HER SAFE PLACE

Argument

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Shivangi's POV

“You?” I said, my voice tinged with surprise. “Why are you here?” I asked surprised to see Arun sitting beside me. His presence was unexpected, but there was a comforting familiarity in his concern.

“I’m just here to check up on my friend,” he replied, his brow furrowed with genuine worry. “What happened? You said you weren’t feeling good. Is everything alright?”

I nodded, trying to muster a reassuring smile, though it felt forced. “Yeah, yeah. I’m just not feeling well. I’ll rest for a bit and then I’ll be fine.” I wished I could convince myself that was true.

Arun reached for my hand, his grip warm and steady. “Shivangi, I know our bond isn’t the same as with others, but you can still share it with me. You can trust me; I’m here for you.” His words were sincere, and I felt a flicker of gratitude for his friendship. It was nice to know someone cared enough to check in.

But just as I was about to respond, the door creaked open. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up to see Rocky standing there, a tray of food in his hands. The moment his eyes fell on Arun and me, our hands momentarily touching, I felt a jolt of panic. Without thinking, I quickly withdrew my hand and stood up, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.

Rocky’s expression shifted from surprise to something I couldn’t quite decipher. He stood there, tray trembling slightly as he placed it on the nearby table. “I’m sorry to disturb you both,” he said, his voice taut with tension. “I think I should leave.”

“No, no,” I interjected hurriedly, stepping toward him, desperate to bridge the sudden chasm that had opened up. “Arun was just leaving.”

Arun glanced between us, a silent understanding passing in his gaze. “Take care,” he said softly, giving me a reassuring nod before heading out of the room.

Once the door clicked shut behind him, the atmosphere shifted. I turned back to Rocky, who seemed to be processing the scene. His jaw was set tight, and I could sense an underlying frustration or jealousy in the air. I took a deep breath, ready to address the tension, but I wasn’t sure how to start. The weight of unspoken words lingered between us, thick and uncomfortable.

“Rocky, Arun was just here to check up on me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though the tension crackled between us like static electricity. I could see his expression harden as my words sank in, and I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on us.

He crossed his arms, his posture defensive. “You don’t have to explain,” he replied, but the sarcasm in his tone cut deep, sharper than I anticipated. “It’s fine.”

The dismissive way he said it ignited a flare of frustration within me. How could he act as if it didn’t matter? I stepped closer and placed my hands gently on his chest, a small gesture meant to bridge the growing emotional distance. “I’m sorry. I’m not ignoring you or anything like that,” I said, my voice softening. “It’s just that Arun is my friend. Nothing else. We’re just friends.”

“But I’m not saying anything,” Rocky shot back, his eyes narrowing slightly, the tension thickening the air between us. “Did I tell you not to talk to him? Did I ever say, ‘Don’t go to him’? No, I didn’t. So why are you saying all this?”

“Even though you didn’t say it, I can understand what you mean,” I replied, frustration bubbling to the surface. “You’re acting cold and distant, and I don’t like it. I need you to be here with me, not pushing me away.” My heart raced as I realized how desperate I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. I needed him to see how his behavior affected me.