Page 2 of Shattered

My heart races and my mind is in a muddle. I tear my eyes away from him and fix them on my sister. “You’re free to go to your girlfriend,” I say, my voice strained.

“Kavya, can I at least stay with you for a while?”he asks, his voice solemn.“I know you’re hurting, and I also know how much support you need right now. I care about you. I want to be here with you during thisdifficulttime.”

I let out a bitter laugh, unable to bring myself to meet his eyes. I am way too hurt and angry to even look at him. “You have a funny way of showing you care about me. And you’re delusional if you think I want your support after dropping this bombshell. I don’t need you or your fake concern. Please, just leave.”

I watch him rising to his feet from the corner of my eye. He takes a deep breath, breaking the heavy silence before he speaks. “I know I’ve hurt you,” he begins, “and I understand if forgiving me feels impossible for you right now. But Kavya, you should know I am only human, and sometimes we act without considering what’s right or wrong, without thinking about theconsequences. I hope, someday, you might find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Scoffing bitterly, I remark, “Forgiving you feels like animpossible task right now, and from where I am standing, there’s no chance of it even in the future. But I hope you can find it in yourself to be the father that innocent child deserves.” Drawing in a deep breath, I finally turn to face him. My gaze takes in his devastated expression, but my heart is too heavy to muster any pity. Locking eyes with him, I utter, “Do me a favour andspare me from seeing your face again. Please relay the same message to Maya. I want both of you out of my life.”

He doesn’t utter a word. With a silent nod, he turns and walks out of the door, softly closing it behind him.

Before I lose all hope, Nisha’s face fills my vision, and I turn to her. Gently holding her hands, I whisper,“You are all I have left—my hope, my reason to fight and get through this life. I promise I won’t give up, and I won’t let you give up either. We’ll both get through this and fight together.”

Closing my eyes, I silently pray to God for giving me the strength to keep this promise.

Chapter 1

Kavya

Seven months later

“Here’s your tenth cup of coffee, ma’am,” Akash says, placing the cup on my desk. Looking up from my laptop, I grin at the man who has been more than just a boss to me; he’s been a pillar of support and an extremely good friend.

“I didn’t know the boss was keeping track of my coffee intake,” I tease, bringing the cup to my lips, as he moves to sit in the wooden chair across from me. He’s dressed casually today, wearing a crisp white shirt and blue denim jeans. His brown hair matches his eyes, and his handsome face drives the girls crazy. Trust me, this man loves every bit of attention he gets from them. And as his best friend, he flaunts it to me every day.

“Well, someone’s got to make sure you don’t turn into a coffee bean,” he chuckles.

I grin and shake my head, setting the cup back on my desk. “At this rate, I might just. Thanks for the coffee, though. You’re a lifesaver.”

For the past six months, I’ve been working as the marketing head for Akash’s clothing brand. When I first walked in for theinterview here, I was filled with uncertainty, doubting whether I even had a chance, given my lack of experience. But as I explained my situation—how crucial this job was for me to support my sister’s medical needs—Akash didn’t hesitate to offer me the position, saying he believed that work experience alone doesn’t define a person’s talent. His firm belief that I possessed all the qualities he was seeking for the role helped me navigate this challenging time without falling apart. From day one, Akash Sharma has proven to be a true blessing during these rough times.

“Anything to keep my favorite one and only workaholic going,” he says with a smile, pulling me out of my thoughts. But the next moment, a look of concern crosses his face. “You do realize it’s nine at night, and everyone has left. You’re the only one in the office, putting in the extra hours.”

I sigh and nod towards my laptop. “I had to finalize the campaign that we’ll be posting two days from now.”

“It could wait until tomorrow morning,” he counters.

I shake my head. He knows all too well how much I hate leaving work unfinished and pending. It’s not about the time; it’s about meeting deadlines. Besides the paycheck, I genuinely love my job, and I don’t mind putting in the extra hours to make sure everything is completed on time.

“Nope, I didn’t want to go home without getting this done. And look who’s talking. You’re also still here,” I point out. “Classic case of the pot calling the kettle black,” I murmur.

“Well, as the boss, it’s my duty to be the last one to leave the office,” he says with a wry smile. Then, he adds. “Kavya, you do know if you ever need any help, I am here,” he offers, echoing his support as he has countless times before. Despite my insistence that I can handle things, he never fails to remind me that he cares. Maybe, since he’s ten years older than me, he just naturally looks out for me like a guardian would.

“Thanks, Akash, but I’ve got it covered. You’ve already done so much for me. This job, the six-digit salary—which is more than I deserve—has been a lifeline for managing my sister’s medical bills and my own expenses. I couldn’t ask for more.”

“You deserve it, Kavya. You’ve been a great asset to the company, and the hours and hard work you put in don’t go unnoticed,” he says, placing his arms on the desk and leaning forward to cover my hands with his. “I know it’s not easy to manage medical expenses on your own, especially after losing your parents. I want you to tell me if there’s anything else I can do to help.”

I give him a polite smile. “Akash, your support means the world to me. Knowing you’re here for me makes all the difference. I’ll definitely reach out if I need anything. But right now, I am good.”

“Just let me know,” he nods, glancing at his Rolex wristwatch and then back at me, “Kavya, I need to head out for a dinner meeting. Are you winding up or staying?”

“I just need a few more minutes. You go ahead.”

“Alright, just don’t lose yourself in work,” he advises with a gentle smile.

“I won’t, I promise,” I assure him.

He raises an eyebrow. “I don’t think you’re very good at keeping that promise. Remember all work and no play—” he begins, but I cut him off.

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