Page 20 of Shattered

Her face lights up with pure happiness. “This is the best news you’ve given us, son,” Mom says, pulling me into a hug. “I can’t wait to bring Kavya home. God, I need to talk to her and decide on a wedding date,” Mom continues tochatter excitedlyas she pulls away from the hug.

“Mom, you’ll have to wait a bit. Kavya doesn’t know about my feelings for her yet, and there’s something important you both need to know.” I look at both of them, taking in a deep breath as they wait patiently for me to continue. “Kavya lost her parents in a car accident a few months ago,and her sister has been in a coma ever since.She’s taking care of her at home andcarrying the weight of that responsibility on her own. Marriage is something she’s not ready for right now. I need to handle this delicately and not rush into anything.”

Mom covers her mouth with her hand as a sob escapes her. “Oh God, that poor child.”

Dad rises from his seat and walks over to pat my shoulder. “We’re here to support you, son. We won’t say anything to Kavya; you can handle this at your own pace. We trust your judgement.”

“Thanks,” I reply, looking at them and feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. My parents are not just my family but my whole world. They are the source of my happiness. Now, I can’t wait for Kavya to be a part of it all and give her back the family she once lost.

Hope swells in my chest. I won’t rest until Kavya becomes Mrs. Kavya Reyansh Kundra. A grin crosses my face at how perfect that sounds. She’ll be mine, and soon, everyone will know it.

Chapter 9

Kavya

He’s not even mine, so why this jealousy? Yet last night, I couldn’t stop tossing and turning, haunted by the image of him with her.It makes no sense, but my heart ached when I saw them together. I don’t even understand why I feel like I’ve lost something precious when he was never mine to begin with. I squeeze my eyes shut, desperately trying to block out the pain, but it’s of no use.I have to stay away from him. I need to focus on Nisha.

Smiling, I look down at Nisha and take her hand in mine before sitting on the chair next to her bed. “You know, I didn’t go to work today. It’s the first sick leave I’ve ever taken, and you can’t imagine how frustrating it is. Aunty and Akash have practically locked me in the house, insisting I need rest, treating me like I’m made of glass. It’s driving me crazy. I know they mean well, but their overprotectiveness is suffocating. I wish you were here to take my side and tell them how ridiculous they’re being.”

“They’re not being ridiculous; you need to focus on taking rest and not working,” I hear that familiar voice and lift my eyes to see Reyansh stepping into the room with flowers and a brownpaper bag in his hand. Instantly, Istraighten my back,and my muscles tense.

“So, you’re also Team Torture Kavya,” I joke, trying to mask the whirlwind of conflicting emotions filling my chest.

“Guilty as charged,” Reyansh quips with a grin. “But only because I care about you, even if it means joining Team Torture Kavya,” he adds, handing me the flowers and the brown paper bag before pulling up a chair and sitting next to me.

“What’s this?” I ask, carefully placing the flowers on the side table and peeking into the bag, which smells delicious, making my mouth water.

“Mom baked chocolate cake for you,” he says as I pull out the cake box from the bag.

“I swear, she’s spoiling me rotten,” I smile, eyeing the cake. “At this rate, I’m going to turn into a balloon!”

“You deserve to be spoiled rotten, and I’m sure you’ll still look beautiful,” he states, causing me to look up at him. I shift in my chair, feeling a flutter in my stomach as his eyes remain fixed on me, confirming that he meant every word.

“I didn’t know you would be dropping by,” I say,trying to change the topic. His lips tip up in a knowing smile, as if he can see right through me.

“You don’t want me here?” he asks, his voice carrying amusement instead of offence.

I shake my head, carefully closing the cake box and placing it next to the flowers. “It’s not that. I just assumed you’d be at the office or busy with something else. I wouldn’t want you to feel obligated to take time off just to check on me.”

“I don’t do things because I am supposed to. I am here because I want to be here,” he assures me softly.

“I really appreciate the flowers and your concern, but I am fine, Reyansh. You don’t have to come every day to check on me,” I whisper.How do I even begin to explain that seeing himis harder on my head and heart than the pain I am recovering from? The flowers might brighten my room, but his presence makes everything so much more complicated.

“I get that you’re fine,but I am not stopping my visits. Let’s not argue about it.”

“Reyansh—” I begin, but he interrupts me.

“What do the doctors say about your sister’s condition?” he asks, nodding his head towards my sister, his voice filled with concern.

“The same thing as before—they don’t know how long it will take for her to wake up. It could be days, months, or even years,” I shrug, stealing a glance at my sister before returning my gaze to him.

“Kavya,” he whispers, and the way he says my name stirs something inside me, making me feel vulnerable and caught up in the moment.

Clearing my throat, I turn to my sister and gently run my hand across her forehead. “You know, when we were kids, there was this time we were playing in the backyard, and she fell off her bike. My parents and I panicked, seeing her hands and legs covered in blood. But she just got up, brushed herself off, and laughed it off like it was no big deal.”I take a deep breath, feeling a lump in my throat. “She’s always been a fighter. Even now, in this coma, I believe in her strength. I know she’s going to fight through this and wake up, just like she always does.”

He takes my hand in his and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “You never cease to amaze me with how you’re dealing with the loss of your parents and now taking care of your sister.”

“I have found my peace with it. Despite the losses, I know I haven’t lost everything; I still have my sister. I hold onto the hope that one day she’ll wake up, and that’s what keeps me going,” I confide, my emotions laid bare as I look into his eyes.

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