When we reach the session it looks almost done, and then I spot Karan waving at Amyra before walking toward us.
“Karan Mahajan looks suspicious. What if he still has feelings for you, Ames?” I finally voice what’s been gnawing at me.
“That doesn’t matter as long as I don’t want to reciprocate. I’m not someone who leads people on. I always make my thoughts clear, even if it’s just friendship. So no, he won’t be misguided.”
Her tone is firm and confident, like she knows her mind.Still, the other person’s intentions can influence things… right?
“You rejected him in university because you said you didn’t want distractions from studies. Now that you’re past that phase,would you consider giving him a chance?” My heart thunders against my ribs as she finally looks at me.
“I’m not looking for a relationship right now, Rey.” Her answer comes quickly before she steps away toward Karan, leaving with him, and I’m left watching her go.
My mind keeps replaying her words, and a rush of relief settles over me, knowing nothing is going to happen the way I’ve been fearing.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and see Aditi’s name flashing on the screen, and my lips instinctively stretch into a wide smile.
“Hey, darling! What’s up?” I answer, only to hear her soft chortle.
“Reyansh Thakur sounds unusually happy today. Participating in an outdoor event must be the reason, right?” I sound happy? If anyone deserves credit, it’s the time I spent with Amyra, after what feels like forever.
“Not exactly. Just… happy.”
“Don’t fool yourself, Reyansh. You’ve shown up for the past month, but emotionally, you were distant, carrying a weight of anxiety. But now, you sound cheerful and alive.”
She’s right. I’ve been functioning, balancing everything, but it all felt monotonous. A few minutes with Amyra somehow lifts that heaviness. I always know I’m happiest around her.
“Alright, Aditi. Did you get any emails from the universities abroad?”
“Not yet, Reyansh.”
“No problem. You’ll hear from them soon. I’ll leave now. The event is almost wrapping up.”
“Sure. And I hope you join such events more often so you keep sounding like yourself.” Her warm wish shows how much she cares, and guilt instantly prickles through me. I can’t even take her seriously, not in my thoughts.
“Thank you. I’ll call you later. Bye.” I end the call, feeling more recharged than before. I glance toward the dais. The host is still praising Karan and Amyra for how flawlessly they led the campaign.
Amyra Bajaj is a creative genius, and pride swells in me at her success in her first company project.
Below the dais, I see Karan and Amyra smiling at each other. She moves in for a side hug, but he pulls her fully into his arms, holding her close for a moment before stepping back.
Surprise flickers across Amyra’s face, but she doesn’t seem offended, which makes my smile instantly fade, replaced by a familiar ache in my chest.
She didn’t mind being in his arms.
And the smug look on Karan’s face, as if he just won something, doesn’t go unnoticed, especially how he pulled his stunt publicly.
Amyra may be clear about her intentions, but fate can always interfere… feelings can always change.
And the thought terrifies me more than I want to admit.
Suddenly, as if in a flash, I realized that I’ve started seeing Amyra differently than before. Not just as a friend, but something more.
Why did this realization come now? Have I been blind to this all these years?
Chapter 19
Amyra
“So, how is work going so far? Are you feeling comfortable at your father’s company?” I ask, sipping my cold coffee. My best friend, Sanchi, and I are hanging out in our familiar cafeteria, easily slipping into conversation as we catch up on everything we’ve missed lately.
