The car had barely stopped outside Subhangi's residence when Akanksha pushed the door open.

"Akku, wait-"

Sorab's voice came from behind her, but she didn't stop.

She was already running.

She didn't even remember getting out of the car properly. She only knew that he is not oky..her heart was beating too fast, her hands were cold, and Subhangi's words were playing over and over inside her head.

High fever...

he isn't responding...

he locked himself inside...

The lift seemed painfully slow.

"Akku!"

Niharika caught up with her.

Akanksha pressed the lift button again.

"Please..."

Her voice came out as a whisper.

"Bas jaldi..."

Sorab arrived with the medicine bag.

"Akanksha, breathe. We'll get to him."

She turned towards him.

Her eyes were already filled with tears.

"Sorab..."

He looked at her.

"He'll be okay na?"

There was something almost childlike in the way she asked it.

Not the Akanksha who had spent the last week convincing herself she was fine.

Not the Akanksha who had been angry.

Not the Akanksha who had tried to create distance.

Just Akanksha.

Scared.

Terrified.

Sorab swallowed.

"He will."

He placed a hand gently on her shoulder.

"Pehle uske paas chalte hain."

The lift doors opened.

Akanksha immediately stepped inside.

When they reached the apartment, Subhangi was waiting near the bedroom.The moment she saw them, relief crossed her face.

"Thank God tum log aa gaye."

"Kahan hai wo?"

Akanksha didn't even wait.

"Room mein..."

Her eyes went straight towards the closed door.She started walking.

"Akku..."

Niharika's voice was soft.

Akanksha stopped in front of the door.

Her hand rose.

But she didn't knock immediately.

She just stood there.

Staring.

For the past week, she had been trying to convince herself that she didn't need to see him.

She had told herself that she needed time.

That she was hurt.

That she had every right to stay away.

She had tried to make herself understand that caring for him didn't mean she had to forgive him.

But none of that mattered now.

Because behind that door was someone who was sick.

Someone who wasn't answering.

Someone she couldn't reach.

And suddenly, all the anger she had been carrying felt very small compared to the fear sitting inside her chest.

She knocked.

"Yogesh..."

Nothing.

She knocked again.

"Yogesh... main hoon Akanksha"

Silence.

Her heart sank.She looked back.

"Darwaza kyun nahi khol raha?"

Subhangi shook her head.

"Maine bahut baar knock kiya. Pehle kuch awaaz aa rahi thi... phir bilkul chup ho gaya."

"Kitni der se?"

"Pata nahi... kaafi der."

Akanksha's breathing changed.

"Yogesh?"

Nothing.She knocked again.

"Please..."

No answer.

"Yogesh, sun rahe ho?"

Silence.

She placed her palm against the door.

"Please darwaza kholo."

Nothing.

Her voice trembled.

"Main tumse kuch nahi bolungi."

Still nothing.

"Jo hua uske baare mein bhi nahi."

She swallowed.

"Bas ek baar darwaza khol do."

Her eyes filled.

"Please."

Sorab stepped closer.

"Yogesh! Bhai, darwaza khol."

Nothing.

He tried the handle.

Locked.

"Yogesh!"

Still nothing.

Akanksha's heart started pounding.

"What if he fainted?"

"Akku..."

"What if-"

"Don't assume anything."

"But he's not answering!"

Her voice broke.She turned back towards the door.

"Yogesh!"

She knocked harder.

"Please kuch toh bolo!"

For a few seconds, nothing.

Then-

A faint sound.

Akanksha froze.

"Did you hear that?"

Before anyone could respond, something fell inside.

"Yogesh!"

She knocked rapidly.

"Yogesh!"

Silence.And then-

"Mat aao..."

His voice.

Barely audible.

Broken.

Akanksha closed her eyes.A tear slipped down her cheek.

"Yogesh?"

"Please..."

His breathing sounded uneven.

"Please mujhe akela chhod do."

Akanksha shook her head.

"No."

Her answer was quiet.But certain.

"Main nahi ja rahi."

Silence.

"Akanksha..."

He sounded tired.So tired.

" kyun aayi ho yaha tum...tumhe yaha nahi hona chahiye...not after everything i did?"

She wiped her tears.

"Pata nahi."

A shaky laugh escaped her.

"Bas pata chala tum theek nahi ho... and aa gayi.."

"Tumhe nahi aana chahiye tha...i don't deserve this..tumari ye fikar..or sabh kuchh"

"Maybe."

She leaned her forehead against the door.

"Lekin raha nahi gaya na.... aa gayi."

Silence.

"Darwaza kholo na yogesh.."

"No."

"Yogesh..."

"Please."

His voice cracked.

"Please mujhe aise mat dekho."

Akanksha frowned.

"Kyun?"

"I don't want you to see me like this."

"Why?"

He didn't answer.His breathing became heavier.

"Main nahi chahta..."

He paused.

"...koi mujhe iss tarah dekhe."

Akanksha looked towards everyone standing behind her.Then back at the door.

"Koi nahi dekhega."

