Alisha

Day 2

A soft ray of sunlight kissed my face, gently pulling me out of sleep. I stirred, rubbing my eyes as I slowly sat up on the bed. But the moment I looked beside me, a sudden gasp escaped my lips.
"Aahh! Oh God... Jayant!"

He was lying right next to me. Startled by my voice, his eyes snapped open and he shot up.
"What? What happened?" he exclaimed in panic.

Without thinking, I grabbed a pillow and smacked it against his back. "What are you doing here?! You scared the hell out of me!"

Before he could answer, the door burst open. My father stood there, his expression a perfect mixture of shock, anger, and disbelief. He had clearly heard us shouting.

"You two are going to kill me one day!" he exclaimed, running a hand through his greying hair. "At least consider my age before giving me such heart attacks!"

Jayant, meanwhile, had picked up the same pillow I had used to hit him. For a moment, we both looked at my father, frozen. Then, without a care in the world, Jayant lay back down and pulled the pillow over his head.

That was it. I started hitting him again, this time more determined. "Get up! Wake up, Jayant!"

But he was adamant. "Ask Uncle whatever you want. I'm not moving," he muttered from under the pillow, his voice muffled but smug.

My father groaned in frustration and threw his hands up. "You both fight and kill each other for all I care. Just don't drag me into it!" And with that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
"Papa, wait! Listen!" I called after him, running out behind him while Jayant stayed back, possibly still pretending to sleep.
---
"Papa, please listen," I pleaded, following him into the kitchen, my voice gentle with hope.
But he didn't turn. Instead, he spoke in a tone that felt like I had unknowingly committed a crime. "Yes, speak. What is it now?"

I hesitated, lowering my voice. "When did Jayant come home?"
His reply was instant, sharp. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to keep my tone soft. "He's still asleep, na..."

Papa paused, vegetables in his hands, and turned to me with disbelief written all over his face. "Oh, of course. He's sleeping, so we mustn't disturb him. But Papa? Let's bother Papa first thing in the morning, right?"

His words hit harder than I expected. I bit my lip and said with a sad little pout, "Papa, why are you talking to me like this?"

He walked to the counter, placing the vegetables down with more force than necessary, clearly still upset. "Why am I saying this? You really don't know why?"

I quietly sat on the edge of the slab, watching him take out the knife, beginning to cut the vegetables.

"How would I know, Papa? This kind of reaction can't be just because of a little yelling in the morning," I said softly, trying to calm the storm building in the room.

He paused, gripping the knife tighter. "If you know that much, you must know the rest too. No?"
I tried to guess, to lighten the air. "Is it because Jayant disturbed your sleep when he came in?"
He stopped cutting. Silence stretched between us.

"No, not because he came," Papa said finally, his voice lower, more pained. "Because of why he came."

I fell silent. I didn't want to bring up last night. Not now. Not like this.

So I tried to joke, a nervous smile on my lips. "Well, then you shouldn't have let him in that late, Papa."

He looked at me seriously now. "And how could I have stopped him?"
"Just say something to send him away," I offered quickly, like a child caught in a lie. He stared right into my eyes. "And he would've listened? Really?"

His voice cracked slightly. And for the first time, I noticed the heaviness in his gaze - sadness, worry, disappointment, all tangled together.

"I just want to see you happy, beta," he said quietly. "As long as you're under my roof, I'll do whatever it takes. But if you're hurting... tell me. I'll find a way. I always do."

I couldn't hold back anymore. I stepped off the slab and wrapped my arms around him from the side, hugging him tightly.

"I am happy, Papa," I whispered.
But he pulled away just enough to look at me, cutting me off gently. "Are you? Truly? Then why are you trying to distance yourself from Jayant? You know he won't let go of you that easily. And the more you stretch the rope between two people, the more it hurts. Because someone like him - he won't let go. But he will break."

His words landed hard, leaving a quiet ache in my chest. That was the moment I realized - maybe walking away from Jayant, silently, without an explanation... wasn't just difficult. It was wrong.
---
After that conversation with Papa, the weight of last night began pressing harder on my heart. For the first time, I could truly see my own mistakes.

