Equations Of Love

14

"You remind me of sunsets"

AYUSHMAN'S POV

I stood there, rooted to the spot, as Diya fled the room, her face etched with anguish. The sight of her pain was a dagger to my heart, and I knew I had to make things right. Without thinking, I sprinted after her, calling her name, but she was already out of sight by the time I reached the lobby.

I rushed to the receptionist, my voice frantic. "Did you see where she went?"

She looked up, startled. "She just left, sir. She took a cab."

Panic surged through me. I turned to see Rihan and Radhika approaching, both looking worried. "Rihan, why didn't you stop her?" I shouted, my frustration boiling over.

Rihan's face fell. "I didn't know what was happening. She looked so upset..."

"I messed it up again," I muttered to myself, feeling the weight of my failures.

Radhika stepped forward, her voice steady and calm. "Ayushman, it's not too late. Go home and find her. She needs to hear the truth, and I want to be there too."

"No, Radhika," I said, shaking my head. "It will only create more misunderstandings."

She placed a hand on my arm. "She won't believe you right now. Let me explain. She needs to hear it from someone else."

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, I nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Let's go."

We headed to our cars, my mind racing as I drove home. When I arrived, the house was eerily quiet. Diya wasn't there. Anxiety clawed at my chest as I asked the security guard if he had seen her.

"She hasn't come home yet, sir," he said, looking concerned.

I tried calling her, but her phone was switched off. Fear gnawed at me. What if something had happened to her? Desperation setting in, I contacted the police and asked them to start searching for her. Hours ticked by, each one more excruciating than the last.

By the time the clock struck 11 PM, I was a bundle of nerves. I paced the living room, unable to sit still. When the door finally creaked open, I turned to see Diya standing there, her face devoid of emotion.

"Diya," I said, rushing to her.

She looked at me, her eyes empty, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. The sight of her, so broken and distant, was more than I could bear.

DIYANSHI'S POV

I didn't know where I was going, and I didn't care. I wandered through random streets, passing strangers whose faces blurred together. I just needed to stop feeling the overwhelming hurt that consumed me. The sky darkened, the day slipping away, and I realized I needed to return. A part of me wanted to escape back to Rishikesh, to the familiar solace of home.

When I reached the house, Ayushman was rushing outside, looking frantic. He spotted me immediately, his eyes wide with relief and concern. But looking at him now, I felt nothing—just numbness, as if everything inside me had turned to stone.

"Diya, where have you been?" he asked, desperation in his voice.

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I just walked past him, but then I saw her—Radhika. The pain came rushing back, sharp and unbearable.

"Stay back," I said to her, my voice trembling.

"It's not what it looks like," she replied, stepping towards me.

I couldn't hold back any longer. "So, what should it look like? My husband with his mistress, still wanting to reconcile with me?" My words cut through the air, and Ayushman winced.

"Diya, listen to me," Radhika pleaded.

"Of course, my ears are open," I shot back. "What do you want me to listen to? Your love story?"

She took a deep breath. "I'm married, Diya."

Her words took me by surprise. "What?"

"I'm married," she repeated, showing me a picture on her phone of her and her husband. I stared at it, then at Ayushman, then back at her, confusion mingling with my anger.

"I just work in his company, nothing more. If you still don't believe me, I can even call my husband." Her voice was calm and sincere. "I apologize for everything. I never wanted your relationship to break because of me. I came here to explain, but I need to go now. My child will be waiting for me."

With that, she left, leaving Ayushman and me alone, surrounded by our unresolved emotions. The air between us was heavy, thick with words unsaid and feelings unaddressed.

Ayushman took a step closer, his eyes searching mine. But I turned away, the weight of everything too much to bear. We stood there, silent, the distance between us more than just physical.

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