𝑨𝑵𝑰𝑫𝑰𝑻𝑨: 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐞 - Yours With All My Heart

|52|•ꜱʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ɪʟʟᴜꜱɪᴏɴꜱ•

BONDITA

I stepped into Kabir’s house, swallowing the lump in my throat. My eyes roamed the unfamiliar space, its neatness and quiet starkly contrasting with the turmoil in my heart. My steps faltered for a moment, but I forced myself to move forward, plastering a small smile on my face.

“It’s a beautiful house, Kabir,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm within. I glanced around, noting the soft colors on the walls and the minimalistic decor. Everything seemed so calm here, yet I couldn’t shake off the weight of Pati Babu’s words or the coldness in his gaze.

Kabir gave me a faint smile, standing a few steps away. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and his stance was... different. Reserved, careful. Not the easy familiarity we usually shared.

“It’s new,” he said quietly, his tone polite but distant. “Even I stepped foot here for the first time today. You can pick any room. Make yourself comfortable.”

I stopped mid-step, the polite distance in his voice striking a chord of discomfort in me. Kabir had never been like this—not with me. He’d always been my safe haven, someone who understood me without words. And now, even he was hesitating, keeping his distance.

A pang of guilt hit me as I looked down, fiddling with the edge of my dupatta. My voice trembled as I spoke. “I’m sorry, Kabir. I—I don’t know what’s happening. Pati Babu… he’s never been like this before.” My gaze dropped further, my fingers twisting the fabric tighter. “He misunderstood everything, and I—” My voice broke for a moment, but I quickly swallowed my emotions, trying to compose myself. “I don’t know what to do.”

Kabir leaned slightly against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. His expression was calm, but there was something guarded in his eyes. “Something feels off, Bondita,” he said after a pause. “This isn’t like Anirudh. The way he reacted, the way he spoke—it doesn’t seem right.”

I nodded, my heart clenching as his words echoed my own thoughts. “But why, Kabir?” I asked softly, my eyes meeting his for the first time since I stepped in. “Why would he think that? Why would he look at me as if I—” I bit my lip, stopping myself from completing the sentence.

Kabir sighed, looking away briefly. “Maybe he’s caught up in something you don’t know about yet. Maybe there’s more to this than we can see.”

His words were meant to be reassuring, but they only left me feeling more lost. My mind replayed the scene over and over—Anirudh’s voice, sharp and accusing; the disbelief in his eyes when he looked at me; the way he seemed to dismiss everything we shared, just because of a misunderstanding.

I took a slow step forward, trailing my fingers over the smooth wooden surface of a table. “Kabir,” I began, my voice hesitant. “You’ve always been my friend, my confidant. But now, even you…” I trailed off, unable to finish.

Kabir straightened slightly, his expression softening. “Bondita, you’re my best friend. That hasn’t changed.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “But after what happened, after the way Anirudh reacted, I think it’s better if I… keep some distance.”

His words hit me harder than I expected. I looked at him, searching his face for something—an explanation, a reassurance—but his gaze was steady, his decision clear.

“I don’t want to cause you more trouble,” he continued. “And I definitely don’t want to be the reason things get worse between you and Anirudh.”

I blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back. I didn’t want to cry here, in front of Kabir. “I understand,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “But Kabir, I—I just want to fix this. I want to make things right with Pati Babu. I don’t know how, but…”