Deceptive Affections

CHAPTER 39

ZAISHA

The sun was setting over the bustling city of Mumbai, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. I had just finished a long day of meetings and fittings for my upcoming fashion show. There are only two days left and I am working overtime. Exhaustion pulled at my limbs. I just wanted to lay down on my bed.

As I stepped out of the building, I noticed the usual crowd of people hurrying about, lost in their own worlds. I was about to call for a taxi when my eyes caught onto something and froze on the spot.

Standing by the entrance, looking as if he had been waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming.

A roller-coaster of emotions passed through me in a rush. My first reaction was surprise. I hadn't expected to see him, not after everything that had happened. I knew I will have to see him sometime soon. But I didn't expect it to be this soon and here out of all the places.

My heart fluttered with relief, a part of me was overjoyed to see him standing there, looking at me with those familiar eyes providing me with comfort and full of affection.

But then, reality crashed down on me. The hurt, the betrayal, the endless nights spent crying into my pillow—all of it came rushing back. I felt a knot tighten in my throat which made it difficult to swallow.

Suddenly my eyes started burning and I suppressed the urge to rub of the surface and relieve the itch as he took a step in my direction. Everything around me slowed down as our eyes locked with each other's.

I wanted to turn around and walk away, to protect myself from more pain. But my feet seemed rooted to the spot. I couldn't move, couldn't tear my eyes away from him. He took another tentative step towards me, his expression filled with a mixture of hope and regret.

"Zaisha," he said softly, his voice carrying a blend of relief and sorrow. It felt like a lifeline and a knife at the same time. I wanted to wrap myself in his voice, but I also wanted to shield myself from the hurt I knew he was capable of causing.

"What are you doing here, Reyaan?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to remain composed.

"I wanted to see you. I needed to see you." His hoarse voice was pleading.

"Well, I don't. So... goodbye." I tried to move away from him but he stepped in front of me and stopped me.

"Wait. Just hear me out. Please." His presence, so close, made my heart ache. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him how much he had hurt me, but the words caught in my throat. The anger and pain I had buried for so long were bubbling to the surface.

"Reyaan, you don't get to do this," I said, my voice trembling. "You don't get to show up out of nowhere and expect me to just... listen."

"I know," he said, his eyes desperate. "But please just give me a chance. I want to tell you everything." He moved forward as he tried to hold my arm but I moved away from his touch and I didn't miss the hurt in his eyes at the movement. He lowered his arm and continued. "I know I don't deserve it. But I'm begging you, Zaisha, just give me a chance to explain."

I crossed my arms, trying to shield myself from the emotions threatening to overwhelm me. "Explain what? How you broke my heart? How you pushed me away when all I wanted was to be there for you?"

I took another step back, "I don't want this anymore. Neither do I have the time or the energy to deal with it. I have a lot on my plate. Please don't bother me again." Every word was a stab at his heart. I know that but I can't go through all of it again. I need to maintain my distance from him.

Just as I was about to get away from him, he whispered slowly, "I won't let you go without a fight." But he didn't stop me as I got in the taxi.

Only after I reached the guesthouse, did I realise what had happened. It took me some time to process all of it. I played the conversation we had again and again and what he said at the end was stuck in my mind. "I won't let you go without a fight."

A part of me wanted him to fight for us, to prove that he really loved me and that he would be there with me no matter what. But the logical part of me resisted, insisting that I couldn't let myself be hurt again. The battle between my heart and my mind was tearing me apart, leaving me uncertain and vulnerable.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall, my thoughts a tangled mess. Reyaan's words had stirred emotions I had tried to bury, and now they were bubbling up to the surface, demanding to be felt.

My phone rang and disturbed the stream of thoughts. It was a video call from Aarohi. I didn't feel like talking but picked up anyways. I need a distraction.

As soon as the call connected and she saw my face she asked, "Hey, you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I sighed, trying to find the right words. "I saw Reyaan today."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Reyaan? What's he doing there?"

"I don't know. He said he wanted to see me and to give him a chance to explain."

"And... what will you do?", she inquired.

"I have no idea. A part of me wants to believe him, to give him a chance. But another part of me is scared of getting hurt again. I don't think I can go through that pain a second time." I admitted.

She nodded understandingly. "It's natural to feel that way, Z. You've been through a lot. Maybe it's okay to take things slow."

We talked for a while and ended the call after some time. Maybe time is what I need to sort my thoughts.

As I closed my eyes, Reyaan's words echoed in my mind. "I won't let you go without a fight." I didn't know if he could win back my trust, but for now, I would take it one day at a time, letting my heart and mind slowly find their way to a resolution.

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