The cafeteria buzzed with soft chatter, the faint clinking of cups and plates blending into a soothing hum.
The aroma of freshly brewed tea and warm snacks filled the air, but Inaara barely noticed.
She sat in a quiet corner, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup absentmindedly.
Her mind was elsewhere—lost in a whirlwind of thoughts that refused to settle.
Navya arrived, placing a tray with two steaming cups of tea on the table before sliding into the seat across from her.
She observed Inaara for a few moments, her brows furrowing at the distant look on her best friend’s face.
“Inni, I’ve been watching you for the past two days,” Navya finally broke the silence, her voice laced with concern.
“You seem lost. Is everything alright? Did Atharv say something… or do something?”
Inaara let out a heavy sigh, setting her cup back onto the table.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking, as if saying the words aloud would make them more real.
“Atharv told me he loves me.”
She lifted her gaze to Navya, watching as a knowing smile spread across her best friend’s face—one that spoke of understanding, maybe even expectation.
Before Navya could respond, Inaara added, her voice quieter this time, “I told him about… my problem. About my situation.”
The reaction was instant.
Navya’s eyes widened in shock.
“What?!” she exclaimed, her voice slightly louder than intended.
A few people in the cafeteria turned to look their way, making her quickly lower her tone.
She leaned forward, whispering urgently, “Why, Inni? Why so soon?”
Inaara blinked, staring at Navya as if she had just spoken in an unfamiliar language.
“What do you mean, why?” she asked, utterly confused.
Inaara took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the cup, as if grounding herself.
The weight of her own words pressed against her chest, but she needed to say them.
“He loves me, Navya,” she murmured, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Can you even imagine that?” She let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head.
“He had the right to know. He deserved to know—on the very first day of our marriage. But things between us were already so broken back then… I never got the chance to tell him. And now…”
She exhaled sharply, looking down at the tea swirling in her cup.
“Now he’s seeing a dream of spending his entire life with me. How can I let him hold onto that illusion, Navya? It would be wrong to give him expectations that I can never fulfill. He deserves peace. A life with someone who can love him the way he wants, the way he deserves. I’m not that person. I told him that we should separate after three months."
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Beneath The Storm (Completed)
RomanceIn the opulent world where wealth and power reign supreme, Atharv Rajvansh stands as an untouchable force, his cold perfection masking a storm of hidden vulnerabilities. Enter Inaara Sharma, a kind-hearted soul whose old-fashioned charm and quiet s...
