"You think you can just walk away, Subhi? After everything?" Ravit's voice was low, dark, filled with a dangerous edge.
"I had no choice, Ravit. You left me first." Subhi's eyes flashed with a mix of defiance and hidden pain.
"And look where it got...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Later that night, still much uncomforted and with swollen eyes from crying, Subhi lay curled up in bed. Her fingers gripped her pillow so she could have something concrete to keep her from the whirlpool of raw emotions within her; everything seemed wrong. The cruel words Ravit had told her replayed in her mind again and again, cutting her a little further with every round. Just as she was nodding off into restless sleep, a soft knock on her window jerked her awake.
She startled herself up, her heartbeat racing. Who was this at that time? She cautiously drew back the curtains and peered outside. Her breath caught in the throat as the figure staring back at her was Raj; frantic, he looked.
"Raj?" she whispered across the window now ajar. "What for are you here?"
Raj glanced about before finally looking up to her. "Subhi, can I come in? It's very important."
Subhi hesitated. It seemed a really bad idea to let him in, but something in his eyes riveted her interest. Against her best judgment, she unlocked the window and stepped aside, letting Raj climb in. He landed softly, quickly closing the window behind him.
"What is it, Raj?" Subhi asked, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort.
He took a deep breath. His face filled with something almost near to regret. "I am here to warn you about Ravit; there's something you should know."
Subhi frowned deeper, her confusion increasing. "What are you talking about?
Raj looked down, shuffling his feet. Finally, he met her eyes and the expression turned serious.
"Ravit. he had a bet with his friends. They bet him he couldn't make you his girlfriend and then dump you. It's all been a game to him."
Subhi's heart did a momentary stop. "What? No, no, that can't be. Ravit wouldn't do that."
He let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but I heard it with my own ears. I hear them in the café, laughing away, about how easy it is to have you played. And that is why I tried to step in to safeguard you by asking you out—for fear of hurt."
The world started spinning for Subhi. Her legs weakened, and she collapsed onto her bed. "No. Ravit would never do something like that. You must be mistaken."
Raj knelt beside her, voice low and soft. "I wish I were, Subhi. People aren't always who we think they are, though. I didn't want to believe it either, but after hearing them, I knew I had to tell you.
Subhi's eyes welled up again. "But Ravit's been my best friend for years. How could he do this?"
Raj reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Subhi. Sometimes people do things we wouldn't expect. I want you just to be safe and happy."
Subhi pulled away, wrapping her arms tighter around herself. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I care about you," Raj said very softly.
"I didn't want you to be hurt by someone who doesn't really care about you."
Subhi gazed up at him, through her tears. "I don't know what to think anymore. I feel so lost."
Raj smiled at her sadly. "I know it's a lot to take in. Just. be careful, okay?"
As Raj left from the window, Subhi felt more perplexed and hurt than ever. Could Ravit really be that cruel? Her heart was in a jumble, and she did not know what to believe any more. But what she did not knew that it was lie said by Raj
Outside Subhi's House
As Raj climbed out of Subhi's window and began walking down the street, he didn't notice the dark figure standing under the shadow of a tree. Ravit was there, his face twisted in anger and confusion as he watched Raj leave. Why was Raj at Subhi's house so late? Ravit's mind raced with suspicions and doubts. He clenched his fists, struggling to contain his rising anger.
Next Morning – Ravit's Room
Next morning, Ravit was in his room. His movements were sharp and agitated as he threw clothes and items of personal use into a suitcase. He slept hardly an hour at night as images of Raj at Subhi's window and the confused expression on Subhi's face haunted him.
He wanted to leave, to get far from the emotional tangle that Subhi had set him in. The sooner he was gone, the better. The soft knock at the door came, and with it, his mother, Meera, entered, her worried eyes solemn.
"Ravit, are you quite sure this is what you want?" Meera asked softly, looking on even more worried as she watched him pack.
