𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐇 : ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ

5. UNSPOKEN CONFESSIONS!

𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗛'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩 :

He shook his head, his expression hardening. “You broke my trust, Rooh. As a friend.”

With that, he turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him, leaving me alone with my shattered heart and the scattered pages of my diary.

The moment he left, I broke down. I sat on the floor, overwhelmed by what had just happened. I had expected he might say “no,” but I never thought he’d reject me like this, so harshly. Tears streamed down my face, and I covered my mouth to keep from crying out, not wanting Mumma to hear. I needed to be alone. My whole body trembled as I took in the sight of my diary, lying there on the floor. That sight broke me even more. I reached for it with trembling hands, hugged it close to my chest, and kissed it. I flipped through the pages, each one filled with my feelings for him—photos, memories, pieces of us that no longer felt real.

I remembered the day I’d gotten stuck in the elevator, how our friends had teased him, saying he looked like a worried husband. He’d hugged me so tightly afterward, like he couldn’t bear the thought of losing me. “What is love if that wasn’t love?” I asked myself, feeling empty. How could he reject me this way? Was I truly that unworthy of love?

𝗥𝗔𝗛𝗨𝗟'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩 :

"She's the kind of girl every guy dreams of, but I can't love her," I told myself, my mind full of thoughts of Rooh as I drove. I’d always cared for her, loved her even—but as a friend. She gave our friendship another meaning, turning it into something more. And now, it felt like she’d broken my trust. I’d always been so proud to call her my best friend. Did she not value that? My grip on the wheel tightened, anger building as I thought of her. She saw love where there should have been friendship.

𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗛'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩 :

"Rooh baby, where are you? Come downstairs. Dad’s here," Mumma called. Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I realized I was still a mess—tear-streaked face, clothes crumpled from sitting on the floor. I quickly washed my face, changed, and put on a smile.

When I went downstairs, Papa’s face lit up. "Where’s my little princess? Mumma and I were waiting to have dinner with you,” he said with a smile.

I tried to sound cheerful, masking my pain. “Sorry, Papa. I was on a call with Anu.”

“Alright, come and eat,” Mumma said, setting the food on the table.

“Mumma, I’m really not hungry,” I said softly, hoping she wouldn’t press.

“Must be all that junk you’re eating. That’s why you’re not hungry,” Papa teased, frowning.

“No, Papa, it’s just tonight,” I replied, giving him a hopeful look. He studied my face, then nodded, patting my head gently.

“Good night, Papa,” I whispered, hugging him tightly before running back to my room, hoping Mumma wouldn’t notice anything.

𝗥𝗔𝗛𝗨𝗟'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩 :

I lay in bed, unable to sleep. Rooh’s confession haunted me, replaying in my mind. I’d turned down other girls before, but this was different. I’d hurt someone who mattered to me. And even though I’d told myself I didn’t love her, it felt like I was losing something precious. But if I didn’t love her, why did it hurt so much?

I picked up my phone, tempted to call her. Instead, I called Vihaan, needing someone to talk to.

“Rahul, why are you calling at this hour? Can’t you sleep?” he grumbled.

“Inu loves me.”

There was silence. Then he sighed, “Yeah, I kind of figured that.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, surprised.