Maybe in next life

chapter 22

Mihir

The adrenaline coursed through my veins as the engine roared beneath me, the sound of the other bikes vibrating in my ears. The streetlights flickered as we sped through the dark alleyways, the wind slapping my face, my body leaning into every turn, every curve. This was where I felt alive—where everything else could fade away, and for a brief moment, I could just... be.

The thrill of the race was like nothing else. The excitement of the boys beside me, the rush of the speed, the cheers of my friends as we rounded each bend—it all felt so real. And for those few minutes, I didn’t have to think about anything else. I didn’t have to think about her—Ruhi. Or the pain in my chest.

But that familiar pain came again. A sharp, agonizing stab in my chest, right where my heart is. It hit out of nowhere, so suddenly that I almost swerved, nearly losing control of the bike. I gritted my teeth, my hands tightening on the handlebars as I tried to focus, tried to ignore the searing pain that threatened to overwhelm me.

“Focus, Mihir! You got this!” Vihaan’s voice rang in my ear through the intercom, snapping me out of my spiral. But it was hard. The pain wasn’t just physical anymore—it was deeper. It was something else entirely. Something I couldn’t shake.

I breathed deeply, willing the pain away, reminding myself to focus on the race, not the thoughts that were clouding my mind. I had to finish this. I had to push through.

I thought of Ruhi, of how her smile always seemed to ease whatever storm was going on inside me. She was... she was something else. The way she looked at me, the way she made me feel—like I mattered. It wasn’t just about her beauty or her words—it was the way she could make me forget everything, even the pain that was slowly eating away at me.

I pushed myself harder, not wanting to let anyone down, not wanting to be weak. The pain in my chest, the memories that tried to claw their way back to the surface, I buried it all beneath the roar of the engine.

In the end, as always, I won. The crowd of bikers—Vihaan, Rohan, Samar, Krish, and the others—cheered me on, but I barely registered it. I nodded, a tight smile on my face, as I slowed the bike and pulled off to the side. My heart was still racing, but not just from the race anymore.

"You did it again, man!" Vihaan grinned, slapping me on the back, his usual exuberance infectious. "No one’s beating you tonight!"

“Just lucky, I guess,” I muttered, trying to mask the fact that I was in no mood to celebrate. The pain in my chest still lingered, dull but persistent, like a shadow I couldn’t outrun.

After a few more minutes of chatter and laughs with the guys, I excused myself, giving them all a quick nod. “See you guys tomorrow,” I called out, mounting my bike once more.

I drove home in silence, the city lights flickering by in a blur as I tried to push away the thoughts that crept into my mind. But as I pulled into the driveway, the familiar heaviness in my chest only deepened.

As I walked through the door, I noticed the house was quieter than usual. The lights in the study were still on. My father was sitting there, his back to me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I felt an overwhelming urge to check on him. His moods had been unpredictable lately, and I didn’t know if it was because of the work stress or something else entirely.

I knocked lightly before stepping into the room.

"Hey," I greeted him, trying to sound casual, but my voice felt off. "Still up?"

He didn’t answer immediately. His back was hunched, and he was staring at something on the desk, his fingers tapping against the surface as if he were lost in thought. It was then I noticed how tired he looked, his eyes weary, like he hadn’t slept in days.