𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐡

1. the unravelling.

The muffled sounds of music surrounded me as I sat in the recording studio, my fingers idly drumming on the table. I had lost myself in the lyrics of a new song, the melody still fresh in my mind when my phone buzzed insistently on the surface in front of me. The screen lit up, revealing a message from my music producer, Aniket.

"Aaravi, you need to see this."

With a knot tightening in my stomach, I clicked on the link. The headline sent my heart plummeting:

"Popular Actor Ashish Sharma Caught Cheating: Inside the Scandal that Shook the Industry."

My breath hitched as I scrolled through the article, each line feeling like a stab to my heart. The pictures were damning-Ashish, my Ashish, with his arm around and kissing another woman, a stunning actress whose name I recognized from the tabloids. Anger coursed through me as I read about his latest rendezvous, the details too vivid, too real. He had made a mockery of everything we had built together.

I tossed my phone aside, my hands shaking. Aniket had warned me about him from the start, but I had brushed off his concerns, thinking love would shield me from betrayal. I had been naïve.

With fury bubbling up inside me, I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the studio, not caring who saw my rage. Each step toward my apartment felt like a countdown to confrontation. I could already envision Ashish's cocky smile, the one that had melted my heart and clouded my judgment. But today, it would be met with my fury.

As I burst through the door to my apartment, the sight that greeted me was a dagger to my chest. There, in my bed, was Ashish-bare-chested, laughing, and entangled with another woman. The sight sent a rush of heat to my head, blurring my vision with rage.

"What the hell is this?!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls.

They both jolted upright, Ashish's eyes wide with shock. The woman quickly wrapped herself in the sheets, trying to hide her nakedness, while Ashish's expression shifted from surprise to annoyance.

"Aaravi, this isn't what it looks like-" he started, but I cut him off, my heart pounding in my ears.

"Not what it looks like? You're in my bed with another woman! After everything we've been through!" My voice shook with anger, each word laced with betrayal.

He scoffed, trying to regain his composure. "I told you I needed space. You're always busy with your music, Aaravi. I thought-"

"Thought what?" I interrupted, stepping closer. "That it was okay to cheat on me? To humiliate me like this?"

The other woman, realizing the gravity of the situation, slipped out of bed and hastily gathered her clothes. I turned my glare back to Ashish, feeling a surge of righteous indignation.

"I trusted you. I defended you. And this is how you repay me?"

"I didn't mean for it to happen," he replied, but the excuses felt empty and hollow.

"Get out. Both of you," I spat, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within me.

Ashish opened his mouth, probably to argue, but I stood firm, my heart pounding with a mix of hurt and anger. "I said, get out!"

With a defeated sigh, he slipped out of bed, a look of shame crossing his face. The other woman hurriedly dressed, avoiding my gaze as she backed toward the door. I felt no sympathy for her-she had played her part in this twisted game.

Once they were gone, I collapsed onto the edge of my bed, my body shaking. I had fought so hard for our love, only to have it shattered in the most brutal way. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I buried my face in my hands, the weight of betrayal heavy on my shoulders.

What had I done to deserve this? I had given him everything, and he had thrown it all away for a moment's thrill. The anger I felt began to dissipate, leaving behind a deep, hollow ache in my chest.

In the silence of my apartment, surrounded by the remnants of what once was, I felt utterly alone. I had lost not just a relationship, but a part of myself I had thought was safe.