It is one of those completely ordinary evenings at Sorab's apartment.

Ayush has dropped by without any particular plan, and somehow the three of them have ended up on the living-room sofa with a bowl of snacks between them.

The television is playing reels.One makes them laugh.The next one makes them argue.Then, somehow, the conversation turns into gossip.

"Tu ye reel dekh," Ayush says, grabbing the phone from Sorab. "Bhai, ye banda kitna overacting karta hai."

Sorab snatches the phone back.

"Tu pehle apni overacting band kar."

Akanksha laughs.

"Both of you are impossible."

"Tu chup reh," Sorab says. "Tu toh meri taraf ke snacks bhi kha rahi hai."

Akanksha looks at the bowl.

"Snack pe naam likha hai tera?"

"Nahi."

"Toh?"

Ayush bursts out laughing.

"Bhai, tu haar gaya."

"Tu mere ghar mein baith ke meri hi insult kar raha hai?"

"Guest hoon."

"Guest?"

Akanksha shakes her head.

"Har dusre din guest ban ke aa jaata hai."

"Friendship mein hisaab nahi hota."

"Snacks ka hota hai," Sorab replies.

They laugh again.

The evening is easy.

Normal.

Until Sorab scrolls onto a reel about Ruru and Yogesh.

His thumb stops.

Ayush's eyes fall on the screen.

Akanksha notices the sudden silence.

For a few seconds, nobody says anything.

Then Ayush exhales.

"Bhai..."Sorab doesn't look at him.

"Hmm?"

"Ye toh... kaafi bada scene ho gaya."

Sorab gives a small, tired laugh.

"Haan. Sach mein.Scene toh pehle din se hi tha. Ab bas sabke saamne aa gaya."

Ayush shakes his head.

"Mujhe honestly nahi laga tha baat itni badh jayegi."

Sorab puts the phone down.

"Na mujhe."

Akanksha remains quiet.

She doesn't look away.She doesn't make an excuse to leave either.She simply listens.Sorab continues, more casually than bitterly,

"Usko mujhse problem thi, samajh aata hai. Lekin meri ex ko live pe le aana? Woh bhi itna sab bolna?"

Ayush makes a face.

"Us din toh main bhi soch raha tha, bhai ye kya kar diya."

"Exactly."

Sorab shakes his head.

"Ye toh phir bhi samajh aata hai ki gusse mein kar diya hoga. Lekin uske baad Yogesh ko beech mein laana..."

Ayush nods.

"Woh part toh mujhe aur weird laga."

"Kya karta Yogesh?" Sorab says.

"Uska mere saath bhi relation hai, uske saath bhi. Har cheez mein woh kiska side leta?"

"Uska tum dono se relation alag hai. Woh kaise decide karta ki kiska side lena hai?" Ayush said.

Sorab laughs without humour.

Sorab gives a bitter smile.

"Usko problem hi isi cheez se thi."

"Kis cheez se?"

"Yogesh aur Akanksha ka mujhse achha banna."

Akanksha looks up briefly.

Sorab continues.

"Usko lagta tha mere through Yogesh aur Akku ki baat hoti hai. Aur woh isi baat ko lekar insecure rehti thi."

"Par humne aisa kya kar diya tha?" She asked

Ayush immediately joins in."Exactly! Mujhe bhi toh yehi samajh nahi aaya."

Sorab leans back.

"Usko lagta tha mere through tum dono ki baat hoti hai."

Akanksha looks at him.

"Par Jaipur mein toh hum mile bhi nahi properly.bas 2 min dekha tha fir to hum akk dusre k samne bhi nahi aye"

"Main jaanta hoon."

"Bas coincidence tha."

"Main jaanta hoon."

"Phir?"

Sorab shrugs.

"Phir insecurity ka koi logic nahi hota."

Ayush nods.

"Jaipur wali baat ka toh usne waise bhi pata nahi kya bana diya tha."

Akanksha gives a small sigh.

"Chhodo."

She picks up another snack.

"Ab mujhe honestly in sab mein nahi padna."

Sorab looks at her carefully.

"Sure?"

Akanksha catches his look.

"Yes, Sorab."

"I'm just asking."

"I know."

She smiles faintly.

"Ab har baar uska naam aayega toh main room chhod ke nahi jaungi."

Ayush laughs.

"Good. Warna hum dono bhi naam lene se darte the."

Akanksha throws a cushion at him.

"Drama mat kar."

The mood lightens again.For a moment, the conversation moves elsewhere.

