Page 23 of Shattered

Akash throws his head back and laughs. “Aren’t you being a tad too possessive for a man who still doesn’t know if the woman feels the same?”

His words make my stomach churn, leaving me anxious about whether Kavya feels anything remotely close to what I am experiencing. I shake my head. Despite whatever she might feel, my love for her stands firm and unshakeable.I am determined to win her heart, no matter what it takes.

“Regardless of what she feels for me, you better keep your hands to yourself. Don’t even think about testing my patience,” I warn him,my voice low and firm.

The smile fades from his face, and he gives me a serious look. “Listen, I’ve said it before, and I am saying it again—Kavya and I are just friends. I only look out for her because I care about her,” he shrugs. “You don’t have to waste your time giving me that lecture.”

I let out a sigh. “I don’t doubt that. But can you still keep your damn distance for the sake of my sanity?”

He leans back in his chair and studies me for a moment before speaking. “You do realise that you can’t keep your feelings hidden forever, right?Sooner or later, you’ll have to talk to her. You just can’t go all macho and scare everyone away from her life, especially if she finds someone.”

I run my fingers through my hair. Fuck. The mere thought of her with anyone else feels like a stab in the heart.

“I know,” I admit, feeling a twinge of pain. “I just... I need to find the perfect moment, the right words. I don’t want to rush things or push her into something she’s not ready for. I don’t want to risk scaring her away.”

“I understand and appreciate your consideration for her feelings. However, as far as I know Kavya, I have a feeling that she may never be ready. You need to gently push your way into her heart. Take my advice—don’t delay matters of the heart.”

I nod at him. “I won’t waste any time. I am going to let Kavya know soon that I love her,” I state, fully aware that confessing my love is inevitable. She deserves to know just how much she has touched my heart, how she’s turned my world upside down and transformed me in the best possible way.

A slow smile spreads across my face. It’s time to elevate my game and show her how much she truly means to me.

Chapter 11

Kavya

“I love her.”His words haven’t stopped echoing in my mind, serving as a constant reminder of the turmoil inside me. Getting through lunch and pretending I hadn’t heard anything was sheer torture. The worst part is that it’s been ten days since I overheard his talk with Akash, and since then I’ve been avoiding him like the plague. From locking myself in my room and asking Sunita Aunty to tell him that I was asleep, to pretending to be absorbed in a work call, to interacting with my colleagues whenever he would drop by the office—I’ve found every excuse possible to dodge him. Also, every time Sunita Aunty and Akash brought him up in conversation, I would swiftly change the subject, unable to endure the flutter it brought to my stomach at the mere mention of his name. Ignoring the emotional storm he stirs within me, and convincing myself that avoiding him is for the best, has been harder than I ever imagined, especially since a small part of my heart has started to beat for him.

I know I’m being childish, and I can’t go on like this forever. At some point, I’ll have to confront him and be honest that whatever he’s hoping for, I’m not the one. My life is too complicated to even think about getting involved with anyone,that too with someone like him. He might be a nice guy, but I can’t overlook the fact that he comes from a world of money and luxury, while I’m just a simple girl struggling to make ends meet and taking care of my sister. And no man wants to be with a woman who carries baggage. I hate to use that term for my sister, but it’s the harsh reality from the perspective of society. On top of that, the scars from my previous relationship make it impossible for me to trust in love again.

The thought of bridging that gap between us feels impossible.How could I ever fit into his world? And could he ever truly understand mine?It’s not just about him or me—it’s about the reality we live in. The truth is, our worlds are too different, and we just don’t fit together.

A nagging sense of unease lingers within me, reminding me that the stakes are infinitely higher with Reyansh. While Deepak broke my trust and my heart, Reyansh possesses the power to shatter me completely if I allow myself to fall for him. I can’t afford to let fear break me, especially when my sister depends on me for her life.

My thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of my phone.Glancing at the screen, I see it’s Akash calling. Taking a deep breath, I pick up my phone from the table and answer the call. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Where the hell are you?” he asks,his tone sharp. Afrown creases my brow as I listen to his voice over the phone.It’s Sunday morning, and I don’t have any pending work at the office, so why does he sound so worked up?

“I’m at the coffee shop near my house,” Ireply cautiously,and then I hear him talk to someone in the background, saying,“She’s at the coffee shop near her house.”

“Ugh, Akash, what’s happening? Is everything okay?” I ask, a tinge of worry in my voice.

“Yup, all okay. Reyansh was on the other line. He called me to ask where you were because he went to your house and you weren’t there. So, I told him where to find you.”

“You told him I’m here,” I groan,sitting up straighter in my chair, my eyes scanning the small, empty coffee shop that I’d come to for some peace and quiet.It seems I’m out of luck for both.

“Hey, he didn’t give me much of a choice. He was getting on my nerves asking about you, and I wasn’t in the mood to ruin my Sunday getting interrogated by him,” he explains.

I run my fingers over my forehead, frustrated. “So, you thought it would be okay to ruin my Sunday?”

“What’s the problem exactly, Kavya?” Akash’s voice rings in my ear, and I inhale shakily.

“Can we talk about this later? Right now, I need to make myself invisible,” I say, my eyes darting around the coffee shop as I desperately search for a hidden exit. Thankfully, I picked a table tucked in the corner, so hopefully, he won’t notice me.

“I doubt there’s a way for you to slip past that hawk’s piercing gaze,” he chuckles, and I groan, knowing he’s right but too irritated to accept it.

“Can you please give it a rest for once and stop annoying me?”

“Well, I can’t help it; it’s what I am best at,” he playfully retorts.

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