Everything that happened - the chaos, the shouting, Jayant's anger, Dip's disappointment - all of it... had started with me.

Dip had planned a special evening, something sweet and thoughtful. And I ruined it. His eyes, which had lit up with hope and excitement, had dimmed by the end of the night.

I felt awful - not just for him, but for Bhumika too. They didn't deserve to be dragged into my mess. The party had taken a strange, uncomfortable turn the moment I walked out, and everyone's mood had collapsed after that.

Then, a memory flashed - one I had been trying to push away.

Jayant... shoving me. Hard. I had fallen to the ground, stunned and breathless. Everyone had seen it. And in that moment, their sympathy shifted - toward me.

No one let me follow him after that.
Dip and Rishi had tried to explain, gently but firmly, that going after Jayant then would only make things worse. "He's not in the state to listen," they had said. "He'll only throw his anger back at you."

They were right. They ended up dropping me home that night - quiet, uncomfortable, and lingering in silence.
Even now, as I sat in my room, those thoughts swirled like a storm inside me. I was still lost in last night's mess when Papa's voice cut through the silence.

"Go freshen up quickly!" he called from the kitchen. "We have to eat and then go to the doctor!.. Dr. Dutta... remember?"
I didn't respond. I walked towards my room, I looked toward the bed.
Jayant was still sleeping - peacefully, like the world hadn't burned down the night before.

His face was calm, but in my mind, all I could see was that terrifying image from the party - his face red with rage, eyes wild, voice trembling with fury.

I quietly gathered my clothes and walked into the bathroom.

Even under the soothing stream of hot water, my mind refused to slow down.
Why had he come to my house at 4 a.m.?
It wasn't the first time. Jayant had always treated my home like a safe haven, appearing whenever he felt like it.
But last night... last night was different.
The way he had stormed out, the way he had looked at me - and at Shreya - he wasn't just angry. He was broken.
Yet, when he showed up here, he was... calm. Almost too calm.
What had happened between him and Shreya after?

Something had shifted. And I needed to find out what. No matter what mistakes I'd made... I wasn't going to let one moment of misjudgment ruin whatever was left between them.
Not without trying to make it right.
---
Stepping out of the bathroom, I towel-dried my hair, ruffling through the damp strands as I walked into the room. Still dripping slightly, I tossed my hair back, not realizing that a few stray droplets had splashed onto Jayant's face.

He stirred slightly, but I didn't pay much attention. I picked up my phone and walked out, dialling Shreya's number as I made my way toward the living area. No answer.
I tried again. Still nothing.

A faint anxiety started building inside me. Shreya never ignored my calls. Not like this.

Papa had already set the breakfast table and, with a warm yet distracted smile, told me to eat before heading off to freshen up himself.

But my mind wasn't on food. I stared at the phone, my thumb hovering over her contact. Why wasn't she answering?
And then, out of nowhere, a pair of warm hands covered my head from behind, followed by a soft kiss on the crown.

"Good morning, Aalu," Jayant said, his voice still husky from sleep.
I turned slightly, holding his hand and gently guiding him to sit in the chair next to mine. He obeyed, sitting beside me with that same casual energy he always carried.

I said nothing, just watched him as he - without asking - reached for my plate and took a bite of my paratha, like it was the most natural thing in the world. I didn't stop him.

Instead, in a quiet voice, I asked, "Where did you come from so late last night?"
"From my house," he replied simply, his mouth still half-full.

I reached out and placed a hand on his cheek, gently turning his face to me. "Jayant, I need to talk to you. Seriously," I said, my tone firm now, eyes locked on his.

He placed his hand over mine and smiled faintly. "Even I need to talk to you... but not with all this seriousness on your face. Let me eat first. I'm starving."

And just like that, he brushed my hand away and returned to eating.
But I didn't back off. "Did you and Shreya have a fight?" I asked directly.

He froze mid-bite. But said nothing.
"She's not answering my calls," I added, watching his every move. Jayant looked down at the plate. His voice came out softer this time. "She won't answer."
That made me sit up straight. "Why not? What happened between you two last night?"

