Chapter 23 #3
The finality in her tone hit him like a ton of bricks, but every instinct in him refused to accept it. ‘It can’t be. I know I can’t take back my words, but I can try to make up for my stupidity.’
The fire in her eyes dimmed, replaced by something closer to regret. ‘You can’t.’
Dhruv forced himself to pull back because he couldn’t fix this by overwhelming her. ‘Fine. I get that you don’t trust me, but talk to Siya. She’ll understand.’
‘How many times do you think she can watch me mess things up before she gives up on me?’ she said, almost to herself.
He shook his head. ‘You’re being too harsh on yourself. This is not on you. You’ve done a lot of good, Kashvi. That has to count for something.’
Her forehead creased as she cried harder. ‘It’s still not enough to deserve someone like Swayam. But how do I let him go?’
Her eyes shone with tears as she clutched her chest, like something inside her was tearing apart. He had nothing that could take her pain away, and he was failing her again, just like before.
Suddenly, she pushed herself upright. Though her knees buckled once, she still managed to stagger a few steps away before Dhruv grabbed her things and followed her.
‘I don’t need your help!’ she snapped when he reached out to steady her.
The rejection stung, but he swallowed it down and stepped back. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Vihaan approaching, but waved him off.
Kashvi drifted towards the staff room instead of the main entrance. When she fumbled with the handle, he reached over and eased the door open for her.
She knocked his hand away clumsily. ‘Why are you trying to help me?’
He chuckled softly. ‘I’m doing this because I don’t have a death wish. If you hurt yourself, Siya would kill me.’
Kashvi hummed. ‘That, I can believe. She’s terrifying when she wants to be. I wonder what she’d do to Viraj if she found out.’
The name ignited a fresh wave of fury in his chest, and he knew facing him would be far worse for Viraj than anything their elder sister could come up with. ‘If she takes a vote, my suggestion would be castration. I’d even offer to handle it myself.’
She laughed softly. ‘You’d have to get in line.’
He pushed the door open wider, and they stepped into the dark room.
Kashvi blinked hard as shadows settled across her face. ‘Is it night already?’
Dhruv hid a smile, playing along. ‘Yeah. Time flies when you’re drowning your sorrows. Why don’t you rest for a while and I’ll book a cab for you?’
He helped her settle down, and she sank into the cushions with a groan. ‘Who leaves a sofa out on the road?’
Dhruv patted her arm. ‘We like to offer a premium experience to our customers.’
‘Good, good,’ she yawned, her eyes drooping shut as she stretched out on the sofa.
He stepped closer and gently slid a cushion beneath her head. Her wet lashes clung to her cheeks. ‘Do you think Swayam will ever forgive me?’
Dhruv smoothed her hair back from her face. ‘I think he’s a reasonable man, and if you tell him the truth, he’ll understand you were cornered into it.’
She mumbled something incoherent, drifting off.
A loud horn rang out from outside, and she jerked awake with a sharp cry. Her eyes snapped open, fear flashing across her face. ‘Viraj! Is he here? Did he find me?’
‘He won’t, and even if he does, I’ll handle him,’ he said firmly as a fierce, unyielding need to keep her safe rose inside him. ‘You’re safe, Kashu. I’m right here.’
Her wide eyes stayed fixed on his, searching, before she whispered, ‘Where were you before when I needed you?’
Then she went slack, unconscious.
The dried tear tracks on her cheeks and the smudged kohl framing her lashes made her look younger somehow. Haunted.
This was heartbreak in its most unguarded form, and Swayam’s absence was carved straight through the centre of it. Even now, she had to be absolutely drunk to confide everything in Dhruv.
He only had himself to blame.
A violent wave of self-loathing crashed through him, and he drove his fist straight into the wall. The impact burst through bone and muscle, pain blooming outward in hot, jagged spikes. Skin split across his knuckles under the force, cutting through the helpless fog building inside him.
‘Shit,’ he muttered, staring at the blood dripping down the side of his hand.
The switch flipped on, light flooding the dim space.
Vihaan stood at the doorway, his expression tight with concern. Prateek hovered behind him with sharp, assessing eyes.
Dhruv swallowed before forcing out the words. ‘That bastard is threatening Kashvi.’
Vihaan nodded, his voice gravelly. ‘We figured something was wrong. We stayed outside in case you needed help.’
Dhruv cursed under his breath. ‘He’s been stalking her for weeks, and he also had the fucking audacity to hurt her. There’s a bruise on her elbow.’
‘Who is he?’ Vihaan asked, frustration coiling through his low voice.
‘Swayam’s cousin. He’s messing with their heads and their lives. It’s some kind of sick game.’ A bitter taste settled at the back of Dhruv’s tongue as he said resolutely, ‘He needs to be stopped.’
Vihaan didn’t hesitate. ‘Then we stop him. Tell me what you need. I’m in.’
She had come to him once. She had reached for him, and he had done nothing.
Not this time.
Dhruv wasn’t going to waste this chance.
Vihaan stepped into the room and shut the door after Prateek entered. ‘Where do we find him?’
‘Obsidian Plaza. That’s where he’s getting engaged tonight,’ Dhruv said.
Prateek’s head snapped up. ‘The one I work at?’
He nodded.
Prateek stepped forward. ‘What do you need?’
Dhruv hesitated. ‘I don’t want to drag you into this. If this blows back on you—’
‘Relax. All he has to do is get us his room number. We’ll handle the rest,’ Vihaan cut in.
Prateek didn’t wait for more discussion, already pulling out his phone from his pocket.
Dhruv turned to Vihaan, studying him. ‘Are you sure about coming along?’
‘Are you sure about doing this? Kashvi might not be okay with it when she wakes up,’ Vihaan asked instead.
Dhruv sighed. ‘Maybe this will make her hate me more for butting into her life, but I can’t sit around doing nothing. Otherwise, I won’t be able to live with myself.’
Vihaan’s gaze drifted towards where Kashvi slept. ‘Then why would I want to miss out on teaching this asshole a lesson?’
The loud ping of an incoming message cut through the room, pulling their attention towards Prateek.
He glanced down at the screen. ‘Room 907.’
Dhruv looked at Vihaan. ‘Ready?’
‘I was ready five minutes ago. Not sure you’re going to do much damage with that, though,’ Vihaan said, pointing to the blood smeared across the back of his hand.
‘Yeah,’ Dhruv muttered, trying to flex his fingers. The movement sent a sharp pulse of agony up his arm.
He looked away, frustrated, and his gaze landed on his old cycle leaning against the far wall, gathering dust.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as an idea formed.
With quiet menace, Dhruv said, ‘Let’s go. We’ve got an engagement to crash.’