She lowered her voice.

"Promise."

No response.

"Sab chale jayenge."

She looked at Sorab.Sorab understood.He quietly nodded.

Akanksha turned back.

"Bas main rahungi."

Still nothing.She slowly slid down the wall and sat outside the door.

"Yogesh..."

Her voice softened.

"mujhe to andar aane do na"

Silence.

"Main tumhe kuch nahi bolungi."

A pause.

"Na koi sawaal."

Another pause.

"Na explanation maangungi."

Her voice cracked.

"Na tumse ye kahungi ki tum strong bano."

She wiped her tears.

"Bas tumhe medicine de dungi."

Nothing.

"Paani de dungi."

She gave a small, broken smile.

"Phir tum so jaana."

Silence.

"Main paas hi rahungi."

No response.

"Please."

Her voice became almost like the way someone talks to a frightened child.

"Ek baar meri baat maan lo na."

There was a long silence.

Then-

"promise?"

Akanksha immediately answered.

"Haan."

"Koi nahi hoga?"

"Haan. Koi nahi hoga."

"Sach?"

"Sach."

"Tum akeli rahogi?"

"Haan."

A pause.

"Pakka?"

Akanksha closed her eyes.

"Pakka."

His voice became smaller.

"I don't want anyone to think I'm weak."

Her heart broke.

"Koi nahi sochega."

"But..."

"Koi kuch nahi bolega."

She wiped her cheeks.

"Main bolne hi nahi dungi."

Silence.

"Tumhe weak hone ka haq hai, Yogesh."

The words left her before she could think.

"Har waqt strong rehna zaroori nahi hota."

No response.

"Tum insaan ho."

Her voice trembled.

"Thak sakte ho."

A pause.

"Rone ka mann ho toh ro sakte ho."

Another pause.

"Bas mujhe door mat karo."

Her voice broke completely.

"Please."

The room remained silent.

Then-

Click.

The lock opened.

Akanksha stopped breathing for a moment.The door moved slightly.

She looked towards Sorab.He stepped back.

"Akku... you go."

He looked towards the others.

"Hum living room mein hain."

Niharika nodded.

"Kucch bhi chahiye ho, bula lena."

Akanksha nodded.

Then she turned towards the door.

Her hand touched the handle.

She pushed.

And stepped inside.The room was dark.Only one small night lamp was glowing in the corner.Akanksha took a step.

Then another.

And stopped.

Her heart dropped.The room was a mess.Pillows were scattered across the floor.The blanket had fallen beside the bed.Books were lying open.

Things that normally had a place were now lying wherever they had fallen.

The bed looked disturbed.

Everything seemed to carry evidence of a mind that hadn't been calm for a long time.And in the middle of that mess-

Yogesh sat on the floor.

His back against the bed.

His knees slightly bent.

His head lowered.

He looked impossibly tired.

His hair was dishevelled.

His face was pale beneath the fever.

His lips looked dry.

But Akanksha barely noticed any of that.Because his eyes-

His eyes looked empty.

Not empty of feeling.

Empty of strength.

As though he had spent every last bit of himself trying to hold himself together.Akanksha's breath caught.

"Yogesh..."

He didn't look up.

She took another step.

Then she saw something on the floor.

A small drop.

Her eyes followed it.

Her gaze reached his hand.

There was a cut on his palm.Her hand immediately covered her mouth.

"No..."

Her eyes filled instantly.

She moved towards him.

"Yogesh..."

He still didn't respond.She knelt in front of him.

"Kya kiya tumne?"

Nothing.

"Yogesh, meri taraf dekho."

Nothing.

She reached towards his face.Her fingers touched his cheek.He flinched slightly.

That tiny movement broke her heart even more.

"Hey..."

She cupped his face carefully.

"Look at me."

He didn't.

"Yogesh..."

Her voice became painfully gentle.

"Please."

Slowly, he lifted his eyes.And Akanksha forgot how to breathe.

There were tears in them.

His eyes were red from exhaustion.

His face was feverish.But the thing that hurt her most was the vulnerability.

He looked like someone who had stopped knowing how to protect himself.

The moment their eyes met, tears began rolling down his cheeks.

He immediately looked away.

Akanksha's own tears fell.

"Yogesh..."

She held his face between her palms.

"Dekho na."

He slowly looked at her again.

She brushed his tears away with her thumbs.

"I'm here."

His lips trembled.

"Maa..."

Akanksha froze.

He blinked slowly.

"My..."

His voice cracked.

"My Akanksha?"

Her heart shattered.

"Haan."

She nodded immediately.

"Haan, main hoon."

He stared at her as though he needed to make sure she wouldn't disappear.

"My Akanksha?"

"Haan."

She leaned closer.

"Aur kiski haan?"

His eyes closed.A tear escaped...he himself don't know what he is speaking...due to the overwhelming feeling

"Sach?"

"Sach."

"You won't go?"

Akanksha's lips trembled.

"Nahi."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Tum chhod ke nahi jaogi?"

Her eyes filled.

