DEV(i)

7. Feelings unsaid~

As Dev hesitantly made his way to Srinika's room, the weight of his thoughts pressed heavily on his chest. He knocked gently on her door. It opened slowly, and there she stood, her eyes red and swollen, her face still streaked with the fresh remnants of tears. Without uttering a word, Srinika pulled Dev inside and wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face into his chest. She trembled with quiet sobs.

Dev's heart clenched as he held her close, his hands resting gently on her back. He felt her pain as though it were his own, and the helplessness gnawed at him.

"Sri... ?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's wrong?"

Srinika took a shaky breath, pulling back just enough to look at him, her tear-filled eyes searching his face for comfort. "Dev... I... I love Aakash," she whispered, her voice breaking at the confession.

Dev felt a stab of pain at her words. He had known, of course. He had always known. But hearing it spoken out loud, seeing the raw emotion in her eyes, made it all the more real, all the more heartbreaking. He swallowed hard, forcing a smile onto his face, even as his chest tightened.

"I know, Sri," he murmured, his voice soft but steady. "I've always known."

She broke down again, and Dev just held her, feeling her sobs wrack her body as she spoke haltingly about Aakash, about how he had left her, how she felt used and abandoned. Dev listened in silence, his hand gently stroking her hair, his heart aching for her. He wished more than anything that he could take her pain away, but he knew there were no words that would make it better.

After what felt like an eternity, Srinika's sobs began to quiet. She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-streaked cheeks and swollen eyes. "I'm sorry, Dev," she mumbled, wiping her face clumsily with the back of her hand. "I didn't mean to dump all of this on you. I just—"

"Shh," Dev interrupted gently, brushing a tear from her cheek. "You don't ever need to apologize to me, Sri. I'm always here, okay?"

Srinika nodded weakly, gratitude evident in her eyes. She clung to him for a moment longer, finding solace in the warmth of his presence. Dev wished he could hold her forever, protect her from the world, but he knew that the weight of her pain was something only time could heal.

As they sat there in silence, Dev fought the urge to tell her everything—about his conversation with her mother earlier, about his own feelings that he had buried for so long. But now wasn't the time. She was too fragile, too heartbroken. He couldn't add to her confusion, not now. . Not when she was so raw and heartbroken over someone else.

"I don't get it," she said suddenly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "What did I do wrong? Why does it always feel like I'm the one who gets left behind?"

Dev sighed softly. He wanted to give her the perfect answer, something that would ease her pain and make her feel better, but nothing came to mind.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Sri," he said gently, leaning forward to catch her gaze. "Sometimes... life just sucks, and there's no reason for it. But it's not your fault."

She let out a shaky breath, running a hand through her hair. "Then why does it feel like no matter what I do, I'm never good enough?" Her voice cracked with vulnerability.

Dev's heart ached for her. He wanted to tell her that she was looking in the wrong places, that maybe the one who would never leave her was right in front of her. But instead, he just squeezed her hand, offering her a comforting smile. "Maybe you're just looking in the wrong direction, Sri," he said quietly, his voice gentle but deliberate.

Srinika looked up at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Dev's heart pounded. "I mean... sometimes, the person who cares the most is right in front of you, but you just don't see them. They're the ones who would stand by you through everything, who wouldn't leave, no matter what."

Srinika blinked, the realization beginning to dawn on her face. But just as her lips parted to speak, Dev quickly changed the tone, masking his own emotions with a smile. "You'll find that person, Sri. I know you will."

Srinika gave a small, weary smile, leaning her head on his shoulder. "You're such a good friend, Dev. Thank you."

The words stung, but Dev pushed the pain aside, gently patting her back. He said quietly. "Always."

For a few moments, they sat in comfortable silence, Srinika's breathing finally steadying. Her eyelids drooped, exhaustion catching up to her after the emotional storm. Before long, she drifted off, her head still resting on Dev's shoulder.

Dev looked down at her, his heart swelling with affection. Gently, he shifted her onto the bed, tucking her under the covers. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, staring at her peaceful expression. But just as he was about to relax, his phone buzzed.

He answered quickly, stepping out into the hallway so he wouldn't disturb her. "Hello?"

"Sir, we've got a situation," his manager's voice came through, tense and hurried. "The deal with Malhotra's—it's falling apart. We need to handle it ASAP."

Dev's stomach dropped. "What? How?" he asked, trying to keep his voice down. He glanced back at Srinika's closed door, torn between staying and dealing with the sudden crisis.

"There's been a breach of contract. If we don't act fast, they'll pull out. We can't afford the losses."

Dev closed his eyes, rubbing his temple. He had no choice. "Alright, I'll take care of it. I'll be there soon."

With a heavy heart, he hung up. He went back to the room, standing over Srinika's sleeping form. Gently, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back, I promise," he whispered, more to himself than to her.

He grabbed his umbrella and quietly made his way downstairs. As he reached the front door, Srinika's mother appeared from the kitchen, giving him a knowing look. "Is everything alright, Dev?"

"Yeah, Mashima," he replied, forcing a smile. "Just some work stuff. I'll be back soon."

With that, he stepped out into the rain-soaked night, leaving behind the girl he loved but couldn't tell. As he walked away, the weight of unspoken words pressed down on him, but for now, he had to focus on fixing the mess at work.

~.~

To be continued...