𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐀 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲

Chapter 23

A A R A V I

The silence in the room felt suffocating as I replayed the argument over and over in my mind. Nikshant ji's harsh words, my own bitterness, and the unbearable distance between us-it all blended into a painful ache that seemed to gnaw at me from the inside out. I had tried so hard, but every effort felt like it was in vain.

I could still feel the sting of his indifference, his cold, distant gaze when he looked at me. It wasn't just the way he treated me-it was the weight of his disregard, the silence that spoke louder than words. Did he even see me? Did he even care?

I thought about the vows we made to each other, about the promises I had whispered to myself when we got married. I promised to make this work, to give everything I had, even if it was just me fighting for the relationship. But now, I was questioning everything. Was it all worth it? Was I even enough?

My thoughts were chaotic, tangled with frustration, anger, and confusion. I had tried to understand his distance, but every day it became harder to ignore. He came home today, and I saw the same detached look in his eyes. It crushed me to realize that he didn't even want to try.

That's why I exploded. That's why I spoke to him like I did. But even as the words left my mouth, I knew I had crossed a line. I had never spoken to anyone like that-never with such venom. And it hurt. It hurt because deep down, I wanted him to see me, to hear me. But all he saw was a stranger, a burden.

I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts that swirled in my mind. But they refused to leave. The guilt was overwhelming. I had hurt him. I knew I had. But how else was I supposed to react? He had pushed me to my limit, and in that moment, I had lost control.

I'm trying, Nikshant ji. I'm trying to make this work. But you don't even want me here. You don't care. I couldn't say it to him, but I felt it in every fiber of my being. I could sense his anger, his frustration with me, and it made me question everything. Why did he marry me if he didn't want me? Why did he make me feel like I was nothing more than an obligation? I didn't deserve this. I didn't deserve to be treated like this.

But I couldn't say any of this to him. Not now, not ever. The truth was too painful, too raw. I wasn't sure if he even cared enough to understand.

I pulled my knees to my chest, hugging them tightly as I sat on the bed, staring blankly at the wall. My mind refused to quiet, the sharp edges of my thoughts cutting through me like glass. I'm not worthy of love, I thought again. I'm not worthy of him.

I wasn't just talking about him, though. I was talking about everything-about the life I had built and the pieces that didn't fit. I wasn't pure enough to be loved. I wasn't the kind of person who deserved affection. My past, my scars, they all haunted me. They made me feel like I was a broken thing, incapable of receiving anything good.

I reached for my phone and dialed Shreya's number once more. I needed someone to talk to, someone who would understand.

"Aaravi?"

I exhaled deeply, trying to steady my emotions before responding. "Shreya, I... I don't know what to do anymore."

She was silent for a moment before replying. "What happened?"

I hesitated, wondering how to explain what had just transpired, but the words tumbled out before I could stop them. "I had a fight with Nikshant ji... and I... I said things I shouldn't have."

"Tell me everything."

I let out a shaky breath and recounted everything that had happened. The anger, the pain in my voice, my inability to control my emotions. I told her about how I had lashed out at him, how the words just kept spilling from my mouth like some dam breaking, each one more hurtful than the last.