Chapter 14
Aditya
“I thought you were my friend. I was so wrong,” Sana accuses, storming into my office. Her face is flushed with anger as she slams a stack of documents onto my desk.
I don’t need to look at the papers to know what they are.
I already know. The moment I found out Sana had applied for a loan, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
The mere thought of her struggling while I’m right here to help doesn’t sit well with me—especially when I promised myself I’d stand by her through every battle.
That’s why I transferred the money into her account to ease her burden.
She crosses her arms tightly across her chest and glares at me. Damn, she looks stunning in those black pants and that soft pink silk shirt neatly tucked in. But before I could say anything, her sharp voice snaps me out of my desire-filled thoughts.
“I thought I could trust you, but this…” She cuts herself off, her voice trembling slightly as she fights to keep control. “You know how I feel about you paying my bills.”
With my hands on the desk, I lean in. “I get it. I know exactly how your father raised you—tough, never owing anyone. But this isn’t about paying bills. It’s just one friend having another’s back.”
She shakes her head slowly. “You just don’t get it. You hurt me, Aditya.”
I close my eyes, drawing in a slow breath. For a week, our friendship had found its rhythm, something solid and real, but now, all of that threatened to slip away with my one decision. Still, I refuse to feel guilty. I did what I did out of care, not pity, and I won’t apologize for that.
Lifting my gaze, I meet her furious eyes head-on.
“Sana, calm down. I only wanted to help, and as your friend, I have every right to. Let’s keep it that way and end this conversation here.” I retort firmly, willing her to understand.
“No,” she snaps, her voice tight with frustration. “You’re the one who needs to understand—this isn’t something normal friends do.”
I push back my chair and rise to my feet, slowly moving around the desk until I’m standing right in front of her.
“Sana, it’s—” I begin softly.
But she doesn’t let me finish.
“Look,” she cuts in. “When you offered me your friendship, I genuinely thought you meant it. But now, I see it. You’re just throwing money around.
First, it was to pay my mother’s hospital bills, but when I paid you back, you thought you could do it again by paying my loan.
And it’s all just to satisfy your ego.… or worse, to get in my pants. ”
And that’s all it takes. Something snaps inside me, and anger surges forward. Without thinking, my hands move to her shoulders and grip them tightly.
“Don’t you dare insult me like that,” I growl, fire burning inside me.
She jerks in my hold, trying to wrench free, but I don’t let her.
“Let me go,” she hisses, her eyes blazing with hurt and fury.
“Not until you listen,” I counter, my grip loosening just enough so she knows I’m not here to hurt her, but I won’t back down either. “You think this is about my ego? About some twisted ulterior motive? Sana, I helped you because I care. Because you mean something to me!”
“If you cared, you would have respected my choice. I didn’t ask for your help!”
“And what? You’d rather struggle than accept it from someone who actually gives a damn about you?” My voice is rough, my emotions running high.
“It’s my life, my dream, my fight!” she shouts, shoving at my chest, but I don’t budge.
“And what am I, Sana?” I demand, locking my eyes onto hers. “Just some so-called friend you keep at arm’s length, because your pride pushes away the ones who want to help you, who actually care for you.”
She glares at me, her chest rising and falling. “It’s not about pride! It’s about dignity, about not feeling like some charity case!”
“Dignity?” I scoff, shaking my head. “You think my helping you takes away your dignity? Damn it, Sana, friendship isn’t about keeping score or proving who’s stronger. It’s about being there for someone when it matters. And whether you like it or not, you matter to me.”
She stiffens, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “Why can’t you respect that I don’t need anyone’s pity, especially not yours?” she spits out.
Her words hit like a cold blade, but the fire inside me refuses to die down.
Instead, I lean in closer. “Trust me, pity is the last thing I feel for you. And as for respect, I do respect you, Sana. More than you can imagine,” I say, my voice softer now, though the frustration still simmers.
“But I won’t stand by and watch you struggle when I know I can help. ”
She swallows hard, her gaze flickering with something—anger, hurt, maybe even fear.
“It’s my choice. I can handle things on my own,” she whispers, her voice cracking.
“And what about my choice, Sana?” I fire back. “My choice to be there for you. To care. Doesn’t that matter too?”
She looks away, her jaw clenched tight. “I don’t need saving,” she murmurs.
I cup her face gently, bringing her gaze back to mine. “And I’m not trying to save you,” I say, my voice low, but no less intense. “I just refuse to stand by and watch you struggle when I can do something about it.”
Her lips part, but no words come out. I can see the war in her eyes—the battle between pushing me away and pulling me closer.
For a moment, just a moment, I wonder which side will win.
Then she pleads, “Please, Aditya.”
The way she says my name—so soft, almost broken—makes something inside me tighten.
“I just can’t take this,” she adds.
I take a slow breath before replying. “Fine.”
She nods. “Thanks.”
I hate that she’s thanking me for stepping back from helping her. But there’s one thing I know for sure, even if I don’t say it aloud: this fight isn’t over. I’ll step back for now, but there’s no mistake—I’ll always look out for her.
