HIS NEED : ISHIKA The Story of Obsession and Revenge

CHAPTER 23 IT'S NOT EASY

AUTHOR POV

Ishika glanced at her phone for what felt like the hundredth time, the minutes ticking by as she waited for Arjun's call.

Arjun is in London for the concert. Every night this 2 weeks, no matter what, he'd taken time out of his busy schedule to speak with her, filling the silence of her evenings with his gentle voice. The days felt long without him here; his absence left a void she struggled to ignore.

Finally, her phone lit up. She answered immediately, her heart leaping at the sound of his voice.

"Hey," he greeted softly, his tone warm and familiar.

"Hi," she replied, unable to hold back a smile.

She settled on her bed, getting comfortable for what had become her favorite part of the day.

"How's everything going over there?"

"Tiring," he admitted with a sigh, "but the thought of coming back to you keeps me going."

She felt her cheeks flush. Arjun's words were always simple, but they had a way of making her feel cherished, like she was the only person who truly mattered to him.

"Only one more day," she whispered, barely able to contain her excitement. "Then you're all mine again."

A low chuckle rumbled from the other end. "And I'll make sure you don't regret it. I promise."

As they spoke, she let herself sink into his voice, his words. It amazed her how, even from miles away, he made her feel so loved.

She shared every little detail of her day, knowing he would listen with the same attentiveness as if he were right there beside her.

When she worried aloud about him pushing himself too hard, he laughed softly. "Being with you is all the rest I need, Ishii. You don't need to worry about me."

They ended the call an hour later, and she lay there for a while, holding her phone to her chest. Arjun was her world. Her past felt like a distant memory, almost like another lifetime. And while her relationship with Arjun was a source of joy, she couldn't share it openly with everyone—not even with her closest friends.

ISHIKA POV

In the past week, I've come to realize just how deeply Arjun has become the center of my world. No matter how busy he is, he takes time out every single day to call me, as if his voice alone can ease the loneliness that stretches out in his absence.

When the days feel long and empty without him, hearing his voice fills the hollow spaces in my heart.

Somehow, he always finds a way to make me feel cherished, even from a distance. He's coming back tomorrow, but this weeks has felt like a year, each day dragging on. I can't imagine my life without him anymore, and honestly, I don't want to.

I've always been careful to keep our relationship a secret. I know what it could mean for him—how one rumor, one slip, could jeopardize his career, even his future.

Priti and Neha know I'm seeing someone, but I've never told them it's Arjun. I want to protect him from all that, even if it means holding back the truth from the people closest to me.

They know I've reconnected with someone from my past, that I was hurt years ago, but they don't know he's the man who healed that pain and filled my heart with love again.

Priti and Neha are always asking questions, curious about this "mystery man" who has stolen my heart.

They want to meet him, to know the man who means so much to me, but every time, I find myself making excuses. "He's just so busy," I say. "He can only meet me after work," I tell them.