Species Of Life

42. Broken Trust, Silent Truths(Updated)

Jan stood with trembling hands, her voice barely holding steady as she spoke, "He was my friend... not just a friend, my best friend. But soon, our friendship turned into love."

Somewhere in the room, Faisu flinched. The pain in his eyes was brief but piercing. Before he could respond, a firm voice cut through the silence.

"It wasn't love," the voice said.

Everyone turned toward the entrance of the hall and saw Siddharth stepping in. His gaze was fixed on Jan as he walked toward her with a calm, resolute expression.

"It was just an attraction," Sid said flatly. "A crush."

Jan opened her mouth, but Sid didn't let her speak. "Don't even try to deny it. You know it deep down. He was just a crush."

Jan couldn't answer. Because he was right.

Still, her anger flared. "Whether it was a crush or love, who gave you the right to shoot him?"

"I didn't shoot him," Sid replied immediately.

"Liar!" Jan screamed, her voice laced with disbelief and fury.

Sid's tone turned sharp. "Just because your truth says so, doesn't mean mine is a lie, Jannat!"

Jan's voice cracked as old wounds bled fresh. "The truth is that you never liked Shekhar. The moment I told you we were dating, you kept warning me to stay away from him. You told me not to date him."

"I told you that," Sid answered, his voice dropping with emotion, "because I was afraid he would hurt you."

Jan didn't let up. "No! You said all that because you were jealous."

Sid blinked. "Why would I be jealous?"

Jan inhaled deeply, her voice almost trembling now. "Because I was getting close to him. Because I started spending more time with him... and you couldn't stand that."

"Just stop, Jan," Faisu cut in firmly. "Stop imagining things. Buddy wasn't jealous. He was protecting you. Because he knew, at the end of it, you would be the one left broken."

Jan turned to him, frustrated. "And how exactly would I be hurt?"

Sid stepped forward. "Because Shekhar never loved you. He was pretending. The truth is—he was already engaged to Surbhi."

Jan's expression hardened. "What nonsense!"

"It's true," Sid said softly. "Shekhar and Surbhi have been in love since childhood. Their parents got them engaged in the first year of college."

"Then why... why did he tell me he loved me?"

Sid's eyes filled with anger and pain. "Because he wanted revenge. Our company's rise destroyed his father's business. He couldn't get to us... so he used you. He knew you were our weakness. He targeted you."

Jan's voice trembled as she took a step back. "Fine. Say I believe that. But what you did—how can that be right? You shot him!"

Sid shook his head. "That's not true."

Jan screamed again, "Don't lie! I saw it with my own eyes!"

Sid paused, then said quietly, "It doesn't matter now. Think whatever you want. I don't care anymore."

Jan stared at him, furious. "You see? You have no explanation for what you did!"

Sid turned to her slowly. "Who said I have nothing to say?"

"Then say it. Justify your actions. Explain what happened that day."

Sid's voice turned cold. "I don't owe you any explanation."