Page 25 of Shattered

“Don’t you dare compare me to that jerk,” he growls, pointing a finger at me. “I am not him, Kavya. I knowexactlywhat it means to be in a relationship with you, and I am fully aware of what I am getting into. But none of that alters the fact that I want you.”

The unwavering certainty in his voice, and knowing that he truly means every word,melts away the tension in my body, making me feel at ease. I am tempted to give in and say yes. However, instead of doing that, I find myself asking, “Why me?”

His lips twitch into a smile. “Why not you?” He reaches across the table and gently squeezes my hands. “Kavya, you’re not just beautiful on the outside but also on the inside, and your inner beauty is what takes my breath away. Your loving and selfless nature, always putting others before yourself, tugs at my heart. And the way you tirelessly care for your sister while still managing to find a balance in your work life leaves me in awe of your dedication and strength.These rare qualities make you the only person I can imagine and see myself with.”

His intense gaze holds mine as he takes a deep breath, his voice soft but unwavering. “Trust me Kavya, I’ve never felt this way with anyone else before, and I don’t think I’ll ever find anyone who can make me feel even a fraction of the emotions you evoke in me.”

I blink back tears, realisingthat turning away from a man like him would be foolish.But deep down, I know he deserves more than what I can give him.

“Reyansh, I don’t...” Ibegin,but before I can finish, he stands up and closes the distance between us, gently cupping my face in his hands.

“Please, don’t shut me out. Let me in,” hewhispers, leaning in to press a tender kiss to my forehead.Without another word, he then turns and walks away.

My lips tremble, and tears spill down my cheeks as he disappears from my view. My heart insists that having him by my side would be an incredible stroke of luck, but my mind argues that it’s better to let gothan to hold on out of selfishness. This constant tug-of-war between my heart and mind is tearing me apart, leaving me uncertain about which side will ultimately win.

Chapter 12

Reyansh

“What on earth?”I groan as the doorbell and my mobile phone ring at the same time.Lying on my stomach with my hand under my face, I squint at the clock on my nightstand only to see it’s six in the morning.I usually don’t get up until seven,and I definitely don’t expect visitors at this ungodly hour.I let out a sigh, already knowing who it is—the one person who knows all too well that I can’t refuse her, no matter the time or what she wants. Without bothering to answer the call or check the caller ID, I drag myself out of bed and head to the bathroom for a quick morning routine. Once I am done, I make my way through the house and down the stairs to the front door.

Forcing a smile, I open the door to find my mom standing there, beaming at meas if I’ve been living on the other side of the world and she’s travelled across continents just to see me. My dad chuckles as she pulls me into a hug, greeting me in her trademark melodramatic mom voice.

“Morning, son. I’ve missed you so much,” she squeals, her eyes twinkling.

I look down at my mom and raise my eyebrows. “Seriously, Mom?We spent the whole weekend together, and I see youalmost every day.Not to mention, we had dinner together last night. And now you miss me?”

“Hush, you won’t understand until you have kids of your own,” she quips, echoing the world-famous dialogue of every mom as she pushes past me and waltzes into the house. Dad and I exchange amused eye rolls before following her inside.

“Dad, how do you even let Mom play all these emotional wild cards of hers?” I ask as Dad goes to sit next to Mom on the couch, with me sitting across from them.

“Son, you should know by now that the key to a happily married life for every man is to always say your wife is right and agree with whatever she says without arguing,” he shrugs.

“Aren’t you two beinga bit dramatic?” Mom chides, her gaze shifting between us. “Can’t a mom miss her son and come to see him?”

I run a hand over my face. “Mom, I am sure you miss me, and I won’t argue about that.But I also know there mustbe a reason for your surprise visit. So, could you please cut the chase and tell me what it is? It’s way too early for mind reading.”

“You hit the nail on the head, son. Your mom definitely has something up her sleeve,” Dad adds, earning a glare from Mom before she turns her attention back to me.

“Son,I’ve got something planned, and I am sure you’ll love it,” Mom says eagerly. I let out aresignedsigh, knowing it will be anything but pleasant.

“I don’t know, Mom. Last time you planned a surprise and asked me to come home, you had your dear sister waiting for me. And what was supposed to be a brief meeting turned into a seemingly endless ordeal of nodding, smiling, and pretending to be interested in Sobha Aunty’s stream of anecdotes and opinions on everything under the sun.I even had to miss animportantclient meeting, which led to a significant loss, not to mention the headache I suffered for the rest of the day.”

“This surprise is a good one. I am sure you’ll love it,” she counters back.

Knowing I can never escape my stubborn mom’s persistence, I ask, “What is it, Mom?”

“I’ve scheduled a meeting with the renowned interior designer in town,” Mom beams at me, glancing at her watch and then back at me. “She’ll be here any minute to help usrenovate your house.”

I look around my home, which has always been showcased in magazines with its tasteful done interiors—luxurious chandeliers,valuablepaintings, elegant showpieces,all blending beautifully with the soft, light brown walls.

“What’s wrong with my house?” I ask, gazing back at her, confused.

“Men will be men,” she says with a shake of her head. “Son, you’ll be getting married soon, and we need to add a touch of femininity to your house to ensure Kavya loves it andfeels at homehere. In fact, we can include her in this discussion if you want.”

“Mom, you don’t quite understand the meaning of taking things slow and giving it time, do you? You need to hold your horses. Kavya hasn’t even accepted her feelings for me yet, and you’re already planning the wedding,” I state.

“Of course, I understand, and I am certainly being patient,” she argues, causing both Dad and me to raise our eyebrows. “Oh, don’t you two give me that look. Sometimes, a gentle push in the right direction and a bit of planning can work wonders,” Mom counters.

---