KABIR'S POV :

The night I dropped Shanaya off at her house, I had every intention of texting her as soon as I reached home.

But life had other plans.

The moment I stepped into my place, my phone buzzed with an urgent call from my assistant. A critical business deal in London had gone sideways, and I had to fly out immediately. There was no time for explanations, no time to breathe. I barely had time to throw a few things into a suitcase before rushing to the airport.

I should have messaged her then.

But I didn't.

I told myself I'd text her once I landed. Then I told myself I'd do it after my first meeting. Then, in the chaos of fixing a sinking deal, I lost my damn phone—left it in the back of a cab in the middle of the city.

And just like that, the only connection I had to her was gone.

I tried not to think about it. I tried to tell myself that it was only a few days, that I'd be back soon, that she would understand once I explained everything.

But the days turned into a week.

Then two.

And through every second of it, she was there—in my mind, in my thoughts, in the hollow ache that settled in my chest like a permanent shadow.

I wanted to hear her voice.

I wanted to see her name light up my screen.

But when I finally returned, when I got a new phone and held it in my hands, my fingers hovered over her name, unable to type a single word.

Because the moment I thought of texting her, the moment I thought of stepping back into her life, the voices in my head screamed louder.

What if she hates you for disappearing?

What if she's already moved on?

What if she realizes you're not worth it?

I had seen it happen before.

I had let people in—let them see the real me—only for them to walk away when things got difficult. When I wasn't the charming, confident man they first met, but a broken, messy version of myself.

I couldn't do it again.

So I convinced myself that maybe it was better this way.

Maybe she deserved someone who wouldn't leave without a word.

Maybe she deserved someone who didn't carry the weight of a past like mine.

I tried to stay away.

But then Kartik happened.

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I had just stepped out of a meeting when he showed up at my office.

I barely had time to react before his fist connected with my jaw.

The impact sent me stumbling back, my head snapping to the side. A sharp pain shot through my face, but I barely registered it.

Because Kartik was standing in front of me, eyes blazing with fury, fists clenched like he was ready to swing again.

"You son of a bitch," he spat. "Two weeks, Kabir. Two fucking weeks you ghosted my sister, and you think you can just walk around like nothing happened?"

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, tasting blood.

"I had to leave," I muttered. "It wasn't planned—"

"I don't give a damn if the world was ending," he cut me off. "You could have found a way to tell her. You could have done something."

I clenched my jaw, shame crawling up my spine. He was right. I knew he was right.

"You should've seen her," he continued, his voice quieter now, but no less angry. "You should've seen what you did to her."

Something twisted painfully in my chest.

"She barely spoke to us for days. She couldn't focus on anything. She thought she did something wrong, Kabir. She thought you lost interest."

The words hit harder than the punch.

Because that was the last thing I ever wanted her to feel.

I closed my eyes for a second, exhaling sharply.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," I said, my voice rough.

Kartik scoffed. "Then fix it."

I lifted my gaze to his.

He took a step closer, his expression unreadable.

"If you don't, I swear to God, Kabir, I will make sure you never see her again."

His words weren't a threat. They were a promise.

And for the first time in weeks, something inside me snapped.

I was scared, yes.

Scared of ruining this. Scared of letting my past dictate my future.

But the fear of losing her?

That was worse.

I had to get over myself.

I had to stop letting my demons win.

Because if I didn't, I'd lose the only thing that had felt real in a long, long time.

And I wasn't willing to risk that.

So that night, I drove to her house.

I didn't know what I was going to say.

I didn't know if she would even want to hear me out.

But I knew one thing for certain—

I couldn't spend another second without her knowing the truth.

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Hey, lovely readers!

This chapter was a deep dive into Kabir's emotions, his struggles, and the war he fought within himself. Sometimes, our fears and past wounds make us push people away—even the ones we care about the most. Kabir's longing for Shanaya was intense, but so were his insecurities. His past made him hesitate, but his love for her finally gave him the push he needed.

I wanted to make you feel the ache of missing someone, the helplessness of not knowing how to fix things, and the sheer desperation when you realize you might lose something precious. Kartik's confrontation was the wake-up call Kabir needed, and now he's ready to fight for what he wants.

But will Shanaya be willing to listen?

Stay tuned, because things are about to get even more intense! Let me know your thoughts—did you feel Kabir's pain? Are you rooting for him? Drop your love, predictions, and wild theories!

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