Whisper of the Night

Chapter 18 : Behind Closed Doors

Kaira's POV:

It's been almost a week since I've been staying at Rishav's house and since I last went to my office. Bhaiya insists it's not safe out there, and I agree. Now, I work from home, sending designs online to Ritu so she can submit them.

Sitting in the living room, scrolling through my phone, my mind wanders aimlessly. Suddenly, I hear the door open and see Rishav entering the house. I stand up to greet him, but he brushes past me and heads to his room without a word.

From the day the attack happened, he has been ignoring me or only speaking when absolutely necessary. I confronted him about it, but he always says he's busy with work and finding those attackers. His behavior is irritating me so much.

The house feels empty despite its grandeur. The silence is suffocating, making the distance between us even more pronounced. I feel like a ghost, unseen and unheard in the place where I should feel safe.

"Rishav!" I call out, my voice echoing slightly in the large room. He pauses for a moment at the foot of the stairs, his back still towards me.

"I'm busy, Kaira," he says, not turning around, his voice strained and distant.

"I know, but you've been busy for a week. We need to talk," I insist, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

He sighs heavily, finally turning to face me. His eyes are shadowed with exhaustion and something else I can't quite place—worry, maybe? "Not now, Kaira," he says, softer but still dismissive. "I'll explain everything once this is over. Trust me."

With that, he disappears up the stairs, leaving me standing there, a mix of anger and sadness churning inside me. I slump back onto the couch, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.

Why is he shutting me out? Is it because of me? Is he regretting letting me stay here? My thoughts are a whirlwind of insecurity and doubt. I know he's dealing with a lot, but so am I. I need him, and he's slipping further away with each passing day.

I wipe away the lone tear that escapes, determined not to let this break me. But the loneliness is hard to bear. I miss the warmth of his presence, the safety of his arms.

As the evening shadows deepen, I curl up on the couch, hugging a pillow to my chest. The emptiness of the house presses in around me, amplifying the silence. The uncertainty of our situation looms large, but I cling to the hope that once this storm passes, we can find our way back to each other.

After some time, I got up and made my way to my room. As I was about to enter, I saw Rishav stepping into the room directly in front of mine. I still remember the last time I was here, he gave me a tour of the house. When I asked about that room, he casually mentioned it had some things related to office work.

Curiosity gnawed at me. He seemed so secretive about it, and now I couldn't help but wonder what he was hiding. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and I stood there, torn between respecting his privacy and wanting to know what was going on.

I took a step towards his door, my heart pounding in my chest. My hand hovered over the doorknob, but I hesitated. What if he caught me? Would he be angry? Or would he finally open up and let me in, both literally and figuratively?

My mind flashed back to the way he's been avoiding me, the coldness in his eyes that replaced the warmth I had grown accustomed to. I felt a pang of sadness and frustration. I missed the old Rishav, the one who made me feel safe and cherished.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped back and returned to my room. I couldn't force him to talk to me, but I needed to find a way to break through the walls he'd built around himself. I wanted to be there for him, just as he had been for me.

As I sat on the edge of my bed, my thoughts wandered back to the times we shared before the attack. The stolen moments of tenderness, the way his eyes would light up when he looked at me. Those memories felt like a lifetime ago.

I lay down, staring at the ceiling, my mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions. Why was he shutting me out? What was he dealing with that he felt he couldn't share with me? The uncertainty gnawed at me, making it hard to find any peace.

I decided then and there that I wouldn't let this distance grow any further. I would find a way to reach him, to show him that he didn't have to face everything alone. He had me, and I wasn't going anywhere.

The resolve gave me a small measure of comfort as I closed my eyes, hoping that tomorrow would bring some answers. I was determined to break through his defenses and remind him that we were in this together, no matter how tough things got.

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