Giving me a small smile, she turns to leave. Just as she reaches the door, I call out, “Sana.”
She pauses, looking over her shoulder at me.
“We’re good, right? I’m still your friend, right?”
For a beat, she simply watches me, making my pulse quicken. Then a wide grin tugs at her lips, and she nods. Without saying another word, she steps out, closing the door softly behind her.
I exhale, leaning against my desk, my hands gripping the edge as I stare at the door she just walked through.
God, this woman will drive me crazy.
I run a hand through my hair, frustration settling in as I push off the desk and drop into my chair. I grab the file, flipping it open, but before I can even read the first line, my phone rings on the desk.
Glancing down, I see the screen light up with Mom’s name.
I take a deep breath before picking up. “Hey, Mom.”
“Aditya, are you busy?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Never too busy for you. What’s up?”
There’s a brief pause before she speaks, “I was just thinking… It’s been a while since we all had dinner together. How about tonight?”
Something in her tone tells me that this dinner sounds like a bad idea. I can almost sense that Mom is up to something. But before I can come up with an excuse, she adds, “No work excuses, Aditya. I need you there.”
I sigh quietly. “Fine, Mom. Dinner it is.”
“Good,” she says, satisfaction clear in her tone. “Be home by seven.”
“Got it.”
I’m about to hang up when my mom’s voice stops me again.
“One more thing,” she says, a slight edge in her tone. “The girl we’ve chosen for you is coming tonight. So make sure you’re on your best behaviour.”
I feel my stomach drop, knowing I was right—this wasn’t just a simple dinner. “Mom, I…”
“No arguing, Aditya.” Her voice sharpens, making it clear this isn’t up for discussion. “I gave you the time you needed. Now it’s time I take matters into my own hands.”
I press my lips together. “I’m not ready to meet someone, Mom. I…”
“That’s not how this works,” she interrupts, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. “You’ve had enough time to figure it out. You are coming for dinner, and you’ll be polite.”
I close my eyes, struggling to find the right words. How do I explain to her that I can’t think of any other woman? How do I tell her about Sana, the woman I’ve fallen in love with, when I haven’t even convinced her yet?
But my mother’s voice cuts through my thoughts, more insistent now. “Be there on time. We’ll be waiting for you.”
The line goes dead before I can say another word.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. Dinner. Meet the girl.
Just what I needed to add to the turmoil.
God, help me! I need a plan to get out of this.
Just then, Reyansh’s name flashes in my mind. He’s always been the one I can rely on, no matter the situation. I grab my phone and dial his number.
“Yo, what’s up?” he picks up almost immediately.
“Listen,” I start, trying to keep my voice calm but failing to mask the tension. “I need you to do me a huge favour.”
I hear him pause on the other end, likely sensing my turmoil before he asks, “What’s going on?”
“I need you to call my parents and tell them I have an important business meeting tonight that I can’t miss,” I say, rubbing my temple. “I need a solid excuse to get out of the dinner they’ve planned tonight.”
“Mind telling me why?”
I hesitate, unsure of how to answer. I can’t keep lying to him. He knows me too well. So I just rip the bandage off.
“It’s about a girl I met, and now I can’t have my parents meddling and trying to set me up with prospective brides over dinner.”
There’s a long pause before Reyansh lets out a low whistle. “Wow, my boy is in love.”
I groan, slamming the desk. “Shut up, Reyansh. You, of all people, should understand this better given that you have Kavya.”
“Yeah, I’m well aware of what it feels like,” he says, his humour fading as his tone turns serious. “But, man, I don’t understand why you can’t just tell your parents about her and save yourself from all this stress.”
I exhale, frustration lacing my voice. “I can’t tell my parents about her yet. Sana still hasn’t accepted my proposal. She needs time to process everything. Hell, I’m not even sure how to handle it myself.”
“I got you, bro. I’ll call them and smooth it over. You just focus on... getting her to say yes. Because I know how it feels to be without the woman who’s finally captured your heart,” he says softly. I can almost hear him smile.
I pull in a deep breath. “I just need to make sure Sana and I are on the same page before I tell my parents about her.”
“Of course, man. Take your time. I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks. I owe you one for this,” I mutter, already feeling the storm of emotions settle into a new level of chaos. How the hell am I supposed to convince Sana when my mom’s breathing down my neck like a ticking time bomb, pushing me to get married?
“You don’t owe me a damn thing. Just make sure you do it right and get everything sorted with your girl.
” Reyansh’s voice is reassuring, but I can tell he’s serious about me getting things straight.
He then adds with a teasing edge, “Also, let’s meet soon over beer.
I want to hear every single detail about how you’ve been keeping things under wraps with this girl you’re completely head over heels for. ”
“Soon,” I reply, hanging up.
Tossing my phone onto the desk, I drop my head, elbows resting on the surface, hands tangled in my hair, as the weight of what lies ahead crashes down on me —Sana, my parents, the dinner—everything pulling me in different directions.
God, when will I be able to get Sana to say yes?