THE IInd DECISION

39. Claimed by his whisper

Ayan Pov:-

She sighed, turning back toward the window. "Leave, Ayan." Her words were soft but firm, and they hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew I shouldn't have shouted at her. She didn't know why I was like this. I should've explained it calmly, but the storm inside me had exploded.

I knelt in front of the bed where she sat, her face tear-streaked, and reached for her hand. "Ashi, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you. I wasn't in my right mind. Please... come home with me." My voice cracked as I pleaded, but she simply looked at my hand, silent, unmoving.

"Please," I begged, my voice trembling, "forgive me... just come home." But she shook her head, her eyes filling with fresh tears, which rolled down her cheeks like tiny waterfalls.

"Jaan, please... say something," I whispered, desperate to break the silence between us.

Finally, she turned to face me, her gaze piercing through the weight of her pain. "I'll forgive you, Ayan," she said softly, her voice barely holding back the flood of emotions. "But tell me... why do you hate your birthday? Why were you so drunk last night that you didn't even realize what you were doing? What are you hiding from me?" Her words trembled as she struggled to control her sobs. "What are you so afraid of, Ayan? Tell me..." Her voice broke, and she paused, trying to keep herself together.

Her plea hit me hard. I couldn't look her in the eyes, the memories of my past flashing like a terrible movie reel in my mind—punch after punch, blood dripping from my mouth. I couldn't tell her. My world was dark, and she couldn't step into it. If I told her, it would ruin her.

"Tell me, Ayan," she repeated, her voice softer now, filled with a longing for answers. But the words wouldn't come. I looked down, my hands trembling, unable to give her what she needed.

She sighed again, defeated. "You can't tell me, can you?" Her voice was a whisper now. "Go home, Ayan."

I looked up at her, my heart breaking. "Please... come with me," I tried once more, but she shook her head, tears now streaming down her face.

"Ayan, I know you think I'm overreacting, that I'm being selfish," she said, wiping her face with both hands, her cheeks flushed, her kajal smeared. "But you shouted at me in front of everyone—your family, our family. You showed them that  we're barely roommates. You broke the contract between us." She paused, collecting her thoughts, her voice steady despite the tears. " Ayan  I am not so rich like you ,all I have is my self-respect, Ayan. If you had yelled at me in our .....she paused " in your  room, I would have stayed and fought with you, but not like this. I can't go back there... not now. Please don't force me. This is the one thing I'm asking of you... just leave me for now."

Her words shattered something inside me. She was right. I had broken a trust, a promise, and I didn't even realize it in the heat of the moment. All I managed to say was, "As you wish." I turned and headed for the door, but just as I reached the threshold, I heard her soft voice behind me.

"Ayan... bandage your hands. You'll get an infection."

I paused, my heart heavy, and without turning, I whispered, "Don't cry for me, Ashi. I'm not worth your tears. You're too precious to waste them on someone like me... but I promise, Ashi, I'll bring you back. I'll bring you home with your respect intact. And... thank you for the cufflinks and the watch. I loved them."

And with that, I left.

As I made my way downstairs, Riya stood up immediately, concern etched on her face. "Bhai, what happened? Did she agree? Why isn't she coming? Should I talk to her? I'll explain why you hate your birthday—why things happened the way they did. She'll understand, bhai, I know she will."