Fractures in the silence
Author's pov-
Divya felt the tension in the air shift the moment Aditya's voice cut through the rooftop stillness.
Purv had already stepped back, his expression unreadable, his posture rigid. It was like watching him slip behind a mask-one she had started to see cracks in but hadn't fully broken through yet.
Aditya's eyes flickered between them before settling on her. "I didn't meant to interrupt."
Liar.
Divya swallowed, unsure of what to say. She could still feel the ghost of purv's touch on her skin, the warmth of his hand that had been holding hers just moments ago. The moment that now felt lost, slipping between her fingers like sand.
"You were looking for me?" She asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
Aditya nodded, stepping closer. His gaze briefly flickered to purv, but the older boy had already turned away, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, looking as if he couldn't care less about what was happening.
But Divya knew better.
"Yeah," Aditya said. "I just... I wanted to check on you. After everything with Vaani earlier."
She blinked. "Oh."
Right. Vaani.
Divya had been so caught up in purv's presence that she had momentarily forgotten about the storm brewing in the form of his past.
Purv scoffed under his breath. "I didn't realise she needed to be checked on."
Aditya's eyes snapped to him. "And I didn't realise you got to decide that."
Purv turned to fully face him now, his expression still composed but his eyes sharper. "If she needed anything, she would've told me."
Aditya let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Right. Because you're so great at listening when it comes to her."
"Aditya," Divya warned, sensing the tension escalating.
But purv only smirked, his tone ice-cold. "You've been in this city for what-a few months? And suddenly, you think you know her better than I do?"
"Maybe not," Aditya admitted, crossing his arms. "But atleast I don't keep pushing her away when she tries to care about me."
The words hit their mark.
Divya saw it-the flicker of something in purv's eyes, gone as quickly as it appeared.
He clenched his jaw, then exhaled sharply. "I don't have time for this."
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Divya felt her stomach drop as she watched him leave.
She wanted to stop him. She wanted to run after him, to tell him she wasn't giving up on him.
But her feet wouldn't move.
Because a part of her knew-this was purv's battle.
And until he was ready to fight it, she couldn't win it for him.
Aditya sighed beside her, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause a scene."
She just shook her head.