HER SAFE PLACE

Lie

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Rocky's POV

As I stepped out of the washroom, I noticed the room was empty. I expected her to be there, maybe getting ready for bed, but there was no sign of her. I called her name softly, but there was no answer. A strange unease began to rise, and I felt a pull to go and find her, make sure she was okay.

Leaving the room, I went straight to the kitchen, thinking she might have gone to get water, but it was empty. Next, I headed to the living room, searching every corner. It was when I glanced out the large window to the garden that I finally spotted her—but she wasn’t alone. She was standing with Arun, and the two of them seemed lost in conversation. Her hand was in his, and he was holding it a little too tightly.

My chest tightened as I watched them, feeling something stir deep inside me. I couldn’t look away. Then, to my dismay, I saw Arun wrap an arm around her and pull her into a hug. My fists clenched, a mix of anger and frustration flooding through me. His hand rested on her waist, and she looked so comfortable, as though this wasn’t unusual.

I didn’t mind when she was close with Ravi or Adi; I trusted them like brothers. But Arun was different. Ever since he returned from India, I couldn’t shake off a feeling about him. I’d noticed him giving Shivangi certain looks—ones that hinted at something more than friendship. And then there were things he’d said about her, little remarks that left a bad taste. Seeing him with her like this made that discomfort flare into a heated anger, jealousy simmering under the surface.

I forced myself to turn away, not wanting to make a scene or confront them in the moment. I returned to our room, my mind still replaying that moment, the hug, the way she looked comfortable with him. It gnawed at me, making it hard to think straight. I tried to distract myself, opening my phone to scroll through our photos, anything to keep my mind off what I’d just seen. I found a photo of her I’d taken today at the wedding, one where she looked genuinely happy. I set it as my wallpaper, trying to remind myself of how much she meant to me.

The door creaked open, and I knew it was her. I kept my eyes on the phone, trying not to let my frustration show. She walked into the washroom, and after a few minutes, came out in fresh clothes, her hair still slightly damp from the rain. She crossed the room, snatched my phone out of my hands, and settled herself onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck, her usual playfulness back.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, I looked up at her and asked, “Where were you?” My voice was steady, but inside, I was desperate for a simple, honest answer. She glanced at me and said, “I just went to get some water. I was feeling thirsty.” But something about it didn’t feel right.

I tried again, hoping that she’d open up if I asked differently. But each time, she offered another excuse, brushing it off with the same easy tone. Every response felt like another small wall she was putting between us, and I could feel it—the distance growing with every word. I wanted so badly for her to trust me, to tell me the truth.

Finally, I let out a quiet sigh, feeling the weight of disappointment settling over me. “It’s late,” I murmured, not wanting to keep pushing. “Let’s just go to sleep.”

As I laid back, Shivangi settled against my chest, her breathing steady and calm, my mind was anything but at ease. Every time I replayed our conversation, her answers felt more distant, more carefully crafted. Why had she lied about something as simple as where she’d been? Was it to avoid an argument? Or was there something else she didn’t want me to know?

My thoughts drifted back to the window where I’d seen her with Arun. The way they’d hugged, the easy comfort between them—was I overthinking it, or was there more to it? I clenched my jaw, trying to shake off the jealousy stirring inside me. It was something I’d tried to bury, knowing how much she valued her friendships, but seeing her with him, especially after all the things Arun had said about her in the past, made it impossible to ignore.