Silent Cries

Chapter 27

The salty breeze from the sea brushed against Navya’s face as she stood frozen in place. Dev’s words were ringing in her ears, but her mind was struggling to process them. It wasn’t just the words—it was the depth in his voice, the raw vulnerability in his eyes. She had never seen him like this before.

“Dev?” she repeated, her voice a mixture of disbelief and confusion. “What is all this? What are you trying to do?”

Dev took a hesitant step closer, careful not to overwhelm her. He knew he was walking a fine line. “I know, Navya,” he began, his voice trembling slightly. “I know you’re angry—furious, even—seeing me here, doing this. And you have every right to feel that way. But today, I need to say something I should have said a long time ago.”

Navya crossed her arms defensively, trying to shield herself from the storm of emotions threatening to consume her. “Say what, Dev? That you regret everything? That you’re sorry? Do you think words can erase the years of pain you’ve caused?”

Her words were sharp, but Dev stood firm. He nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. “You’re right. Words won’t erase the pain. But I still need to say them. You deserve to hear the truth—every part of it.”

Navya’s eyes narrowed, skepticism clouding her expression. “The truth?” she echoed. “Now you want to talk about the truth?”

Dev let out a shaky breath, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. “Yes, Navya. The truth. The truth is that I was blind. I was so caught up in a love I thought I had that I couldn’t see the real love standing right in front of me.”

Navya’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain composed. “What are you talking about, Dev?”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a softer, more vulnerable tone. “I thought I was in love with Heena. For years, I believed that she was my everything. But now I know how wrong I was. What I felt for her… it wasn’t love. It was an obsession, an idea I clung to. And it blinded me to the truth.”

Navya’s defenses wavered, but she quickly built them back up. “And what truth is that?” she demanded, her voice shaking slightly.

Dev’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he continued. “The truth is that I fell for you long ago, Navya. I just didn’t realize it. I didn’t understand my own heart until it was too late. I thought admitting I was falling for you was wrong because I was so sure I loved Heena. But I see now how foolish I was. I see now that it wasn’t Heena who made me feel alive—it was you.”

Navya’s breath hitched, and she took a step back, shaking her head. “Don’t do this, Dev. Don’t say things just to make me forgive you. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

“I’m not saying this to make things easier,” Dev said, his voice breaking slightly. “I’m saying it because it’s the truth. Navya, I didn’t feel this kind of pain when Heena betrayed me. It hurt, yes, but nothing compared to the emptiness I felt when you and Ayaan left. The days without you—without both of you—were unbearable.”

Navya’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. “You should’ve thought about that before, Dev. You should’ve realized what you had before you lost it.”

“I know,” Dev admitted, his voice laced with regret. “I know I messed up. I know I hurt you in ways I can never take back. But please, Navya, let me try to make it right. Let me prove that I’ve changed. That I’m not the same man who took you for granted.”

Navya’s voice cracked as she responded. “How can I trust you, Dev? How can I believe that this isn’t just another one of your fleeting realizations? You left me alone to pick up the pieces of our broken family. You ignored me, neglected me, and for what? For a woman who didn’t even care about you?”