Author’s POV
Ruhi lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind tangled in thoughts she couldn’t escape. Just when everything had started to feel right, the past had returned uninvited and unwelcome.
A soft knock broke the silence.“Ruhi, are you there?” Rishabh’s voice came from the other side of the door.
“Yes, bhai,” she replied.
As Rishabh entered, Ruhi sat up. He walked over and sat beside her, his eyes searching her face.
“Are you okay?” he asked gently.
“Yes, bhai,” she said again.
Rishabh sighed softly. “Ruhi, you know you can’t lie to me.”
Ruhi’s eyes turned watery. Rishabh immediately pulled her into a hug and said softly, “Ruhi, you know that, right? You can tell me whatever is bothering you.”
Ruhi pulled back, her grip tightening around the bedsheet. For a second, she thought she could keep it together but the walls she had built all evening finally cracked.
“I was happy,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “For the first time in a long time, everything felt… peaceful. And now”She stopped, swallowing hard. “Now it feels like the past is standing right in front of me, reminding me of everything I tried to forget.”
Rishabh’s expression softened. He gently pulled her into another hug, letting her rest her head against his chest.
“The past doesn’t get to decide your future, Ruhi,” he said firmly. “Not anymore. Not when I’m here.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent but heavy.“What if I’m not strong enough this time?” she asked in a broken whisper.
Rishabh pulled back slightly, holding her face in his hands. “Then you won’t face it alone,” he said. “You never have. And you never will.”
Ruhi closed her eyes, breathing in slowly, letting his words sink in letting herself believe them.
For the first time that night, her heart felt a little less heavy.
….
At the Singhaniya Mansion
Aayansh stood on the balcony, the city lights blurring before his eyes as he replayed every word of their conversation. No matter how much he tried to distract himself, one thought refused to leave his mind,the promise. The promise her father had wanted her to fulfill. The promise that tied her to Vikrant.
What if she wants to honor her father’s wish? What if Ruhi thinks Vikrant is better than me? Even her father believed Vikrant could protect her…
The thoughts twisted painfully in his chest.Sleep was impossible.
He lay on his bed, staring at his phone, checking the screen again and again. He wanted to call her desperately but hesitation held him back. Instead, he typed a message.
Did you sleep?
He hit send and waited.Minutes passed. Then more.No reply.
His mind spiraled, refusing to think straight, until he forced himself to breathe. She must have fallen asleep, he told himself. That’s all.
Yet the phone remained silent in his hand, and the unease in his heart refused to fade.
……
The next morning
Aayansh woke up to the sound of his alarm. He sat up immediately, his first instinct was to grab his phone. He opened it, hoping,but there was still no message from Ruhi. No missed calls. Nothing.
His chest tightened.
After getting ready, he went downstairs, unsure of what he was even supposed to do. Fear clung to him quietly. He took his seat at the breakfast table but didn’t touch the food. His eyes stayed fixed on his phone, as if staring hard enough might make it light up.
His family exchanged worried glances.
He had been like this since yesterday distant, restless, lost in his thoughts. Even when they had asked him what was wrong, he had said nothing. Not yesterday. Not now.
And as the morning passed, the silence from her side felt heavier than any words ever could.
Aayansh’s silence didn’t go unnoticed.
His mother was the first to put her spoon down. “Aayansh,” she said gently, “you haven’t touched your food.”
He didn’t respond, his gaze still fixed on the dark screen of his phone.
His father folded the newspaper and looked at him over his glasses. “You’ve been distracted since yesterday,” he said calmly, but there was concern beneath his tone. “Is something wrong at the office?”
Aayansh shook his head slightly. “No.”
His sister frowned. “Then what is it? You didn’t sleep last night, did you?”
Still, he said nothing.
That’s when his grandmother spoke, her voice soft but sharp enough to cut through the room. “When a man goes quiet like this,” she said, “it’s because something is troubling his heart.”
Aayansh’s grip on his phone tightened.
His mother reached for his hand. “Beta, talk to us. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”
For a moment, it looked like he might say something but then he pulled his hand back and stood up abruptly.
“I’m not hungry,” he said, forcing a neutral tone. “I have work.”
He walked away before anyone could stop him, leaving behind untouched food and a room full of unanswered worries.
