Page 7 of Shattered

“Fine, I’ll go,” I finally say, watching both of their faces light up with glee.

“Thank you so much, Kavya. I’ll be here at seven to pick you up,” Akash says, planting a kiss on my cheek before rising to kissAunty on hers. “And thank you so much, Aunty, for helping me convince this tough nut.”

“Anything for you, son,” Aunty smiles warmly at him before her expression turns serious. “Just make sure my daughter here learns to enjoy her life, which she seems to have forgotten.” My heart catches in my throat at her words. I know what she’s hinting at. The past few months have been nothing but amonotonous routine of home and office. But I don’t have any complaints, though. I am doing this for the ones I love, and I’ll gladly continue to do it for the rest of my life if I have to.

“I will make sure of it, Aunty,” Akash gives her hand a promising squeeze before turning to me with a wink. “Be ready on time to have the time of your life,” he adds playfully.

I groan. “Why do I get the feeling that I’ll regret agreeing to this?”

“I promise you won’t,” Akash assures me before bidding goodbye and walking out of the room.

I feel Aunty’s eyes on me, studying me intently. Nervously, I pick up the tea mug from the side table and deliberately avoid her gaze. I can sense what’s on her mind, and it’s something I don’t wish to discuss.

“Kavya...” she begins, but I cut her off.

“God, Aunty, your tea is like a lifeline for me. I can’t start my day without it,” I say, not wanting her to bring up the topic I am trying to avoid like the plague. “Actually, after breakfast today, could you teach me that paneer curry rice recipe of yours? I’ve been dying to learn it. I...” I continue to ramble, but Aunty’s voice interrupts me this time.

She sits beside me, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. “Don’t stop living, Kavya.”

I let out a nervous laugh as I grip the tea cup tightly in my hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Aunty. Of courseI am living my life. I have a great job, I have Nisha, I have you—what else do I need?”

“You knowexactlywhat I mean. But if you want me to spell it out, I will. You need to go out and meet people, enjoy your life beyond these four walls,” she asserts.

“How Aunty? Tell me, howam I supposed to do that when my sister is lying in bed? How do I make my heart forget her pain and prioritise my own happiness? How do I be so selfish? How do I forget everything and live normally as if I haven’t lost anything?” I murmur, feeling the tears burn my eyes and my heart lodged in my throat.

“Kavya, I know you’ve been through a lot, but it’s important to remember to keep living your life. And that doesn’t make you selfish. But caging yourself like this isn’t fair to you, and it’s not fair to the people who love and care for you. This isn’t what Nisha or your parents would want,” Aunty says softly, then adds, “You deserve to be happy and to find someone who truly cares for you.”

“I just don’t know if I am ready, Aunty. It’s so hard,” I confess,squeezing my eyes shut to hold back the tears, but they escape anyway. After Deepak, opening my heart again feels impossible, and Aunty knows that very well. She’s aware of Deepak and my history.

I feel Aunty’s hand on my cheek, and my eyes open as she wipes away my tears.

“I understand,but letting sadness control your life isn’t the answer. You need to open your heart and find the one meant for you.”

I force myself to breathe, feeling my heart hammering hard in my chest. “After Deepak, I feel stuck. I am scared to put myself out there again. I don’t think I can bring myself to trust another man with my broken heart. I am just afraid of getting hurt again,” I admit, my voice trembling with vulnerability.

Aunty nods her head. “It’s perfectly okay to be scared, but don’t let that fear hold you back. Don’t allow a single bad experience to haunt you for the rest of your life. Remember, life is all about taking chances. You’ll never find true happiness if you don’t take that leap. Trust me, there’s someone out there who will cherish and love you the way you deserve to be loved. And I just know it; one day, you will find that love.”

I look into her eyes. “I’ll try, Aunty. I’ll try to be brave.”

“That’s all I ask, my dear. And remember, I’ll always be here to support you through everything,” she reassures me with a comforting smile.

“Thank you, Aunty,” I whisper, my lips trembling and eyes brimming with tears as I hug her tightly. Her hands move gently through my hair, and I close my eyes, lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. It’s not that I don’t long for love, but after everything I’ve been through, trusting again feels like an insurmountable task. A part of me dreamsof a fairy tale romance—for someone who understands and cherishes me—but another part is consumed by fear, wary of being hurt again. Aunty’s words stir a faint glimmer of hope, but deep down, I know that I’ve built walls around my heart that may never fully come down.

Chapter 4

Reyansh

The loud, shrill sound of the alarm fills the room,jolting me awake, and I groan in frustration. Rolling over, I hit the snooze button and squint at the clock on the nightstand before sitting up straight with a jerk.

“Shit, it’s eleven already! I need to be at my parents’ house in an hour,”I mutter under my breath, pressing my fingersagainst my throbbing forehead. Goddamn, I am still exhausted from last night. Fuck I haven’t drunk so much in ages, and now my damn body is paying the price. My head throbs like a drum, my mouth feels like it’s filled with sand, and every muscle in my body aches as it’s been through a hurricane.

I run my hands down my face as memories of last night flicker through my mind. Alcohol. Loads of alcohol. Women. Dancing. Kisses... and…… Pulling in a deep breath I glance to my right and find the bed is empty. I sit still, listening for any sounds from the bathroom, but I hear nothing. I then glance down and see that I am still dressed in my clothes from last night, not naked. Phew! I finally let out a sigh of relief. “Thank heavens.” The last thing I wanted was to wake up with some random hookup.

I swing my legs over the bed and head into the bathroom. After doing my morning chores, I strip out of my clothes and stand under the hot shower. The water cascades over me, soothing my tired muscles and washing away the remnants of the previous night. After a few minutes, I grab the white towel and dry myself off, feeling a bit more human. Once dressed in my jeans and t-shirt, I grab my mobile and walk out of my room, only to find Aditya sitting by the kitchen barstool with his black coffee.

“How’s the hangover?” I smirk, making my way inside the kitchen towards the coffee machine.

He lifts his finger to his forehead. “God, I am never drinking so much again...My head feels like it’s about to explode, and I am pretty sure I am dying.”

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