Then Ayush casually says,

"Waise... unka breakup bhi ho gaya na?"

Akanksha's fingers pause for a moment before she reaches for another chip.

"Haan."

"Tujhe pata hai?"

"Gullu se suna tha."

Ayush nods.

"Rawat se meri bhi baat hui thi kuch din pehle."

Akanksha doesn't react visibly.

"Hmm."

The conversation continues.Until Ayush suddenly says,

"Waise Rawat-"

Sorab's head turns immediately.

"Ayush."

Ayush stops.

"What?"

"Chhod."

Akanksha notices the exchange.

"Kya chhod?"

"Nothing," Ayush says.

She looks at him.

"Tu kuch bolne wala tha."

"Nahi."

"Rawat bolke ruk gaya."Ayush looks toward Sorab.

Sorab gives him a warning look.

Akanksha's expression changes.

"Guys."

Neither answers.

"Kya hua hai?"

"Akku, rehne de," Sorab says quietly.

"Why?"

"Bas."

"Bas kya?"

She looks at Ayush.

"Tu bol."

Ayush hesitates.

"Main nahi chahta tha tera mood kharab ho."

Akanksha's voice becomes softer.

"Ab toh aur zyada kharab ho raha hai kyunki tum dono kuch chhupa rahe ho."

Sorab sighs.

"Akka..."

"No."

She looks at him.

"Agar kuch hai toh mujhe batao."

Sorab stays silent for a moment.

Ayush finally gives in.

"Main us din uske paas gaya tha."

Akanksha's eyes remain fixed on him.

"Main Subhangi ke ghar ke paas se nikal raha tha. Toh socha milta chalta hoon."

He pauses.

"Yogesh... theek nahi hai."

Akanksha's face changes slightly.

"Matlab?"

"Matlab... woh bahar hi nahi nikal raha."

Ayush's voice is quieter now.

"Room mein pada rehta hai. Curtains band. Lights bhi nahi jalata properly. Kisi se baat nahi karta."

Akanksha doesn't move.

"Agar koi pooche toh bas bolta hai, 'theek hoon.'"

Ayush gives a humourless smile.

"Jaise 'theek hoon' bol dene se sab theek ho jaata hai."

Akanksha looks down.

"Kyun?"

Ayush hesitates.

"Usse guilt hai."

"Ruru wale matter ka?"

"Nahi."

Sorab answers this time.

"Tera."

Akanksha looks at him.

Sorab's voice softens.

"Villa wali baat. Uske baad jo kuch hua. Jaipur. Phir online jo kuch chal raha hai..."

He pauses.

"Usko lagta hai usne sab kuch kharab kiya."

Akanksha's throat feels slightly tight, but she keeps her expression composed.Ayush continues.

"Main toh bas ek din gaya tha, lekin jo dekha... woh normal nahi laga."

He looks at Sorab.

"Subhangi bhi pareshaan hai."

Sorab nods.

"Meri usse bhi baat hui thi."

Akanksha looks at him immediately.

"Tujhe pata tha?"

Sorab doesn't dodge it.

"Haan."

"Kitne time se?"

"Kaafi time se."

Akanksha stares at him.

"Phir tune mujhe kyun nahi bataya?"

Sorab lowers his eyes.

"Kyuki tu nahi chahti thi."

"I know I didn't want to meet him."

"Exactly."

He looks back at her.

"Tu finally apni life mein aage badh rahi thi. Main nahi chahta tha ki main tujhe phir usi jagah le jaaun."

Akanksha says nothing.Sorab continues.

"Humari baat hui thi. Woh tujhse milna chahta tha."

Her eyebrows pull together.

"Mujhse?"

"Haan."

"Kyun?"

"He said he wanted to tell you everything himself."

Akanksha's eyes remain on him.

"Uska kehna tha ki jab tak woh tujhe khud sab nahi bata deta, uska guilt kam nahi hoga."

A long silence follows.Ayush quietly adds,

"Uski condition bhi achhi nahi hai."

Akanksha looks at him.

"Kitni buri?"

Ayush hesitates.

"Anxiety hai. Panic jaisi situation ho jaati hai. Logon se milna avoid kar raha hai. Pichhle do din se Subhangi bhi keh rahi thi ki woh properly so nahi raha."

He stops for a moment.

"Uski health bhi affect ho rahi hai. Neend me ultiya kar raha he."

Nobody speaks.

The bowl of snacks is still sitting between them.The television is still playing reels.But suddenly, none of it matters.

Akanksha looks at Sorab.

