Only For Her✅

AUTHOR'S POV: Chapter 49

AUTHOR'S POV

After Akash, Yuvi, Vicky, and Aishu left, the apartment fell into an eerie silence. It was just Yash and Jivika now. Yash, trying to mask his turmoil, forced a brief smile at Jivika. "Good night," he muttered, turning away quickly as he headed towards his room. Jivika watched him disappear behind the bedroom door; her heart heavy with worry. She knew Yash wouldn't be sleeping tonight; the weight of the revelations was too much. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to check on him.

Jivika made her way to Yash's room and softly knocked on the door. There was no response. Gathering her courage, she slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, the moonlight streaming in through the balcony glass doors. Her eyes searched the room and found him standing outside on the balcony, the glow of a lit cigarette between his fingers. It surprised her — she never knew Yash smoked.

Jivika stepped out onto the balcony, her footsteps soft. "I didn't know you smoked, Yash," she said gently, her voice filled with concern.

Yash turned his head slightly, acknowledging her presence but not meeting her eyes. He stared at the cigarette in his hand, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "I haven't touched one in nine years," he said quietly. "The last time I smoked was before Jhanvi came into my life. She told me once that she hated smoking and drinking, so I quit immediately. But after tonight... after everything we discovered, I felt like I needed it." He took a final drag before crushing the cigarette under his shoe, tossing it aside as if trying to discard the weight it carried.

Before he could turn back around, Jivika moved closer and wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her cheek against his broad back. Her embrace was tight, comforting, as if she could absorb some of his pain. "Yash," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "you can't let this break you. I know it's painful, and I know you feel like the ground beneath you is slipping away, but you need to be strong. You need to hold on, for yourself... and for me."

Yash stood still, his body tense, as if her touch was both a comfort and a reminder of the turmoil he was going through. He finally turned around in her arms, facing her. His eyes, usually so bright and full of life, were now clouded with pain and anger. He searched her face, looking for answers, for comfort, for anything to make sense of the chaos swirling inside him. "I don't know how to be strong right now, Jivika," he confessed, his voice breaking. "I feel like everything I believed in was a lie. I don't know who to trust anymore."

Jivika reached up and cupped his face, her thumb gently stroking his cheek. "You can trust me, Yash. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I will stand by you, no matter what we uncover. We'll face this together." Her voice was soft but filled with a fierce determination, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Yash's hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer, almost desperately, as if afraid she might slip away too. He rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. "I'm scared, Jivika," he admitted. "For the first time in my life, I'm truly scared. Not just of what we might find out, but of losing you."

Jivika's heart ached hearing his words. She gently placed a kiss on his forehead, then another on his closed eyelids, as if trying to kiss away his fears. "You won't lose me," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm right here, and I'm not leaving you. No matter what happens, we'll get through this together."

In that moment, the world outside seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them, holding on to each other in the moonlit balcony. Yash's arms tightened around her, pulling her impossibly close as if seeking solace in her warmth. He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, then her cheek, before finally capturing her lips in a slow, tender kiss. It was a kiss filled with raw emotion — fear, longing, love, and an unspoken promise to stand by each other through whatever storm was to come.