WHEN LOVE BLOOMS AGAIN

BROKEN HEART

CHAPTER 13

Ananya froze. She hadn’t expected this, from Pranav. Her mind swirled with confusion, and for a moment, she couldn’t speak. She saw the sincerity in his eyes. But at the same time, it stirred up something she had buried deep inside a painful memory from her past.

She looked down at her hands, avoiding his gaze. She cared about Pranav. He had become important to her, but there was a part of her life she had never shared with him or anyone in Delhi. It was a past she had worked hard to move on from.

“Pranav, I... I don’t know what to say,” she finally whispered. “You’ve always been a good friend to me, and I... I care about you too. But there’s something you don’t know.”

Pranav leaned forward “What is it, Ananya? You can tell me anything.”
Ananya hesitated, her past flashing before her eyes—the heartbreak, the gem she had lost. She had loved before, deeply, and it had shattered her. Since then she is not ready to love someone again because she is scared of attachments now.

“I’ve been through something before,” she said. “I had someone in my life, someone I loved a long time ago. And it ended... badly. It left me hurt in ways I can’t even explain. I’m scared, Pranav. I’m scared of falling again, of getting hurt again.” I'm unlucky in attachments Pranav.

Pranav listened silently, and now he could understand why she always kept a distance from Pranav.

“I’m not asking you to rush into anything, Ananya,” he said softly. “I just wanted you to know how I feel. Whatever happened in your past, I’m here for you. I won’t walk away. I’ll wait fo long as it takes for you to feel ready.

Tears welled up in Ananya’s eyes. She appreciated his patience, and his kindness, but she wasn’t sure if she could ever open her heart again. The pain of her past still haunted her, and no matter how much she wanted to move forward, something held her back.

She wiped away a tear and forced a small smile. “I need time, Pranav. I need time to figure things out.”

Pranav nodded, understanding the pain she holds “Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.”

As they parted that evening, Ananya’s mind was heavy with emotions. She walked through the busy streets of Delhi, her thoughts swirling. Part of her wanted to give Pranav a chance, to believe that love could bloom again. But another part of her was still bound to the past, unable to let go of the fear that came with it.

She was standing at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take.