Author's POV
After a long drive, with food packets stacked at the backseat, they finally reached Kaira's apartment.
"Kaira?" Rhea called, shaking her lightly. Kaira didn't stir.
"Kaira..." she tried again, her tone sharper this time. Still nothing.
Rhea narrowed her eyes, muttering under her breath, "I swear to god, agar abhi nahi uthi na... haddi tod dungi teri."
The very next second, Kaira's lips twitched, and she burst into laughter, opening her eyes. But her laughter quickly died when she noticed Rhea's murderous glare.
"Oh... you ordered food?" Kaira said, attempting to change the subject, her gaze darting toward the packets.
"Haan." Rhea shoved one into her hands.
"You know, babygirl, inhi chhoti-chhoti baaton ke wajah se I love you sooo much." Kaira said dramatically, blowing her a flying kiss.
Rhea rolled her eyes. "Achha? Mere se itna pyaar hai toh... Rishav se kya hai?"
At once, Kaira's smile faltered. She dropped her gaze. "Kuch bhi nahi."
Her voice was softer now, a little cracked. "You know, Rhea, after I moved out of his house... he just called me once. Bas ek hi call. Uske baad—boom—gone. Like I never existed." She let out a small, dramatic sigh, but her eyes betrayed the hurt.
"Kaira, he's a CEO. Kaam hoga usko." Rhea reasoned, but Kaira only hummed in reply.
A beat of silence passed before Kaira spoke again. "Kabhi lagta hai... maybe he does like me. The way he protects me, the way he does certain things—it feels like more. But then next moment, everything vanishes. I'm getting such mixed signals."
"Then just go and ask him." Rhea said bluntly, leaning back in the seat.
Kaira's head snapped toward her, eyes wide. "Excuse me? Ask him? Matlab seedha jaake bolun—'Do you like me or not?' Are you insane?!"
"Bro, tu khud hi apne sath yeh torture kar rahi hai." Rhea replied flatly.
"Forget it. Main jaa rahi hoon." Kaira grabbed her purse and the food packet, pushing open the door. She stepped out but paused halfway, turning back.
She tapped on the window, and when Rhea lowered it, Kaira smirked. "Take the car with you." She blew her another exaggerated flying kiss before walking toward the building's entrance.
Rhea watched her until she disappeared inside. A faint sadness crossed her face as she whispered, "Pagal ladki... ise khud nahi pata ke uske peeche kitne log hain jo use maarne ke liye tayaar hain... aur kitne hain jo uske liye marne ke liye."
Her phone buzzed. She picked it up, dialed a number, and after a few rings, someone answered.
"She got the book." Rhea reported, her eyes fixed on the dark road ahead.
"Great. Now, we just have to wait. Everything else... Kaira will do herself." A deep, calm male voice responded.
"But... will she survive it?" Rhea asked, doubt creeping into her tone as she started the car.
A pause. Then the man replied with certainty, "She has to. And she will." The line went dead.
Rhea exhaled heavily, gripping the steering wheel.
Her thoughts echoed in the silence of the car:
Soon... everything will fall back into its place. Just like before. And then, finally... I'll have everything I've ever dreamt of.
YOU ARE READING
Whisper in the Night|18+(hold)
RomanceIn the heart of Mumbai's Vibrant chaous, Rhishav Shekhawat, 30-year-old CEO, strode in his Skyscraper office,a fortess build on ambition. ''Another deal, another victory,'' he muttered to himself,masking the emptiness dawing at his insides. Meanwhil...