Aayansh left the house without another word and drove straight toward Ruhi’s office.
His mind was restless, his heart refusing to calm down. He didn’t know what he expected answers, reassurance, or maybe just a glimpse of her but he needed to see her.
As he droved near the café beside her office, his eyes instinctively moved toward the window.
And then he saw her.
Ruhi was sitting there… with Vikrant.
For a moment, everything inside him froze.
They were seated across from each other, deep in conversation. Ruhi looked serious, Vikrant leaning in as if he belonged there. A sharp pain tore through Aayansh’s chest, stealing the air from his lungs.
So this is why she didn’t reply.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel. He didn’t know how to feel anger, jealousy, betrayal, or just unbearable hurt.
Before his heart could shatter any further, he started the car and drove away.
He didn’t stop. He didn’t look back.
And Ruhi never knew how close she had come to losing him that moment.
…..
Ruhi saw Aayansh’s message the next morning.
Did you sleep?
Her fingers hovered over the screen. She read it again, then once more. So much she wanted to say… yet no words felt right. With a heavy sigh, she locked her phone without replying.
Some conversations couldn’t happen over texts.
Instead, she called Vikrant.
“Can we meet?” she asked quietly. “There’s something I need to talk about.”
They decided on a café near her office.
Ruhi sat by the window, her hands wrapped tightly around her coffee cup, though she hadn’t taken a single sip. Her heart raced as she waited.
A few minutes later, Vikrant walked in. His eyes found her instantly, and he walked over, pulling out the chair across from her.
“Ruhi,” he said gently, studying her face. “What happened? You sounded serious on the phone.”
She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
“Yesterday… what you said about the promise,” she began softly.
Vikrant nodded. “Yes. What about it?”
Ruhi clenched her hands together. “You know I love Aayansh,” she said, her voice firm despite the tremble beneath it. “And that promise whatever I made back then I was just a kid. I don’t even remember it properly. Yes, my dad agreed to it, but still…”
She paused, swallowing hard.
“I can’t fulfill that promise,” she said honestly. “I really love Aayansh.”
Silence fell between them.“I’m sorry for breaking it,” she continued, lifting her eyes to meet him. “But if you ever need any help at anything all I’ll always be there. I’ll be in debt to you for everything you did for me back then… even when you were just a kid yourself.”
Vikrant leaned back slightly, processing her words, his expression unreadable.
The café buzzed around them, but for Ruhi, the world had gone quiet.
She had finally said it out loud.
Vikrant stayed silent for a long moment.
Ruhi’s heart pounded as she waited, afraid to read too much into his expression. He looked down at the table, then let out a slow breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“So that’s it,” he said softly. “You’ve already chosen.”
Ruhi nodded. “I chose him a long time ago.”
Vikrant looked up at her then, really looked at her. There was hurt in his eyes, but no anger. No bitterness.
“I won’t lie, Ruhi,” he said honestly. “It hurts. Not because of the promise but because I knew, somewhere deep down, that this would be your answer.”
She lowered her gaze. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I know,” he replied gently. “You were brave enough to tell me the truth. That matters.”
He paused, then added, “Your father wanted what he thought was best for you. And that promise… it was made by children who didn’t understand life yet.”
Ruhi’s eyes filled again. “You’re not angry?”
He shook his head. “No. I care about you too much for that.”
Then, after a brief silence, he said something that made her look up sharply.
“Aayansh loves you,” Vikrant said. “Anyone can see that. And if he’s the one who makes you feel safe, then he’s the right choice.”
Relief washed over her, mixed with guilt. “Thank you… for understanding.”
Vikrant gave a small, sad smile. “Just promise me one thing.”
She nodded immediately. “Anything.”
“Don’t ever doubt yourself because of the past,” he said firmly. “You deserve happiness, Ruhi. Fully. Without guilt.”
She nodded, tears slipping free. “I promise.”
As they stood to leave, Vikrant hesitated, then said quietly, “You should talk to Aayansh. He’s probably tearing himself apart right now.”
Her heart clenched.“I will,” she whispered.
Outside the café, Ruhi pulled out her phone.
Aayansh’s message was still there waiting.
And this time, she knew exactly what she needed to do.
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