"Kahan jaungi main?"

She gently wiped his cheek.

"Main yahin hoon kahi nahi ja rahi.."

He stared at her.

"Pakka?"

"Pakka."

For a few seconds, there was only silence.Then his face crumpled.

"I'm sorry."

Akanksha's heart clenched.

"I'm so sorry, Akku."

He lowered his head.

"Please..."

His breathing started shaking.

"Ab mujhse nahi saha ja raha."

Akanksha didn't interrupt.

"I tried."

He wiped his tears.

"Sach mein try kiya."

His voice broke.

"Main har subah uthta tha aur khud ko bolta tha... bas aaj theek rehna hai."

A tear dropped onto his hand.

"Bas aaj."

He laughed weakly through his tears.

"Phir raat ho jaati thi..."

His voice disappeared.Akanksha's eyes filled.

"Yogesh..."

"I don't know how to do this anymore."

He looked at her.

"Main nahi jaanta kaise normal behave karte hain."

His voice became smaller.

"Kaise pretend karte hain ki sab theek hai."

Another tear.

"Sabko lagta hai main strong hoon."

He looked down.

"Par main strong nahi hoon, Akku."

His lips trembled.

"Main bilkul strong nahi hoon."

Akanksha's eyes overflowed.

"Hey..."

She moved closer.

"It's okay."

"No..."

He shook his head.

"It's not."

His breathing became uneven.

"Maine sab kharab kar diya."

"Yogesh..."

"I hurt you."

He looked at her with unbearable guilt.

"Main jaanta hoon."

A pause.

"Tum mujhe maaf nahi karogi."

Akanksha remained silent.

He nodded as though he already knew the answer.

"And you shouldn't."

His voice cracked.

"But please..."

He swallowed.

"Please mujhe akela mat chhodna."

That was it.

Akanksha couldn't hold herself back anymore.She pulled him into her arms.

Yogesh went completely still.

For one second, he seemed almost shocked that she was holding him.

Then his fingers curled into the back of her clothes.

And he broke.Completely.A sob tore out of him.

Akanksha held him tighter.

"Shh..."

Her own tears were falling freely now.

"Bas..."

Yogesh shook against her.

"I'm sorry..."

"Shh."

"Akku..."

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry."

"Abhi sorry mat bolo."

She ran her fingers through his hair.

"Please."

"But I..."

"Baad mein."

Her voice trembled.

"Sab baad mein."

He cried against her shoulder.

"Mujhse nahi ho raha..."

"I know."

"Bahut thak gaya hoon."

"I know."

"Har waqt..."

His breath hitched.

"Har waqt strong banne ki koshish karte karte..."

He couldn't finish.Akanksha closed her eyes.

"Ab nahi banna."

She gently rubbed his back.

"Abhi bilkul nahi."

"I want to cry."

Her heart broke at the simplicity of those words.

"Toh ro lo."

"I'm scared..."

"I know."

"Sab chhod denge mujhe."

Akanksha held the back of his head.

"Main abhi yahin hoon."

"You'll leave too?"

She pulled back just enough to look at him.Her eyes were wet.

Kaha jaungi bolo..haan..kahin nahi ja rahi....ja hi nahi sakti....

She said

"Abhi toh nahi."

He stared at her.

"Pakka?"

She nodded.

"Pakka."

His face crumpled again.He buried himself against her shoulder.

And cried.He cried without trying to hide it.

Without wiping his tears.

Without apologizing for every sob.

Without pretending.

Akanksha kept stroking his hair.

Slowly.

Again and again.

Just like she used to do before everything fell apart

"Bas..."

She whispered.

"Ro lo."

Her voice broke.

"Jitna rona hai, ro lo."

"Main hoon."

He cried harder.

"Main yahin hoon."

His hands tightened around her.

"Kahin nahi ja rahi abhi."

She rested her cheek against his hair.

"Tumhe aaj kuch solve nahi karna."

A pause.

"Na mujhe jawab dena hai."

Another pause.

"Na past theek karna hai."

She gently rubbed his back.

"Bas saans lo."

He tried.

His breath came out shaky.

"Good."

She whispered.

"Bas."

He continued crying.And Akanksha let him.Because she finally understood that tonight he didn't need someone to ask him why he had fallen apart.

He didn't need another lecture

about being strong.

He didn't need promises about tomorrow.

He didn't even need forgiveness.

He needed someone to sit beside him while he finally stopped pretending.

So she stayed.

Even though her own heart was hurting.

Even though she still carried questions.

Even though she hadn't forgotten what had happened between them.

She stayed.

Her arms remained around him.

Her fingers continued to move gently through his hair.

And slowly, beneath the warmth of her embrace, Yogesh's sobs began to lose their sharpness.

But he still didn't let go.

As if somewhere inside that exhausted, frightened heart of his, he had finally found one place where he didn't have to fight anymore.

And Akanksha didn't ask him to.

That night, she simply held him.

And for the first time in a long time-

Yogesh allowed himself to be held.

To be continue...