Shit. Not again.
I curled my fingers tighter around the phone, blinking hard. But the tears blurred everything—my vision, my thoughts, my ability to pretend I had it together. I didn’t want to cry. I couldn’t afford to. Not anymore.
This phone—God, I hated it. I hated the way it tethered me to people who expected answers I didn’t have. Sometimes, I genuinely wish it didn’t exist.
“Hey… sweetie… how are you?” Roy.
My voice caught in my throat. “Bhai… I’m good… I am…”
The words broke off halfway. My mouth moved, but nothing came out. What the hell is happening to me?
My eyes stayed shut, locked tight, as if that would keep the flood at bay. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t think. I was paralyzed by a thousand emotions I’d sworn I’d buried.
“Kiara? You there?”
That was the promise I made to myself—to stop letting things get under my skin. To stopfeelingso damn much. But here I was, on the verge of unraveling. Again.
I swallowed hard, forcing the tears back, digging my nails into my palm. Roy was still there, waiting, probably worried. And I had nothing to give.
So I did what I always did. I lied.
“Yeah, Bhai… I’m good. Just… tired,” I said, my voice light, casual, rehearsed.
“All well, baby girl?”
“Yeah… When are you coming back…?”
I bit my lip until I tasted blood, but the tears came anyway.
No. No, don’t cry. Not now. Hold it together, Kiara.
“Kia…? Are you there? Hello…?”
And then— A soft touch on my hand.
Grounding. Gentle. Manav.
“Hey, Roy. It’s Manav here,” his voice composed. “Kiara had to attend another call—something urgent came up. Yeah, everything’s fine here. Maybe a network glitch. I’ll have her call you back, buddy.”
I just stared, frozen.
Manav ended the call, his gaze steady, his eyes never leaving mine.
I felt like I was splintering right in front of him.
“Kiara,” he said softly.
The tears wouldn’t stop. I stood abruptly and walked toward the ocean—barefoot, breathless, broken.
The evening sky was painted in a warm, golden hue. Picture-perfect. The kind of sunset that should’ve felt like peace. But inside, I was chaos.
“Kiara…” His voice followed me. Not demanding. Not forceful. Just… there.
I didn’t answer.
“Look at me,” he said again, closer now. Gentle. Real.
I couldn’t. If I looked, I’d break.
