.
I glanced at my phone lying on the bedside table. The screen lit up with missed calls. Ashtram. His name glared at me, mocking me. He had called me so many times since last night, but I couldn't bring myself to answer. What would I even say? What could he possibly say to make this right?
Nothing.
I didn't want to hear his voice. I didn't want to face him.
My trembling hands reached for the pendant around my neck-the one he'd given me during our dinner date. I remembered how he had clasped it around my neck himself, whispering something sweet and romantic, something that made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
But now, that memory felt tainted.
I clutched the pendant tightly, feeling its cold weight against my skin. It was a symbol of everything I thought we had, everything I thought he was. A lie. My tears fell harder as I pressed the pendant to my chest, my sobs breaking the silence of the room.
"I trusted you," I whispered, my voice barely audible even to myself. "How could you do this to me, Ash?"
I didn't want to be here anymore. I didn't want to face him, to hear his explanations, to feel the pull of his love again. Because I knew, deep down, that no matter how much he had lied, no matter how much pain he had caused, a part of me still loved him.
But that wasn't enough.
I needed to get away. Far away from him. Far away from this city, this house, this life. Somewhere he couldn't find me. Somewhere I could forget him.
I stood up shakily, wiping my tears, though they were quickly replaced by new ones. My legs felt weak, my heart heavier than ever, but I knew I had to leave. Staying here would only destroy me further.
With trembling hands, I started packing.
The night had been merciless, and the morning brought no relief. My angel's face haunted me-the fear in her eyes, the betrayal, the way she recoiled from me like I was a monster. Perhaps she wasn't wrong. But she didn't understand. She didn't know the weight I carried, the darkness I had endured for centuries.
She had become my light, my salvation. And now, she wanted to leave me.
I stared at my phone, the screen dimmed from the last unanswered call. I had tried again and again, desperate to hear her voice, to explain, to beg if I had to. But she wouldn't answer.
My fists clenched as frustration coursed through me, battling the ache in my chest. Niranya. My angel. My Jaan. Did she not know that she was the only reason I had been truly living these past months? She didn't understand what she meant to me.
She wasn't just love. She was my obsession. My reason. My everything.
The thought of losing her made the beast within me stir, a dark, possessive part of me that I had tried to keep buried for her sake. But now it clawed its way to the surface, demanding to reclaim what was mine. Because that's what she was-mine.
I couldn't let her go. I wouldn't.
I walked to the large window of my study, staring out at the city below. Somewhere out there, she was hurting, crying because of me. The thought was unbearable. My jaw tightened as I vowed to fix this, no matter the cost. She didn't know it yet, but she belonged to me, and I would never let her slip away.
The memories of her laughter, her touch, her warmth-they were the only things that kept me grounded. Without her, I would lose myself entirely to the darkness that had consumed me for centuries.
But she didn't know. She didn't know the burden I carried, the secrets that had shaped me into what I was. She didn't know the full truth about me, and I couldn't blame her for running from the part she did know.
I grabbed my phone again, dialing her number with a trembling hand. Ring after ring echoed in the silence until the line went dead. She wasn't going to answer. Not yet.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to take a deep breath. My angel was scared, confused. She needed time. But time wasn't a luxury I could afford. If she thought for a second that I would let her leave me, she was wrong. She didn't understand the depths of my obsession, the lengths I would go to keep her by my side.
If I had to, I would cage her in my arms, shield her from the world, and bind her to me forever.
Because without her, I was nothing.
"I'm sorry, my love," I whispered to the empty room. "But you're mine. And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you never forget that."
As I stood in my room, hurriedly shoving clothes into my bag, my heart felt like it was breaking all over again. Every piece of clothing I packed felt heavier than the last, burdened with memories of a life I could no longer face. Ashtram's voice echoed in my mind, his touch still lingered on my skin, and the warmth in his gaze-so genuine, yet so deceiving-haunted me.
I paused, my hand instinctively reaching for the pendant resting against my chest. The pendant he had given me on our dinner date. My fingers curled around it, clinging to the comfort it once brought me. No matter how much I wanted to let go, I couldn't bring myself to remove it. A part of me still felt for him, still craved the Ashtram I thought I knew.
"Niru," Megha's voice broke through my thoughts, soft and hesitant.
I turned to see her standing in the doorway, worry written all over her face. She stepped inside, her eyes darting to the open suitcase on my bed.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"I'm leaving," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Leaving? Where will you go? Why are you doing this?" Megha asked, moving closer.
I swallowed hard, fighting back tears. "Somewhere far, Megha. Somewhere I don't have to think about anything. I can't stay here anymore."
Megha grabbed my arm, stopping me mid-motion. "What happened, Niru? You're scaring me."
I avoided her gaze, my mind racing. How could I explain something I barely understood myself? I couldn't tell her the truth about Ashtram-not yet, not when I didn't know how to process it myself. "It's complicated," I finally said. "I just need to go. Please try to understand."
Her expression softened, and she guided me to sit on the bed beside her. "I don't understand, Niru, but I trust you. If you need to leave, I won't stop you. Just tell me where you're going."
I hesitated before answering, "I was thinking of heading to Bangalore. It's a modern city with a fast pace, and I can start over there, away from everything. I can think and figure out what's next, without the pressure of anyone finding me."
Megha frowned but nodded. "Bangalore... that's a good choice. You'll have some space to breathe there. But you have to promise me you'll be safe. And let me know once you've reached."
"I will," I promised softly. Then, looking directly into her eyes, I added, "But you have to promise me something, Megha."
"Anything," she said immediately.
"Don't tell anyone where I'm going. Not Vedant, not anyone. This has to stay between us."
Her brows furrowed. "Not even Vedant? He'll want to know."
I shook my head firmly. "No. He'll tell Ashtram, and I can't risk that. Megha, I'm begging you. No one can know."
She hesitated, conflicted, but eventually nodded. "Okay. I promise. This stays between us."
Relief flooded through me, though it didn't ease the ache in my chest.
Megha pulled me into a tight hug, her voice soft. "Whatever this is, you don't have to go through it alone, okay? I'm here for you."
I nodded against her shoulder, my voice barely audible. "Thank you, Megha."
But even as I hugged her, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was leaving behind a piece of myself. Clutching the pendant again, I silently vowed that this was the only connection to Ashtram I'd allow myself to keep. Everything else, I had to leave behind.
Write a comment ...