The moment she couldn't run from
Author's pov-
The night air was cool, brushing against Divya’s skin as she stood on the terrace, gripping the metal railing like it was the only thing keeping her steady.
She had come out for some air, to clear her mind, but the universe had other plans.
Because Purv was here.
And he wasn’t letting her run this time.
"You still feel something," he whispered, his voice both soft and unrelenting. "And I’m not leaving until you admit it."
Divya swallowed, her throat dry. "Purv, don’t do this."
"Do what?" He took a step closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "Tell the truth? Make you face what you’ve been avoiding since the day we met again?"
She shook her head, turning away. "It’s not that simple."
"Yes, it is," he said, his voice quieter now. "It’s always been simple, Divya. I love you. And you—"
"Don’t." Her voice wavered, her hands tightening on the railing. "You don’t get to come back into my life and say that like it erases everything."
"I’m not trying to erase anything," he murmured. "I just want you to stop pretending."
She squeezed her eyes shut. "I don’t know how to do this again, Purv. I don’t know if I can trust you not to break me again."
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Then, softly, brokenly, he spoke.
"Then let me prove it to you."
Her heart clenched.
"Let me show you that I’m not the same man I was five years ago. That I won’t walk away this time," he continued, stepping beside her. "That I can’t walk away this time."
Divya turned to face him, and for the first time, she saw it—the raw, unfiltered truth in his eyes.
Purv wasn’t just saying this.
He meant it.
And that? That terrified her.
"Purv…" Her voice was barely above a whisper, her emotions threatening to drown her.
"I love you, Divya," he said again, softer this time, almost like a confession to himself. "I’ve always loved you. Even when I didn’t want to. Even when I thought I could forget you. I never did."
Her lips parted, but the words wouldn’t come.
Because she was breaking.
Just a little.
Just enough for him to see the cracks in her walls.
Purv exhaled, his hand brushing against hers, hesitant yet firm. "I won’t force you. I won’t rush you. But I need you to stop lying to yourself."
She looked up at him, her eyes glassy, her chest rising and falling unevenly.
And in that moment, she hated how much she wanted to believe him.
How much she wanted to fall again.
But the scars of the past still whispered warnings in her mind.
So instead, she did the only thing she could.
She whispered, "Goodnight, Purv," and walked back inside, leaving him standing there.
Watching her.
Waiting.
Because this time?
He wasn’t giving up.