𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲

Chapter 20: Reconnected

Sameer, sensing her unease, softened his tone and asked gently, "Are you okay? Is everything okay?"

Ishani took a deep breath, the words she had been holding back now teetering on the edge of her lips. "Sameer..." she began, her gaze fixed on the floor.

"Yes?" he responded, his concern growing. He moved closer, his hand almost reaching out to her again, but he stopped himself. "Look at me, Ishani."

She hesitated, but then lifted her eyes to meet his. The moment their gazes locked, she felt a surge of emotions she could no longer contain.

"Why are you so far away from me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Why haven't you been visiting our place? Why are you so distant? Are you... are you angry with me? what's going on?"

He felt a pang in his chest as she spoke, his heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words. If I tell her what’s in my heart, will she still look at me the same way? he wondered. What if the truth pushes her away, makes her avoid me? The fear of losing her was stronger than the ache of silence. He chose his words carefully.

His expression softened further, the worry in his eyes deepening. "Ishani..."

"Tell me," she interrupted, her voice pleading. "Did I do something wrong? Did I say something that upset you? I feel like I’ve lost you, and I don’t know why."

Her words spilled out in a rush, each one weighted with the confusion and hurt she had been carrying. "You’ve always been there, Sameer. You've always been the one I could talk to, the one who made everything feel okay. But now... now it feels like you’re slipping away, and I don’t know what to do."

She paused, her voice breaking slightly. "If it’s something I did, tell me. If you’re upset with me, just tell me. I can't stand this distance between us."

Sameer listened quietly as Ishani poured out her heart, his expression calm yet understanding. When she finished, he took a deep breath and stepped closer, his presence steady and reassuring.

"Ishani," he began, his voice gentle yet firm, "it's not you. None of this is your fault. I haven’t been around as much, but it’s not because I’m angry or upset with you. It’s just... work. Things have been really hectic lately, and I’ve been caught up trying to manage everything."

He watched her closely, noticing the worry still etched on her face. He continued, "I’m not distancing myself from you on purpose. It’s just that the responsibilities at the office have been overwhelming, and it’s taken up more of my time and energy than I expected."

Ishani looked at him, searching his eyes for any hint of something deeper, but all she found was sincerity. Sameer continued, "I know it seems like I’ve been avoiding you, but that’s not the case at all. I’m just... tired, Ishani. Tired and a little stressed, but not because of you. Never because of you."

He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "You mean a lot to me, Ishani. I would never want to make you feel like you’ve lost me or that I’m upset with you. I’m sorry if it seemed that way."

She felt a sense of relief washing over her as he spoke, the tension in her chest slowly easing. "I just... I didn’t know what to think," she admitted, her voice softer now.

Sameer squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I understand, and I’m sorry I made you worry. But I promise, it’s all just been a coincidence. You don’t need to be afraid that something’s wrong between us."

His eyes held hers, full of warmth and honesty. "I’m here, Ishani. I’m not going anywhere, okay?"

Ishani nodded, the sincerity in his words convincing her. She felt a wave of calm settle over her as she realized he was telling the truth. "Okay," she whispered, her heart feeling lighter.