Chapter 32
KAVYA
The night returned, heavy and suffocating.
I sat on the edge of my bed, phone clutched in my hand, staring at the competition page.
My mind was a chaotic blur of heart surgery, donors, and a relentless three-month deadline.
I felt a desperate urge to rip the thoughts from my head and throw them away.
My gaze shifted to the screen. Saurav’s name stared back at me.
All it would take was one call. One conversation to tell him the truth.
I could tell him how my father had abused me since childhood, how he’d forced me to file that complaint against him, and how he’d threatened my sister’s life.
I could explain her heart condition and the crushing weight of the medical bills.
Surely, he would understand. But the "what-ifs" surged like a tide. What if he didn't believe me? What if he called me a gold digger again? What if the truth only pushed him further away? Worst of all, if my father found out I’d spoken, he would hurt my sister.
“God!” I groaned. “I don’t have time to explain this pain,” I whispered to the empty room.
The phone buzzed, vibrating against my palm. It was Saurav. I took a breath and accepted the video call, forcing a smile onto my face.
“Did I disturb you?” He frowned, studying my expression. “Wait…” He leaned closer to the camera. “Have you been crying, Kavya?”
“No. Why would you think that?” I said, rolling my eyes to hide the sting in them.
“You don’t look like yourself,” he said, his voice dropping. “Are you worried about me going on the mission tomorrow?”
“No,” I snapped, my irritation a shield for my fear.
“Don’t worry, I’m not leaving you for good. I’ll be back soon, cutie.” He smiled, and for a moment, a flicker of warmth touched my heart.
“I’m not worried about that,” I muttered, looking away from the screen.
“Then what is it? You can tell me, Kavya.”
I forced a small, tight smile. “You already have enough on your mind. I don’t want to add to it.”
“That’s not how this works,” he said softly. “Your problems are mine, too.”
His words hit me like a physical blow. My throat tightened, and for a heartbeat, the truth sat on the tip of my tongue.
“Saurav… ” I whispered.
“Hm?”
I opened my mouth, but fear wrapped around my chest like iron chains, stealing my breath. “Nothing,” I said quickly. “I just… I’ll miss you.”
A faint, handsome smile touched his lips. “I’ll miss you more. Take care of yourself and dad while I’m gone. And don’t skip meals like you always do.”
I managed a light scoff. “You won’t be here to check.”
“I don’t need to be there to know what you're doing,” he replied with a smirk.
My eyes softened despite the storm inside me. “Just come back soon.”
“I will,” he said, his expression turning serious. “And when I do… we’re fixing everything. No more lies, okay?”
My heart ached. “Okay,” I nodded, though I knew nothing was ever that simple.
“Good. Now smile properly. I hate seeing you like this.”
I forced a brighter smile, one that was bright enough to convince him, but too hollow to reach my eyes.
“There she is,” he said.
If only he knew how broken that smile really was.
“Goodnight, cutie.”
“Goodnight, handsome.”
The screen went black. I stared at my own reflection for a long time, imagining his face.
I sighed, putting down my phone. I should have talked to Mr. Chauhan, but he had seemed distant lately.
I’d been so consumed by my sister’s health that I hadn't made time for him. He looked fragile, as if something were eating him from the inside. Perhaps it was guilt over his wife, or the secrets he kept from his son. I didn’t want to intrude, but I needed to know what was happening behind those tired eyes.
I headed downstairs to find him, but I froze when a sound pierced the silence. It was a sob.
My heart climbed into my throat. I ran toward the backyard, my pulse racing. There, near the rose beds, I found Mr. Chauhan. He wasn't just crying; he was wailing like a wounded animal. It was a loud, devastating sound that broke my heart.
I took a step toward him but hesitated. He was a private man; he might be humiliated to be seen in such a state. Swallowing my own tears, I turned around and quietly retreated to my room, leaving him alone with his grief.
_______
The next morning, everything appeared normal. Mr. Chauhan looked calm and composed, showing no trace of the man who had shattered the night before. I wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but I settled for a smile and polite small talk about his business.
When I mentioned my upcoming dance competition, his face lit up with unexpected joy.
“I don’t think I can do it…” I said, shrugging.
“This is the perfect chance to show the world what you can do. You’re a gifted dancer, Kavya,” he said, taking a bite of his sandwich. “Do this for me.”
Looking at him, I fought back tears. How could Saurav hate this man? What had he done to deserve such isolation? I could see the longing in his eyes, a hunger for a son’s love that Saurav refused to give. If only Saurav knew how incredible his father truly was.
After breakfast, I visited the hospital. Seeing my sister like that never got easier. She lay in the bed, looking more fragile than the day before, yet her smile remained vibrant. That soft, innocent expression made my heart ache.
“Kavya… ” she whispered. I forced a smile and moved to her bedside.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she lied.
I sat beside her and brushed the hair from her forehead with a mother’s touch. “You don’t have to lie to me, Kirti.”
She gave a small, breathless laugh, then winced. “Then don’t look at me like I’m made of glass,” she whispered.
“You’re stronger than you think,” I said firmly. “One day, we’re going to dance together again.”
“We will…” She squeezed my hand as a wave of pain crossed her face. “You’ll fix it, right?”
The weight of her question pressed against my chest. “Yes,” I promised, nodding. “I’ll fix everything.”
An hour later, I stepped out of the hospital. My composure finally cracked. I leaned against the cold stone wall and closed my eyes, my breathing coming in ragged gasps.
“I can’t lose her,” I whispered to the empty air.
Images of Kirti’s face flashed through my mind, and suddenly, the path ahead was clear. This wasn't about pride or boundaries. It didn't matter what Saurav would think. This was about survival. This was about my only family. I would do anything to save her, even if it meant dancing with Abhiraj.
I drove straight to Abhiraj’s house. My steps were heavy, weighted by the finality of my decision. The door opened before I could even knock, as if he had been waiting for me.
Abhiraj stood there, his expression unreadable.
“You’ve decided,” he said. It wasn't a question.
I nodded. “We’ll do it.”
He stepped aside to let me in. “Good.”
“This is strictly for the competition,” I clarified, my voice steady. “No personal involvement. No misunderstandings.”
Abhiraj met my gaze, a faint glint appearing in his eyes. “I don’t mix business with pleasure,” he replied. “But dance requires trust.”
“I’ll be a professional,” I countered.
“That won’t be enough,” he said calmly.
“I’ll give the performance whatever it needs,” I corrected.
Abhiraj gave a single, sharp nod. “Then we start tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Time isn’t on your side, Kavya.”
That word again. Time. It was always about time.
I exhaled slowly. “Fine.”
As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Does your husband know?”
The question hit me like a physical blow. My fingers tightened around my phone.
“…No,” I replied, without looking back.
“Will he?”
I closed my eyes for a brief second, feeling the weight of the secret. “I’ll tell him,” I said quietly, though I didn’t know how.
_______