Beautiful disaster (completed)

Chapter 43 - Broken

Kiara's pov

"Are you alright? What happened?" I rushed to her side, my eyes scanning the layers of bandages wrapping her leg. "Why didn't you tell me about this over the call?"

Next day, at Maya's house, the air was filled with whispers and the soft rustling of things being tidied. Maya was lying on the sofa, her leg propped up carefully with a soft pillow. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, despite the obvious pain etched on her face.

Maya tried to wave off my concern, but I could see through her facade. "I'm fine, don't worry. Just a broken leg. I'll be back up and around in no time."

My eyes narrowed. "How did this happen?"

"I tripped over the flight stairs. Pretty embarrassing, really," Maya admitted with a sheepish smile. "I didn't expect to see you so soon!" 

"I got here as soon as I could..," I said, taking a seat beside her.

"How are you? " Maya asked, settling onto the couch. "How's Pune treating you? You've barely told me anything these past few months."

I sighed, sinking into the armchair across from her. "It's... been okay. Work keeps me busy."

"Too busy to answer my calls?" There was a hint of hurt in her voice.

I looked down, guilt tightening its grip on me. "I'm sorry I haven't been in touch as much as I should have been."

"I missed you," Maya admitted, her voice soft and filled with emotion.

"I missed you too," I replied, taking a seat beside her. 

We talked for a while, mostly about her injury and the details of her accident. She explain how she tripped over flight stairs. I tried to keep the conversation light, but the question about Kabir's breakup hovered over me like a dark cloud.

"What happened with Kabir? " I finally mustered the courage to ask.

Maya shrugged. "I don't really know. Maybe he found someone new, or maybe he was just looking for an excuse to end things."

Her indifference caught me off guard. I took a deep breath, staring at Maya's worried eyes. "Maya, there's something I need to tell you, something I should have told you long ago."

Maya frowned slightly, curiosity and concern mingling in her gaze. "What is it, Kiara?"

"I... I had feelings for Kabir since school days ," I confessed, feeling a weight lift off my chest even as a new one formed. "Before I left for Pune, I-I kissed him. I know you send me to his apartment to check up on him and you trusted me. I'm sorry for betray you like this. I.. I'm sorry for being such a terrible friend."

Maya's eyes widened in shock. She was silent for a moment, processing the information. Then, to my surprise, she let out a small sigh. "Kiara... I can't believe you kept this from me. But now, so much makes sense."

"I didn't know how to tell you," I admitted, guilt gnawing at me. "And when I learned about your relationship with him, it felt like I had already lost the right to say anything. I'm so sorry, Maya. you deserve a better friend."

Maya shook her head, a sad smile forming on her lips. "Kabir broke up with me just after our double date, Kiara. He said it wasn't working out and that he couldn't keep pretending. Frankly, I suspected something was off between us for a while."

"wait... Did you two broke up just after double date?" I was so shocked to learn this revelation. "why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"At first, it took time to accept that he broke up with me," Maya explained, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Then, I went back to our double date day again and again. I started to recall tiny details which I had ignored that day, like how Kabir was looking at you and Dev during dinner, how you never mentioned knowing Kabir before. I had my doubts, but when you left for Pune and Dev told me about your breakup, it became clear that something  happened  between you two"

"Then why didn't you confront me?" I whispered.

Maya smiled wryly. "Because sometimes, we hold onto the hope that we're wrong. And sometimes... we just love our friends too much to risk losing them over something that isn't meant to be."

I felt the weight of guilt pressing down on my shoulders. "I'm so sorry, Maya. "

Maya reached out and gently squeezed my hand. "Don't feel guilty about it, Kiara. He was never truly mine. He didn't confess his love to me and never promised me anything. It was me who wanted to change his mind. He was honest with me from the start that he wasn't interested in relationships, and all I did was hold on to false hope."

I felt my cheeks flush. "Maya, I..."

"It's okay," she said softly. "I didn't know that our friendship meant so much to you that you'd choose me over him."

I was at a loss for words. I had expected anger, hurt, or disappointment from Maya, but this calm understanding was overwhelming.

"And I told you about our breakup now because I wanted you to come back to Bangalore...  I'm not angry anymore. I just wish you had told me sooner." Maya said

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "So do I."

A torrent of emotions washed over me, a mix of relief, guilt, and overwhelming gratitude for Maya's unwavering support. I pulled Maya into a fierce embrace, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Maya, I... I went to see Kabir before coming here."

"And?" she prompted, her curiosity piqued.

"I think he hates me now."

We sat in silence for a moment, the air between us lighter than it had been in months.

"So.. What now?" I asked, fearing the answer.

"Now, we heal," Maya said firmly. "I will figure out what I want to do in free time I got a month, and you figure out what you want from Kabir—without any guilt hanging over you."

"I hope you can forgive me someday."

Maya smiled, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I already have, Kiara.

I whispered, my voice trembling. "Thank you, Maya. For everything."