Unfolding love between white coats

Chapter 12: The promises between us

Karthik didn't call Shravani that evening, leaving her waiting and wondering. After some time passed, she couldn't bear the silence anymore and called him herself, asking softly, "Why didn't you call me?" Karthik, with hesitation in his voice, answered, "I don't know." But they both knew there was more behind those words. He didn't know what to say, didn't have the answers she deserved, and didn't know how to ease the ache growing between them. He didn't know how to like her, love her, and still balance the weight of his family's wishes. This feeling of being caught in a void, where neither words nor promises could help, left them both silent and heavy-hearted.

They shared their sadness together, letting the silence convey what words could not. Eventually, both of them broke down, unable to hold back their emotions. They cried, hearing each other's pain echo back in the pauses between their words. Trying to lighten the sadness, one of them suggested singing, remembering the happy days when they had once sung love songs to each other with laughter and hope. Now, their voices trembled over breakup songs, sadness filling each line. The irony was almost unbearable—that they had once sung of love together and were now caught in the sorrow of songs that foretold goodbyes. They both hated the way things were unfolding, feeling that destiny had betrayed them, turning what had felt so right into something that seemed destined to be lost.

Karthik took a deep breath, gathering the courage to finally share the news with her. He explained how he'd spoken to his father, how he had tried to convey his feelings and ask for a chance. But his father, guided by tradition and past experiences, had said no. Karthik could hear Shravani's silent despair on the other end, the weight of her unspoken questions. He felt helpless but also resolute in a way he hadn't been before.

After a long silence, he asked her, "Will you wait for me, Shravani? Just two months, until my exams are done. I'll talk to him again. I'll find a way to make this right. Will you wait?"

Shravani was taken aback. This was the same Karthik who had given up a three-year relationship for his family's wishes, the same Karthik who had always put his parents and their happiness above all else. And yet, here he was, promising her that he would fight. She couldn't believe it—this man, who once couldn't say no to his family, was now willing to stand up for her, to find a way for them. The depth of his words filled her heart with a warmth that almost erased the pain of rejection. She whispered, "Yes, Karthik. I'll wait for you." For the first time in days, they both felt a flicker of hope, and by the time they ended the call, they were smiling again, holding onto a future they both desperately wanted to believe in.