Chapter 38 Unspoken Pain
She is wearing jeans and a light sky-blue top. Her hair flows freely in the breeze, and her face looks incredibly cute and innocent. For a moment, Karan can’t take his eyes off her. There is nervousness in her eyes, yet her innocence instantly touches his heart. Somewhere, in that single glance, Karan feels drawn to her. Maybe he already likes her or at the very least, he knows he wants to help her.
He slows his car, rolls down the window, and calls out gently, “Hey… are you okay? What are you doing out here alone at this hour?”
The girl looks startled but replies softly, “My phone fell and broke… I couldn’t book a cab. I was just trying to walk home it’s nearby.”
Karan thinks, A girl this cute, all alone at this hour? That’s not safe at all.
He says kindly, “Come on, I’ll drop you. Let me take you somewhere safe.”
She hesitates for a second, then looks into Karan’s eyes. She sees only sincerity and concern. Slowly, she nods.
Karan opens the car door for her. She sits inside, and her soft, innocent smile hits his heart again like a gentle wave.
Most of the drive passes in silence, with soft music playing in the background. Karan keeps glancing at her, unable to stop himself. She’s so simple… so pure… absolutely adorable, he thinks.
After a while, she points ahead. “Take a right here… that building.”
Karan stops the car. As she steps out, she looks at him and says sincerely, “Thank you. Not many people would help like this. I really appreciate it.”
Still mesmerized, Karan manages to say, “Take care… and next time, don’t go out alone so late.”
As she turns to leave, Karan quickly calls out with a smile, “Wait… at least tell me your name. I just gave a stranger a ride at midnight, and I don’t even know her name.”
She blushes slightly, then smiles. “R… Riya Sharma.”
Karan repeats softly, “Riya Sharma… even your name is as simple and sweet as you.”
Riya looks down shyly and asks, “And you?”
With a playful grin, he replies, “Karan Rajput.”
Her eyes sparkle as she says, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Rajput.”
Watching her walk away, Karan thinks, Nice to meet you, Miss Sharma… Riya quietly goes inside her building and up to her flat.
The night air is cool, and the sky above is clear, filled with softly sparkling stars. Karan, Neeti, and Ruhi stand on the terrace. There is no coffee in their hands, but their laughter fills the air. Karan reminisces about old memories, Ruhi teases him playfully, and Neeti listens with a gentle smile. Between them lies a peaceful, unspoken comfort one that exists only among family.
Downstairs in the hall, Vihan sits alone. He still doesn’t have the courage to join them. His heart aches under a silent weight. After a moment, he gathers himself and thinks, The least I can do is make them coffee. Maybe it won’t fix anything but it’s something.
He walks into the kitchen and carefully prepares three cups of coffee with his own hands. His fingers tremble slightly perhaps from regret, perhaps from loneliness. Placing the cups neatly on a tray, he heads toward the terrace.
The moment Vihan steps onto the terrace, the laughter dies. Karan, Neeti, and Ruhi fall silent. They look at him but say nothing.
Sensing the heaviness, Vihan forces a faint smile. “You’re upset with me I understand. But what did this poor coffee do?” His voice is soft, carrying pain he cannot hide.
Ruhi glances at him briefly, then turns to Karan and Neeti. Her voice is cold. “Let’s go downstairs.”
Without even looking at the tray, Karan and Ruhi stand to leave. Neeti rises with them but pauses. Quietly, she reaches for a cup of coffee.
Vihan’s eyes widen in surprise. “Thank you, Neeti…” Relief flickers in his voice, as if that small act gives him hope.
But Neeti breaks his heart with her words. She takes a sip, looks at Karan and Ruhi, and gestures for them to leave. They walk away, leaving only Vihan and Neeti beneath the starlit sky. Vihan searches her eyes for hope but finds only distance.
Finally, Neeti speaks, her voice firm, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I don’t know why you made this coffee. I only took it because you’ve done a lot for me since childhood. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even want to see the face of the man who took my brother from me.”
Her words pierce Vihan. His face pales, his eyes dim. Neeti places the cup on the table and turns to leave.
Vihan’s voice cracks behind her. “Child… please… just talk to me for a moment.”
She turns slowly. “Don’t ask me how I am,” she says, pain shaking her voice. “Can someone be okay without their own? My only brother is gone. I have no real family left. How can I be okay?”
Every word stabs Vihan’s heart. He rushes toward her desperately. “No, child… don’t say that. Blood and bonds are not different. You have Mom, Dad, Ruhi, Karan and me. You are family. You are my most beloved sister.”
Neeti turns her face away. “All of those relationships on one side… and my Samar brother on the other.” With that, she walks away.
Vihan remains frozen. Tears fill his eyes as he looks up at the stars. Slowly, he sinks onto the terrace floor, consumed by guilt and silence.
Neeti enters her room quietly. Darkness surrounds her, broken only by moonlight slipping through the window. Restlessness fills the space.
She closes the door and sits on the edge of the bed. One face fills her mind Shorya’s.
Memories of their silent moments swirl in her thoughts. Moments when she felt a delicate bond connecting them. But a cruel truth strikes her that bond existed only for me.
Her chest tightens. She pulls out a photo frame Shorya’s picture. Tears fall the moment she looks at it. She presses the frame to her chest. No one can take away her love for him
.