Ashes of a Broken Heart

Chapter 19: The New Day, the New Tejasswi

Morning light crept through the windows, bathing Tejasswi's room in a soft glow. She opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling, feeling strangely numb. Every corner of her heart felt bruised, yet there was a strange sense of clarity that accompanied the ache. Today, she promised herself, would be different.

She rose from bed, her movements mechanical, as if each action was the result of a practiced routine rather than any genuine desire. When she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Her eyes seemed emptier, yet there was a cold resolve in them that she had never seen before.

As she dressed, her phone buzzed with messages from friends and colleagues, but she ignored them. Even Meera's messages went unanswered. She knew her friend was worried, but she also knew that no one could reach her in this new state she had found herself in—not even Meera.

She was almost out the door when Meera appeared, her face lined with worry. "Teju, you didn't answer me! I was scared something happened," she said, her voice cracking slightly.

Tejasswi flashed her a quick smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Meera. Really." Her tone was soft but distant, as if she were reassuring Meera from miles away.

Meera frowned, studying her closely. "Are you sure? You don't have to pretend with me, Teju."

Tejasswi's expression remained unreadable. "I know, Meera. But I've decided... some things just aren't meant for me. Family, love... they're just empty promises. I need to focus on my career now, on what I can actually control."

Meera's heart sank. She wanted to shake Tejasswi, to tell her that this wasn't the answer, that love and family were worth fighting for. But the coldness in Tejasswi's gaze stopped her. She knew her friend was in too much pain to see beyond it.

As they left the house together, Meera was haunted by the quiet stillness in Tejasswi's manner. Tejasswi no longer walked with her usual, lively energy. Each step was deliberate, each movement controlled, as if she were carefully constructing a mask to hide her true self from the world.

At the design studio, Tejasswi threw herself into her work. Her hands moved with a detached precision, each stitch, each cut of fabric becoming another layer of armor. Her colleagues noticed, glancing at her with concern, sensing the quiet storm that seemed to be brewing behind her calm demeanor.

As she sketched, her mind drifted back to the dream she once had—a life filled with love, with people who cherished her, with Karan by her side. But those dreams now felt like faded memories, wisps of something she could no longer hold onto. She clenched her jaw, pushing the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the fabric in front of her.

"Teju," Meera's voice broke through her thoughts, soft but insistent. "Are you really okay with... letting all of this go? You always dreamed of finding love, of building something beautiful with someone who truly cares for you."

Tejasswi's gaze hardened, and she forced a smile. "Dreams are for people who can afford to believe in them, Meera. I've learned the hard way that they're not for me. My family saw me as a burden, and the one person I thought I could trust... he only saw me as a tool for revenge. I won't make that mistake again. Love, family—they were just illusions. Now, it's time I focus on something real."

The cold finality in her tone left Meera speechless. She wanted to reach out, to tell Tejasswi that love was real, that she deserved to be loved and cherished. But she could see that Tejasswi had locked her heart away, and Meera didn't know if she would ever find her way back.

Hours passed, and Tejasswi worked tirelessly, her focus unbroken, her movements precise and calculated. Yet, every so often, Meera would catch her pausing, her gaze distant as if she were lost in some invisible turmoil. It was as if she were battling with herself, holding back the pain that threatened to surface.

When the day finally ended, Tejasswi stood in front of a nearly finished dress, her fingers grazing the delicate fabric. In another life, she would have been excited, proud of the work she had done. But now, all she felt was emptiness.

Meera watched her from across the room, feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness. She missed the old Tejasswi—the girl who laughed without reservation, who believed in the beauty of love. But she knew that Tejasswi was gone, replaced by someone who had been forced to build walls around her heart.

As they prepared to leave, Meera took a deep breath, her voice soft. "Teju... if you ever need to talk, I'm here. Don't push me away."

Tejasswi looked at her, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Meera. But I'm fine. I have my work, my goals. That's all I need now."

She turned, walking out of the studio with her head held high, leaving Meera behind, her heart aching for her friend.

Outside, the city buzzed with life, people hurrying along, laughter filling the air. Tejasswi watched them, feeling like an outsider in a world that no longer felt like her own. She had once been part of that world, once believed in the happiness it promised. But now, she was simply a shadow, moving through life without hope, without expectation.

As she walked home, she whispered to herself, "This is who I am now. I don't need anyone. I don't need love. I have my dreams, my work... that's enough."

Yet, deep down, a small part of her mourned the life she had lost, the dreams she had once held so close. But she pushed the pain aside, locking it away, determined never to let herself be vulnerable again.

And as the night settled over the city, Tejasswi walked alone, her heart encased in the walls she had built, ready to face a world that she no longer trusted.