He sighed and muttered, "Nothing. Just... couple things. You know, the usual."
But I didn't let it go. "What kind of couple things?" I asked, my voice sharper now, suspicious. He didn't reply. There was a long pause. Then finally, in a half-hearted attempt to change the mood, he said, "Why are we talking about Shreya so early in the morning? You're only here for a few days... let's enjoy, na? Come on, let's go out somewhere today, hmm?"

He tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He wasn't looking at me - not really. And that alone told me everything. He was hiding something. Avoiding. Lying. And whatever it was... it had to do with Shreya. And possibly, with me.

"I'm going to meet Shreya," I said, pushing back my chair and rising from the dining table. Jayant stood up immediately, mirroring the firmness in my tone.

"Why?" he asked.
"Why not?" I shot back.
"Because we're supposed to go out today."
"Where exactly?"
"To the Shiva temple. You can't deny"
"Fine. We'll go there first, then I'll head to Shreya's place."
"No," he countered smoothly, "after the temple, we're going trekking behind the hill."
"Then we'll meet her in the evening."
"It'll be too late by time we returned."
"Then I'll go at night," I snapped, my voice rising with frustration.
He didn't miss a beat. "At night, we need to rest. We'll be exhausted from the trek."
"Then tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow morning, you're going shopping with Dip."
I narrowed my eyes. "Really? In the morning?"
He just smiled, almost innocently. "Yes. You've got your schedule full for the next seven days."
My brows knit together. "What kind of schedule?"
He leaned slightly forward, his voice dropping into that dangerously calm register. "A schedule... to spend time with me."

We went back and forth like that-counter after counter. Each word was starting to feel heavier than the last, and I realized I was tiring of the game. He was trying to box me in, distract me, control the timing. It wasn't just cute anymore. It was intentional. I exhaled deeply, exasperated.

And then I saw them-his car keys resting quietly on the low table beside the couch. Without another word, I picked up my phone and the keys in one fluid motion, turned, and walked out.
"Alisha! Wait-Aalu, just listen!" he called after me, following close behind.
But I didn't turn back. Not once.

I climbed down to the parking lot, slipped into his car, and started the engine. Through the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of him rushing toward me, urgency written all over his face.
Then, slowly, as I pulled away, his reflection in the mirror grew smaller... and smaller... until it disappeared completely.
Just like his excuses.
Just like the truth he was trying so hard to hide.

Within hour, I had reached Jayant's apartment. The security guard didn't stop me-he recognized me well, and of course, the car too.
I stepped out and headed toward the building, heart racing and a strange heaviness in my chest. Once I reached the door, I pressed the bell-again and again-but no one answered. I waited, then knocked a few times.

That's when the door slowly creaked open on its own. It wasn't even locked.
A chill ran down my spine.
I stepped inside cautiously. The living room was a mess-things scattered everywhere. But what really caught my eye was Jayant's bedroom. It was completely turned upside down, like someone had either left in a hurry or broken down in rage.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Papa. I glanced at the screen but didn't have the strength to talk. I sent a quick "Call you later" message.

As I moved deeper into the room, something on the table caught my eye.
A ring. Not just any ring. Shreya's engagement ring. Neatly placed, as if someone had taken it off with purpose.
My breath hitched. My steps faltered. I slowly started backing away from it, shaking my head in disbelief.
"No... no, this can't be true. They didn't break up. This isn't happening. Not now"

Tears were already welling up in my eyes when I bumped into something solid. Someone.
I turned, startled-and found myself face to face with Jayant.
The sight of him broke the last bit of strength I was holding onto. The dam burst.

Tears streamed down my face as I looked up at him, eyes searching for some kind of denial, some explanation. I reached out and wrapped my arms around him tightly, holding on as if I could hold the truth away.

In a choked, trembling voice, I asked, "You two didn't break up, right? Tell me you didn't..." I clung to him like a child desperate for comfort-because in that moment, the truth was something I wasn't ready to face.

Jayant gently ran his fingers through my hair, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "We broke up."

The words hit me like a punch to the chest. Tears kept rolling down my cheeks as I asked, my voice trembling,
"Who ends a relationship over something so small?"

