The days after Arjun’s subtle warning weighed heavily on Riya’s mind. She tried to brush it off, but his words echoed in her head, gnawing at her thoughts. What did he mean by "be careful"? She wanted to ask Aryan, but every time she looked into his kind, oblivious eyes, she hesitated. She didn’t want to ruin what they had by introducing doubts—especially ones she didn’t fully understand herself.
One evening, Aryan invited her for a quiet night in. They cuddled on the couch, watching a movie, his arm wrapped securely around her shoulders. But even in his embrace, Riya felt a strange unease. Her thoughts drifted to Arjun’s warning again, making her feel distant despite Aryan’s warmth.
“Is everything okay?” Aryan asked, sensing her distracted mood.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Riya replied quickly, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”
Aryan nodded but didn’t push. She appreciated that about him—his ability to give her space. Yet tonight, that space seemed filled with questions she couldn’t silence.
As the movie played on, Riya’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Arjun. She hadn’t spoken to him much since that night, unsure of how to approach things.
_“Hey, can we talk? There’s something you should know.”_
Her heart skipped a beat. What now? She glanced at Aryan, who was focused on the screen, and then back at her phone.
_“Now?”_ she texted back.
_“Yeah. I can meet you outside in ten minutes.”_
Riya hesitated. The unease in her chest grew stronger. Should she meet him? What did Arjun have to say that couldn’t wait? She glanced at Aryan again, his face lit by the soft glow of the television. Could there be something he wasn’t telling her? Or was Arjun just overthinking?
“I’ll be back in a bit,” Riya said suddenly, standing up.
Aryan looked at her, confused. “Where are you going? The movie’s almost over.”
“I just need some fresh air. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
Before Aryan could respond, Riya grabbed her jacket and slipped out the door, her heart racing as she made her way down the street. The night air was crisp, and the quietness of the street felt eerie as she approached the corner where Arjun said he’d meet her.
He was already there, leaning against a lamppost, his expression tense. When he saw her, he straightened up, looking almost relieved.
“Thanks for coming,” he said softly.
“What’s going on, Arjun?” Riya asked, crossing her arms against the cold. “What do you need to tell me?”
Arjun sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I didn’t want to interfere, but... you need to know something about Aryan.”
Riya’s heart sank. This was exactly what she had feared. “What do you mean?”
“It’s not that he doesn’t care about you. He does, a lot. But Aryan has a history... of not being completely honest in relationships,” Arjun said carefully.
Riya felt a cold chill run down her spine. “Not honest? What are you saying?”
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Arjun’s face twisted with guilt, as if he hated to be the one to tell her. “In his past relationships, he’s always been... distant, emotionally. He has a hard time committing fully. I didn’t want to tell you because I thought maybe it would be different with you. But seeing how close you two are getting... I just thought you should know.”
Riya stood there, frozen, trying to process Arjun’s words. Distant? Emotionally unavailable? It didn’t sound like the Aryan she knew—the Aryan who made her feel safe and cherished. But doubt had already crept into her heart, and now it was growing like a shadow, darkening everything.
“I... I don’t understand,” she muttered, feeling a lump form in her throat.
“I’m not saying he’s cheating or anything,” Arjun added quickly, seeing her distress. “But he’s not always good at being fully open with his emotions. I’ve seen him push people away before, and I don’t want to see him do that to you.”
Riya felt the weight of his words settle heavily on her. She wanted to defend Aryan, to say that he was different with her—that their relationship was special. But the truth was, she wasn’t sure anymore. Arjun’s warning had planted a seed of doubt, and now it was starting to take root.
“I... I need to think,” Riya said quietly, stepping back.
Arjun nodded, his face full of sympathy. “I’m sorry, Riya. I really am. I just didn’t want you to get hurt.”
Riya didn’t respond. She turned and walked away, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. Could Aryan really be hiding something from her? Or was Arjun just being overly protective? The questions swirled in her head, each one heavier than the last.
When she got back to Aryan’s place, he was waiting for her by the door, concern etched on his face.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, pulling her into his arms.
Riya hesitated, feeling the weight of Arjun’s words between them. “Yeah... everything’s fine,” she lied, hugging him back tightly. But in her heart, she knew that things weren’t fine. Not anymore.
The shadows of doubt had settled in, and Riya wasn’t sure how to shake them. For the first time since meeting Aryan, she felt uncertain about their future. And that uncertainty terrified her.
