[Author's POV]
Priya keeps her head down, refusing to let the tears fall while still inside. Her lips press together, holding back the sob that burns in her throat. But the moment she steps out of the penthouse, her chest caves in. By the time she reaches the hotel lobby, her eyes are brimming, and as soon as the cold glass doors slide open, the dam breaks.
Outside, the city is drowning. Heavy rain is falling, the water splashing violently onto the pavement and onto her already trembling hands. She looks up towards the tall building, towards that corner of the sky where she knows the penthouse is. Her vision is blurred by tears, in the hotel’s entrance rotating glass doors, she sees nothing but her own helplessness.
She swallows hard and starts walking, her sandals slapping against wet concrete. The rain soaks through her clothes in seconds, plastering the fabric to her skin, but she doesn’t care. The street is almost empty, save for the flickering lights of passing vehicles.
A lone auto slows beside her, its wipers squeaking. The driver leans out.
“Madam, where do you want to go?”
She slips inside, voice trembling as she gives the address. The auto lurches forward, splashing through puddles. Priya’s tears keep falling hot against her cold cheeks, her nose red and raw from crying. The driver keeps glancing at her in the rearview mirror, his eyes a mix of curiosity and pity.
But Priya doesn’t notice. Her world has shrunk to the ache in her chest. The rain outside roars, relentless, as if the skies themselves can’t stop mourning with her.
When the rickshaw finally stops, she steps out, the downpour still unyielding. A tall apartment building stands before her. She hands the driver a few notes without counting and walks away, leaving him calling after her about the change.
Her feet carry her to the door almost on their own. She knocks, rainwater dripping from her hair and clothes.
A familiar voice comes from inside. “Coming!”
The door swings open. Tanya stands there, her eyes widening instantly at the sight before her, Priya’s soaked hair and clothes, her trembling lips, her swollen eyes that are red from more than just the cold.
“Priya…?” Tanya whispers, shocked, the warmth of the apartment spilling into the hallway while Priya stands frozen at the threshold, rain and heartbreak clinging to her like a second skin.
Tanya doesn’t waste a second. She grabs Priya’s cold, trembling hand and pulls her inside. The warmth of the apartment is a sharp contrast to the chill outside, but Priya’s body feels frozen, stiff from holding herself together.
The moment Tanya’s arm comes around her shoulders, something inside Priya cracks.
Her breath hitches once, twice then the sound escapes her.
“Aahhh—haahh… ahhh…”
It’s raw, guttural, nothing like the quiet sobs she tried to hide in the auto. This is the sound of a heart tearing itself open.
Her legs give out and Tanya is forced to hold her up, murmuring, “Hey… hey… what happened.” But Priya isn’t listening, she can’t. Her palms clutch at Tanya’s kurta as if she’s afraid of drowning, her face buried in her friend’s shoulder, tears soaking the fabric.
The walls that had been holding her pain in place crumble completely, leaving her shaking and gasping. Every sob seems to take her strength away, but still, they keep coming, spilling out in broken breaths, almost like the storm outside is inside her chest now.
Tanya just tightens her embrace, guiding her gently toward the couch, letting her cry it all out because right now, Priya doesn’t need questions. She just needs someone to hold on to while the pieces of her heart scatter across the floor.
Priya’s sobs shake her entire body, but then, through the gasps, words start spilling out.
“I… love him… I love him… I love him…”
She keeps repeating it, over and over, like she’s not even aware she’s speaking. Her voice cracks on each word, her breath breaking between them.
Tanya freezes for a second, heart sinking. She doesn’t know the whole story, but hearing Priya like this… she’s almost sure now something terrible must have happened between her and Aarav.
“I didn’t want to say all those things to him,” Priya chokes out, her voice trembling. “But I didn’t have any choice… I didn’t…”
She lifts her tear-streaked face, eyes glassy and red, and looks straight at Tanya.
“I hurt him. He… he did so much for me. And what did I give him instead? Pain… just pain…”
Her voice breaks again, and the tears won’t stop. They keep falling, soaking her cheeks, her chin.
Tanya cups her face gently, trying to steady her. “Shhh… breathe… please…” She pulls Priya closer, rubbing her back in slow circles, murmuring whatever calming words she can think of, even though nothing seems to reach her right now.
Priya’s cries keep coming, deep and unrestrained, as if she’s trying to pour out everything that’s been clawing at her heart until there’s nothing left inside.
[Tanya’s POV]
I hold her even tighter, feeling every tremor of her sobs. She's burning up from crying, her face wet against my shoulder. My mind is reeling, trying to piece together the things she just said.
She loves him. She hurt him. She didn’t want to say those things… but had no choice.
I want to ask what happened? I want to demand what he did, why she’s like this but I can’t. Not now. She’s too fragile, too lost in the storm of her own feelings.
So I just keep holding her, my hand stroking her hair, my voice low and steady. “It’s okay… you’re safe now… let it out.”
But inside, I know it’s not okay.
Whatever this is… it’s big.
And if I’m right about who she’s talking about… then Priya’s heart isn’t just bruised, it’s shattered.
[Aarav’s POV]
The bottle shatters against the wall, the amber liquid dripping like blood onto the white paint. Shards of glass scatter across the marble floor, but I don't care. I grab another bottle from the bar, tear off the cap, and drink straight from the bottle, the burning liquid searing my throat.
