Against All Odds

I know it now

It had been months since Kabir and Liza last spoke, and the silence between them was taking its toll. Each day felt like a test of endurance, a struggle against their own emotions. Liza was slowly learning to manage her feelings. She'd grown used to the ache, learned to live with it, even to the point where it felt like a dull hum in the background—always there, but bearable. She was getting better at moving on, at least on the surface.

But Kabir was different. With every passing day, he felt like he was being swallowed up by his own thoughts, each one more relentless than the last. He felt trapped, suffocating in a mess of his own making. He didn't even want to go to college anymore. The effort to keep up appearances, to pretend everything was fine, was wearing him down.

"Kabir, what is going on?" Dhriti's voice cut through his haze as they sat together at a café. "You don't seem like you want to come to college anymore. Is everything okay?"

Kabir stared at his coffee, his mind a thousand miles away. "Actually, Dhriti..."

But she cut him off before he could finish. "Oh, never mind. What problem could you possibly be going through, right? You have me, after all. Don't worry," she said with a breezy smile, leaning closer to him.

Kabir forced a smile back, but it felt like a punch to the gut. His heart wasn't in it, and he knew it. It hurt how hollow it felt. Everything about them felt forced lately, like he was playing a role he didn't quite belong in.

Dhriti didn't notice the strain on his face. She was already moving on to the next topic, oblivious. "Oh, also, Kabir? What are you wearing for the Navratri function tomorrow?"

He hesitated, trying to find an excuse. "I might not be—"

"You know what?" she interrupted, "Let's match! I'm wearing a blue lehenga, so you can wear a blue kurta too! Please get one, and don't come looking all drab like you have been these days. I have to post pics on Insta!" She giggled, already envisioning the likes and comments.

Kabir didn't have it in him to argue. He just nodded, feeling like a puppet being pulled by strings. His thoughts were elsewhere—

NAVRATRI EVENT NIGHT

The ground was alive with color and laughter. Bright lights strung up everywhere, casting a warm glow on the crowds, and the sound of garba songs filled the air. People spun in circles, clapping their hands, lost in the rhythm of the music. Everyone was dressed in their best, sparkling in blingy, vibrant clothes, from ornate lehengas to intricately embroidered kurtas. Friends gathered in groups, laughing, dancing, and taking countless selfies to capture the night's magic.

"Dhriti is dressed the best tonight, right?" Kabir overheard a couple of girls chatting nearby.

"Yeah, I saw her. She looks really pretty."

He glanced over and spotted Dhriti in her blue lehenga. She looked stunning, no doubt about it, with every detail meticulously planned, from her jewelry to her perfectly styled hair. But somehow, it didn't feel special. Every girl tonight was dressed to impress, each one radiant in their own way. The vibrant atmosphere felt like a celebration of life itself, yet Kabir felt a gnawing emptiness inside. His mind was elsewhere.

Where's Liza? he thought suddenly, his eyes scanning the crowd. He hadn't seen her yet. The event had already started two hours ago, and without realizing it, he had been waiting for her. He felt a pang of disappointment, then a rush of anger. Why wasn't she here? And why did it bother him so much? It frustrated him to think she might not show up.

"Where were you, Liza? I tried calling you so many times!" Akshara's voice rose above the crowd, sounding both worried and relieved.

"Sorry, Akshara," came the reply. "Our car broke down, and my phone died on the way."

Kabir's heart skipped a beat. Liza. He turned around, almost on instinct, and there she was. She was wearing a black and blue lehenga that hugged her perfectly, the fabric flowing around her like a soft whisper. Her face was glowing, framed by loose curls that fell effortlessly around her shoulders. She had barely any makeup on, just a touch of kajal around her eyes and a hint of color on her lips, but she looked... breathtaking. Her brown eyes were alive, reflecting the twinkling lights around them, more beautiful than he had ever noticed before. Her lips, perfectly shaped, curved into a smile as she spoke to Akshara. Her cheeks flushed with a natural blush, and Kabir couldn't look away. He smiled today, after months.

It was like the world had stopped spinning. The music, the lights, the chatter of the crowd—all of it faded into the background. His mind, which had been a whirlwind of confusion for so long, suddenly felt clear. For the first time in months, everything made sense. The fog in his thoughts lifted, and there it was—his answer.

Kabir knew what he had to do.

"Dhriti? Dhriti, I need to talk to you," Kabir said, weaving through the crowd to where she was standing.

"Kabir! Oh, I was looking for you. Come, let's take some pictures first!" Dhriti replied, her smile wide, her phone already in hand.

"Dhriti, please, listen to me."

"Please, Kabir, after the pictures—"

"Can you just stop it, Dhriti?!" Kabir's voice rose, frustration boiling over. Heads turned their way, but he didn't care. "It's suffocating. You're so focused on yourself that you don't care about anyone else! Okay, I get it, you're pretty. But what else? You don't even care about me. You said all those words when you proposed, but did you even mean them?"

Dhriti's smile faded, replaced with a look of shock. "What are you talking about?"

"I tried so hard to make this work," Kabir continued, his voice steadier now. "I tried so hard that I didn't even think about how I felt. You never loved me, and you didn't even bother to pretend! I've lost myself with you. And you know what? I'm done with your games. Let's end this."

"Kabir, stop! People are looking. What about my image?" Dhriti hissed, her eyes darting around the room.

Kabir shook his head, shocked. "God, Dhriti! All you care about is your image? Fine, keep caring, because it's just you now. Not us. Not anymore."

He turned away, leaving Dhriti standing there, speechless, as whispers spread through the crowd. As he walked out of the ground, Kabir felt a weight lift off his chest, like he had finally set himself free. His heart felt lighter, his mind clearer than it had been in months. For the first time, he wasn't shut down, wasn't holding back. He had spoken his truth, and it felt good—no, it felt like freedom

But he wasn't done. Not yet. He knew there was one more thing he had to do tonight. His heart raced with both nerves and excitement. I have to do this today. I don't care if she rejects me; I have to let her know.

He turned back, his eyes searching the crowd. He knew exactly who he was looking for. This wasn't about avoiding anymore. This wasn't about confusion. He had clarity, and he was ready to face it head-on. He needed to find Liza.