Reclaimed Legacy

(1) - Love, Too Late

Armaan sat on the floor of his room, the dim light of the bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. His tuxedo jacket lay crumpled beside him, forgotten in the whirlwind of emotions that had overtaken him tonight. His head buzzed, not from the drinks he had, but from the crushing realization that had blindsided him just hours ago.

He loved her—Abhira. The girl who had been by his side all this time, slipped through the cracks of his heart while he remained oblivious. How had he not seen it? How could he have been such a fool? Each memory came flooding back—her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled with life, the quiet moments when it was just the two of them, talking about nothing and everything. His heart clenched as he remembered how easily he dismissed those feelings, convincing himself it was nothing but affection, a sense of responsibility. But it wasn't.

And he knew now. He loved her.

The thought of it twisted painfully inside him. He replayed the conversation from earlier, when Dadisa had come to him, her voice smooth and reassuring. She had told him he was just overwhelmed. That he had had a few drinks, and now he felt guilty for the way things had unfolded between him and Abhira. "It's not love," Dadisa had said, "It's just sympathy. You're just feeling sorry for her."

And like a fool, he had believed her. He'd let Dadisa's words seep into his mind, allowing her to manipulate him into staying in the room, instead of running to Abhira as he'd wanted to. Even now, her words echoed in his head, dulling the edges of his desperation to be with Abhira. But it was too late. He could feel it in his bones.

As he sat there, replaying every moment, every interaction, he felt like the biggest idiot alive. He thought he knew what love was. He thought his feelings for Ruhi were love—intense, passionate, something that made sense. But now, sitting here with his heart aching for Abhira, he realized he'd been wrong all along. What he had felt for Ruhi was nothing but infatuation, a temporary attraction, a fleeting thrill that could never compare to the depth of what he felt for Abhira.

How had he missed it? He remembered all the times Abhira had been there, quietly supporting him, her presence steady and comforting. He remembered the way she looked at him, her eyes full of something unspoken, something he had been too blind to see. And now, as he thought about her, he couldn't help but feel like the biggest idiot for not realizing it sooner.

But what could he do now? Even if he ran to her, even if he told her everything, it wouldn't change the fact that his family was counting on him. His marriage to Ruhi wasn't just about love—it was about keeping the family together. He could already imagine the devastation on everyone's faces if he called it off now. It would break them. It would break Ruhi.

His chest tightened at the thought. Abhira deserved better than this. She deserved someone who could fight for her, someone who would stand up and say, "I love you, and I choose you." But he wasn't that man. He wasn't brave enough. He wasn't strong enough.

His hand curled into a fist, pressing against the floor as he fought the overwhelming urge to leave this room and find her. To tell her everything. But what good would it do? All it would do is hurt her more. She deserved so much better than someone like him, someone who couldn't even stand up for his own love.

He let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he would marry Ruhi. He had to. For his family's sake, for Ruhi's sake. And Abhira... she would be better off without him. She deserved someone who could love her without hesitation, without doubt.

He just wished it didn't hurt so much.