Chapter 2: A Familiar Ache
A month passed, and Ashi did her best to move on, though her heart still ached whenever she thought of him. She clung to the small comforts in her life, the familiar routines that helped her forget, even if only for a little while. She knew she had to move forward, that she couldn’t keep dwelling on what had happened. And slowly, she began to convince herself that she could live without him, even if her heart felt hollow.
But when Kirti mentioned that they would be attending a wedding in Goa—a wedding where Siddharth would also be present—Ashi’s carefully constructed walls began to crumble. She felt her anxiety flare up, her hands trembling as she tried to steady herself. The thought of seeing him again, of being in the same room as him, was almost too much to bear.
Ashi knew she had to face him, despite still feeling guilty and heartbroken. Aryan was angry with her for feeling guilty over something that wasn’t her fault, knowing she had loved Sid in her own quiet way. He had seen how much she cared for Sid, helping him through his struggles and supporting his business, even if her love wasn’t always verbalized.
The day of the wedding arrived, and Ashi wrapped herself in a stunning emerald saree, the fabric cool against her skin as she adjusted her dupatta. She squared her shoulders, determined to face whatever was to come, even if it meant seeing Siddharth again. She took a deep breath, forcing a smile as she joined her family in the lobby.
As she made her way through the crowd, she bumped into a familiar figure, her heart stopping as she looked up to see Siddharth’s mother smiling down at her. She felt the weight of his gaze, and her pulse quickened as she turned, meeting his eyes for the first time in two months.
He looked at her, his expression unreadable, his eyes lingering on her as though he was seeing her for the first time. Her heart raced, a wave of anxiety crashing over her as she fought to keep her composure. She looked away, her hands trembling as she hid them beneath her dupatta, the memories of that night flooding her mind. She could barely breathe, the weight of it all pressing down on her, suffocating.
Excusing herself, she hurried to the washroom, locking the door behind her as she leaned against the sink, her chest heaving as she tried to calm herself. “It’s okay,” she whispered, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. “It’s just five days. You can get through this.”
When she finally emerged, Aryan was waiting for her, his eyes filled with concern. He reached out, pulling her into a hug, his voice soft as he murmured, “You’re stronger than this, Ashi. You’re going to be okay.”
They returned to the ceremony, and Ashi forced herself to smile, to laugh, to pretend that everything was fine. She noticed Siddharth standing at a distance, watching her, and her heart ached with the memories of what they had shared. But she pushed it all down, reminding herself that he was no longer a part of her life.
At one point, she turned to Aryan and Kirti, urging them to sit with Siddharth. “He’s still your friend,” she said, her voice firm. “Just because things didn’t work out between us doesn’t mean you have to abandon him. He was there for you once. Now it’s your turn to be there for him.”
They both hesitated, but eventually, they nodded, making their way over to him. Ashi watched them go, a sad smile tugging at her lips as she realized just how much she had lost. But she took comfort in knowing that, even if she couldn’t be with him, she could at least make sure he wasn’t alone.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the crowd, Ashi allowed herself a moment of quiet reflection, her heart heavy but resolute. She knew she would carry this love with her, even if it never again found its way back to him. And in that moment, she made a silent promise to herself: to let go, to move forward, and to find her own happiness, one step at a time.
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