Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter 54:The Silence Between Us

Second Phase of the Story Starts with this line

"Loving you is like chasing the horizon-beautiful, endless, and forever out of reach."
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Atharv sat in his plush leather chair, leaning back with an air of calculated indifference.

The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the silence of his sprawling office, yet the tension in the room was palpable.

His eyes were fixed on the skyline beyond the glass wall, but his mind was clearly elsewhere, lost in an internal storm he refused to acknowledge.

Vihaan stood a few steps away, his fists clenched and his expression torn between frustration and helplessness.

His usually calm demeanor had given way to exasperation as he tried to reason with his closest friend.

"Please, Atharv," Vihaan pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.

"For God's sake, stop her. After everything that happened, how can you just sit here so calmly? I don't understand you anymore!"

Atharv's gaze remained fixed ahead, his face a mask of cold detachment.

"I will not stop her," he said, his tone icy, devoid of any emotion.

"Let her do as she pleases. After the spectacle she created in front of the entire family, you expect me to run after her? Never."

Vihaan took a step closer, his voice rising with disbelief.

"Unbelievable, Atharv. You're still blaming her for everything? You claim to love her, but what kind of love is this? Why is your ego so massive that it blinds you to the truth?!"

Atharv finally shifted his gaze to Vihaan, his jaw tightening.

A flicker of irritation crossed his otherwise impassive face.

"Don't make it sound like I've done nothing," he snapped.

"I admit I made mistakes. But the people who insulted her are facing the consequences now. I've handled it. And about love..."

He paused, his voice dropping to a bitter edge.

"Yes, I love her. But I'm not some naive teenager blinded by emotions, forgetting what's right and wrong. I still have a conscience, Vihaan."

Vihaan stared at him, his shoulders slumping slightly as he shook his head in disbelief.

"I don't know what to say to you anymore, Atharv. Yes, you punished the people who wronged her, but how would she know that? You didn't tell her! You didn't stand up for her when it mattered. What you did later, no matter how big or noble, doesn't erase the silence that broke her trust."

Atharv's eyes darkened, but he said nothing, choosing instead to look away.

His fingers drummed lightly against the armrest of his chair, betraying the restlessness he tried so hard to hide.

Vihaan's voice softened, but his words carried a weight that couldn't be ignored.

"You know, Atharv, this isn't a fight between you and Inaara. It's a fight between your love and your ego. And if you don't realize that soon, your ego will cost you everything."