MARRIED 'SINGLES'

PAIN AND HAPPINESS

Happy reading....

Pratham was driving home, the day's events replaying in his mind like a broken record. The sky was beginning to darken, and the streetlights cast long, wavering shadows on the pavement.

As he approached the bridge, something caught his eye-a figure running, almost stumbling, along the side of the road.

His heart skipped a beat when he recognized the familiar silhouette. It was Ruhaan, but something was terribly wrong.

Pratham's pulse quickened as he watched Ruhaan darting through the chaotic traffic. Cars honked aggressively, swerving to avoid him, but Ruhaan seemed oblivious to the danger. He was running as if he was being chased by something unseen, something far more terrifying than the vehicles speeding past him. Pratham's mind raced-

had Ruhaan fucking gone mad? Was he trying to hurt himself?

Without a second thought, Pratham jerked the steering wheel, taking a sharp U-turn that made his tires screech against the asphalt.

His heart pounded in his chest as he sped back towards Ruhaan, fear gnawing at him. He pulled over haphazardly on the side of the road, not caring about the cars honking behind him, and bolted out of his car.

"Ruhaan!" Pratham shouted, his voice laced with panic as he ran after him.

But Ruhaan didn't seem to hear. He was lost in his own world, running mindlessly, as if driven by some primal instinct to escape.

Pratham sprinted after him, his breath coming in ragged gasps, until he finally caught up. With a burst of adrenaline, he lunged forward and grabbed Ruhaan's arm, spinning him around to face him. "Ruhaan! Stop!" he yelled, his voice desperate.

Ruhaan's eyes were wild, unfocused, as if he was looking right through Pratham. His face was pale, his hair disheveled, and he reeked of alcohol. Pratham's heart sank as he realized Ruhaan wasn't in his right mind. He was wearing mourning clothes, his shirt half untucked, dirt smudged on his pants.

The sight of him like this, so broken and lost, made Pratham's chest ache with a deep, helpless sorrow.

"Ruhaan, look at me," Pratham urged, his voice softening as he held Ruhaan's face in his hands, forcing him to focus. "What the hell are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed!"

But Ruhaan's eyes were glazed over, his expression vacant. He was somewhere far away, lost in a sea of grief and pain that Pratham couldn't reach.

Desperation clawed at Pratham's chest as he shook Ruhaan gently, then more forcefully, trying to snap him out of it.

"Ruhaan, please!" Pratham shouted, his voice breaking. He tapped Ruhaan's cheeks, the soft slaps echoing in the night air.

But Ruhaan barely reacted, his body swaying slightly as if he was on the verge of collapsing.

In a last-ditch effort, Pratham slapped him, hard enough to jolt him back to reality.

The sound of the slap was sharp, cutting through the noise of the traffic around them. Ruhaan blinked, his eyes slowly focusing on Pratham, as if seeing him for the first time.

Pratham's heart twisted as he saw the devastation in Ruhaan's eyes. They were filled with tears, spilling over and running down his cheeks.

"I'm so hurt... Pratham," Ruhaan choked out, his voice trembling with raw emotion.

Pratham's own eyes stung with unshed tears as he watched his friend break down in front of him. He couldn't bear to see Ruhaan like this, so shattered and vulnerable.