𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

Chapter 38 Lost and alone

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A U T H O R

Nitika's hands moved mechanically as she packed her bag, her eyes brimming with tears. Her friends, Bella and Aleena, sat beside her, trying to offer what little comfort they could.

Bella put a gentle hand on Nitika's shoulder. "Nitika, don't worry everything will be fine also.....we're going to miss you so much," she said, her voice trembling.

Aleena nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's not going to be the same without you here."

Nitika's eyes overflowed, and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. Her friends wrapped their arms around her, holding her close as she cried.

As they hugged her, Bella and Aleena exchanged a worried glance. They had never seen Nitika like this before, she seemed fragile, broken.

Nitika nodded, "I'll miss you guys so much," she whispered.

Bella and Aleena held her for a few more moments, trying to absorb some of her pain. But eventually, they knew they had to let her go. Nitika had to leave, had to be with her family during this difficult time.

As they pulled back, Bella handed Nitika a small package. "We got you something," she said, her eyes shining with tears. "It's just a little something to remind you of us."

Nitika took the package, her eyes welling up again. "Thank you, guys," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

As she finished packing her bag, Bella and Aleena stood up, hugging her one last time. "We love you, Niti," they whispered in unison.

Nitika smiled weakly, her eyes streaming with tears. "I love you guys too," she whispered back, before turning and walking away, leaving her friends and her old life behind.

࣪ ִֶָ☾.

Five days had passed since Nitika's world had been turned upside down. She sat beside her father's hospital bed, her eyes fixed on his pale face. The beeping of the machines and the faint smell of antiseptic filled the air, a constant reminder of the dire situation.

Nitika's mother, though injured, was recovering slowly, but the weight of her husband's condition bore down on her like a physical force. She cried silently, her body shaking with sobs, as she held her husband's hand.

Nitika, too, was a shadow of her former self. Her eyes, once bright and sparkling, now seemed dull and lifeless. Her smile, which could light up a room, was nowhere to be seen. She was broken, shattered by the thought of losing her father.

A V Y A A N

I trudged along the pavement, my feet carrying me on autopilot as my mind wandered back to the same thoughts that had been haunting me for the past five days. Nitika. Why did she have to leave? Why did she have to break my heart into a million pieces? We could have been in a long distance relationship but—

I didn't notice the people passing by me, didn't hear the sounds of the city. All I could think about was Nitika. I felt like a part of me had been ripped away, leaving a gaping hole that could never, never be filled.

As I walked into my flat, I was greeted by the familiar silence. I had deleted my Instagram account. I had cut myself off from the world, didn't want to talk to anyone or smile anymore.

Karan and the others had tried to comfort me, but I had pushed them away. I didn't want their sympathy or their pity. I just wanted Nitika.