Will Die In Love

Chapter 79

“By the way, did your boyfriend tell you that I’m assigned to his shelter for the next few months?” Paro tried to shift the conversation.

Preeti flinched slightly and shifted her eyes to somewhere in the distance. 

“Yeah… he told me,” she muttered, tucking her hair behind her ear like it could hide the guilt on her face.

Paro let out a sigh and held her hands, “Preeti,” she said in a light tone, “how many times do I have to say it? You don’t need to feel guilty for dating Sameer.”

But Preeti still couldn't look at her. She just kept walking in slow steps.

Eight years. It had been that long, and still… still, she couldn’t fully meet Paro’s eyes whenever Sameer’s name came up. Everyone talked about how the families coped in their own ways after the incident. But no one ever talked about the guilt and helplessness that bled into the lives of two best friends – the best friend of the victim, who couldn’t protect her, and the best friend of the abuser, who couldn’t stop him.

Sameer had been the first to reach out to her and Preeti was stunned by his audacity.

Aditya’s best friend. The same Aditya who had abused Paro. That tag alone was enough to make her hate him.

So she let it all out …. the rage, the grief, the helplessness. She dumped everything on Sameer as if he carried Adi’s sins himself.

But he never stopped her. Never defended himself. Just stood there and took it, silently letting her unload every ounce of guilt.

Later that year, Preeti moved to Kolkata. And one night, Sameer was standing at her door, looking devastated. Without a word, he pulled her into a hug and broke down … crying like a child.

For the first time, he spoke. And for the first time, Preeti listened. That night, something between them quietly changed. 

Their friendship was born out of grief and guilt  but it was honest. Raw. Real. Preeti didn’t even notice when it started to mean something more. Not until the day, around five years ago, when Sameer told her he had feelings for her.

She was terrified and cut him off immediately. How was that even possible? It felt so wrong. Loving Adi’s best friend? She couldn’t even say it out loud without feeling like a traitor to Paro.

But Sameer didn’t push her. He never asked or demanded anything. He would just show up…. sometimes near her office or outside her apartment. Just to let her know he was there. And somehow, that got to her more than anything. It went on for almost two years, until Paro found out.

Preeti could still remember how her heart dropped when Paro first asked her about it. She’d been sure she was about to lose her best friend forever.

But Paro had only looked at her and said, “ Preeti… if you love him, don’t let anything stop you.”

It had taken months, but Preeti finally gave in.

That was three years ago. Sameer had been nothing but kind, gentle, patient. And she truly loved him. But still… here she was, barely able to meet Paro’s eyes whenever his name came up.

“Hey! We’re home. Where are you lost?”

Paro’s voice pulled Preeti back to reality.

“Yeah... sorry. Let me cook something. You must be hungry, right?” Preeti said, managing a small smile.

Paro nodded and walked over to the open window as she stepped into her room. She stood there for a moment silently as her eyes scanned the street below before she quietly shut it.