Page 71 of Mrs. Rathore

I didn’t answer right away.

How do you explain to someone that guilt doesn’t just sit on your shoulders, it owns you?

That it drags you into places you swore you’d never return to?

That it makes you run away from honeymoons and risk the wrath of everyone.

“Because I owe you more than silence and apologies,” I said at last. “Because I can’t change the past, but I can damn well try to show up now.”

And for the first time since her accident, she let me see how much I’d hurt her, break her, and crush her soul.

Ira cried.

She let herself cry. And I let her.

I wrapped my arms around her trembling back, running my hand gently along her spine, trying to calm the storm in her chest.

“I have so many things to tell you,” she murmured between sobs. “But it feels like I can’t. Like I never will be able to...”

“Ira, please talk to me…” I whispered, almost pleading.

“I just can’t... You should go back to your wife, please.”

“You called me here...”

“I didn’t,” she interrupted. “Mom did. I just told her I missed you. I never thought she’d actually call you... especially not at midnight.”

I stared at her, the weight in my chest sinking deeper.

Even if it meant I’d have to carry this pain for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t walk away.

______

Chapter 26

AVNI

I squinted as a shaft of sunlight streamed across my face through the open window. Blinking, I took in my surroundings, slowly recalling that I was on my so-called honeymoon.

I turned to the empty space beside me. The sheets were slightly rumpled, and a faint trace of Aryan's cologne lingered in the air, though he was nowhere to be seen.

Did he sleep next to me last night?

Without thinking, I grabbed his pillow and pressed it to my face, inhaling deeply. Yes, he had been here. A strange comfort settled over me. I breathed in again, surprised by how reassuring his scent felt. What was I doing?

I yanked the pillow away and quickly glanced around, horrified. What if he had seen that? He’d probably think I was insane.

Since he was already gone, I hobbled into the bathroom and quickly showered. After that, I slipped into a yellow floral one-piece, one of the many outfits Rhea had insisted I bring from her fairytale wardrobe. She had packed too much, but I hadn't paid much attention. I just wanted something simple and comfortable.

I added a few matching accessories and gave myself a once-over in the mirror. I looked... decent, but the crutches ruined the effect. No matter how nice the dress was, anyone who saw mehobbling on crutches would look at me with pity. Unfortunately, I had no other choice.

An hour had passed since I woke up and got ready, and still, there was no sign of Aryan Rathore.

He had left me here yesterday too, as if I were something he couldn’t bear to look at. I had tried to take some satisfaction in his discomfort, maybe even hoped he’d feel what I once felt, but this? His disappearing on me? It didn’t bring satisfaction; it hurt.

Hurt? Did I just say hurt? No, it didn't hurt me.

Shaking my thoughts away, I reached toward the nightstand to grab my phone but instead spotted a sticky note. I picked it up and read: