Aaplog aise please please krte ho na ik chapter ke liye bohot bura lgta hai...
Silent Readers try to understand that vote krne se apko kuch harm nhi hoga...lekin vote na krne se Loyal readers ko problem hogi...
DO VOTE!
TARGET IS SAME AS LAST CHAPTER!!
Avantika's POV
His hand remained steady over mine, warm and protective against my trembling, ice-cold fingers.
"I'm here," he whispered, his voice a soothing contrast to the storm raging in my chest. "Should we leave?"
I met his gaze, my vision blurred with tears I refused to let fall. My throat tightened painfully, making it impossible to speak.
A single tear betrayed me, slipping down my cheek. I wiped it away hastily, ashamed of this vulnerability I couldn't control and how I ruined tonight.
"I want to go from here," I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper yet laced with desperation.
He didn't question me, didn't ask for an explanation. He just nodded, calm and composed.
He stood up, pulling out his wallet and leaving enough cash on the table without a word. Then, he extended his hand toward me once more.
"Let's go," he said firmly, his grip both gentle and unyielding, like an anchor keeping me from drifting into my thoughts again.
I rose to my feet, legs shaky as if the weight of my emotions had drained all my strength. I felt every eye on us as we left the restaurant, whispers rising, but he kept me shielded. His presence was a barrier I didn't know I needed.
A waiter stepped forward, concern evident on his face. "Ma'am, is everything okay-"
One sharp look from him, calm yet commanding, was all it took for the staff to retreat, saying nothing further.
The cold air hit me as we stepped outside, a sudden contrast to the stifling tension that had gripped me moments ago.
"Home or somewhere else?" he asked softly, tilting his head to meet my eyes.
I hesitated, taking a deep breath. "Park," I whispered as I noticed a nearby park."I need fresh air."
I felt hollow, my mind replaying the mess I had caused.
I ruined everything today.
He... I... What did I even do?
Tears threatened again, but his hand holding mine reminded me I wasn't alone. Not tonight.
The storm inside me kept building, louder, heavier.
I'm the worst.
How could I ruin this?
Ruin today?
My chest felt tight, frustration and self-loathing tangling together, making it hard to breathe. It was all in the past, wasn't it? Then why... why was it creeping back again?
We sat on a bench, the silence heavy but not uncomfortable-at least not for him. For me, it was suffocating.
"What happened? Would you like to share?" His voice was calm, steady, yet filled with a gentleness that only made the ache worse.
I stared at our intertwined hands, my vision blurring as tears welled up. Rage. Regret. Pain. They all mixed together, swelling in my chest, demanding to be released.
"Why are you like this?" My voice broke, barely above a whisper but loud enough for him to hear.
He blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Huh?"
I finally looked up at him, the words slipping out uncontrollably.
"Aap aise kyun hain? Kyu itne ache? Why do you stay? I'm the worst-I don't deserve you! Why don't you just leave me... like everyone else? Or-or push me away like they did?"
