"The worst kind of regret isn't losing someone…
It's realizing you were the reason they broke."
The room was silent. Too silent. Aanya lay on the cold
marble floor, her body weak, her lips dry, her breaths uneven. Hours had
passed. Or maybe an entire night. She didn't know anymore. Her strength had
given up long ago. Her tears had stopped. Even pain… felt distant now. Only one
thought remained—
Why?
🏥 Meanwhile…
At the hospital—
Riaan sat beside his brother's bed. The faint beeping of
machines filled the air. His brother lay motionless. Unaware. Unmoving.
Unresponsive. Riaan's jaw tightened.
"I won't leave her," he whispered, anger burning in his
voice.
"She'll pay for everything."
His mother stood behind him, her eyes filled with tears.
"My son…" she whispered, placing her hand on his shoulder.
For a moment— The strong, ruthless Riaan broke. His eyes softened. His voice
cracked.
"I can't lose him, Maa…"
She pulled him into an embrace. And for the first time in
days— Riaan cried.
The Morning After
The sun rose. But not everything wakes up with it. Riaan
returned home the next morning. Tired. Emotionally drained. But still carrying
the same anger. He walked inside, loosening his tie, his mind still stuck in
the hospital. Then suddenly— Something felt… off. Too quiet. Too still.
His eyes fell on the locked room upstairs.
And then— It hit him. Aanya. He froze. For a second— Just a
second—
Something like realization crossed his face. Then he rushed
upstairs.
He unlocked the door quickly. The door creaked open. And
what he saw— Made his heart stop. Aanya lay on the floor. Motionless. Her face
pale. Her lips dry. Her body completely still
"Aanya!"
His voice broke. He rushed toward her, kneeling beside her.
He shook her lightly. No response.His hands trembled as he touched her face.
Cold. Too cold.
"No… no, no…"
Fear gripped him. Real. Raw. Uncontrollable.
For the first time— He wasn't angry. He wasn't cold. He was…
scared.
"Aanya, open your eyes!" he said, his voice shaking.
Nothing. Not even a flicker. His heartbeat raced. His mind
screamed. What have I done?
Without wasting another second, he lifted her in his arms.
Her body felt too light. Too lifeless. And that terrified him more.
"Car! Get the car ready!" he shouted.
His voice echoed through the house. His mother rushed out,
shocked.
"What happened?!"
But Riaan didn't answer. He couldn't. The doors burst open.
"Emergency!"
Doctors rushed in. Aanya was taken from his arms. And
suddenly— He was left empty. Standing there. Helpless.
Minutes felt like hours. Hours felt like years. Riaan paced
outside the ICU. His hands ran through his hair again and again. His mind
replayed everything. Her tears. Her silence. Her broken voice. And his words—
"You disgust me."
His chest tightened.
Advik arrived.
"What happened?" he asked, serious.
Riaan didn't answer immediately. For the first time— He
didn't have words. Finally, he whispered—
"I… I locked her."
Advik's expression changed.
"You what?"
Silence. Heavy. Painful. Advik stepped closer, anger rising
in his voice—
"She's your wife, not your punishment!"
Riaan closed his eyes. And that was it. The first crack in
his ego.
🕯️ Inside the ICU
Aanya lay unconscious. But even in that state— Her face
looked peaceful. As if she had finally escaped something. Something painful.
Something unbearable.
Riaan stood outside the glass window. Watching her. Broken.
Weak. Silent. And for the first time— He didn't see a culprit. He didn't see
hatred. He saw—
A girl.
Who had suffered. Because of him. His fists clenched. Not in
anger. But in guilt.
And somewhere in deep inside _ something began to change.