Bade Sapne

◇ Part 3 ◇

Shubman's POV

I watched her walk ahead of me, her back rigid and shoulders tense. Every step she took seemed to put more distance between us, but I wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet. Not after everything I’d done.

I’d apologized, and she’d listened, but the air between us still felt thick with unresolved tension. I couldn’t let it end like this. I needed to fix it, or at least try. I wasn’t expecting her to forgive me instantly, but I couldn’t stand seeing her so upset, knowing I was the reason for it.

I caught up to her, but this time, I didn’t say anything. I just fell into step beside her, our footsteps echoing softly on the quiet street. She didn’t acknowledge me at first, and I didn’t push it. The silence between us was thick, but it wasn’t the same hostile silence from before. It was more...resigned.

After a few moments, Vira sighed heavily, finally breaking the silence. “What do you want, Shubman?”

Her voice was tired, like she was too exhausted to even be angry with me anymore. I deserved that.

“I don’t know,” I admitted quietly. “I just... I didn’t want to leave things like that.”

She stopped walking and turned to face me, her expression unreadable. “So, what? You think following me around is going to fix things?”

I shook my head. “No. I just— I just didn’t want you to walk away thinking I didn’t care. Because I do.”

She let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

“I know,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve been a complete asshole to you. And I wish I could explain why, but I don’t even fully understand it myself.”

Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought she might yell at me. Scream about how much I’d hurt her. But she didn’t. Instead, she just looked...tired.

“I’m not going to keep playing this game with you, Shubman,” she said quietly. “One minute you’re fine, the next you’re tearing me down. I can’t keep up.”

She went on ahead. Ok... I guess pleading is not gonna do the trick then... time to change tactics. What the fuck is wrong with me, man?

I jogged a little to catch up, falling into step beside her again. She glanced at me, her expression guarded, but she didn’t say anything.

“Do you want to grab some chai or something?” I asked casually, trying to keep the mood light, like we hadn’t just had the most intense conversation of our lives.

She raised an eyebrow at me. “Chai?”

“Yeah, you know, chai? Hot, delicious, soothing... the ultimate comfort drink?” I grinned, hoping to at least get a smile out of her.

Vira rolled her eyes, but I could see the corner of her mouth twitch slightly. “You’re not serious.”

“Dead serious. There’s a stall around the corner that makes the best chai in town. You’ll love it.”

She sighed, still walking. “I don’t need chai right now, Shubman.”

“Well, I do. And since I’m clearly terrible at making things right, I figure chai is my best bet. Come on, it’s on me.”

She stopped walking, turning to look at me with a mix of exasperation and something else I couldn’t quite place. “You really think chai is going to fix all of this?”

I shrugged. “No, but it might help. Besides, you look like you could use a break.”

She sighed again but didn’t argue this time. “Fine. But I’m not doing this for you.”