“If You Hurt Her”

Aayansh’s POV

After last night, I couldn’t focus on anything.

No matter how hard I tried, my mind refused to settle. Ruuh was all I could think about her scared eyes, the way she stood behind me, the way her voice trembled.

And when I found out she hadn’t come to the office today, my worry doubled.

I wanted to go to her place, to see her myself but I knew better. If I showed up now, things would only get worse.

The entire day passed like a blur. I somehow managed to finish a few tasks, attend meetings, reply to emails but nothing truly registered. By afternoon, I knew I couldn’t take it anymore.

I picked up my phone and called Riya.

After two or three rings, she answered.

“Hello?”

“Riya, how is Ruuh? Is she okay?”
I didn’t even greet her properly. The words rushed out before she could say anything.

“Aayansh,” she called my name calmly, “if you give me a chance to reply, I’ll tell you.”

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to breathe.
“Sorry… tell me. How is she?”

There was a pause.

“Not good,” she said quietly. “She hasn’t come out of her room since last night. Aditya took her phone… and he warned me not to interfere.”

My jaw tightened.

“We fought after you left,” Riya continued. “He’s still mad at me. The whole house can tell something’s wrong.”

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “This is all happening because of me. You two are fighting because of me.”

“You don’t need to say sorry,” she replied immediately. “He won’t stay angry with me for long. I know how to handle him.”

“Stop,” I cut in. “I really don’t need details right now.”

She laughed lightly, trying to ease the tension.

“Has Ruuh eaten anything?” I asked, my voice dropping.

“No,” she said. “It’s almost evening. The whole family has tried to make her eat, but she’s being stubborn.”

My chest tightened.

“I need to talk to Aditya. Soon.”

“Yes, you do,” Riya agreed. “Do you have any plan?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “My mind is a mess right now. He’s not picking up my calls or replying to my messages.”

There was a brief silence.

“Wait,” she said suddenly. “I have an idea.”

I listened.

“We haven’t had a friends’ gathering since Aditya and I got married. Let’s do that tonight. If he’s there, you two can talk and sort everything out.”

I thought about it for a second.

“It’s a good idea,” I said slowly. “But if either of us suggests it, he won’t come.”

“Leave that to me,” she said confidently. “I’ll handle it.”

“Okay,” I replied. “Thank you, Riya.”

“It’s fine,” she teased. “Just buy me something expensive later.”

I almost smiled. “Done.”

“I need to go now. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I hung up the call feeling slightly lighter but the worry still lingered. Ruuh hadn’t eaten all day. That thought refused to leave my mind.

I just hoped Riya would manage to bring Aditya.

After that, I attended a meeting. When it ended, I checked my phone and saw a flood of messages in our friends’ group.

I opened it.

Aarav had suggested a friends’ night out tonight.

Everyone agreed almost instantly.

I smiled to myself.

Of course. Riya.

She was smart. She knew if Aarav asked, no one could refuse. If someone tried, he’d annoy them with calls and messages until they gave in.

Just as I expected, Aditya initially refused.

But then Aarav started his emotional manipulation

And it worked.

“Fine.”

That one word from Aditya felt like a small victory.

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

I owed this one to Riya.

And to Aarav.

Authors pov

The café slowly filled with familiar laughter and half heard jokes as everyone arrived one by one.

Aarav was already seated, teasing Kabir about being late as usual. Ishita and Arya joined soon after, followed by Rudra, their conversation overlapping in easy chaos. It had been a long time since all of them were together like this, and for a moment, it almost felt like old times.

Almost.

Riya arrived with Aditya.

She smiled, greeted everyone, tried to match their energy but something about her felt restrained. Aditya, on the other hand, was unusually quiet. He took his seat, nodded at a few people, and stayed mostly silent, his attention fixed on the table in front of him.

Aayansh arrived a few minutes later.

The moment he stepped in, conversations slowed not enough to be obvious, but enough to be noticed. He greeted everyone casually, taking the empty seat across from Aditya. Their eyes met briefly.

Neither of them smiled.

They all talked about work, about random memories, about Aarav’s latest dramatic story. Laughter came easily from everyone except one side of the table.

Aditya barely spoke.

And Aayansh spoke only when necessary.

The tension sat quietly between them, invisible yet heavy, and slowly the others began to sense it.

Ishita tilted her head slightly, glancing between Riya and Aditya before finally speaking up.

“By the way,” she said lightly, “Riya… why didn’t you bring Ruhi? Last time the girls’ hangout was so much fun.”

Riya’s smile faltered for just a second.

She opened her mouth to answer

But Aditya spoke before she could.

“She’s not well,” he said curtly.

Everyone turned toward him.

“And this is a friends’ hangout,” he added, his tone firm. “It wouldn’t have been appropriate.”

Silence followed.

Not awkward, just… heavy.

Riya looked down, her fingers tightening around her glass. Ishita blinked, caught off guard, and nodded slowly.

“Oh… okay,” she said, clearly sensing she had stepped into something she wasn’t supposed to.

Aarav cleared his throat and forced a grin.
“Alright then! So who’s ordering what?”

Conversation resumed, but it wasn’t the same.

