HEALING A BROKEN HEART

HEALING A BROKEN HEART
It had been seven days since Rishabh showed up on Avani's doorstep, and every morning since then, she received flowers with 'Good Morning' messages. Initially, she would toss them out, but after five days, Avani started accepting them. It was just a regular office day; her leaves were approved, and her work-from-home application was also granted. She had even booked her tickets to go home in five days.

Today had been a hectic day at the office, and by the time Avani left, it was already 9 o'clock at night. She closed her laptop, gathered her belongings, and stepped out of the office building, hoping to find a cab or rickshaw. As she checked her phone for cab availability, she noticed a black Audi pulling up in front of her. A specially customized car with the number plate having an Army tag, she instantly recognized it. It was Rishabh's car.

Rishabh stopped the car next to her and Avani did everything in her power to avoid his intimidating presence. Rishabh lowered down the glass window of passenger seat.

"Come, I will drop you," he said, looking incredibly handsome and devilish, just like always.

"Avani, gather yourself. He is married, remember?" she reminded herself.

"No," she replied firmly looking at him, returning her attention to her phone.

"It's late, and the city isn't safe at this hour. Please, I'll drop you," he insisted, stepping out of the car.

"I'm used to traveling alone even at this hour in this city. Please go, and don't worry about me," she responded, this time with a harsh tone. "So, you're not coming?" he asked, his tone taking on a warning edge.

"You heard me. I am not coming with you," she asserted firmly. Moments later, he got out of the car, slammed the driver's seat door, and walked toward her. He firmly grasped her wrist, dragging her to the passenger side of the car and made her sit down before closing the door behind her. He swiftly climbed into the driver's seat before she could react and locked the doors.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed; her arms crossed grumpily.

He chuckled and leaned closer. "You're still my little baby," he said, looking at her face.

"I'm not your baby," she said with a grumpy face, pouting her lips. She realized his closeness and closed her eyes, pressing herself more towards the seat. He took the seatbelt, his breath fanning her lips. He stopped in front of her lips, and her lips parted with so much closeness. She kept her eyes closed. She heard the sound of her seatbelt and suddenly lost the warmth that was an inch close to her. She opened her eyes and controlled her wild heartbeats, looking outside the window and avoiding his gaze. It was a 40-minute drive from her home. There was an awkward silence in the car, and she was in no mood to even listen to his explanations.

"I am not married, I don't have a wife, no other girl is there in my life except you. I lied to you," Rishabh confessed, revealing everything all at once. He kept his gaze fixed on the road, gripping the steering wheel tightly with his slender, long fingers.

Avani looked at him in utter shock. "Why did he lie to me? Why? Is he even telling the truth now?" she wondered.

"It's okay, Rishabh," she said with a cold tone. "You know what? Don't bother to explain why you broke up with me. It's been one year. You didn't tell me the real reason that day. So don't bother now. I can see you've moved on with your life, and so have I. To start with, I've told my parents, and they're already looking for a marriage match for me."

He suddenly hit the brakes and pulled the car over to the side of the road. Avani jerked in her seat with the sudden stop. She could see the anger in his eyes, but words seemed to fail him. He didn't say anything and resumed driving.

They reached her apartment, and Avani opened the passenger-side door, stepping out of the car.

"Thanks for the lift. And goodbye, Rishabh," she said, closing the door to his Audi and quickly turning around. She hurriedly entered her society's gate. She didn't want to look back; she knew he was standing

there, waiting for her. If she turned around, she'd forgive him, because she still loved him like crazy. She didn't dare to look into his eyes, as they would make her fall for him all over again. Tears flowed like a river from her eyes.

Is it the end of our “Forever?”, A sudden thought touched her mind giving excruciating pain to her already shattered heart.

Avani hurriedly entered the elevator of her building. As she reached her apartment door, she raised her hand to ring the doorbell, but before she could, Smriti opened the door.

"I know who dropped you today," Smriti said.

"Yes, he dropped me," Avani replied, dropping her bag on the couch. She sat on the sofa and closed her eyes, resting her head on the back of the sofa.

Smriti took a seat on the opposite sofa. "Avani, I know what you are going through. But before making any decision, just listen to him once. Give him one chance. Listen to his side, why he did it. He loved you like crazy all these years, and a sudden change of heart wouldn't be possible. I know you've told your parents, and they are looking for your marriage. But will you ever be able to live happily if the person you're going to spend your whole life with, is not Rishabh?" Smriti asked, taking Avani's hand in hers.

Avani listened carefully, unable to stop thinking about the day he broke up with her. He had cruelly broken up, turning her world upside down, and now he had come back asking for a second chance. She loved him, but he had hurt her, shattering her beyond repair.

"He lied to me, Smriti. He broke my trust in one go," Avani said, then went to her room.

'Does anyone know what plan destiny has for us?' She wondered.

In her room, she threw herself on the bed, covering her face with her hands. She really wanted to shoot some baskets on the basketball court to vent her anger, but it was already too late. So, she put on her sports bra and leggings, started the music, and began to dance. Music and dance had helped her a lot over the last year, keeping her sane and balanced. She started the music and danced to its rhythm, finding it like meditation.

With her eyes closed, Rishabh's face kept appearing in front of her, his words echoing in her head. "I am not married, I lied to you, I don't have any other girl in my heart."

She opened her eyes, her thoughts clouded with his words. She sat on the ground, defeated, folded her knees close to her face, and buried her face in them. The only question she had now, for which she needed answers, was...

'Why did you lie?'