Love Me

13

Roshni was standing in front of Ayaan’s apartment door. Her fingers trembled as she knocked once.

“Who?” a voice asked from inside.

“Ayaan,” she whispered.

The person inside looked at her with confusion, then yelled turning his face to the inside. “Ayaan, someone’s here to meet you.” He stepped aside and gestured for her to come in, but she shook her head, rooted to her place.

Moments later, Ayaan came to the door. His brows furrowed. “Roshni… you? How—?”

She lifted her tearful eyes. “If I stay here, will you make me follow rules? Or will you let me stay? Please, Ayaan… please let me stay.” Her voice broke as tears spilled over.

His gaze fell on her cheek, where a red handprint was clearly visible. He reached out, his voice tight. “What happened to your face? Did… did someone slap you?” His fingers hovered over the cheeks caressing the mark with his thumb pat.

“Let me stay here. I have nowhere else to go,” she sobbed and wrapped her arm around him resting her head on his chest and continuing to cry.

Ayaan wrapped his arms around her and patted her back gently. “Of course you can stay here. But first stop crying.” He carefully wiped her tears with his thumb.

She didn’t reply. Instead, she stepped inside silently. He showed her his room, but as soon as she entered, she locked the door from the inside.

“Roshni, open the door!” Ayaan knocked urgently. “At least tell me what happened please let me in.”

His roommate came over, puzzled. “Who is she? Your friend? Your sister? Your girlfriend? Did she fight with her family?”

“I don’t know,” Ayaan admitted, already searching for his phone. “But something’s wrong.”

He dialed Daksh’s number, but no one picked up. From inside the locked room, faint sobbing could still be heard.

“Do you think we can break the door?” Ayaan asked.

“I don’t think so,” his roommate replied honestly.

“You were going on your date, right? Go. No need to cancel. Give me your room key I’ll manage.”

The roommate nodded, handed him the key, and left. Ayaan sighed and knocked again. “Roshni… you can sleep in my room tonight, it’s fine. But please open the door.”

He tried calling Daksh again. This time, the line connected.

“What happened? Don’t call me again and again,” Daksh snapped. “I know she’s at your house I followed her. Don’t call me again.” He hung up immediately.

Ayaan stared at his phone in disbelief. “What the hell is wrong with them?” He knocked again. “Roshni, come out. At least open the door!”

Finally, the lock clicked. Roshni opened the door, eyes swollen, and without a word, lay down on his bed with her back facing him.

“Roshni, stop crying. Tell me what happened. Did Daksh slap you?” Ayaan asked carefully.

“He did,” she whispered in a heavy voice.

“Why?” he asked softly, but she didn’t answer only continued to weep.

“Is your cheek hurting? Should I bring ice?” He asked but Still no response.

“Roshni, okay… don’t answer. But don’t cry either. If you cry like this, I’ll also start crying,” he said helplessly.

He tried again. “Are you hungry? Do you want something chocolate, cake, pizza, pasta whatever you want, just name it.”