Wounds of the Heart (दिल के घाव)💔

75

The heavy oak door creaked open, revealing Manik and Ansh silhouetted against the golden light of the setting sun. Rohit, who had been lost in a sea of worry, looked up with a start.

"Manik!" he exclaimed, relief washing over him as he saw his friend. He called out again, a touch of urgency in his voice, but Manik seemed lost in thought, not registering his words.

Finally, Manik's gaze landed on him. "Rohit?" he said, his voice slightly strained. "You're alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," Rohit replied, forcing a smile. "But..."

Before he could elaborate, Manik's name echoed through the room, a sharp bark that jolted him out of his reverie. It was Ansh, his expression unreadable.

"Is everything alright, Mr. Rohit?" Ansh inquired, his voice laced with a hint of formality.

Rohit took a deep breath and launched into his explanation. He recounted the irate phone call from the music label, the boss's threats, and the looming deadline for their return. Shame colored his cheeks as he confessed their unprofessional behavior.

Manik listened intently, his initial anger giving way to a resigned sigh. "We messed up, Rohit," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret.

Ansh, however, bristled with indignation. "This is outrageous!" he exclaimed. "To speak to someone in such a manner, especially an artist of Mr. Roy's caliber! This is unacceptable!"

Manik placed a placating hand on Ansh's arm. "It happens, Ansh. In this industry, respect isn't always a given."

The weight of their predicament settled over the room, a heavy silence descending upon them. Manik, his shoulders slumped in defeat, mumbled something about packing. Rohit, his brow furrowed in worry, simply nodded.

Ansh watched them, his heart heavy with a conflicting mix of emotions. He understood the pull of Manik's career, the responsibility towards his dreams. Yet, a selfish part of him yearned to keep Manik by his side, to hold onto the connection they had forged during their brief time together.

But voicing his feelings now, with the threat of their impending departure hanging in the air, seemed ill-timed. With a silent sigh, he walked over to Rohit, who was lost in his own thoughts.

"Don't worry, Rohit," Ansh said, his voice gentle. "Everything will be alright. And if this boss of yours continues to be unreasonable, you know where to find me. I can handle a few... unpleasant individuals."

Rohit, touched by Ansh's concern, offered a grateful nod. He understood the power and influence Ansh wielded, and the implicit offer of help was a weight off his shoulders.

.

.

.

The weight of impending departure hung heavy in the air as Manik meticulously folded his clothes. Each item he packed held a memory, a silent echo of the whirlwind week he'd spent in this magnificent palace. His mind replayed snippets - Ansh's infectious laughter echoing through the halls, their stimulating conversations under the starlit sky, the warmth of Ansh's hand brushing his during dinner.

A creak at the door startled him. He turned to see Ansh, his face etched with a mixture of sadness and determination. Manik offered a weak smile, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them.

The silence stretched, thick with unspoken emotions. Then, in a swift movement, Ansh crossed the distance separating them and engulfed Manik in a tight embrace.

The unexpected gesture took Manik's breath away, but a warmth bloomed in his chest as he instinctively wrapped his arms around Ansh's broad shoulders.

This brief contact, a mere whisper of a hug, sent a wave of emotions crashing through Manik. In this short time, Ansh had rekindled a spark he thought long extinguished.

He'd made Manik feel cherished, valued, and for the first time in a long time, truly seen.

A single tear escaped Manik's eye, tracing a warm path down his cheek. Ansh pulled back, his gaze filled with concern. He cupped Manik's face gently, his thumb brushing away the tear with a tenderness that sent shivers down Manik's spine.

"I know I don't have the right to ask you to stay," Ansh said, his voice a low rumble. "You have your life, your career. But..." He hesitated, his voice thick with emotion. "I couldn't help but feel... selfish. This is not the time, I know that. But if there ever comes a day when you... miss me, or..."

He trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air. Manik knew where the sentence was headed, knew what Ansh was trying to say. But his life was a tangled mess, a web of past hurts and unhealed wounds.

He wasn't ready to step into a new relationship, no matter how tempting the prospect of Ansh might be.

With a deep breath, Manik pulled away from Ansh's tender touch. "Mr. Rathore," he began, his voice low and measured, "I understand your feelings, and I respect them. But... I just can't. Not now."

Ansh's eyes dimmed with a flicker of disappointment, but there was also an understanding in his gaze. He nodded slowly, accepting Manik's decision. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a small, velvet box.

"It's just something I thought... might look nice on you," he said, placing the box in Manik's hand. "A small gift."

Manik looked down at the box, his heart a tangled mess. He understood the unspoken message within the gesture - a token of Ansh's affection, a silent plea to keep a channel open. He looked back up, but Ansh was already turning away, his footsteps echoing softly through the room as he exited.

Alone once more, Manik held the velvet box in his trembling hand. It was a tangible reminder of the connection he'd forged with Ansh, a connection that left a bittersweet ache in his heart.

He knew this was goodbye, at least for now. But as he slipped the box into his bag, a tiny flicker of hope remained. Perhaps, someday, when his life was less chaotic, when the wounds of the past had healed, he might be ready to explore this unexpected feeling that bloomed within him.

But for now, he had to face his music, literally and figuratively.

With one last lingering look around the room, a silent farewell to the place that had become a haven for a brief time, Manik picked up his luggage and stepped out into the unknown, the weight of the unsaid words a heavy burden in his heart. The road ahead was long, but one thing was certain - Ansh and the whirlwind week in Rajasthan would forever be etched in his memory, a reminder of the unexpected love that could blossom even in the most unlikely of places.

The carefree spirit that had filled the palace just days ago had been replaced by a heavy sense of impending separation.

Ansh watched them from a distance, a storm of emotions brewing within him. He knew he couldn't hold Manik captive, not when his dreams and career lay elsewhere. But the thought of letting him go, of returning to his solitary life, was a bitter pill to swallow.

As the night deepened, the inevitable moment arrived. Manik, with a final goodbye hug to Ansh, stood at the threshold, his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and unspoken longing. Rohit, his own heart heavy, stood beside him.

Ansh, his voice thick with emotion, simply said, "Take care, both of you. And remember, you're always welcome here."

With a final nod, Manik and Rohit stepped out into the night, the grand palace doors closing behind them with a soft thud.

Ansh stood alone in the opulent hall, the silence deafening. He had played host to a whirlwind of emotions, a taste of connection that left him yearning for more. Yet, as the echoes of their departure faded, he was left with a question that hung heavy in the air - would their paths ever cross again, or would this be the end of their newfound bond?

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