Morning sunlight filtered through the window, soft and reluctant. Aarna stirred slightly, her body aching from the awkward position she'd fallen asleep in—curled up near her apartment door. She blinked against the light, confusion giving way to memory. The terrace. Rudran. Nivedita.

The ache in her chest was sharp, fresh.

She sat up slowly, wiping at her puffy eyes with the back of her hand. Her phone buzzed beside her—multiple unread messages from her team, a few missed calls, and one name that made her heart freeze.

Rudran.

She didn't open the messages. She wasn't ready.

Just then, a knock on the door startled her. Aarna stood up, smoothing down her crumpled kurta and composed herself before opening the door.

It was Roopa.

Aarna stiffened instinctively. But the older woman didn't speak right away. Her face was tired, her eyes unusually soft.

"May I come in?" Roopa asked gently.

Aarna hesitated but stepped aside, allowing her in.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Aarna offered no tea. Roopa didn't expect it.

"I never wanted to hurt you," Roopa finally said. "You've become... more than a neighbor to me. You're like a daughter."

Aarna's eyes flickered. She didn't reply.

Roopa sighed. "I thought I was doing the right thing. For Rudran. For our family. But now I'm not so sure."

Aarna swallowed the lump in her throat. "You've made your choice, Aunty. And so has he."

"No," Roopa shook her head. "He hasn't. He's being forced into it. He wanted time, but none of us gave it to him. Not even me."

Silence again.

"He loves you, Aarna," Roopa said quietly.

Aarna's eyes welled up, but she kept her expression neutral. "Love isn't enough when choices are already made."

Roopa reached across the table, placing her hand over Aarna's. "If there's even a part of you that still cares for him, don't let this end because of our mistakes."

Aarna didn't pull away—but she didn't answer either.

---

Later that evening, Rudran sat alone in his room, scrolling through the photos on his phone—photos of simpler times. Aarna laughing with Roopa. The homemade biryani she insisted she didn't know how to make, but ended up perfecting. The time they stayed up late working on his lecture slides.

Every moment, a shard in his heart.

He heard a soft knock on the door, assuming it to be his mother as usual he said "The door is open".
But The moment Nivedita peaked in and opened the door wide. He regretted it.
It was not like he hated her. Hell it was his Uncle's Daughter, they played a few times together as kids but as the family has it's own drama going on. They drifted apart, but seems like he was the only one who thinks that way because from what he can see in this woman's eyes, it is not just familiarity.

Can we go shopping for the engagement outfits tomorrow? Atha(Aunt) said she'll come too! 😊

Rudran stared at her smiling face. He couldn't breathe. He turned looking out of his window.
I have something important to do.

Nivedita followed his gaze and turned quiet. "That woman from last night. She seemed... close to you."

Rudran didn't answer.

Nivedita tilted her head. "Who is she, Rudran?"

He hesitated, weighing his words. "A neighbor."

"Just a neighbor?"

There was something sharp in her voice now.

He met her eyes for the first time. "Yes. But she matters to me."

Nivedita didn't speak. She only stepped back, her face unreadable. "I see."

He walked out of his room just past her, he did not want to be rude but his feelings were all over the place and saw Roopa sitting in the living room, quietly reading a magazine. She looked up when she saw him.

"Amma," he said, voice steady. "I need to talk to you."

She placed the magazine aside. "I know."

He walked over and knelt beside her. "Don't let them finalize this engagement. Not yet. I'm not ready."

Roopa placed a hand on his cheek, her eyes glistening. "I'll try, Rudra. For you. For her."

---

Across their apartment, Aarna sat on her balcony, wrapped in a shawl. The city moved on beneath her—cars honking, lives being lived. But in her little corner, time felt still.

She finally opened Rudran's message.

"I'm sorry I didn't fight for us when it mattered. But I'm not giving up now, Aarna. Not again. Not until you ask me to."

She stared at the message for a long time.

She didn't reply.

But for the first time in a long while... she didn't cry either.
---
AUTHOR'S NOTE❤️

Sorry for the delay readers.
Please do not forget to Vote and Comment:)
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