It had been a week since Yogesh had started therapy.

Only a week.

Nothing had magically changed in those seven days. The guilt was still there. The memories were still there. Some mornings were still harder than others.

But something was different.

He was trying.

And for now, that was enough.

After their first appointment, Yogesh had attended another therapy session during the week. Akanksha had gone with him again, just like the first time.

The first session had been difficult for him.

He had been nervous, uncomfortable, and unsure about what he was supposed to say. Even sitting in front of the therapist had felt strange. He had spent most of that session choosing his words carefully, avoiding certain things and keeping some thoughts locked inside.

But the second time was different.

He was still nervous.

Still hesitant.

But not as much.

This time, when the therapist asked questions, Yogesh didn't immediately look away.

He answered.

Sometimes briefly.

Sometimes after a long silence.

But he answered.

He had even talked about things he hadn't been able to say during their first appointment.

Akanksha had noticed it too.

She hadn't pointed it out in front of him. She knew Yogesh would probably become uncomfortable if she made a big deal out of it.

Instead, when they came out of the clinic, she had simply walked beside him.

After a few moments, she looked at him.

"You did well today."

Yogesh glanced at her.

"Really?"

"Yes."

He gave a small nod, looking down at the ground.

"I thought I'd freeze again."

"You didn't."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Maybe I'm getting used to it."

"Maybe."

She smiled back.

And that tiny smile from him had been enough to make her feel a little lighter.

His physical health had improved too.

His fever was finally gone.

He had started eating a little better. He wasn't spending the entire day lying in bed anymore. And most importantly, he had stopped locking himself inside his dark room for hours.

He had even started sitting with his friends again.

He still didn't talk much.

Sometimes he would sit quietly while everyone else talked around him.

Sometimes he would listen to their jokes without reacting.And sometimes he would simply sit there, staring at nothing.

But he was there.

He wasn't completely isolating himself anymore.

And for Akanksha, that was progress.

Small progress.

But progress nonetheless.

During that week, Akanksha had visited two or three times.

Sometimes she stayed for a few hours.

Sometimes she simply came by to check on him.

She never forced him to talk.

She never asked him to pretend everything was fine.

She just stayed.

And slowly, Yogesh had started getting comfortable with her presence again.

There were still awkward silences between them.But they weren't unbearable anymore.

One afternoon, Akanksha found him sitting in the living room with his friends.

She stopped at the doorway for a moment.Yogesh noticed her.

Their eyes met.

He gave her a small nod.

She smiled.

Nothing more.

But that small gesture told her more than words could.

A week ago, he would probably have been sitting alone in his room.

Today, he was sitting here.

With people.

Trying to be part of normal life again.

Later that evening, when everyone had left, Akanksha found Yogesh sitting quietly on the balcony.

She sat beside him.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The evening breeze moved gently around them.Then Yogesh broke the silence.

"I still feel guilty."

Akanksha looked at him.

"I know."

"I thought therapy would..." He paused, searching for the right words. "I don't know. I thought maybe after talking about everything, I'd feel different."

"You don't have to feel completely different after two sessions."

He remained quiet.

"I'm still trying to understand everything," he admitted. "Sometimes I think I'm getting better. And then suddenly..." He stopped.

"Then the guilt comes back."

He nodded.

Akanksha didn't tell him to forget it.

She didn't tell him to move on.

She simply said,

"Then let it come. But don't let it stop you from trying."

Yogesh looked at her.

She continued softly,

"You're not supposed to fix everything in one week, Yogesh."

His eyes lowered.

"I'm trying."

"I know."

There was something about the way she said those words that made his chest feel a little lighter.

He looked toward the darkening sky.

"I'm scared I'll never be completely okay."

Akanksha was quiet for a moment.

"Maybe you don't need to think about 'completely okay' right now."

He looked at her.

"Just think about tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes. Get up. Eat something. Go outside. Sit with your friends. Attend your next therapy session."

She gave him a small smile.

"And if tomorrow is difficult, we'll deal with tomorrow."

Yogesh stared at her for a few seconds.

Then he nodded.

"Okay."

It wasn't a promise that everything would be fine.

It wasn't a declaration that his guilt had disappeared.

It was simply a decision to keep trying.

And sometimes, that was where healing began.

Not with a sudden change.

Not with everything becoming easy.

But with someone finally deciding-

I will try again tomorrow.

And Yogesh was trying.

For now, that was enough.

Yogesh had been getting better.

At least, that was what everyone could see.

His fever was gone. He was eating properly again, sitting with his friends, and slowly coming out of the dark room that had become his refuge for so long.

