31.
I sat beside him, our fingers tangled like they used to be—only now it felt like I was holding onto a ghost of the man I once loved.
Shaurya was calmer now. His breath wasn't hitching like before. His shoulders weren't trembling as violently. But the damage was done.
I watched him—really watched him.
That realization twisted something deep inside me, made my throat ache and my chest feel heavy. But just as quickly, another memory rose up and knocked the breath out of me.
The way he looked at me earlier. The way he said I think of him as my dog.
As if I was the villain.
As if I had ruined us.
And then I remembered something worse—years of silence.
What the hell was I doing here?
Why was I still the one staying?
I looked down at our hands. His grip had loosened now. Still clinging, but softer—like he was afraid I'd slip away.
And maybe... maybe I was.
My heart thudded painfully as I gently pulled my hand from his. My skin felt cold the second I let go. But I had to.
Shaurya stirred. "Aarav..."
That voice. It used to be home.
But not tonight.
Not anymore.
I stood up. My legs were stiff, my body sore from sitting so long, but the real weight came from inside—from this deep, crushing disappointment I couldn't shake.
I walked toward the door. I didn't trust myself to turn around.
"Aarav, wait—please..."
His voice cracked and for a moment, I nearly stopped. I almost gave in. Like I always did.
But I didn't.
I kept my hand on the doorknob, eyes fixed ahead.
"I can't live this life anymore," I said, voice barely above a whisper. "We're over."
And then I walked out—this time, without looking back.
I quickly stepped into the lift, trying not to let my thoughts spiral again. My chest felt hollow, but I kept moving.
When I reached the parking lot, I spotted Yug leaning against my car, waiting—like always. The moment he saw me, he straightened up and walked toward me, slow and deliberate.
"You can cry, you know," Yug said, arms folded. "I won't judge you. Even if you look ugly doing it."
I huffed a laugh, though it sounded more like a breath escaping. "I'm done crying. I think I'm dehydrated, trust me."
He chuckled softly. "I thought you weren't going to come."
"Well, I was bored," I muttered with a sigh. "Had nothing better to do."
Yug studied my face carefully. "Are you sure?"
I gave a noncommittal shrug, then stretched out my arms like I could physically shake off the weight clinging to me.
"What about him?"
My heart stuttered.
What about him?
I didn't have an answer. I only knew I couldn't keep living like this—caught between love and pain. I was tired of confusion. Tired of giving my all to someone who kept slipping further and further away.
"He'll heal," I finally said, my voice low. "Shaurya will heal... eventually."
I shook the thought off. "Anyway, why are you even here?"
"You know I don't trust them," Yug replied simply. "Of course I had to come with him. And besides, I told you—I'll follow you around forever."
I gave him a look. "Please. You're cringing me."
Yug smirked, then stared at me more seriously, a flicker of warmth in his eyes.
I sighed again. "Alright. I need a hug."
He didn't hesitate. I stepped in, and he wrapped his arms tightly around me. I gripped him harder than I expected to. He snorted into my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes, but I didn't pull away.
"Aarya's going to be jealous we're hugging without her," he mumbled against my ear.
That made me smile. I stepped back slightly. "Don't tell me she's alone."
"She's with Roy," he reassured me. "Your daughter's sleeping. And I've already called Roy five times just to be sure."
I raised a brow. "Of course you did."
Yug slid a hand over my shoulder with a soft pat. "C'mon. Let's go. I need sleep too."
He moved toward the driver's side and got in without another word.
So he's driving. Fine by me. I was too tired to argue.
I looked up at the dark sky for a moment and exhaled—finally letting myself rest, even just a little.
I got into the car, letting the door shut with a quiet thud. As I buckled in, my eyes caught Yug slipping the bottle of Shaurya's pills into the car's center compartment.
Right. I forgot to ask about that.
"What are you planning to do with those?" I asked, frowning slightly.
He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. The city lights blurred past us as we merged onto the main road.
"Did you know he had anxiety?" Yug asked suddenly, eyes still on the road.
"Yeah. He mentioned it once. Said it started after his mom died. He only took pills occasionally—never seemed like something serious," I replied. My voice sounded distant, even to me.
Yug stayed quiet for a moment, like he was holding back something. I shifted in my seat, pushing it back to stretch out.
"What is it? You clearly have something on your mind," I pressed.
"Don't take it the wrong way," he said, voice even. "But I think it's more than just anxiety. That's why I want these pills tested. And honestly, he doesn't look like himself anymore. You've noticed, haven't you?"
"Yeah," I admitted. "He's... thinner. I don't know how to explain. He does look high."
But when Yug mentioned it might be more than anxiety, something clicked—something cold and unsettling.
"If you're trying to say he's on drugs, I don't think that's possible," I muttered. "Shaurya may be messed up, but he wouldn't go that far. Not him."
"Maybe not willingly," Yug said with a slight shrug.
That made my stomach twist.
"What are you implying? Someone's drugging him?" I asked, my voice concerned.
"We won't know until we get the results back. But yeah—could be," he said calmly.
The idea sat in my chest like a stone. Someone trying to harm Shaurya? And he doesn't even realize it? How is that even possible? I can't beleive this.
"He told me he doesn't remember I came back to Amritnagar," I murmured, staring out the window.
Yug jerked his head toward me, incredulous. "Wait—what? He's pretending it didn't happen?"
"No," I said quickly. "He didn't pretend. He... genuinely didn't remember. It scared me."
Yug's voice rose in disbelief. "He's being drugged, Aarav. That's the clearest proof. Or he's got something else going on—maybe bipolar disorder or dissociative symptoms."
I leaned my head against the cold glass. I remembered Yug once studied psychology before switching to business. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was far worse than any of us thought.
And if someone is behind this... if someone's been hurting Shaurya slowly, methodically—then this isn't just about his health. It's about control. Sabotage. Maybe even about us.
My chest ached at the thought.
What about Aarya? How is she supposed to grow up in the middle of all this madness? I clenched my jaw.
Whoever is doing this—I'll find them. I don't care who it is or what it takes. I'll make sure to burn them alive.
Because no matter how pathetic it sounds, I'll keep chasing answers. If Shaurya can't give me the truth, I'll dig it out myself.
But one thing I know now, more than ever—
No matter what happens...
I can never love Shaurya Shekhawat the way I used to.
Yug put his hand on my thigh gently.
"God don't think too much okay? Let's hope it's not what we're thinking. I can't wait to go home and cuddle Aarya and sleep. She's a teddy bear".
"Hey! She's not a doll okay? Don't squeeze her too much. I'll kill you", I said rolling my eyes and sighed.
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