For a few moments, no one spoke.The room was filled with a silence so heavy that even breathing seemed too loud.

Akanksha stood frozen.

Her eyes were fixed on him.

Yogesh.

After all this time.

After everything.

He was standing right in front of her.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her purse.

Once.

Then again.

She could feel her grip becoming painfully tight, but she didn't loosen it.

She couldn't.

Her mind had stopped registering everything around her.

The voices.

The room.

The people.

Everything had faded into the background.

Because the moment her eyes met his, the past came rushing back.

Every memory she had tried so hard to bury.

Every conversation.

Every moment that had once made her smile.

Every moment that had broken her.

Every decision.

Every unanswered question.

Every night she had spent convincing herself that she was finally moving on.

All of it came back in a matter of seconds.

It felt as if she had spent months building a wall around her heart, and one look from him had cracked it open.She wanted to look away.She wanted to turn around and leave.

But she couldn't move.Her eyes remained fixed on his.And somewhere inside her, she hated herself for still feeling so much.

She tried to speak.

Nothing came out.

Her lips parted slightly, but her voice refused to follow.

Even a simple hello felt impossible.

Across from her, Yogesh was no different.

The moment he saw her, his breath caught.

He had imagined this meeting so many times.

He had imagined what he would say.

How he would explain.

How he would apologize.

How she might react.

But none of those imagined moments had prepared him for the reality of standing in front of her.Because now that she was actually there, he couldn't say anything.He could only look at her.And what hurt the most wasn't anger in her eyes.

It was the hurt.

He could see it.

The pain he had once caused her.

The distance he had created.

The things he had done.

The choices he had made.

Everything he had tried not to think about suddenly stood before him in the form of one person.

Akanksha.

His guilt hit him all over again.

Neither knew how long they stood like that.

Sorab watched them both.

He felt trapped between two people carrying months of unfinished emotions.He didn't know whether interrupting them was right.But he could see Akanksha slowly losing herself in that silence.

So finally, he spoke.

"Akku..."

The single word pulled her back.

She blinked.

"Huh?"

Her voice came out so faint and shaky that even she barely recognized it.Sorab looked at her carefully.

Then she said mechanically

"..me woh..Your lenses... jo tune mujhse mangwaye the."

She looked down hurriedly.Her hands were trembling as she opened her purse.She took out the lens case.For a second, she looked at Yogesh again.

Their eyes met.

She immediately looked away.She didn't trust herself to hold his gaze.

Without saying anything, she extended the case toward Sorab.Her fingers were still shaking.

"Ye..."

Sorab took it.

"Akku, listen-"

"No."

The word escaped her too quickly.She swallowed.

"It's okay."

She forced herself to breathe.

"We'll talk after the show."

"Akku-"

"I..."

Her chest tightened.

"I am..."

She struggled to complete the sentence.

"I'm going."

She turned before either of them could stop her.

One step.

Then another.

She walked toward the door.Every breath felt harder than the last.She couldn't stay there.Not one more second.She opened the door and stepped outside.

And the moment she did-

She ran.

She didn't care who saw her.

She didn't care what anyone thought.

She just ran toward the lift.

Her fingers trembled as she pressed the button.

The doors opened.

She hurried inside.

The moment they closed, she leaned against the wall and shut her eyes.Her breathing was uneven.

"Please..."

She whispered to herself.

"Bas..."

But her eyes filled with tears again.

She quickly wiped them away.

Not here.

Not now.

She had to reach her room.

She had to get away from all of this.

The moment she reached her room, she unlocked the door and rushed inside.She closed it behind her.

And the second the door clicked shut-

Her strength disappeared.

Her knees gave way.

She slid down against the door and sat on the floor.

For a few seconds, she simply stared ahead.

Silent.

Numb.

Then one tear rolled down her cheek.

Then another.

And suddenly, she couldn't stop.

She covered her face with both hands and cried.

Not the quiet kind of crying.

It was the kind that came from somewhere much deeper.

The kind she had been holding back for far too long.

"Why..."

Her voice trembled.

"Why is this happening again?"

She wiped her face.

"God, why?"

Her breathing became uneven.

"Jitna main sochti hoon na ki main sab bhool rahi hoon..."

She laughed bitterly through her tears.

"Ki main usse bhool rahi hoon..."

She shook her head.

"Utni hi baar meri life mujhe uske saamne laakar khada kar deti hai."

She pressed her palm against her chest.

"Main try karti hoon..."

Her voice cracked.

"Sach mein karti hoon."

