“Princess, don’t hesitate to tell the truth. Do you have something to add?” Neelima Aunty prompts while my mom keeps nodding.
Why is everyone acting as if Amyra’s been secretly in love with me for years? Gosh. It’s such an insult to our friendship.
My heart lifts when Amyra shakes her head, a clear ‘no’, and relief washes over me.
Wait! Why does she look distressed and unhappy? Or am I just imagining things? Maybe she’s just shaken by hearing her own family twist our friendship into something else.
“Then it’s decided,” Harsha Uncle says, standing abruptly. “If Aditi is okay with your proposal, you can go ahead. We have nothing more to say. We’ll leave it to our younger daughter.” Everyone rises with him.
“Aditi? What do you think? Do you feel the same way as Reyansh does? ” My father’s voice booms momentarily.
“Dad! This meeting is just for me to announce my feelings, but not for her to answer on the spot. I’ll wait for her decision.” I reply quickly, noticing Aditi’s face growing nervous.
“Never knew you’d grown so mature, Reyansh. We’ll remember this for a long time,” Mom says, her voice heavy, disappointment shadowing her face.
One by one, everyone leaves the hall except me, Aditi, and Amyra. They take the stairs to the first floor, probably for a long discussion, but I don’t care. The elders might feel betrayed or displeased about my forgotten promise now, but they’ll understand with time. We can’t ruin lives over a foolish promise.
I slowly walk toward Aditi, stopping just inches away, close enough for her to hear me.
“Aditi! This is just me confessing my feelings, and I’ll respect whatever you decide. Just…think about it.” I assure her, my voice steady with sincerity, and for the first time this evening, I catch her gaze meeting mine.
“I have my final semester next week,” she finally replies, and a gentle smile tugs at my lips.
“I know. Focus on preparing for it, and let me know your answer afterwards. I’ll wait. All the best,” I say softly, letting warmth and patience coat my soft and determined tone.
“Okay. I will–”
“Wait, where is Amyra?” I look up to realise she is missing in the hall, while I just saw her a few minutes ago, but was sure she had not taken the stairs
“Have you seen her going upstairs?” I ask Aditi as I suddenly feel anxious about her disappearance.
“No.” She whispers.
“Let me find her first! I will message you later.” My feet pivot before I even hear her reply, a sudden dullness pressing against my chest.
Is she upset that I’ve kept this from her all these years? I’m sure that’s it. Which friend would like the other to hide the secrets of the heart? Without wasting another second, I stride out of the mansion, searching for her.
I feel a constant tension whenever she’s out of my reach.
Chapter 5
Amyra
How did it come to this? How could I be so blind all these years?
The signs were always there, warning me to guard myself from unrequited love, yet I ignored them.
I sprint down the road, tears burning my cheeks, my body weakening with every step, but I can’t stop. My legs move as if possessed, dragging me further from the truth I can’t bear to face. It feels like I’m fleeing a nightmare—only this one is real.
But I can’t outrun it.The truth waits, sharp and merciless.
My feet skid to a halt. I bend over, clutching my knees, sobs tearing out of me as exhaustion knots my chest. My heart bleeds in an ache I’ve never known in all my twenty-four years—the cruel ache of unreturned love.
Why didn’t I see it sooner?
Memories slam into me one after another, freezing me in place.
“Where’s Aditi? I can’t find her.”