"Tujhe ye sab pata tha?"

Sorab shakes his head.

"Mujhe uski guilt ke baare mein pata tha. Ye nahi pata tha ki baat itni badh gayi hai."

He looks at Ayush.

"Tu pehle kyun nahi batata?"

Ayush sighs.

"Kyuki mujhe bhi nahi pata tha ki itna serious hai."

He looks at Akanksha.

"Sorry, Akku Mera intention tera mood kharab karna nahi tha."

Akanksha gives him a faint smile.

"It's okay."

And somehow, that is the end of the conversation.

Ayush deliberately changes the topic.

Nobody brings Yogesh's name up again.But the subject remains in Akanksha's mind.

"Chalo. Bas. Ab koi aur reel dekhte hain."

Sorab laughs softly.

"Tu hi mood kharab karke ab reel dekh raha hai?"

"Main kya karun?"

Akanksha smiles faintly.

"Chal, koi funny wali laga."

The subject changes.

They talk about random things again.

But something has already shifted inside Akanksha.

Later that night, after Ayush left, Akanksha is sitting in the balcony.

The city stretches endlessly in front of her.

Sorab comes out carrying two cups of coffee.

He hands one to her.

"Thanks."

He takes the chair beside her.For a while, neither speaks.

The city glows quietly below them.

Finally, Sorab looks at her.

"Kya soch rahi hai?"

"Kuch nahi."

He raises an eyebrow.

"Ab ye jhoot thoda purana ho gaya."

She gives him a tired smile.

"Main bas..."She stops.

Sorab waits.

"Yogesh ke baare mein?"

She doesn't answer.

He already knows.

After a few moments, she asks quietly,

"Jo Ayush bol ke gaya... sach hai?"

"Haan."

"Tu sure hai?"

"Subhangi se meri baat hui abhi."

Akanksha looks down at the cup in her hands.

"Woh itna affect ho raha hai?"

"Haan."

"Uski health tak?"Sorab nods.

"Unfortunately."

Akanksha is quiet for a long time.

Then she asks,

"Sorab?"

"Hmm?"

"Kya mujhe usse milna chahiye?"

Sorab doesn't answer immediately.

Instead, he asks,

"Tu milna chahti hai?"

Akanksha looks at him.

"I don't know."

"Then don't decide tonight."

She sighs.

"But what if..."

"What?"

She looks away.

"Maybe I should hear him once."

Sorab nods slowly..

"Maybe."

"Tu mujhe milne ke liye bol raha hai?"

"Nahi."

She looks at him.

"Phir?"

"Main bas keh raha hoon ki agar tu kabhi ready ho, toh ek baar uski baat sun sakti hai."

"And if I'm not?"

"Toh mat mil."

"Bas?"

"Bas."

Akanksha looks at him, almost surprised.

"Tu itna simple kaise bana deta hai sab?"

Sorab smiles.

"Main simple nahi bana raha. Main bas decision tere haath mein rakh raha hoon."

She looks down again.

"Mujhe darr lag raha hai."

"Kis baat ka?"

"Ki usse milke main phir se wahi sab feel karne lagungi."

Sorab's expression softens.

"Ho sakta hai."

Akanksha looks at him.

"Tu itna honestly kyun bol raha hai?"

"Kyuki jhooth bolke kya fayda? Ho sakta hai tujhe kuch feel ho. Ho sakta hai kuch bhi feel na ho."

He pauses.

"Par agar milna hai toh uski wajah se mat jaana."

"Kis wajah se?"

"Uska guilt."Akanksha listens.

"Uski condition dekhkar tujhe uski responsibility lene ki zarurat nahi hai."

She nods slowly.

"Phir kisliye?"

"Apne liye."She looks at him.

"Apne liye?"

"Haan."Sorab's voice is gentle.

"Tere andar jo questions hain na... unke answers shayad uske paas hain."

Akanksha looks away.

"Par answers se past change thodi hoga."

"Nahi."

"Phir?"

"Past change nahi hoga. Shayad bas uske baare mein tera confusion kam ho."

She stays silent.

"Main usse maaf karne ke liye nahi milna chahti."

"Toh mat kar."

"I don't know if I can even talk to him normally."

"Toh normally mat kar."

She looks back at him.

Sorab's voice remains calm.

"Tu uski life fix karne nahi jaayegi, Akk. Aur na hi tujhe uska guilt apne kandhon par lena hai."

He pauses.

"Bas uski baat sun."

Akanksha's eyes become distant.

"Uske baad?"

