Page 21 of Shattered

“You are incredibly strong,”he says softly.

“Thanks,” I reply softly, his words sink deep into my heart. I hesitate to label myself as strong because there have been moments when I felt like a coward and indeed broke down. I still remember the nights in my room, tears flowing, my heart nearly giving up. I don’t even know how I’ve made it this far, but somehow, amidst the darkness and pain, I’ve found the strength to keep going.

“Kavya, we need to talk about last night,” he says quietly,his eyes locked onto mine.

I swallow, unsure of what he’s about to say about his date.The last thing I want is for him to know how muchit’s been bothering me.

“What about last night?” I feign nonchalance, trying to appear unaffected, even though my heart is racing. I inhale sharply and brace myself for whatever comes next.

“About you seeing me with Ankita.”

“Oh, that,” I reply, forcing a smile. “It was nice running into you. Ankita seems like a lovely woman. You both make quite a pair,” I add, the words sounding bitterdespite my effort to stay composed.

“Ankita and I are not together,” he clarifies, shaking his head and running his hand through his hair. “It was just a stupid dinner my mom forced me into, and I couldn’t say no.”

“Maybe your mom had this idea of you two together,” I whisper hesitantly. “You know, the whole mom thing, trying to mingle and find the right match for their children,”I reply with a soft smile and add, “I suppose it’s their way of looking out for you on what they think is best.”

“Yeah, a total mom thing,” he says with a chuckle that quickly turns serious. “But I made it clear to my mom that I am not interested in Ankita.”

“I don’t think that will stop her from trying. I bet if my mom were alive, she would have done the same,” I mutter. “Butyou know what’s ironic?Sunita Aunty has stepped into that role, reminding me every day about finding someone.”

“And are you ready to commit yourself to a relationship?” he asks, and I look up at him. The moment our eyes meet, my pulse quickens from the intensity of his gaze, and I find myselfmomentarily speechless. “Tell me, Kavya, are you ready to give your heart?” he repeats, his voice gentle yet probing.

I gulp hard and shake my head. “No, I am not ready. And I never will be. I’ve done that once, and I am still trying to put the pieces of my heart back together. I don’t have it in me to go through that heartache again.”

He nods, a slight smile on his lips. “I understand. You need time to heal, and it’s okay to prioritise your own well-being. But I am here to change your mind. I will make you believe that giving love a chance is worth it all. And I’ll make sure there’s a day when you say with your own lips just how incredible love can truly be.”

“You’re fighting a losing battle,” I say, and his smile broadens into a grin that sends a flutter through my stomach.

“Is that a challenge?” he retorts with a cocky chuckle. “Because I’ll have you know, I’ve never backed down from a challenge, especially when it comes to matters of the heart,” he adds,raising an eyebrow with a confidence that’s hard to ignore.

“It’s not a challenge. I’m just stating the truth,” I clarify, not wanting things to escalate into a contest.I know my heart and feelings are at stake,and I’m afraid of ending up hurt again.

“A truth that I intend to change,” he states, sending a wave of butterflies in my stomach as he reaches out, his fingers gently tucking my hair behind my ears.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask, trying to make sense of everything. The flowers, the time together, and now wanting me to come out of my shell and break the walls I’ve built around my heart.What does it all mean?

“We need to table this talk for another day. I don’t think you are ready for that much honesty as of yet,” he says, and before I can argue, he leans down and kisses my forehead. “I need to go now. I will see you later.”

My throat feels tight as I nod, watching him stand up and head to the door.

“Don’t forget to eat the chocolate cake,” he says over his shoulder, winking before he leaves.

Once he’s out of sight, I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. Almostinstinctively,I lift my hand and run it over my forehead where he kissed me, my heart still somersaulting in my chest. I’m not sure what honesty he’s referring to, but something tells me I’m still not ready to confront the emotions he’s evoking in me. He’s tapping into something deep within, something I’m not prepared to face just yet.

Chapter 10

Reyansh

I kissed her. I kissed Kavya. A simple kiss on her forehead, but I just can’t shake it off. Damn! I sure as hell can’t get it out of my system. It’s been a week, but I can still feel the warmth of her skin lingering on my lips. What hit me even harder was her strength and the way she spoke about her sister—so full of hope and love shining in her eyes. That look did something to me. I can’t explain it, but it made my feelings for her even stronger.

From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was different—a rare angel, someone incredibly special. Her presence fills a void I didn’t even know existed. Now, I can’t imagine my life without her. The thought of losing her is simply unbearable.

A smile spreads across my face as I think of her. We’ve met a few times since then, shared some conversations, and even a few meals. But she has kept me at a distance, and I respect her boundaries, giving her the space she needs. Still, I don’t know how much longer I can hold back before I finally pour my heart out to her. Every part of me wants to be closer to her, to share more than just these fleeting moments.

Pulling up in front of her office, I step out of the car with a grin. She doesn’t know I’m dropping by, and I can’t wait to see her reaction. I made sure to wrap up all my meetings before noon so I could take her out for lunch.If Miss Stubborn agrees, this will be our first lunch date, and I hope to high heaven that she does. I’m craving to spend some alone time with her, just the two of us.I chuckle, remembering how in our last few meetings, she made sure we were never alone. It was always either Sunita Aunty or Akash with us, but never just her and me. I know she is fighting it. She’s apprehensive, perhaps even nervous, about giving us a chance. But I’m determined to break through those barriers she’s put up.

I stop at the reception to ask for Kavya’s office. The young receptionist asks if I have an appointment, but when I flash her my charming smile, saying I’m a friend and that I want to surprise Kavya, she points me in the direction of her office.

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