He slowly pulled me away from his chest, just enough to look into my eyes. With his own hands, he wiped away my tears, his touch soft... careful. Then, without saying another word, he guided me to the edge of the bed and made me sit. He turned and walked away to get a glass of water.

I sat there in silence, my heartbeat echoing in my ears.
I had to pull myself together. I had to stop crying. Because this wasn't just about them-it was about something fragile and real breaking apart in front of me. And I couldn't let that happen.
This wasn't love's end. It was just a misunderstanding... one that had started because of me. And I had to fix it.

Jayant handed me a glass of water. I took it in both hands and emptied it in one long sip, as if it could wash away the ache building in my chest.

Setting the glass down, I looked at him with urgency.
"Where is Shreya? Take me to her sister's place-she must be there. I need to talk to both of you."

Jayant was already kneeling in front of me, gently holding my hand. His voice was quiet, almost tired.
"Talking won't help now."
I grew impatient.
"Just take me there, please!"
But he interrupted me, his words calm and final. "She's gone. She went back to Bangalore."
"What?" I stared at him in disbelief. "How can she just leave like that?"

Jayant hesitated. His throat moved as he swallowed his emotion, his voice trembling slightly as he admitted,
"I told her it was over... that our relationship is finished."

My heart sank. I could barely believe what I was hearing.
"You broke up with her? How? Jayant, you don't even know the full story!"

A couple of silent tears escaped the corners of his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. My heart clenched watching him fall apart so quietly.
"Why did you break up with her?" I asked softly.
He looked into my eyes, something raw and hurt behind his. "Because she tried to distance me from my own friends. That's not love, Aalu... that's control."

His words cut through me like a blade.
My lie... my one moment of selfishness was turning everything to ruin.
I had to tell him the truth. I had to make it right. "Jayant... you're misunderstanding everything."

But before I could say more, he gently cupped my face with both hands, his thumb brushing against my cheek.
"Forget it, okay? Let's go back to how things were. Just us. Let's be happy again."

I shoved his hands away, my voice firm.
"Nothing is okay."
He tried again, softer this time.
"Everything will be fine, Aalu... trust me."

But something in me snapped.
I stood up, my voice sharp and full of pain.
"You know why it's not okay? Because I was the one trying to pull away from you." He didn't flinch. He didn't even look surprised.
Instead, he just watched me-like he was trying to understand, not defend.
Then he said something I didn't expect.
"You don't have to anymore. Shreya's out of the picture now."

That one sentence froze me.
His calmness. His certainty. It didn't feel like the Jayant I knew. It felt like someone else was speaking through him-someone who had changed overnight. My eyes widened in disbelief.
"'Out of the picture'? Jayant, she was never between us. She is your girlfriend. And I... I'm just your friend."

His eyes locked with mine, burning with something fierce and unresolved. "Not just a friend," he said sharply. "You're my best friend. My everything."

I matched his tone, my voice trembling with a different kind of intensity.
"Not everything, Jayant. Friends are a part of life-not the whole of it. Life doesn't revolve around just them."

I turned away, inhaling deeply, trying to steady the storm swirling inside me. I glanced around the room, avoiding his gaze, giving myself a moment to breathe.
Then, softly, I looked back at him.
"At this point in your life... it's Shreya who should be everything for you."

He shot back, cold and detached.
"Not anymore."

Those two words hit me like a punch to the chest. This was wrong. All of it. And it was happening because of me. Because of one lie. One stupid moment.

I knew how deeply Shreya loved him. I'd seen it. Felt it. My chest ached with guilt as I stepped closer and gently placed both my hands around his neck, my thumbs barely brushing his collarbones.
My voice was heavy with sadness.
"Jayant... what happened last night... you don't even realize how wrong it was."

There was a fire in him now. His words came out sharp but low, barely holding in his frustration.
"What was wrong? That I chose you? That I finally listened to my heart?"

"Why would you choose me?" I asked, my voice cracking, almost breaking. He didn't hesitate.
"Because choosing you feels right. Right now... it's the only thing that does."
Tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but they spilled over anyway.

"No, Jayant... I was never the right choice. Shreya loves you-truly loves you."

