They walked in silence after the dinner, the chill of the night lacing their breath in white wisps. The city lights flickered around them, but the world between them felt quieter—heavier. Amyardh hadn’t let go of her hand since they left the restaurant.
After a while, he stopped in front of a parked car, leaning against the door, head tilted back toward the stars, as if asking them for permission to bare his soul.
Ovie stayed beside him, arms folded, not to guard herself—but to hold herself together.
Then, he spoke. Not looking at her. Voice calm but scraped with an ache only grief can shape.
“*Tara depressed thi. Par koi nahi samajh paaya. Na uska boyfriend, na uske doston ka circle. Sabko lagta tha she's just emotional. Sensitive. Par main samajhta tha...*”
He looked at his hands, as if her absence was carved into his palms.
“*Main usse kaafi baar poochta tha—tum theek ho na? Har baar haste hue kehti thi, ‘Royal family ki dost hoon, itna toh strong rehna padega.’*” He scoffed lightly, bitterly. “*Strong rehna pada. Lekin kisliye? Us din jab usne phone uthana band kiya… aur jab call police se aayi... sab kuch ek second mein khatam ho gaya.*”
Ovie pressed a hand over her heart, as if it might still the ache that was forming there.
Amyardh looked at her finally. His eyes weren’t red—but hollow. The kind of hollowness that comes when someone has cried enough for a lifetime and is left with only silence.
“*Main usse pyaar nahi karta tha... par usse haarna... usse khona... kuch tod gaya tha mujhme.*”
He paused, gathering strength.
“*Uske baad kisi se pyaar karne ki himmat nahi hui. I can’t afford to lose again, Ovie. Main kisi aur ko khone ka dard nahi sah sakta.*”
She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his arm. He didn’t pull away.
“*Aur tab tum aaye. Advait ki girlfriend ban ke. Mujhe tum bas ek distraction lagi thi pehle. Aisi distraction jo mere cousin ki life mein interfere kar rahi hai. Par phir tumhari aankhon mein dekha... tumhare likhne ka andaaz suna...*” he exhaled deeply, “*aur main gir gaya. Ek aur baar.*”
Ovie’s voice was small. “*Tumhe mujhse darr lagta hai?*”
“*Haan.*” His honesty was razor sharp. “*Tumhare chhod ke chale jaane se darr lagta hai. Tumhare mujhse nafrat karne se darr lagta hai. Tumhe khone se darr lagta hai.*”
She wiped a tear. “*Aur agar main kahu, main kahin nahi jaa rahi?*”
Amyardh smiled faintly. “*Phir bhi darr toh rahega. Kyunki jinko hum sabse zyada pyaar karte hai, unke jaane ka khauf sabse gehra hota hai.*”
Ovie gently held his face, her thumbs wiping the pain from his cheeks he wasn’t even aware had fallen.
“*Tumhara darr jaayaz hai. Lekin main hoon yahan. Main tumhari Tara nahi hoon... par main tumhe chhod kar nahi jaungi.*”
He looked down, forehead resting against hers. The air thick between them. And then he whispered:
“*Jab bohot zyada yaad aati hai... jab dil bhar jaata hai... main wapas jata hoon.*”
Ovie blinked. “*Kahan?*”
“*Khandhar.*” His voice broke just slightly. “*Wahin jahan tumse pehli baar mila tha. Kohlapur mein.*”
Her breath caught.
He continued, “*Aur kabhi kabhi... main river ke paas bhi chala jata hoon. Wahi pehle jaisa lagta hai. Tara, main, Advait… uss ped ke neeche baith ke chillana, hansna, doston jaisa sab kuch. Kabhi lagta hai woh din wapas aa jaayein.*”
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ROYAL HIGHNESS
Roman d'amourIn the dazzling World of fame Nd fortune, OVIE KHANNA, a top-notch A-list actress, commanded attention everywhere she went. Her talent nd beauty captivated audiences, but little did she know that her path was about to intersect with that of a prince...
