Shadows of the Past

Chapter 8 Echo

Rajesh spent the rest of the day in a daze, unable to focus on anything other than the storm brewing in his life. His conversation with Jayanthi had left him feeling raw, exposed. And now, Neha wanted to talk too. He knew he couldn’t avoid this any longer, but the thought of choosing between them filled him with dread.

As the evening approached, Rajesh found himself standing outside Neha’s apartment, his heart heavy with uncertainty. He knocked on the door, and a moment later, Neha opened it. She looked tired, her eyes filled with a quiet sadness.

“Come in,” she said softly, stepping aside to let him in.

Rajesh walked inside, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Neha closed the door and turned to face him, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall.

“So… are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Neha asked, her voice calm but filled with tension.

Rajesh sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Neha, I don’t know how to say this without hurting you. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Neha’s expression hardened. “Just tell me the truth, Rajesh. Are you still in love with Jayanthi?”

Rajesh hesitated, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He wanted to say no, to tell Neha that he was fully committed to her. But the truth was more complicated than that.

“I don’t know,” Rajesh admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I still care about her, but I care about you too. I’m so confused, Neha.”

Neha’s eyes filled with hurt, and she turned away, taking a deep breath. “So, you don’t know if you love me anymore? After everything we’ve been through?”

“I love you, Neha. But Jayanthi was such a huge part of my past. When she came back, it brought up all these feelings I didn’t expect,” Rajesh explained, his heart aching.

Neha shook her head, her voice breaking. “I can’t be with someone who’s torn between two people, Rajesh. I can’t live like this. You need to make a decision, and you need to make it now.”

Rajesh felt his stomach drop. The moment of truth had arrived, and he knew there was no more avoiding it. He had to choose, but no matter what he did, someone was going to get hurt.

As he stood there, staring at Neha’s tear-filled eyes, Rajesh knew that whatever choice he made would change his life forever.

The tension in the air was thick as Rajesh sat down, his mind racing with the weight of the decision he had to make. Jayanthi’s voice echoed in his head: **"Are you truly happy with Neha, or are you just comfortable?"**

Neha’s words weighed just as heavily: **"I can’t be with someone who’s torn between two people."**