Chapter 87

[DHRUV]

“Why did you leave? Tell me, Dhruv!”

Dhruv did not understand how the night had taken this sudden turn. He soon realized that Shanaya had been suppressing her emotions. They had never truly confronted each other about what had happened all those years ago. Maybe now was the perfect time.

He saw the pain in her eyes. He wanted to wrap his arms around her so she would not cry but when he leaned forward, she smacked his chest. “No. Don’t do that, Dhruv,” Shanaya warned him through trembling lips. “I cried myself to sleep every night. There was so much going on. And I wanted you to be there. You weren’t.”

Dhruv felt a pang in his chest as memories flashed through his mind. He remembered calling her a hundred times. But she had not received any of his calls. He recalled how he had stood outside her house, but she had declined to meet him. He had not turned his back, not until he believed she wanted nothing from him.

She sobbed and when she finally continued, her voice was str