Page 116 of Glass Jawed
Then she lifts her chin and levels me with a glare. A single finger rises like a blade, aimed straight at my chest.
“You. Need. To leave. Go back to Canada.”
My throat tightens.
“Listen, man!” another guy pipes up—the one still clinging to Ishi. “You heard her. She saidleave. I don’t know who you are, but Rohi’s like a sister to me. Soon-to-besister-in-law,actually. So maybe walk away before this gets worse.”
I nod, slowly. I can feel it—every stare, every tense posture. The air’s thick with testosterone and barely-contained rage. Every guy here’s ready to throw fists for her.
Including the one whokissedher. Who’s still glaring at me like he wants to kill me.
And Aarohi...
She doesn’t look angry anymore.
She just looks tired.
“Go,” she says finally, her voice quiet, almost weary. “I don’t know why you’re here. And I don’t care.”
That last part guts me.
I swallow the ache, nodding once. “Of course. I’m... sorry I ruined your night.”
Then I turn and walk away.
Because staying would be worse.
And because if I don’t leave now, I might drop to my knees—audience be damned—and start begging for her to listen.
An hour later, I’m back in my hotel room. It’s nice but severely stark. The emptiness—the unfamiliarity—is suffocating.
I’m about to head to bed, maybe start looking for flights when the text comes. It’shernotification tone.
Fuck.
Aarohi: Whyyy did yyoi show up here???
I blink at the screen. Everything is off. She’s probably still drunk. But the anger? Crystal clear.
Me: Because I wanted to see you. I thought maybe if we talked, you’d understand everything better.
A few seconds pass.
Aarohi: I asked alll the questins I had that day.. Remember
Me: I know. But you didn’t ask the why.
Aarohi: what why fuck ypu
I exhale slowly, sinking back into the cheap hotel bed. My head throbs from earlier, from the jet lag, the verbal punches, the regret.
Me: You’re drunk. You need rest. We can talk tomorrow. I’ll be here whenever you want answers.
The typing bubble disappears. Then, my screen lights up—FaceTime Audio. Her name flashes like a warning. Or a lifeline.
I answer. “Aarohi?”
Silence. Just faint rustling. Then... a soft, broken sniffle.
