You Belong With Me

29

"Hello?"

Rahul's heart skipped a beat as Sourav's voice echoed through the phone, shattering the silence that had settled between them for so long. The world seemed to pause, and he found himself frozen, unable to process the flood of emotions that surged within him. It had been years since he last heard that voice, years since he felt the warmth of Sourav's presence. Memories, both bitter and sweet, washed over him like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm his senses.

He glanced at Vanshika, his anxiety palpable. She could see the turmoil in his eyes, the mixture of longing and trepidation that consumed him. With a subtle gesture, she urged him to answer the phone. He wanted to, desperately, but the weight of his emotions left him speechless. It was as though fear had robbed him of his voice, leaving him helpless and vulnerable in its wake.

"Hello? Who's this?" Sourav's voice echoed through the phone, the uncertainty palpable in his tone.

Rahul's heart raced like a sprinter at the starting line. He glanced nervously at Vanshika, seeking guidance, but her encouraging gestures only added to his inner turmoil. His gaze returned to the phone, his hands trembling as he grappled with whether to respond.

Yet, as the seconds stretched into eternity, Rahul found himself paralyzed by a surge of emotions. Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to spill over as he struggled to compose himself. He tried to stifle a sob, but it slipped out, a soft whisper against the backdrop of his racing heart.

"Rahul?" Sourav's voice sliced through the tension, sending a jolt of fear coursing through Rahul's veins.

Rahul's mind spun with disbelief. How had Sourav known it was him? Was it some kind of intuition, or had Rahul's identity somehow leaked through the cracks of his carefully constructed facade? Panic clawed at his insides, threatening to overwhelm him.

"Is it you, Rahul?" Sourav's voice cut through the static, pulling Rahul back to the present moment.

Without hesitation, Rahul ended the call, the action a reflex born of fear and uncertainty. He felt Vanshika's disappointed gaze boring into him, but he couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes. Sourav's unexpected reappearance had dredged up memories Rahul had long buried, forcing him to confront emotions he had desperately tried to suppress.

As the weight of reality settled over him, Rahul knew he couldn't keep running forever. Despite the fear that gnawed at his insides, he understood that closure lay on the other side of a conversation with Sourav.

"What did you do? You should have answered him!" Vanshika's frustration was palpable as she confronted Rahul.

"I'm sorry, Vanshika. I just can't do it," Rahul replied, his tone heavy with regret.

Before Vanshika could say anything else, Rahul just stood up. "I'm really grateful to you for listening to my tale and understanding my pain, but now I really should get going. It's very late, and I have a practice session tomorrow. It was nice to meet you. I hope we'll meet again someday," he said urgently, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.

"But Rahul—" Vanshika began, trying to stop him, but he was already leaving, bidding her goodbye before she could finish her sentence.

As Rahul rushed away, Vanshika stood there, watching him disappear into the night. She sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. She had hoped he would open up, hoped she could help him in some way. But it seemed like Rahul wasn't ready to talk to Sourav.

The night was quiet, with only the distant sound of crickets breaking the silence. Vanshika took a moment to gather her thoughts before heading home. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Rahul's story, something Sourav never revealed.

The silence in Vanshika's room was interrupted by the sudden ringing of her phone. Startled, she glanced at the screen. It was Sourav's number flashing on the display. Her heart skipped a beat. Should she answer? She hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with uncertainty. After a brief internal struggle, she decided to pick up.

"Hello?" Sourav's voice came through the line, breaking the silence.

"Umm... hello," Vanshika replied, her voice betraying her nervousness. "I dialed your number by mistake. It's a wrong number. I'm sorry," she quickly improvised, hoping to cover up her initial hesitation.

"Oh!" Sourav's response came, a hint of disappointment evident in his tone. "Okay," he said, and with that, he ended the call.

Vanshika couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt mixed with disappointment. She had lied, but what was more troubling was the disappointment she had sensed in Sourav's voice. It was as if he had been expecting someone else, someone he longed to speak with. She couldn't shake off the feeling that he somehow knew it was Rahul before he even spoke. It was as if he had felt the presence of Rahul. It was almost as if he could sense Rahul's unspoken feelings, his love for him. And when he heard her voice instead of Rahul's, the disappointment was palpable.

Vanshika's heart ached as she recalled Rahul struggle, wishing desperately that there was something she could do to help him. She felt utterly helpless, her mind racing with ideas that seemed impossible to execute. She had only a few days left before her flight to Virginia on Sunday, and the thought of leaving Rahul in such a state tore at her.

As she mulled over her options, she knew that time was not on her side. She had an urgent doctor's appointment scheduled for next week, and she couldn't afford to miss it. But the thought of leaving Rahul behind, alone and in need, gnawed at her conscience. As a psychiatrist, she was habitual of helping people struggling from mental problems. It was very difficult for her to leave someone she had such heart-to-heart conversation in pain.

"I wish there was something I could do," Vanshika muttered to herself, frustration tingeing her voice. But deep down, she knew that her hands were tied. Destiny, it seemed, had other plans.

With a heavy heart, Vanshika resigned herself to the cruel hand fate had dealt. But even as she accepted her circumstances, a small voice inside her whispered, urging her not to give up hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to make things right.