DARD : The Pain Of Love

-8-

Aadhya sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection, barely recognizing the woman who looked back at her.

The sleepless nights had left dark circles under her eyes, and her once bright, lively face now appeared dull and lifeless. But today, she wasn’t going to let herself wallow in the sadness that had become her constant companion. She had to do something, anything, to change the way things were.

She had decided that today was going to be different. Today, she would make him notice her.

Aadhya rose from her seat, determination fueling her every move. She dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of jeans and a simple top before grabbing her purse. She couldn’t remember the last time she had gone to the mall for herself, but today, she was on a mission. She needed something that would grab Agastya’s attention, something that would make him see her again.

The drive to the mall was a blur. Her thoughts raced with memories of the way things used to be, of how happy they once were. She had always been content with the small moments—cooking his favorite meals, watching movies together, even just sitting in comfortable silence.

But now, those moments felt like they belonged to another lifetime.

As she stepped into the mall, the bright lights and bustling crowds did little to ease the heaviness in her heart. She wandered through the aisles, her eyes scanning the racks of clothes that seemed to blend together.

Everything looked too flashy, too revealing, too unlike her. But wasn’t that the point? She needed to be different, to be someone he couldn’t ignore.

A black, form-fitting dress caught her eye. It was short, much shorter than anything she’d ever worn before. The neckline was low, dipping just enough to show more skin than she was comfortable with. But she grabbed it off the rack anyway, trying to convince herself that this was what she needed to do.

She took a few more dresses, each one more daring than the last, and made her way to the fitting rooms.

Once inside, she slipped out of her clothes and into the first dress. It clung to her body in a way that felt foreign, the hemline grazing the tops of her thighs. Aadhya turned to look at herself in the mirror, but the reflection that stared back at her didn’t feel like her. It was someone else—someone desperate, someone trying too hard.

She sighed, stepping out of the dress and trying on the next one. The pattern repeated itself with each new outfit. None of them felt right. Each time she looked in the mirror, she saw a stranger, not the woman she used to be. But she pushed the discomfort aside, determined to see this through.

“Maybe he’ll notice this one,”
she whispered to herself as she zipped up the final dress.

The dress was red, bold and striking, with a neckline that dipped low and a back that was completely bare. It was beautiful, but it made her feel exposed, vulnerable.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to imagine Agastya’s reaction.

Would he smile? Would he tell her she looked beautiful? Would he even care?

Aadhya shook the thoughts from her head and quickly changed back into her clothes. She grabbed the red dress and a few others, taking them to the cashier.

As the cashier rang up her purchases, Aadhya couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease settling in her chest. She was trying so hard, but what if it wasn’t enough? What if he still didn’t notice?

“Would you like to add some accessories?”
the cashier asked, her voice pulling Aadhya from her thoughts.

“Yes, please,”
Aadhya replied, her voice wavering slightly.