chapter 14 -15
Chapter 14 - A Presence He Ignored
Rhea appeared without warning.
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Just like she always had.
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Effortless.
Confident.
Unapologetically familiar.
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"Aarav."
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Her voice carried across the room.
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He turned.
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And there she was.
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Nothing had changed.
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Or maybe-
everything had.
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"You look the same," she smiled.
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Aarav nodded once.
"You don't."
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A soft laugh.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
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She stepped closer.
Too close.
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Aarav didn't move.
Didn't step back.
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Because this-
was normal.
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Wasn't it?
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"Are you married?"
She asked lightly.
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A pause.
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"...Yes."
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Rhea blinked once.
Surprised.
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"You didn't tell me."
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Aarav didn't answer.
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Because there was nothing to say.
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Later that night-
he came home later than usual.
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Kavya was asleep.
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Or at least-
that's what he thought.
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He stood at the doorway of her room for a second.
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Something about the sight-
her lying there, turned slightly away-
felt unfamiliar.
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Distant.
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Like she belonged somewhere else entirely.
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Aarav frowned.
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Then turned away.
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Chapter 15 - The Thing He Didn't Like
It happened at dinner.
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Small.
Simple.
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But enough.
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They were seated across from each other.
Silence between them.
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Normal.
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Until Kavya's phone lit up.
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She glanced at it.
And for a second-
her expression softened.
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Just slightly.
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Then-
she picked it up.
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"I'll take this."
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She stood.
Left the table.
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Just like that.
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Aarav's hand stilled.
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The food in front of him untouched.
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The chair across from him-
empty.
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Again.
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But this time-
it felt different.
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Because she had been there.
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And chose to leave.
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For someone else.
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Aarav leaned back slightly.
Jaw tightening.
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That-
he didn't like.
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Not at all.
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When Kavya returned-
he was still sitting there.
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Silent.
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She resumed her seat calmly.
As if nothing had happened.
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"Who was it?"
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The question came before he could stop it.
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Kavya looked at him.
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"A friend."
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A pause.
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Then-
she added quietly-
"I told you."
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Something in his chest pulled tight.
Sharp.
Unpleasant.
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Aarav looked away first.
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Because for the first time-
he realized something he didn't want to admit.
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He wasn't used to being ignored.
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And he definitely-
wasn't used to being replaced.
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End of Chapter 15