The penthouse reeks of whiskey and smoke, my cigarette’s still burning between my fingers. I sink into the sofa, chest heaving, watching the thin line of smoke curl toward the ceiling. My head pounds, but not from the alcohol. From her voice.
Rich.
Marriage.
Father.
Every word she throws at me slams into my skull like a drumbeat, over and over.
Outside the door, I can hear the faint shuffle of the maids. They’re still there, too afraid to step inside. I know they can hear everything, the shattering glass, the sound of furniture scraping across the floor. Good. Let them be scared. I’m not in the mood for anyone’s presence except hers.
And that’s the problem.
I want her here.
Now.
I want to drag her into this place, lock the door, and never let her out. Keep her where I can see her. Where no one, not even her soul can take her from me.
My hand clenched into a fist. I fight the urge to leave and get her right this second. Instead, I grab my phone. My thumb hesitates for a moment, then dials the number I hadn't wanted to use quite so soon.
Four rings.
A voice answers, clipped. “Speak.”
“I’m ready. Arrange everything as soon as you can,” I say, my voice low, dangerous. Then I hang up without waiting for a reply.
The phone lands on the coffee table with a thud. I tip my head back, taking a long drag from the cigarette. The smoke burns, but it’s nothing compared to the fire in my chest.
I know why she said those things. Why did she push me away, but knowing doesn’t make the anger disappear, it fuels it even more. She lied to me.
My jaw tightens. Under my breath, the words slip out like a promise sealed in venom.
“I know the reason why you did this, Priya… and I promise you… I will remove that fucking reason from your life. Forever.”
[Author’s POV]
Outside, the hallway is silent except for the occasional muffled crash from inside. The maids keep their heads bowed, too afraid to knock. Inside, the air is thick with the sharp smell of alcohol and smoke. Aarav leans forward on the sofa, elbows on his knees, eyes dark and unfocused.
The phone rests on the table in front of him, screen still glowing from the ended call. A plan is already unraveling in his mind, pieces sliding into place with ruthless precision.
Aarav takes a slow drag of his cigarette, the ember glowing bright in the dim room. Priya’s words still echo in his skull, each syllable like a nail driven deeper. His jaw tightens.
“You won’t run from me, Priya,” he murmurs into the empty room, voice low and dangerous. “Not anymore.”
On the other side of the city, a man ends the call and slowly leans back in his leather chair. The dim light from the desk lamp casts sharp lines across his face, hiding more than it reveals.
“Prepare everything,” he says, his voice deep, calm… final.
The assistant on the other end of the call doesn’t ask questions, no one ever does.
[Tanya’s Apartment]
Tanya waited until Priya’s breathing had steadied, her hand resting lightly on Priya’s arm.
“Priya,” she said gently, “tell me the truth. All of it.”
Priya’s lashes lowered, her lips parting as if the words were heavy to lift.
“I told him… that I was getting married.” Her voice wavered, carrying a shame that made her cheeks flush. “But it wasn’t true. I made it up.”
Tanya didn’t interrupt, though her brows drew together. “Why would you say that?”
Priya’s fingers tightened around the bedsheet, knuckles pale. “Because… if I didn’t… he wouldn’t let go. He’d keep asking me to be with him. And I—” Her throat closed, the tears threatening again. “I can’t say yes, Tanya. I can’t.”
The older woman’s gaze softened. “Why can’t you?”
Priya’s answer came in fragments, each one more fragile than the last.
“If I say yes… everything changes. My life. My family. My father will never accept it. He’ll hate me. And Aarav sir… he doesn’t deserve to be dragged into that kind of war.” Her voice cracked, the pain slipping through..”
Tanya shakes her head slightly, her hand rubbing my back in slow circles. “Priya… you can’t carry this alone.”
“But what can I do?” I whisper, staring at the floor. “Because if I let myself want him… really want him… then I won’t be able to stop.”
The room was quiet except for the sound of Priya’s uneven breaths. Tanya’s arms tightened around her, holding her until the trembling subsided. But in her mind, Tanya was already turning over the words she had just heard, a growing unease curling in her chest. Aarav didn’t strike her as a man who would let go so easily.
Tanya let the silence linger for a moment longer, her hand still moving over Priya’s back. Then she drew in a steady breath and spoke in a tone that was both soft and unyielding.
“Enough,” she said, brushing a tear from Priya’s cheek with her thumb. “If you keep crying like this, you’ll make yourself sick again. You’re already recovering from the accident, don't push your body more than it can take.”
Priya sniffled, her gaze still lowered.
“Come on,” Tanya urged, giving her arm a gentle tug. “Get up. Change into something fresh, or you’ll catch a cold sitting here like this.” Her voice was laced with that no-nonsense care only Tanya could manage, half mother, half best friend.
Priya hesitated, the heaviness still anchoring her in place, but Tanya didn’t let go. “You don’t have to fix everything today. Just… start with standing up.”
Reluctantly, Priya nodded and let Tanya help her to her feet, the blanket slipping off her shoulders. The motion felt like lifting a weight far greater than her own body, but Tanya’s steady grip kept her from sinking back down.
Two different rooms. Two different silences.
Yet both hearts beat with the same unspoken truth—each feeling the other’s absence like a wound that refused to close.
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To be continued…….
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