He stepped closer, eyes searching mine like he was pleading for me to understand something he couldn't say out loud.
"And you love me too... probably more than she ever did."

My breath hitched. What did he just say?
He knew?

No. No, maybe he didn't. Maybe he was talking about the innocent kind of love-friendship. The one we always shared.
My hands slipped from around his neck, falling to my sides slowly, as if every second passing was pulling me deeper into this impossible moment. I stared at him, unable to speak.

Then, gently, he took both my hands in his and brought them to his chest. I could feel the soft, rhythmic thud of his heartbeat beneath my palms.
"This is what you want too, right?" he whispered. "For me to choose you?"

I stood frozen, feeling the warmth of his heartbeat against my skin... but I knew it wasn't mine. That beat... that rhythm... still belonged to Shreya.
"Yes, I want that," I said quietly, tears slipping down my cheeks. "But I want you to choose me with your whole heart. And deep down... even you know who your heart still belongs to."

Silence fell between us like a heavy curtain. The air thick with unsaid things, unhealed wounds, and the weight of choices that couldn't be undone.

Jayant went quiet. His hands slowly slipped from mine, like sand falling through open fingers. He walked to the bed and sat down heavily, his shoulders hunched, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Without thinking, I moved to him-kneeling softly in front of where he sat, so that I could meet his eyes. Gently, I placed my hand over his, resting on his thigh. My voice came out low, calm, yet full of emotion.

"Jayant, listen to me," I said, brushing my thumb across his knuckles, "with time, priorities change. That's just life. Before me, Rishi and Rahim were your world, right? And after me... someone else became that space. That someone is Shreya now. And maybe, someday, it'll be your kids. You can't be stuck in one place"
He finally looked at me, his gaze piercing and unwavering.
"And what about you?" he asked, his voice sharp, his words striking like a blade. "You've been stuck in the same place for seventeen years."

His words cut through me like glass.
Yes. I knew that. I had never moved on-not really. Not from him. But this... this wasn't right.

I knew he was only doing this-breaking up with Shreya-because of guilt.
Because of what happened between us.
Because he thought my feelings deserved to be honored, even if it meant denying his own. But, Jayant... how can you truly understand my feelings by betraying your own?

He was trying to fix everything by breaking the one thing that mattered most-his own heart.
And I couldn't let that happen. Not like this. I don't know what came over me, but the words slipped out before I could stop them.

"Jayant... do you remember my first book launched date?"
He blinked at me, taken aback. There was a long pause as he tried to process the question. Then, after a moment's thought, he answered carefully.
"August... August 2023. I don't know the exact date now though."
His voice faltered slightly toward the end.
I didn't waste a second.
"And what about Shreya's dream project the shine residency complex launched date?" I asked sharply.

That clearly made him uncomfortable. He frowned, clearly not expecting the question.
"What kind of question is that?" he snapped, trying to deflect.
"Just answer me," I said, softer this time-but firmer.
He sighed, then reluctantly admitted, "it's not Launched yet." And then with a hint of confusion, he added, "second week of next month it's going to launch, date not fixed yet."

"Jayant... do you remember how I like my tea?"
He blinked at me, There was a pause before he answered. "You always preferred it a little less sweet, with extra ginger... and you hated when the milk was boiled too much-it made it taste heavy."

"And what about Shreya's?" I asked quietly.

"Why this comparison. Stop it?" he said, trying to deflect.

"It's good trick.. tell me naah," I pressed, gently but firmly.

He sighed. "She likes hers with honey instead of sugar, no milk at all... and she can't stand ginger. She prefers a squeeze of lemon in it." Then, with a puzzled frown, he added, "Why are you asking all this?"

I looked down for a moment, then back into his eyes. My voice was calm now, painfully composed.
"Because, Jayant... time changes everything. So do people. Priorities shift."

I swallowed hard, blinking away the sting in my eyes. "The way you once remembered my smallest needs, my tiniest discomforts... now, you do that for Shreya. You care for her. You pamper her even more than you ever did for me."

I paused, searching his face for something-some flicker of resistance, denial, regret. But there was none.
"And that's okay," I whispered. "Just don't try to make my heartbreak your responsibility. Don't make me your guilt. She is your now, Jayant. More than I ever was."