"Uske baad jo tera dil kahe."

He takes a sip of coffee.

"Maaf karna hai, nahi karna hai, kuch nahi kehna hai, ya kabhi dobara baat nahi karni hai... woh decision tera hoga."

Akanksha stays silent.Sorab continues.

"Par ek cheez soch."

"Kya?"

"Tu usse milne se darr rahi hai... ya usse milkar jo jawab milenge unse?"

The question catches her off guard.

She doesn't answer.Because she doesn't know.Sorab leans back.

"Main tujhe force nahi kar raha."

"I know."

"Tu time le."

"Hmm."

"Abhi final shoot bhi nahi hai. Do mahine hain."

"I know."

"Tu kal nahi mil rahi usse."

A tiny smile appears on Akanksha's face.

"Obviously."

Sorab smiles too.

"Toh bas."

He gets up.

"Jab tujhe lage ki tu uske saamne baith sakti hai aur uski baat sun sakti hai bina khud ko dobara usi jagah le jaaye... tab sochna."

Akanksha looks at him.

"And if I don't?"

Sorab's answer comes without hesitation.

"Then don't."

He puts his cup down.

"Main tere saath hoon. Decision chahe jo ho."

Akanksha nods.

"Thank you."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Sorab walks inside.

Akanksha remains in the balcony for a little longer.

Later, lying alone in her room, she finds herself staring at the ceiling.

Sleep is nowhere near.

Her room is quiet.

But her mind isn't.

She keeps replaying the evening.

Ayush's voice.

Sorab's hesitation.

And then she remembers about what Ayush said.

He isn't going out.

He isn't talking.

He is carrying guilt.

Her heart feels heavy.

Not because she suddenly wants him back.

She knows that isn't what this is.

She has moved forward.

But moving forward never meant becoming incapable of caring.Once, Yogesh had mattered to her.

Of course his pain would affect her.

That doesn't mean she has to save him.

It doesn't mean she has to forgive him.

It doesn't even mean she has to meet him.

But maybe...

Maybe she does want to know what he has been carrying all this time.

The things she didn't know.The things Yogesh apparently wanted to tell her.

She turns to one side.For months, she had worked so hard to reach this point.A point where his name could be spoken without making her feel like the ground beneath her had shifted.

She had accepted that some questions would never have answers.She had accepted that some things could not be undone.And, most importantly, she had accepted that moving forward did not require hating him.

But tonight had complicated that peace.Because now she knows he is hurting.And she doesn't know what to do with that information.She pulls the blanket closer and closes her eyes.

Should I meet him?

The question comes again.

She imagines sitting across from him.

Hearing his voice.

Hearing the things he had never told her.

And immediately another thought follows.

What if it hurts again?

She turns onto her back.

What if he says something I don't want to hear?

A pause.

What if he apologizes?

She swallows.

That thought somehow feels more difficult than anything else.Because an apology wouldn't change what happened.It wouldn't erase the loneliness she had felt.It wouldn't undo the choices he made.It wouldn't give her back the version of herself that had existed before everything fell apart.

But maybe...

Maybe it would finally answer some of the questions she had carried silently.

She opens her eyes again.

And then another thought comes.

Am I thinking about meeting him because I care about him... or because I need closure?

She doesn't know.

And she doesn't want to lie to herself.

She has moved on.

She knows that.

But moving on doesn't mean becoming indifferent.If someone who once mattered to you is hurting, you can still feel concerned.That doesn't mean you want them back.That doesn't mean you forgive them.It simply means you are human.

Akanksha turns toward the window.

Outside, the city is still awake.

Somewhere in that same city, Yogesh is probably awake too.

Maybe sitting alone.

Maybe thinking about the same past she has spent months trying not to revisit.

She wonders what he wants to say.

She wonders what he could possibly say now that would make any difference.And then she remembers Sorab's words.

Apne liye.

Maybe that is what scares her the m

ost.Because if she meets Yogesh, it won't only be about him.It will be about her too.About all the questions she never asked.About all the answers she never received.About the part of her that had once loved him and the part that had learned to live without him.

She closes her eyes again.

No decision comes.

Not tonight.

Tonight, she only knows one thing-

She isn't ready to meet him yet.

But for the first time...

She is no longer completely sure that she never will.

She turns toward the window.No decision comes tonight.

Maybe she isn't ready to meet him.

Maybe she never will be.

But for the first time, she allows herself to consider the possibility without immediately shutting it down.

And somehow, that thought stays with her until sleep finally comes.