But nights were different.

When the world became quiet, his mind refused to do the same.

The moment he closed his eyes, the thoughts returned.

The things he had done.

The guilt.

The memories he wished he could erase.

Sleep still remained a struggle.

Sometimes he would lie awake for hours, staring at the ceiling, trying to quiet his mind.

Therapy was helping him understand those thoughts, but healing wasn't happening overnight.

Still, he was trying.

And everyone around him had begun noticing the small changes.

That evening, everyone was together again.

Niharika, Subhangi, Gullu, Rohit, Suzzane, Sorab, Akanksha and Yogesh were sitting around, talking and laughing.

Yogesh was there too.

He wasn't participating much.

He mostly listened, occasionally giving a small smile when someone said something funny.

Akanksha noticed him several times but didn't interrupt the conversation to involve him.

She knew he was still getting comfortable around everyone again.

Instead, she quietly stayed beside him, letting him be.

Sorab suddenly looked at Akanksha.

"By the way, I found another apartment for you."

Akanksha looked up from her phone.

"Again?"

"Yes, again."

Gullu laughed.

"How many has he shown you now?"

Sorab thought for a moment.

"Enough to question my life choices."

Everyone laughed.

Akanksha rolled her eyes.

"I didn't reject them for no reason."

"You rejected the first one because the kitchen was small."

"It was."

"The second because the bedroom wasn't bright enough."

"It wasn't."

"The third because you didn't like the neighborhood."

"Exactly."

Rohit grinned.

"So basically, she wants a palace."

Akanksha laughed.

"No. I just want a place I can actually live in."

Sorab nodded.

"Fine. This one is decent. Good location, good building, furnished, and the rent isn't ridiculous."

Akanksha looked interested.

"Where?"

Sorab told her the location.

She listened carefully.

Then Subhangi suddenly looked at her.

"Wait."

Everyone turned toward her.

"Why don't you check my building?"

Akanksha frowned slightly.

"Your building?"

"Yes. There are a few empty apartments there."

Sorab immediately became interested.

"Really?"

Subhangi nodded.

"Yeah. I know there are some flats vacant. I'll ask around."

Sorab looked at Akanksha.

"See? Problem solved."

But Akanksha didn't answer immediately.

Her eyes moved instinctively toward Yogesh.He had gone quiet.

Not that he had been speaking much before.But now he was staring down at his hands, listening.

Her expression changed slightly.

The idea had suddenly become more complicated.

Because she knew that building.

Yogesh lived there.

The same building.

The thought immediately made her uncomfortable.

Not because she didn't want to be near him.

That wasn't the problem.

She cared about him.

She wanted to be there for him.

But living in the same building was different.

People will talk And will notice things.

She could already imagine the whispers.

She is staying in the same building as Yogesh?

Are they together again?

That's why she has been around him so much.And then there was the internet.

The rumors that had already circulated online.

She didn't want another round of speculation about them.

She didn't want strangers deciding what their relationship was.

She didn't want every visit, every conversation, every time they happened to leave the building around the same time to become something people could twist into a story.

Niharika noticed her silence.

"You okay?"

Akanksha quickly nodded.

"Yeah."

Subhangi looked at her.

"You don't have to stay here if you're uncomfortable."

Akanksha hesitated.

"No, it's not that."

She glanced toward Yogesh again.

He hadn't said anything.

He didn't even look at her.

But she knew he had understood why she was hesitating.

Sorab spoke gently.

"You can just see the apartment first. You don't have to decide now."

Akanksha nodded.

"Okay."

Yogesh finally lifted his eyes.

For a moment, their eyes met.

There was no expectation in his expression.

No pressure.

Just understanding.

He gave the smallest nod.

Almost as if saying-

Do what feels right for you.

Akanksha looked away.

Subhangi smiled.

"Then come with me tomorrow. I'll show you after asking the landlord"

"Okay."

Gullu immediately grinned.

"Finally! Maybe this one will survive Akanksha's inspection."

Everyone laughed again.

Even Yogesh smiled faintly.

Akanksha smiled too.

But somewhere beneath that smile, the thought remained.

The apartment might be perfect.

The location might be perfect.

The building might be perfect.

But could she really live there knowing that Yogesh lived only a few floors away?

And more importantly-

Could she handle everything people might say because of it?

She didn't know.

Maybe she was worrying too much.

Maybe nobody would care.

Or maybe they would.

For now, she decided not to make the decision before seeing the place.

Tomorrow, she would go.

And then she would decide.

To be continue.....