Shadows Of The Stumps

112

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Kabir stepped out of his room, running a hand through his hair. The space Arjun had occupied was empty, a faint sound of running water signaling he was in the shower. Kabir shrugged, his mind immediately drifting to Meera. It was instinctive—the urge to check on her.

When he reached her room, however, he was met with emptiness. The neatly made bed and the quiet of the room made his chest tighten.

"Meera?" he muttered under his breath, his pace quickening as he moved through the corridor, glancing into open doors. His worry mounting, Kabir turned a corner and nearly collided with Athiya, who was returning from her morning walk, her cheeks flushed from the crisp air.

"Kabir?" she asked, startled. "Are you okay?"

He ran a hand through his hair again, exhaling sharply. "Athiya, Meera's not in her room. Do you know where she is?"

Athiya paused, studying him, then gave a small, knowing smile. "Come with me. I'll show you."

Kabir followed as she led him to another part of the hotel, stopping outside a room whose door was ajar. From where they stood, Kabir could see inside.

Rahul was seated on the bed, already in his practice gear. Meera's head rested on his shoulder, her body curled up as he softly patted her back, murmuring something soothing. The scene was one of quiet comfort and care. Kabir let out a long sigh of relief, leaning slightly against the doorframe.

"See?" Athiya whispered. "She's fine."

Kabir nodded, his relief evident, but his expression remained guarded.

Athiya stepped closer to him, her voice gentle but firm. "Kabir, I know you care about her. We all do. But you've got to stop being so harsh with Rahul. He's not the enemy here."

Kabir opened his mouth to respond, but Athiya continued before he could. "Rahul's been through just as much as Meera, if not more. They've faced their demons together, and they're still fighting them. She needs him as much as he needs her. They're each other's anchors, Kabir. Don't tear that apart with your judgments and taunts."

Kabir's gaze softened slightly, but his jaw remained tight, his frustration clear. "How can I trust him? How can I trust anyone when all this time, I've been trying to make sure she doesn't slip up into hell again"

Athiya sighed, her eyes softening with understanding. "Kabir, you're not the only one who loves her. And you're not the only one who's suffered. Rahul was a kid too when Meera ran away. His parents always told him they were looking for her, but they never found her. You know the guilt he's carried all these years, and it's taken a toll on him. Meera did a lot to free him from that guilt, and now, they've finally become close. They've finally let go of that burden."

Kabir listened, the weight of her words slowly sinking in.

Athiya continued, "Rahul has taken care of Meera like she's his own child, Kabir. He's always been there for her, through everything. And you can't just keep taunting him like this. It's not fair to him. Meera has been through so much already, and she's finally healing. You can't keep reopening old wounds."

Kabir's jaw clenched as he processed her words, the guilt of his earlier outburst creeping up. He had always seen himself as Meera's protector, but he hadn't considered how much Rahul had done for her, how much he had carried.

"You're right," Kabir murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been so caught up in my own feelings that I didn't see what Rahul was going through. I just... I want to protect her. I don't want her to suffer again."

Athiya gave him a reassuring smile, her hand resting briefly on his arm. "I know you do. But just remember, Rahul's been there for her too, in ways you might not understand. Trust him. Let them heal together."