Far Yet Forever

Chapter 19

"The only thing that is constant is change." — Heraclitus

I needed to get out. I needed to feel anything other than this endless, messy tangle of regret and confusion. Staying in my room wasn't helping—I was only getting pulled deeper into the chaos inside my head. So, without thinking twice, I grabbed a dress, slipped on my heels, and called for a ride. Tonight, I was going to lose myself.

The club was alive when I stepped in, pulsing with music so loud I could feel it in my bones. The dim lights, the crowd, the energy—it was perfect. It felt like I could finally disappear into something that wasn't my own thoughts.

I made my way to the bar, ordering a drink that burned pleasantly as I sipped it. Another drink followed, and the edges of my thoughts began to blur. I welcomed it. With one last gulp, I put down my glass and drifted onto the dance floor.

The music took over, flowing through me, numbing everything that had been weighing me down. I swayed to the beat, moving without thinking, letting the rhythm carry me. I felt hands on my waist—some guy whose name I'd never know—and I leaned in, pressing close, allowing the movement to erase the memories of every complicated feeling.

We danced like that, lost in each other and in the music. I felt a thrill, something wild and free. Another stranger took his place soon after, and I let him pull me close, too, my body moving without restraint, matching his rhythm. I didn't care who they were or what they thought. Tonight, I wasn't me—I was just another face in the crowd, another heartbeat synced to the bass.

With each step, each sway, I felt a piece of the burden lift. The voice in my head—the one that whispered doubt and guilt—grew fainter, drowned by the pounding music and the warmth of bodies around me. Here, in this chaotic, crowded place, I could finally let go.

And, for tonight, that was enough.

The night was blurring. Drink after drink, dance after dance—I had thrown myself into the moment, feeling a strange kind of thrill, like I could finally leave everything behind, if only for a few hours. But as the music roared and lights flashed around me, I felt myself slipping, a bit more out of control with each passing minute.

At some point, the crowd around me felt less friendly, more chaotic. Bodies pushed and pulled, strangers got too close, and I stumbled as someone bumped into me, knocking the last of my drink out of my hand. Suddenly, the thrill turned to dread. I was dizzy, feeling the room spin around me, and it was impossible to get out of the crush of people.

"Hey, careful!" I slurred, trying to make my way through the throng, but I could barely hold my balance. Then, a hand gripped my wrist—a little too hard. I pulled back, but the person didn't let go, and panic flooded me.

"Let go!" I shouted, but the music drowned out my voice. I struggled, feeling trapped. Just as I thought I'd be dragged deeper into the crowd, someone yanked me back, breaking the grip on my wrist.

I looked up, blinking to clear my vision, and saw Arjun standing there, his face tense, his eyes darting to the person who had grabbed me. "Come on," he said, his voice steady and low. He slipped an arm around me, guiding me through the crowd as I held onto him, grateful for the solid anchor he was offering.

We finally made it outside, the cool air hitting my face like a wave of relief. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but I was still shaking, the fear lingering in my chest.

"What were you doing in there alone, Aarisha?" Arjun's voice was stern but laced with concern. I didn't have an answer—nothing that made sense, anyway.

"I just... I needed to get away, to forget," I murmured, not meeting his eyes. The truth was too complicated, too messy to explain.

He let out a sigh, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "Next time, just call me. You don't have to do this alone."

I looked at him then, really looked. The way he held me gently by the shoulders, his eyes filled with concern—it was like he had changed, like he was actually... different now. But I couldn't help but wonder if it was real. Could he actually have changed? Or was this just another moment in a long, complicated history between us?

In that moment, I felt both grateful and wary. Arjun had been there, right when I needed him, and even after everything, he'd come to my rescue. But as much as I wanted to trust him, to believe that he was here with honest intentions, a part of me still wondered if he'd ever truly changed.