Chapter 10
The sheets beside him were cold. Aditya sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at the empty space where Sabrina had been just some time ago.
He didn’t even know when she had left. He’d woken up to an empty bed.
The dent in the pillow and the faint trace of her soft floral scent on the sheets had told him that the previous night hadn’t been a dream. It had been real.
Sabrina had been here.
They had happened.
And now… she was gone.
He raked a hand through his already-mussed hair and exhaled a sharp breath.
So this is what it feels like.
To wake up alone. To be the one left behind. In the past, it was usually him walking away. No awkward morning-afters. No expectations. No lingering feelings. He’d always been clear about that.
But this… this was different. Because she wasn’t just any woman.
She was Sabrina. He’d known her for years.
And last night had changed everything. He could no longer merely associate her as Aisha’s sister-in-law.
From now on, he would always remember her soft sighs, her fierce kisses, and the way she’d screamed in his arms. He’d always remember the touch and taste of her.
She’d trusted him enough to fall apart in his arms, several times.
She’d looked at him like she saw something more.
And now, she was gone. He didn’t even know where she was staying. With a groan, he stood up and reached for the shirt he’d tossed onto the floor last night. That’s when he saw it. Her underwear. Torn. Left behind.
He froze.
More memories slammed into him. Her gasping beneath him, her eyes fluttering shut, the way she’d arched into his touch like she couldn’t get close enough, the feel of her nails digging into his shoulders, the way she’d called him Adi…
His chest tightened. Something had shifted last night. He could feel it like a hum in his blood, a weight in his gut. It hadn’t just been sex. Not with her. It had been more. And now, he couldn’t get her out of his head.
He had to find her. No matter what it took.
No matter how many awkward conversations or favors he had to pull with their friends.
He had to see her again. Talk to her. Understand why she left.
And maybe, just maybe, figure out what the hell had started between them.
His fingers clenched around the scrap of black fabric.
He’d been the one with the walls, the lack of emotion, the distance. That’s what had caused Kanika to walk away from him. She’d told him he didn’t know how to let someone in, and that she was done chasing a man who kept shutting her out and not giving her a chance. And damn it, she’d been right.
But now? Now, he was going to be the one chasing.
And he wasn’t planning to stop. He had to find her.
Had to look into her eyes and see if what he’d felt last night still lingered in the morning light.
Had to know if it was just the electricity of the night and the wildness of the moment, or something more.
Because no matter how he tried, he couldn’t get Sabrina off his mind.
For the first time, a woman had thoroughly caught his attention.
Her laugh.
Her body.
Her quiet strength.
The way she’d looked at him, like he mattered. He needed to know if she felt it too, or if it was wishful thinking on his part. He had to, and he would, find her. He’d ask the questions and he’d get the answers.
Two hours later, Aditya sat at a corner table in the hotel’s lounge, coffee in hand, his thoughts far from the poached eggs on his plate. He hadn’t touched his food. His appetite had vanished with her.
He’d considered calling Sabrina. It would’ve been easy.
She was a member of their common friends’ group chat, so he had access to her number.
But somehow, calling or texting her didn’t feel right.
It felt impersonal. Too safe. And instinctively, he knew, he didn’t want to play it safe with her.
He needed to see her. To look into her eyes and hear whatever she had to say and whatever she didn’t want to say.
Because he had questions. He wanted to know why she’d left without a word.
Why hadn’t she even left him a note? Why had last night hit him harder than anything in a long, long time?
More than that, he needed to understand what the hell had changed inside him.
Because something had. Last night had been too real to forget. He wanted to know if she was feeling even a fraction of what he was. And if she was, then maybe he wasn’t insane for needing to see her again.
He had to find her.
“Morning,” Akash’s voice cut through his thoughts.
He slid into the seat across from Aditya, sunglasses perched on his head, hair slightly ruffled, his expression glazed.
“Are you leaving?” Aditya asked, finally noticing the small trolley beside him. “But we just got here yesterday. Aren’t you supposed to stay the week?”
“Uh, yeah…” Akash said. “I… have to get back. Something urgent has come up in Mumbai. If you don’t mind, then I’ll continue working from there.”
“Sure, no problem.”
Akash called for his tea. He kept stirring it mindlessly even though he hadn’t added any milk or sugar to it.
Aditya frowned. Akash was behaving rather odd.
Akash was Keya’s younger brother, and Aditya had known him for years.
When Janak Sehgal had approached him to take on Akash’s training, he hadn’t hesitated at all.
He liked Akash. He was sensible, intelligent, loyal, and determined to succeed in life.
Aditya knew without a doubt that Akash would succeed once he accepted his role and responsibility in life.
As Keya’s closest friend for years, Aditya had an insight into the siblings’ lives and knew why Janak Sehgal was so invested in Akash’s future. One day, Akash would be at the helm of a vast business empire, and Aditya was certain he would make it thrive.
Very few in their circle knew of Akash’s destined future. This knowledge was closely guarded and would be revealed only at the time of Akash’s choosing.
“Anyway…” Aditya began. “By any chance, do you know where Sabrina is staying?”
Akash finally looked up, one brow arching with unmistakable amusement. “Didn’t you disappear with her last night? Or wait, let me guess, pillow talk wasn’t exactly a priority?”