Aayansh sat quietly, his jaw clenched, eyes fixed on Aditya for a brief second before he looked away. Aditya leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Everyone kept talking.

Laughing.

Pretending.

But beneath it all, something was fractured.

And everyone at that table could feel it.

The waiter arrived, taking everyone’s orders one by one.

Laughter returned in small bursts as menus were discussed and choices debated. But Kabir noticed something off almost immediately.

Aayansh hadn’t ordered anything.

Not a drink.
Not food.
Nothing.

Kabir frowned slightly and leaned forward.
“Bro… you’re not eating?”

Aayansh didn’t even look up.
“I’m not hungry,” he replied flatly.

Kabir raised a brow. “Since when?”

“I just don’t feel like eating,” Aayansh said, his voice calm but distant.

No one pushed further, though the unease grew. No one except three people at the table had any idea what was actually going on.

Aditya sat rigid, eyes forward.
Riya kept glancing between them, worry etched into her face.
And Aayansh… looked like he was holding himself together by sheer will.

As the conversation slowly picked up again, Aayansh suddenly stood.

The sound of his chair scraping against the floor cut through the chatter.

He looked straight at Aditya.

“We need to talk.”

The table went quiet.

Aditya didn’t even look at him.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”

Confusion rippled through the group.

“What happened?” Arya whispered.
“Yeah, what’s going on?” Ishita asked softly.

Before things could escalate, Riya spoke, her voice gentle but firm.

“Aadi… at least talk once. Please. You need to listen to him just once.”

Aditya clenched his jaw, silent for a moment.

Then, with a sharp exhale, he stood.
“Fine.”

He walked a little away from the group, Aayansh following him. They stopped near the far end of the café, just out of earshot.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Riya.

She gave a small, tense smile.
“They’ll tell you,” she said. “Just… give them a minute.”

Away from the Group

Aditya stopped a few steps away from the table and turned sharply, his eyes blazing.

“Say it,” he said coldly. “Whatever drama you want to create say it here.”

Aayansh took a slow breath.
“I’m not here for drama.”

Aditya laughed bitterly.
“Then what? To convince me? Because that won’t happen.”

“I’m not trying to convince you,” Aayansh replied steadily. “I’m telling you the truth.”

Aditya folded his arms.
“The truth?” His voice dropped. “The truth is you crossed a line.”

“I know,” Aayansh said without hesitation. “And I won’t defend that.”

That made Aditya pause.

“You admit it?”

“I do,” Aayansh continued. “But I won’t apologize for loving her.”

Aditya’s jaw clenched.
“You love her?” he scoffed. “You think love gives you the right to touch my sister without thinking about the consequences?”

Aditya snapped. “You think I don’t know you? We grew up together. You never let anyone get close. Ever.”

“That’s exactly why this is different,” Aayansh said quietly.
“She’s not just anyone.”

Aditya turned away, pacing a step, anger bleeding into frustration.

“You expect me to trust this?” he said. “You expect me to believe you won’t walk away when things get hard?”

“I won’t,” Aayansh replied instantly.
“And if you think words aren’t enough, watch my actions.”

Aditya stopped pacing and looked at him again.

“What if she gets hurt?” he asked sharply. “What if tomorrow you decide this is too much?”

Aayansh stepped closer, not aggressive, just firm.

“Then you can hate me. Hit me. Do whatever you want,” he said.
“But I’m not leaving her.”

The certainty in his voice unsettled Aditya.

“You know,” Aditya said slowly, “she trusts easily. She hides it well, but she does.”and even if she gets hurt she would put a smile on her face but wont let anyone find out that she is suffering.

“I know,” Aayansh replied. “And that’s why I’ll never betray her trust or hurt her or let anyone hurt her .”

Silence stretched between them.

Aditya exhaled harshly.
“You’re my friend,” he said. “That’s what makes this worse.”

“I know,” Aayansh nodded. “And I won’t misuse that.”

Aditya looked away again, eyes burning not with rage now, but conflict.

“You hurt her,” he said quietly, “and I swear I’ll forget we were ever friends.”

Aayansh didn’t blink.
“If I hurt her,” he said, “I won’t deserve to be anything to you or to her.”

That did it.

Aditya laughed once, short and hollow.

“Damn you,” he muttered.

Then he straightened.

“Fine,” he said firmly. “You can date Ruhi.”

Aayansh’s breath hitched but he remained composed.

“But listen carefully,” Aditya continued, pointing a finger at his chest.
“If she cries because of you, I’ll make sure you regret ever falling in love.”

Aayansh nodded.
“I accept that.”

Aditya narrowed his eyes.
“And don’t misunderstand this doesn’t mean I trust you completely.”

“I don’t expect you to,” Aayansh said honestly.

Aditya shook his head.
“And when Rishabh finds out” he paused, lips curling grimly,
“you’re dead.”

Aayansh almost smiled.
“I figured.”

“I’m not saving you,” Aditya warned.

“I won’t ask you to.”

Aditya stared at him for a long moment, then turned back toward the group.

“Come,” he said gruffly. “Before they start imagining we’re planning a murder.”

Aayansh followed.

Not relieved.

Not relaxed.

But steady.

Because real love is never easy.