She took a shaky breath.

"Main strong rehne ki koshish karti hoon. Main khud ko samjhati hoon ki jo ho gaya woh khatam ho gaya. Ki mujhe aage badhna hai."

She looked down.

"Phir aaj..."

Her voice became smaller.

"Aaj woh mere saamne tha."

She closed her eyes.

"And I don't know what happened to me."

A sob escaped her.

"Saari feelings..."

She struggled to speak.

"Jo main samajh rahi thi ki khatam ho gayi hain... woh sab ekdum se wapas aa gayi."

She hugged herself.

"Mujhe use kuch bolna chahiye tha."

She wiped her tears angrily.

"Gussa karna chahiye tha."

Another tear.

"Taunt maarna chahiye tha."

She gave a broken laugh.

"Anything."

Then her voice fell.

"Lekin main kuch bol hi nahi paayi."

She stared at the floor.

"Bas usse dekhti reh gayi."

Her lips trembled.

"Main usse bahut hurt hoon."A pause.

"Bahut."She whispered,

"Main nahi chahti usse baat karna."

Another pause.

"Lekin..."

She couldn't finish.Her eyes closed.

"Main usse nafrat bhi nahi kar pa rahi."

Her voice broke completely.

"Pata nahi kyun."

She cried harder.

"Mera dil..."

She pressed her hand against her heart.

"Mera dil abhi bhi usse poori tarah bhool nahi paya."

And that realization hurt more than anything else.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

Akanksha didn't move.

Another knock.

"Akku?"

Sorab.

She quickly wiped her face and stood.

She opened the door.

Sorab was standing there.The moment he saw her swollen eyes, his expression changed.

He didn't ask, "Are you okay?"

Because he already knew she wasn't.

He simply stepped inside.

Akanksha looked at him.

And that was enough.

She walked straight into his arms.

Sorab held her tightly.The moment she felt his arms around her,whatever little control she had left broke.She cried against his shoulder.

"Yaar..."

Her voice trembled.

"Why does this keep happening to me?"

Sorab gently rubbed her back.

"Shhh..."

"Maine kya kiya hai?"

She cried.

"Maine aisa kya galat kiya hai ki har baar..."Her voice broke.

"Har baar mere saath hi aisa kyun hota hai?"

Sorab didn't immediately answer.He knew there was no perfect answer.So he simply held her.

"Ro le."

His voice was quiet.

"Jitna rona hai, ro."

Akanksha clutched his shirt.

"I hate this."

"I know."

"I hate that one person can still affect me this much."

"I know, Akku."

"Mujhe laga tha main strong ho gayi hoon."

"You are strong."

She pulled back slightly.

"Phir main aaj kyun toot gayi?"

Sorab looked at her.

"Kyuki tu insaan hai."

She stared at him.

"Strong hone ka matlab ye nahi hota ki tujhe kuch feel nahi hoga."

His voice softened.

"Tu usse dekhkar hil gayi... iska matlab ye nahi ki tu wapas wahi chali gayi hai."Akanksha looked away.

Sorab continued.

"Tu bahut aage aa chuki hai. Bas kuch purane zakhm aise hote hain na... woh bhar toh jaate hain, lekin achanak koi purani yaad unhe chhoo de toh dard phir mehsoos hota hai."

Akanksha's eyes filled again.

"Jitna..."

She took a shaky breath.

"Jitna main try karti hoon na ki aage badhu..."

She hiccupped.

"Life mujhe do kadam peeche kar deti hai."

Sorab gently shook his head.

"Nahi."

She looked at him.

"Life tujhe peeche nahi kar rahi, Akku."

He wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Aaj sirf tujhe yaad dilaya hai ki kuch cheezein abhi completely heal nahi hui hain."

She remained silent.

"Bas."

He gave her a small smile.

"Iska matlab ye nahi ki tu kabhi heal nahi hogi."Akanksha looked down.

"Aaj jab woh mere saamne tha..."

Her voice trembled again.

"Mujhe usse kuch bolna chahiye tha."

"Hmm."

"Gussa karna chahiye tha."

"Hmm."

"Taunt maarna chahiye tha."

Sorab smiled faintly.

"Tu kar bhi sakti thi."

She gave him a helpless look.

"But mere muh se kuch nikla hi nahi."

Sorab nodded.

"Because you weren't prepared."

He paused.

"Tu months se apne aap ko us moment ke liye prepare kar rahi thi jahan tu usse kabhi na mile. Aaj jab woh achanak saamne aa gaya, tera dimaag samajhne se pehle tera dil react kar gaya."

