Chapter 14
Reyansh
I am not a psychic, and I don’t need to be one to know that Kavya is hiding something from me. I have this sinking feeling that something’s not right, that something is weighing heavily on her mind. Even during our coffee date, her usual lively self that I was used to seeing was missing and was replaced by a distracted, distant demeanour. She barely engaged in any conversation, only responding with one-word answers. It was clear that her mind was miles away.
Then, what shocked me even more was that she asked me to drop her home instead of going back to the office, which is completely unlike her. She’s always been a dedicated worker, rarely taking breaks during office hours. That alone was enough to set off alarms in my head. I didn’t press her for details at the time, sensing it wasn’t the moment to add more pressure. But I also know that I can’t turn a blind eye to it either. Something’s off, and I can’t let it slide.
‘I need to find out what’s troubling her,’ I mumble to myself, running a frustrated hand over my face. “I love her, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of this.”
After dropping her off at home, I had just enough time to attend a quick meeting, go home, and change from my work clothes to jeans and a t-shirt before pulling into her driveway.
My gaze drifts to the clock on my car’s dashboard—it’s nine at night. I’ve been parked in front of Kavya’s house for almost twenty minutes now, just sitting here, staring at her house. I am still debating with how I’ll extract the truth from her, fully aware that she’ll fiercely guard whatever she’s hiding. However, I can’t linger in this car forever; I must find a way to break through her defenses. Steeling myself with a deep breath, I step out of the car and stride toward her house.
I climb the stairs to her house and ring the doorbell, waiting patiently and hoping I don’t come across as an obsessed, infatuated fool. Not that it bothers me, but I just don’t want to overwhelm Aunty or Kavya.
Five minutes later, the door opens, and Sunita Aunty greets me with a warm smile.
“Hello, son.”
“Hello, Aunty,” I greet her back, reaching down to touch her feet for blessings.
“God bless you, son,” she says with a smile, placing her hand on my head. As I straighten up, her smile widens. “It’s so nice to see you.”
“I hope it’s not late, aunty and I’m not disturbing you?” I ask, feeling a bit guilty for showing up unannounced at this odd hour.
“Of course not! You’re always welcome here,” she assures me, stepping aside to let me in before closing the door behind her. She soon joins me as we make our way to the living room.
“Would you like some tea or coffee?” she asks, gesturing for me to take a seat on the couch.
“No, I’m good for now, maybe later,” I reply, getting comfortable on the couch. I then look around, my eyes searching for her . “Is Kavya not home?”
“She’s been in her room since she came back,” Aunty huffs, taking a seat across from me. “Didn’t even come down for dinner.”
I let out a silent curse. Now, I’m even more sure that something is off with Kavya. Before I can ask Aunty if she is aware of anything, she meets my gaze and asks, “Reyansh, if you don’t mind, can I ask you something?”
I straighten up, placing my arms on my thighs, fingers clasped together, and leaning slightly forward. “Of course, Aunty.”
“Do you have any idea what’s going on with Kavya? She seems lost and subdued since she got back, and it’s really worrying me. I tried asking her if something’s wrong, but she just brushed me off, saying she’s exhausted,” she says, concern evident in her voice.
“I don’t know either, Aunty,” I admit, truthfully. “But I, too, can feel that something is bothering her. That’s exactly why I’m here, Aunty—to help in any way I can.”
Aunty rises from her seat and comes to sit next to me on the couch. “Reyansh, thank you for being here and looking out for Kavya,” she says, her eyes brimming with tears as she gently places her hands on my arms. “I know you two share a special bond. Maybe your presence and support can finally help her open up.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Aunty. Being here for Kavya isn’t something I do out of duty—it’s my absolute purpose, something that I want to do,” I shrug, trying to suppress the emotions welling up inside me. Aunty’s chin quivers slightly, and she looks at me with so much affection, clearly touched by my words.
“Now, I have no doubt that you will find out what’s troubling her,” Aunty says, her gaze softening. “Son, in my old age, I’ve seen enough of the world to know that you are a good man. Kavya is lucky to have you by her side,” she adds, leaning forward to kiss my forehead.
“Thank you, Aunty, for trusting me to be worthy of Kavya,” I say, giving her a small smile. “I promise to do my best to help Kavya through whatever is bothering her.”
She nods gently at me, “She’s in her room. You can go speak to her while I check on Kiara. And do give me a shout if you need anything.”
“I will,” I reply with a kiss on her cheek before making my way toward Kavya’s room.
