𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑.14

A a r u s h

The gnawing anxiety in my chest wouldn't subside. Why hadn't Rehaan returned yet? Was Dhriti alright? Had something happened to her again? The memory of her, the terror, the helplessness, all came flooding back. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Should I go check on her? No, no, that would only make things worse. She'd be furious if I interfered. 

"Aarush..." Rehaan's voice, a lifeline, cut through my turmoil.

"Yeah...Rehaan, Where were you man? Is everything okay? Is she fine or not? Nothing is serious, right?" I poured out my questions in a breathless torrent.

"Relax...she is fine," Rehaan said, the relief in his voice evident.

"Oh thank God! She is fine otherwise I would have died in guilt." 

"Doctor said she needs complete rest for 2 days." 

"Did she shout at you?" I asked, fearing the worst. 

"No...she didn't react, but Aju denied meeting her." Rehaan's words were a puzzle. 

"Why? I mean why is he denying if she is willing to see you." 

"Same thing I was thinking, Dhriti is willing to meet me. Dhriti is not at all cold as you think. She's very soft when she's talking to me." His words were shocking. 

"What! She is soft..." I stammered. 

"I mean she was soft to me," he clarified. 

"Anyways...but that Arjun, what was he doing there?" I blurted out, not sure why the question popped into my head.

"What is he doing there means what? She's staying alone so someone has to take care of her, right? So he's staying there..." Rehaan's explanation felt incomplete. Why should he stay with her? Ruhi Ahuja was also her friend, so she could stay with her, right? Then why did Arjun stay with her? A prickling suspicion began to grow in my mind.

"Aarush." Rehaan's voice snapped out from my thoughts, pulling me back from the swirling vortex of my own mind. 

"What?" I asked, my attention finally refocusing on the present moment. 

"Your phone is ringing," Rehaan said, his finger pointed towards the vibrating device in my hand. 

"Yeah...it's Mom's call," I replied, already reaching for the phone. 

"Yeah Mom... yes I checked on her, she's fine and the doctor told her to take two days of complete rest." I spoke into the phone, my voice laced with genuine concern. Mom, ever the worrier, always fretted over the slightest ailment. She disconnected the call, reassured by my update.

"Oh...actually it was your Mom's order, that's why you're showing your concern towards her," Rehaan's voice cut through the air. His words stung a little, but I quickly dismissed the sting.

"No, it's not because of Mom. I wanted to know about her," I said, a firm conviction in my voice. The truth was, despite the playful banter, I genuinely cared about Dhriti's well-being, and her health was something I genuinely worried about now. Rehaan's words, though intended to be lighthearted, had somehow managed to prick at a sensitive spot.

________________________

Arjun, who had been by Dhriti's side throughout her ordeal, posed a question that had been nagging him for quite some time. "Why did you forgive Rehaan?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of skepticism. 

Dhriti, who was leaning against her pillows, looked at him with a calm and serene expression. She had given this a lot of thought, and her answer was measured and thoughtful. "Because he is a nice guy, and he is genuinely repentant," she said. "If someone truly regrets their actions, they deserve a chance to make amends."