Of course, Akash would have understood the situation for what it was. They’d known each other for far too long.
“Something like that,” Aditya replied.
“And she ran away in the morning without a goodbye?”
“Yes. I need to talk to her. Can you ask Shauna for me?”
Since Akash and Shauna belonged to the same circle, Aditya figured he was in a position to help him, and this way, he could totally avoid the awkward call to Rithwik, so that was a plus.
Akash looked at his cup and then at him. “If she left without a word, then she probably didn’t want to have the morning-after talk.”
“Maybe she didn’t,” Aditya said. “But I do.”
“Nothing good comes out of that talk,” Akash stressed.
“Still… can you please find out where she’s staying?”
Akash hesitated. “I can’t”
“Why?”
A beat of silence passed. Akash looked away, reached for his tea, then took a sip.
“Akash?” Aditya pressed, finally making sense of everything. “What happened between Shauna and you after Sabrina and I left?”
Akash ran a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. That’s when Aditya knew.
He stared at him. “You slept with her.”
Akash gave a single reluctant nod. That explained his glazed expression, the last-minute flight, and why he wasn’t keen on helping him.
Aditya stared. “No wonder you’re running back to Mumbai like your ass is on fire.”
“I am not running away,” Akash grumbled.
Aditya laughed. “Right. Just tactfully avoiding being in the same city as her.”
“I slept with Janak Sehgal’s granddaughter,” Akash whispered. “He’s the most important person in my life. How will I face him again?”
“She was also in that bed with you,” Aditya said. “She also agreed to it. So, stop feeling guilty.”
Akash exhaled a huge breath, but the crease in his brow remained.
Aditya chuckled. “And here I thought it was bad for me because I spent a night with someone who is sort of…”
“… Rithwik’s sister-in-law?” Akash completed, with an arched brow.
“I was going to say friend, but yeah, when you put it like that, it sounds way worse.” Aditya grimaced. “We’re both fucked, aren’t we?”
“Yes, and that’s why I can’t be the one asking Shauna about Sabrina,” Akash said, deadpan.
Aditya sighed and pulled out his phone. “Well then, that leaves me with no choice.”
“You’re really calling Rithwik?”
“What other option do I have? You’re clearly too busy spiraling over Shauna.”
“And you’re getting fixated over a woman who’s only sort of a friend to you. But by all means, go ahead and call Rithwik. I’d like to see you fumble through that conversation.”
Aditya glared at him. Sometimes, Akash was too cheeky for his own good.
Rithwik answered on the third ring. “Aditya? Why are you calling me in the middle of the night? Is everything okay?”
Fuck, he’d forgotten Rithwik was in London.
“Sorry, I’ll call you later,” Aditya said. “Go to sleep.”
“No, I’m up now,” Rithwik said, yawning. “What’s up?”
“I’m in Singapore, and I met Sabrina last night.”
“You did?” Rithwik instantly sounded alert, wary.
“Yeah, I ran into her,” he said quickly. “We didn’t get a chance to talk much, and I realized I don’t even know where she’s staying. Thought I’d check with you.”
There was a pause. “Why?”
Aditya felt Akash watching him, smirking behind his tea.
“Because she’s in my city,” Aditya said, “and I’d like to catch up with her over lunch or something.”
Akash laughed. “Or something?”
Aditya shot him a flat look.
“You two didn’t exactly talk much back home,” Rithwik said carefully.
“I know. But since she’s here, I’d like to connect.”
“Hmm.” Rithwik didn’t exactly sound convinced. Still, he said, “Aisha and I got her to stay with Shauna.”
“Okay,” Aditya said. “Please text me the address.”
“I will,” Rithwik paused before he said, “Just so you know, Sabrina’s not in the headspace for complications.”
“I’m not trying to complicate anything.”
“You calling me in the middle of the night speaks otherwise,” Rithwik said.
“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that she’s finally starting to breathe again after a long time.
And I know you, Aditya. I know how you are around a beautiful woman, so I’m just warning you that Sabrina’s off limits.
You can be a friend to her, but that’s it.
You’ve just gotten out of a messy relationship, and I don’t want her to be your rebound.
I don’t want her getting hurt in any way. ”
Aditya was silent for a beat. “I’m not going to hurt her.”
“You better not,” Rithwik said, his tone laced with steel. You’re important to me, but remember, so is she.”
“Warning duly noted.”
His phone beeped with a message the second he disconnected the call. A smile etched itself across his face as he noted Sabrina’s address.
“She’s staying with Shauna,” he said to Akash. “Told you I’d get it done!”
Akash arched a brow. “And raised all the red flags with Rithwik. That wasn’t smooth. Not at all. Still think you’re not getting fixated over her?”
“Nope.”
Akash laughed. Aditya ignored him. He finally had Sabrina’s address. He was one step closer. Tension coiled low in his gut as a plan formed in his head. He’d never gone against Rithwik. Not once. They had history, loyalty, and an unspoken bro-code.
But this time? This time, it was different.
Sabrina was the first woman who’d made him feel so much. And not even his friendship with Rithwik would stop him from finding out what this thing that had exploded between them was, and where they could go from here.
For the first time in his life, he was willing to break the rules for a woman. And not just any woman. Her. Sabrina.