Akanksha's eyes lowered.

"Mujhe usse bahut hurt hai."

"I know."

"Main usse baat nahi karna chahti."

"Mat kar."

She looked at him.

"Seriously. Tujhe usse baat karne ki koi obligation nahi hai."

Sorab's voice was firm now.

"Na tujhe explanation deni hai, na forgiveness dena hai, na kuch prove karna hai."

He paused.

"Lekin..."

His voice softened again.

"Ek cheez tujhe karni padegi."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Usse nahi."

He touched her shoulder.

"Khud ko face karna padega."

She frowned slightly.

"Tu jitna usse avoid karegi, utna hi tera dimaag uske naam ko ek threat bana dega."

He continued carefully.

"Main ye nahi keh raha ki kal se tu uske saamne jaakar baat kar. Bilkul nahi."

A small pause.

"Bas itna keh raha hoon ki agar kabhi woh ek hi room mein ho..."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"Toh tujhe apne aap ko itna toh kehna hoga-haan, woh yahan hai. Aur main phir bhi theek hoon."

Akanksha's lips parted slightly.

"Tu usse ignore kar sakti hai."

He smiled gently.

"Lekin apni zindagi ko uske presence ke around mat chala."

He wiped another tear.

"Tu usse dekhe aur tera din kharab ho jaye..."

He shook his head.

"Ye uski jeet nahi hai, Akku. Ye teri punishment hai."

That sentence made her quiet.

Sorab continued softly.

"Jo hua woh tera fault nahi tha."

Her eyes immediately filled.

"Lekin ab jo hoga..."

He squeezed her shoulder.

"Woh tere haath mein hai."

Akanksha looked at him for a long moment.

"You don't have to stop caring overnight."

He smiled faintly.

"You don't have to stop having feelings just because you want to move on."

He paused.

"Moving on ka matlab feelings ko zabardasti maar dena nahi hota."

His voice became gentler.

"Moving on ka matlab hai... un feelings ko apni zindagi ka decision-maker na banne dena."

Akanksha took a deep breath.

Sorab smiled.

"Bas itna seekhna hai."

She nodded slowly.

"I'm scared."

"I know."

"What if I can't?"

Sorab immediately replied,

"Toh main hoon."

Her eyes met his.

"Jitni baar lagega tu nahi kar pa rahi, utni baar mere paas aa."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"Lekin khud ko weak bolna band kar."

He pointed at her.

"Tu weak nahi hai."

Akanksha wiped her cheeks

.

Sorab stood up.

"Abhi show mein zyada time nahi hai."

He sighed.

"Main emergency bolke permission lekar aaya hoon."

Akanksha looked at him.

"Tu jaana."

"Hmm."

He moved toward the door.

"Tu show mein aana chahe toh aa. Nahi aana chahe toh mat aa."

He looked back.

"Koi force nahi."

Then he smiled.

"Lekin jo bhi decision lena..."

He paused.

"Darr ke wajah se mat lena."

Akanksha remained silent.

"Apne liye lena."

He opened the door.

"Raat ko baat karenge."

Then, after a moment, he added,

"Main hoon tere saath. Okay?"

She nodded.

"Okay."

Sorab smiled.

"Ab ek smile."

She gave him a tiny, reluctant smile.

"Proper."

She tried again.

This time, the smile was a little more real.

"Bas."

He nodded proudly.

"Ye hui na meri Akku."

He left.

The door closed behind him.

Akanksha stood there quietly for a few seconds.

Then she walked toward the bed and sat down.

She stared at her hands.

Sorab's words kept replaying in her mind.

Tu usse face nahi kar rahi... tu khud ko face kar rahi hai.

She slowly leaned back against the headboard.

Her eyes closed.

For months, she had thought moving on meant forgetting him.Maybe it didn't.Maybe moving on meant reaching a point where his presence no longer had the power to destroy her peace.

And for the first time since she had seen him again...

Akanksha allowed herself to wonder-

What if Sorab is right?

What if running away from Yogesh w

asn't helping her forget the past?

What if, somewhere deep inside, she still needed to face it?

She opened her eyes.

The fear was still there.

The hurt was still there.

And somewhere beneath all of it...

So were the feelings she had spent so long trying to bury.

But this time, she didn't cry.She simply sat there, thinking.Because perhaps tomorrow would bring another encounter.

Perhaps it wouldn't.

But for the first time, she understood something.She couldn't control whether Yogesh would cross her path again.

She could only control what she would do when he did.