Chapter 21
Kabir's Perspective
As Aditi turned and walked out, clipboard in hand, I finished scribbling my surname on the list. Just then, Jai, who had been working out in the corner, made his way over. His expression was a mix of disdain and frustration, and I could tell he wasn't here to make small talk.
"Hey, Kabir," Jai said, his voice dripping with hostility. "You might want to watch yourself around Aditi."
I turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. "Watch myself? Is this some kind of intervention, Jai? I didn't realize you were the self-appointed guardian of her personal space."
Jai's jaw tightened. "It's not about guardianship. It's about respect. Aditi's not someone you should be messing with, especially not in the way you're trying to."
I let out a short, humorless laugh. "Messing with? I'm signing up for a boxing match, not plotting world domination. And I have no idea why you think you need to police my interactions with her."
Jai's eyes narrowed. "It's not just about what you're doing now. It's about the fact that you seem to think you can just waltz back into her life and make things all about you. That's not how it works."
I crossed my arms, studying him with a mixture of amusement and irritation. "Wow, Jai. You really are stuck in the past. You and Aditi broke up ages ago. You don't get to dictate who she spends time with or what she does."
Jai's face flushed with anger. "This isn't about the past. It's about respect and boundaries. She's been through a lot, and she doesn't need you—or anyone else—adding to her stress."
I couldn't help but snort. "So now I'm adding to her stress? I didn't realize talking to her or signing up for a match was considered a crime. Maybe you should take your own advice and focus on moving on instead of obsessing over what she's doing."
Jai stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you're being charming or funny, but you're just crossing lines. She doesn't need someone like you around. Especially not now."
I leaned in, matching his intensity. "You think you're so noble, but this is nothing but misplaced jealousy. You're not her knight in shining armor. You're just bitter because you're not the one in her life anymore."
Jai's hands clenched into fists. "You don't know anything about what's going on in her life. You don't have any right to judge or to be so close to her."
I shrugged. "And you think you're some kind of authority on her life? I'm not here to judge. I'm here because I signed up for the boxing match. If that bothers you, maybe you should take it up with someone who actually cares."
Jai's face was a mix of anger and frustration. "You think you can just brush this off? It's not that simple. Aditi's been trying to keep things together, and you coming in like this isn't helping. It's just making things worse."
I couldn't keep the smirk off my face. "If she's been trying to keep things together, maybe she needs a distraction. Maybe she needs someone who isn't going to suffocate her with overprotectiveness."
Jai's expression hardened. "Overprotectiveness? This is about respect. I'm looking out for her, and you're just trying to play the hero. It's pathetic."
I took a step back, facing him squarely. "Pathetic? Really? You're the one who's hung up on the past and trying to control her life from the sidelines. I'm here because I'm interested in participating in the boxing match. That's it."
Jai shook his head, clearly exasperated. "You think you're so much better than everyone else. But you're just another guy who thinks he can charm his way into people's lives and cause trouble."
I felt a pang of irritation at his words. "You know what? Maybe I do have my faults, but at least I'm not stuck in the past, using my ex's life as a battleground. Grow up, Jai."
Jai's face was flushed with anger, and his voice was rising. "I'm trying to do what's right, not get involved in petty arguments. But if you want to make this about you and me, fine. Just stay away from Aditi. She doesn't need this."
I took a deep breath, feeling my own anger simmering. "You don't get to tell me what to do. And you certainly don't get to use Aditi as an excuse for your own insecurities. If you really cared about her, you'd trust her judgment and stop trying to control everyone around her."
Jai's eyes were blazing with fury. "I do care about her. More than you ever will. So don't think for a second that you can just come in here and act like you're some kind of hero."
I raised my voice, not backing down. "Care? You think you're the only one who cares about her? Get over yourself. She's not a prize to be won or a problem to be solved. She's a person with her own choices and her own life."
Jai's hands were balled into fists, his knuckles white. "You're right. She's not a prize. But you're not the one who should be in her life right now
. You're just a distraction she doesn't need."
I shot him a piercing glare. "Distraction? Is that what you think this is? You're the one who's projecting your own issues onto her. Maybe you should look at your own life instead of trying to control everyone around you."
Jai's frustration was palpable, and his voice trembled with anger. "And maybe you should stop acting like you're some sort of savior. You're just making things worse for her."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising tide of frustration. "You're delusional if you think you have any control over her decisions. She's capable of making her own choices, and she doesn't need you or anyone else dictating what's best for her."
Jai's face was flushed with emotion, and he took a step toward me, his voice harsh. "You think you know everything, don't you? Well, newsflash: you don't. And if you think you can just walk into her life and make things better, you're sorely mistaken."
I matched his intensity, my voice steady despite the anger. "I'm not trying to make anything better for anyone except myself. And if you've got a problem with that, take it up with me directly instead of hiding behind Aditi."
Jai's frustration boiled over, and he took another step closer. "You think you're so righteous. But you're just another guy trying to make himself look good at the expense of others."
I didn't back down, meeting his gaze with equal intensity. "You know what? Maybe I am just another guy. But at least I'm not letting my own insecurities control my actions. Maybe you should focus on dealing with your own issues instead of making everyone else's problems yours."
Jai's anger was matched by my own, and the tension between us was thick. "I'm done with this conversation. Stay away from Aditi, or you'll regret it."
I raised my chin defiantly, not willing to let him have the last word. "You don't scare me, Jai. And if you think you can control who Aditi interacts with, you're sorely mistaken. She's her own person, and she'll make her own choices."
With that, Jai stormed off, his frustration evident in every step he took. I watched him leave, feeling a mixture of anger and relief. It was clear that this wasn't just a disagreement; it was a full-blown clash of wills.
As I turned back to the punching bag, my thoughts were consumed by the confrontation. It wasn't just about Jai's jealousy or my own frustrations. It was about the way people tried to control others and the impact it had on their lives.
I hit the bag with renewed intensity, each punch a release of the pent-up anger from the argument. The rhythmic thud of my gloves against the leather was a welcome distraction, but it did little to soothe the anger simmering beneath the surface.
The rest of the session was a blur of adrenaline and frustration. Every punch, every kick, was driven by the need to assert my own control and push back against the constraints others tried to impose.
By the time the practice ended, I was exhausted but still seething. Jai's words echoed in my mind, but so did my own anger and determination. I wasn't going to let anyone dictate how I interacted with Aditi or what my role in her life would be.
As I packed up my gear and left the gym, I knew one thing for sure: the animosity between Jai and me wasn't going to fade anytime soon. It was a clash of principles and personalities, and it had only served to deepen the divide between us.
Walking out into the cool evening air, I felt a sense of resolve. The fight wasn't over, and it wasn't just about the boxing match. It was about standing up for myself and for the choices I made, regardless of what anyone else thought.
Jai's interference had only solidified my determination. I wasn't going to let his jealousy or misplaced sense of ownership dictate my actions. If anything, it had made me more resolute in pursuing what I wanted and in respecting Aditi's own choices.
As I headed home, I could only hope that this wasn't the end of the conflict but rather a new beginning. The tension between Jai and me was far from resolved, and I had no intention of backing down.