Page 118 of Since You Stole My Heart

‘You thought I wouldn’t notice? I saw it the second you drove up to me,’ he said, toying with the metal clasp at her back. ‘So tell me, why are you still wearing something that ties you to me? The one thing that says you’re mine in every lifetime? Why?’

Because she hadn’t been able to sever ties with him in a way that felt too permanent.

‘Fine, don’t take it off. Just keep your hand in your pocket,’ she said, because there was no answer she could give him that wouldn’t put him at risk. ‘Go now. It’s late.’

‘But it’s not too late for you to stop this,’ he urged, a light sheen of tears blooming in his eyes. ‘Whatever game this is supposed to be, you win.’

‘Do you think I’m playing a game with you?’ Kashvi demanded, wiping her tears with the back of her fist.

‘No, but the universe is. Just yesterday, I was married to the girl I...’ He trailed off, looking away to compose himself. ‘And today she’s telling me she’ll divorce me so I can marry someone else.’

‘How is that fair, Kash? Tell me, how is any of this fair?’ he asked, unguarded, his emotions laid bare.

‘No, it’s not,’ she confessed, because it was true. He had only been dragged into this because of her, and now he was paying for something he’d played no part in.

Swayam held her by the shoulders, the plea unmistakable in his voice. ‘Then just stop this. Tell me not to go. Tell me to stay with you. Tell me I’m yours, and that’s it.’

The world narrowed to that single moment.

He was asking her to claim him, and God, she wanted to. The words clawed at her throat, urgent and desperate, begging to be let out, but she couldn’t.

Her hand trembled as she lifted it to the corner of her eye where her kohl had smudged. She dragged her fingertip along it, gathering the dark stain.

Then Kashvi reached up and pressed the smudge behind his ear, whispering a silent prayer that it would shield him from the evil eye.

He started shaking his head, his lips trembling as a tear slipped from his eye.

Unable to bear the sight, Kashvi turned and walked away before she could lose the last scraps of control she had left.

And this time, to her relief and agony, Swayam let her go.

Chapter 23

Dhruv pushed the door open with his shoulder, the gentle thrum of a low-tempo track curling through the air.

It was only six, but a steady crowd had already settled around the round tables scattered across the bar. Amber lights hung low from the ceiling, casting a honeyed glow over the room. The faint scent of citrus cleaner and polished oak lingered while the playlist hummed softly in the background.

The place had become more familiar to Dhruv than his new apartment.

He moved straight towards the counter, slipping behind it as he called out, ‘Prateek?’

The young man was bent on one knee, arranging shakers and ice storage. He waved a hand. ‘How’s it going, bro?’

Dhruv reached past him to pull a whisky bottle from the back shelf and poured himself a small measure of the amber liquid. ‘Good.’

Prateek grinned, wiping his hands on his jeans. ‘This is it, isn’t it? You bought this bar so close to your office just so you can come in for a drink the moment work ends?’

‘Please. I did it because my new apartment is literally in the next building. Got tired of getting stuck in traffic every night,’ Dhruv chuckled. ‘But it’s just a convenient excuse, because our main aim was to torture you.’

Prateek glared at him. ‘I knew it. You knew the hotel I work at is on the other end of the city, didn’t you?’

Dhruv shrugged, savouring a burning sip. ‘Obsidian Plaza, right? Thought we should make your life a little harder by making you travel on the local train.’

‘You both are such jerks,’ Prateek said, pushing himself away from the counter.

‘Who told you to break our long-standing class topper record at the shelter?’ Vihaan asked, pushing the door shut behind him as he walked in.

‘Still crying about that?’ Prateek pointed accusingly between them. ‘I should inform you guys that I’ve been skimming money from the bar.’