Whisper of the Night

Chapter 30 : Suspicious Minds

Varun's POV

I watched Rishav as he finished another set of pull-ups, his muscles straining and glistening with sweat. We'd been hitting the gym together for years, a routine that kept us both grounded amidst the chaos of our lives. Today, though, something felt different. Rishav seemed distracted, almost nervous.

"Hey, Rishav, you're up for another round?" I called out, grabbing my water bottle and taking a long sip.

He nodded, wiping his brow. "Yeah, just give me a second."

As he peeled off his t-shirt to switch to a dry one, my eyes caught something unusual—scratches on his back and shoulders. They were faint but unmistakable. I raised an eyebrow, the corner of my mouth lifting in a teasing smirk.

"Damn, Rishav. Looks like someone had a rough night," I joked, nudging him with my elbow.

Rishav froze for a split second before forcing a laugh. "Yeah, you know how it is," he said, avoiding eye contact and quickly pulling on his fresh shirt.

I narrowed my eyes, watching him closely. Rishav had always been a closed book when it came to his personal life, but this felt different. There was something more going on. "Who's the lucky lady?" I asked, my tone light but curious.

He shrugged, turning away and heading to the weights. "Just someone I've been seeing," he said nonchalantly, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.

I decided to let it slide for now, not wanting to push too hard. But in the back of my mind, a nagging suspicion lingered. If he's serious about someone, why haven't I heard about her? And what if... No, it couldn't be.

Rishav's POV

I focused on my breathing, trying to calm the sudden rush of nerves that Varun's teasing had triggered. It was too close, too risky. If Varun found out about Kaira and me, it wouldn't just be awkward—it could turn dangerous.

"Good thing he doesn't know," I muttered under my breath as I lifted the weights, feeling the familiar burn in my muscles. "Or he might've killed me right here."

"Did you say something?" Varun called from across the gym, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

"Nothing, just talking to myself," I replied, forcing a laugh. "You know how it is."

He gave me a look but didn't press further, going back to his own workout. I let out a silent sigh of relief and concentrated on my exercise, pushing the thoughts of Kaira and our secret relationship to the back of my mind. For now, at least, the secret was safe.

But I knew it was only a matter of time before Varun's suspicions grew, and when that happened, I'd have to be ready to face whatever came next.

Varun's POV

I decided to drop by Kaira's office for a quick visit. She had been working tirelessly, and I figured she could use a break. As I entered, I noticed her walking with an unusual stiffness.

"Hey, Kaira," I called out, a teasing grin spreading across my face. "Did you fall off a horse or something?"

Kaira's cheeks turned a shade of pink as she muttered under her breath, "Yeah, your best friend."

"What was that?" I asked, not quite catching her words.

"Nothing," she said quickly, waving it off.

We settled into her office, chatting about work and catching up. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about her today. Maybe it was the way she kept shifting uncomfortably in her seat or the nervous laughter that punctuated our conversation.