"So please," I added, my voice barely audible, "don't cry for my pain, when you're walking away from hers."

A small smile curled on Jayant's lips-barely there at first, hesitant like a sunrise peeking through a stormy sky. But slowly, it grew... and as it did, mine followed. Like a shared secret, our smiles bloomed at the same pace.

Through his growing laughter, he asked, "What do you want, really?"
Still smiling, I replied with warmth, "Just want to see you happy."
His grin faded just a little, replaced by a softer, more sincere look. "And I want to see you happy too. What do I need to do for that?"

I reached out, gently cupping his cheek with my hand. "Just be happy. That's enough for me."

"I can't... I just can't," jayant said, his voice low, gazed down.

"You can..you have to.."

"No. Going back to Shreya after this-it's impossible. And hurting you again... I won't let myself do that."

For a moment, I just looked at him-at the pain in his eyes, at the sincerity he thought was saving me.
I wanted to tell him he didn't have to go back. That he could stay. But I swallowed that selfishness before it reached my lips.

I knew Jayant wanted to see me happy. He had always wanted that.
But what he didn't know that I was standing at a point in my life where my happiness no longer mattered. Not in the way it once did.
Before leaving, I wanted to see him happy-truly happy-by Shreya's side.

I knew where his heart truly belonged, even if he didn't want to admit it in this moment.

So before he could say more, I decided to do what I had always done-
Protect him, even if it destroyed me. A lie. A lie for lie to make things better.

I smiled faintly, the kind of smile that hides its cracks in the shadows, and said, "You don't have to worry about me," keeping my voice calm, almost detached. "There's already someone in my life."

The words burned like betrayal in my own mouth. I had lied to him so many times to make him feel lighter, but this... this was different. This was a wound I was carving into him on purpose, for my own selfishness.

Jayant's eyes searched mine, disbelief flickering across his face.
"Aransh?" he asked finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

I forced my lips to curve just enough and nodded. "Hmm."

Jayant looked at me, really looked at me. For a second, I thought he might say something, but I didn't let him.
"Stop staring," I teased, standing up. "We've got a flight to catch. To Bangalore. We're going to win Shreya back."

He blinked, caught off guard. "Right now?"
"If not now, then when? When she's moved on with someone else?" I said without missing a beat.

I grabbed his laptop and tossed it into my lap. "What's the password?"
He looked mildly offended. "I'll open it myself," he mumbled, clearly flustered, and started typing.

I grinned. As soon as he was in, I booked us the very next flight to Bangalore-business class, no less. It was leaving very soon, so we didn't waste a second. We locked the apartment behind us and ran out like maniacs chasing a miracle.

My phone was buzzing constantly-Dad's name flashing again and again. But I didn't answer. Not now. Not when Jayant and I were speeding through the city like lunatics on a mission, our hearts pounding louder than the car engine.

At the airport, we rushed through the sliding doors and straight into the check-in line. That's when we noticed it.
Everyone was staring at us.
Jayant and I looked at each other, confused.

And then it hit us-we looked like a mess.
I was in an old t-shirt and loose trousers. Jayant... was in a wrinkled oversized tee, so relaxed it looked like it belonged to someone who just rolled out of bed. No one would believe this man ran a company, let alone was about to board a business class flight.

The airport staff kept eyeing us from head to toe like we'd accidentally wandered into the wrong section. Jayant raised an eyebrow at me, and I tried not to laugh.

But once we were seated, finally inside the calm, sleek cabin of business class... we burst out laughing.
Uncontrollably. Loudly. Freely.
It felt like we hadn't laughed like that in years.
Like two kids who had no idea what the next chapter held-only that they were writing it together.

Jayant tum mere liye..mujhe choose krte ho... Kabhi khud ke liye choose kar ke dekho.....main naa nhi bol paungi.

(Jayant, you choose me for me...Just once choose me for yourself...I won't be able to say no.)
________________________________________

🫶🫶

Hlo lovely readers ❣️
You guys might be wondering why alisha is doing this, but iska jawab bhi isi chapter me chupa hai.

Nima❣️