Love isn't supposed to be this complicated- at least, that's what Manya thought before Sarth entered her life.
She's fiercely independent, and he's the infuriatingly charming guy who knows how to push her buttons.
Their connection? Intense, messy...
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I'd been up for hours, pacing, trying to shake off last night. But no matter how much I walked, I couldn't get rid of the thoughts swirling in my head.
I shoved my earphones in and cranked up the volume, hoping the music would drown everything out. The beat pounded in my ears, and for a second, I let myself believe it was enough. I wandered around the house, pretending the music could fix things.
Then, of course, a softer song slipped in. My heart sank.
I tried to ignore it, but the lyrics hit too close to home. Every word felt like it was written just for me, echoing everything I've been feeling—not just since last night, but since I became Mrs. Sarth Rathore.
We're stuck in this cycle. We get closer, then snap back even further apart. Every time I think something's changing, we're right back where we started. It's exhausting.
Why does it have to be like this?
One moment, Sarth's warm, and I think maybe, just maybe, he cares. The next, he's cold, distant, like I don't matter. Last night was just another reminder. The way he looked at me, like he wanted me close but kept pushing me away. I don't understand it. I don't understand *him*.
I slumped into a chair, my hands shaking. I'm so tired of this—of trying to figure him out, of never knowing where I stand. It's like walking on a tightrope, one wrong step, and I'll fall.
I just want to understand him. But every time I think I'm getting close, he shuts me out.
The music wasn't helping anymore. I pulled out the earphones and sat there, the silence louder than anything. I know something has to change, but I don't even know where to start. How do you fix something when you don't even know what's broken?
I blinked away the tears. I can't keep falling apart like this. I need to be stronger, but I don't know how. How do I stop hoping things will get better when I don't know if they ever will?
I stood up, my feet heavy as I walked out of the room. My heart still pounded in my chest, and I wasn't sure what I was expecting. Maybe for Sarth to be gone. Maybe for the house to feel as empty as I did.
But as I got closer to the living room, I heard voices—ones that didn't just belong to Sarth. I paused at the doorway, gripping the frame, and peeked inside.
There they were. Sarth, casually lounging on the couch, looking so relaxed with a faint smile on his face. And next to him, his parents. It took me a second to even register it was them—they weren't supposed to be here.
Before I could wrap my head around it, Mrs. Rathore noticed me. Her face lit up, and she waved me over.