As I reach her room, I knock lightly, but there is no response. I wait a moment before knocking again—still nothing . Pulling in a deep breath, I slowly push open her door. Even in the dimly lit room, my eyes land on her immediately. She’s curled up in the recliner, her arms tucked under her head, fast asleep.
I slowly make my way toward her, my heart tightening in my chest at the sight of her. She is holding onto the file from her office tightly against her chest, as if it’s her lifeline . Kneeling down, I tenderly brush my thumb across her cheek, struck by how she bears the weight of the world in silence, without uttering a single word of complaint. Carefully, I push a few stray strands of hair away from her face, noticing the faint lines of worry there . A surge of protectiveness swells in my chest—I hate seeing her like this, carrying so much alone.
Just as I’m about to lean forward to kiss her forehead, her eyes flutter open, causing my hand to drop awkwardly to my lap.
“Reyansh?” she questions as she sits up and quickly moves the file out of sight behind her back.
“What’s going on, Kavya?” I ask gently, meeting her eyes. “Talk to me. What are you keeping from me?”
“I to… told you it’s nothing,” she stutters, averting her eyes and avoiding my gaze.
I gently cup her face, ensuring her eyes meet mine, not allowing her to look away. “You and I both know that’s not true,” I assert softly. Before she can protest , I continue, “One thing you should know about me, Kavya, is that I protect the people I love, no matter the cost. And you, Kavya, are the heartbeat of my life. I will do whatever it takes to shield you from harm, even if it means I have to dig deep to find the truth. So, it’s up to you—you either let me in and trust me, or I’ll find out on my own, but I am not letting this go. ”
“Ranveer, please don’t... please let me be,” she whispers, her eyes turning glassy.
“Kavya, I can’t just let you be. I am not wired to switch off my emotions when it comes to you,” I reply softly but firmly . “Seeing you like this is tearing me apart. I just won’t fucking stand by and watch you suffer in silence. Please, let me help you. Please, trust me enough to share your burden.” The last bit comes out as a plea.
She places her hands over mine on her cheeks and gives a gentle squeeze. “Reyansh, I appreciate your willingness to help, but please understand that this is my battle to fight — my battle alone.”
I stroke her cheeks with my thumb. “I understand that your battles are your own, but you don’t have to face them alone.”
“Reyansh, you don’t — ” she begins, but I shake my head, silencing her.
“No, Kavya,” I command, my voice taking on an authoritative tone. I don’t mean to come across as harsh, but at this moment, she’s not leaving me with many options. I’ve respected her need for space and time, but now I am forced to break through and help her see things clearly — things that she’s struggling to comprehend. Holding her gaze, I continue. “Now, you listen to me, and listen carefully. You can’t just shut me out. There is no pushing me away. I won’t allow it. You need to hold onto my hand and trust me to take care of you. I am not backing off, no matter how hard you try to push me away . I am here for you, through thick and thin, because that’s what I do for the ones I care about. And you, Kavya, happen to be the one I love. I love you, Kavya.”
This time, my voice softens, and I notice her sharp intake of breath. Sure, she knows how I feel about her, but it’s the first time I’ve said those three words to her. While I hadn’t planned on blurting it out like this, envisioning a more romantic setting with flowers, candles, and a ring, I can’t deny that this moment feels incredibly perfect. I grin softly, letting the weight of my confession settle . “Yeah, I love you, Kavya. So, stop fighting me on this and let me help you.”
She inhales hesitantly, as though carefully choosing her words. “Reyansh, there’s so much going on that I don’t even know how to get through all this mess and let you in. I’d feel guilty pulling you into something that might be too much for you to handle.”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about because this is exactly where I want to be. I am here for you, ready to face whatever challenges come our way together. So don’t you dare underestimate my strength—I can handle just about anything. The only thing that’s breaking me apart is you shutting me out.”
She blinks, and finally, her walls start to crumble. “I won’t shut you out,” she finally concedes, her voice cracking as a single tear slips down her cheek . I gently wipe it away with my thumb.
“That’s all I ask,” I murmur softly, resting my forehead against hers .
“But can you please give me some more time before I can share the truth with you?” she whispers back.
I pull back slightly, locking eyes with her. “You can take time, but promise me you won’t keep the truth hidden from me for long .”
“I promise I won’t hold onto it for long,” she assures me softly.
With a sigh of relief, I lean my forehead against hers once more, closing my eyes briefly. In this precious moment, I silently vow to be her strength, to give her the happiness she deserves, and to be there by her side as she conquers the demons she’s battling.