TOGETHER

CHAPTER NINETEEN

That was it. No argument, no plea for me to stay. Just "oh."

Why doesn't he fight for me? Why doesn't he ask me to stay, to be with him? I wanted him to be angry, to tell me how much he missed me, how much he needed me here. But he never did. He never asked me to stay.

It was killing me. Why is he so damn selfless? Why can't he just *say* it?

"You're not upset?" I asked, my voice quieter now.

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Ahana, I want you to have everything. I can't hold you back from that."

His words pierced through me. *Don't be so understanding, Ashutosh*. Fight for me, please.

---

The next morning, after spending the night gossiping with Anoushka, I woke up to the smell of breakfast. She was her usual cheerful self, trying to lighten my mood as I told her about Ashutosh's reaction.

"That's just how he is," she said with a shrug. "He's never going to stop you from chasing your dreams."

"But he should be upset! He should care enough to be upset!" I protested.

"He does care, Ahana. He just doesn't want to weigh you down. It's not about him; it's about you."

I knew she was right. But still, it hurt. Why did I want him to ask me to stay so badly?

I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my phone and called him.

"Good morning, pumpkin." he greeted me warmly. "When's your train?"

The way he said it, like nothing had changed, made my frustration bubble over. "Why are you not reacting?" I blurted out, surprising even myself.

He paused for a moment, clearly taken aback. "Ahana, I care about you. I can't stop you from leaving."

"Then tell me I'm important! Tell me you don't want me to go!"

He sighed, his voice soft but steady. "Of course, you're important. You're the most important person in my life. But... I can't make you choose between me and your dreams."

"Then damn it, fight me!"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before he finally spoke again, and this time, his voice cracked ever so slightly. "Sometimes, I want to.
I am consumed by something, ... my dad isn't doing well, Ahana. He's on diuresis."

My heart dropped into my stomach. I had been so consumed by my own fears, my own doubts, that I hadn't even thought to ask about his family. "Oh my God, Ashutosh, I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't know." he replied, but I could hear the weariness in his voice.

"Can I come over? I'll cancel my train to Patiala," I offered, desperate to make up for my selfishness.

"No, you can't. You need to go see your family. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

But how could I not worry? After we hung up, guilt washed over me like a tidal wave. How had I not seen it? How had I been so blind? He had been dealing with so much on his own, and there I was, expecting him to fight for me when he was barely holding it together himself.

---

When I arrived in Patiala, my mother's eyes filled with tears as she saw me. It felt good to be home, to be surrounded by my family. But even as I unpacked my bags and handed out gifts, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt weighing me down.

I realized I had forgotten to give Ashutosh his present. But I didn't text him. Not yet. He had enough on his plate, and I needed to give him space.

That night, I sat with my parents, telling them everything about Ashutosh's father. They were just as concerned as I was, and for the first time, I felt like I wasn't facing this alone.