He turned at the sound of the soft, melodious voice, as soothing as a lullaby. A sweet girl no older than seventeen came running toward him, her breath heavy from exertion.
"Here," she said between gasps, holding out an umbrella.
His gaze fell on her small hands clutching the handle, but what caught his attention more was the sight of her drenched figure. Rain dripped from her hair, her clothes clinging to her frame, yet her innocent, doe-like eyes brimmed with concern.
"You didn't have to do this, Siya," he murmured.
Without waiting for a response, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shivering frame. But instead of regret, a soft blush painted her wet cheeks, and a radiant smile stretched across her lips.
"Of course, I had to. I have to take care of my boyfriend, right, Mr. Ishaan?" she teased, her voice brimming with joy.
Siya had loved Ishaan for as long as she could remember, and now, finally, she could say those words out loud.
Ishaan looked into her shining eyes, a chuckle escaping him as he gently pinched her chubby cheeks. "Not like this, girlfriend," he said playfully. "You need to take care of yourself, too."
She reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers with a warmth that even the cold rain couldn't steal away. "I don't have to," she whispered. "Because I know I have you. And you have me."
************************
Present Day
Ishaan's Age: 25
Siya's Age: 21
"Can you please fucking stop this, Siya?"
"But—"
Siya reached for his hand, but before she could touch him, the sharp sound of a vase shattering against the floor made her flinch.
"It's fucking irritating. You are fucking irritating!" Ishaan's voice thundered through the room, each word slashing at her like a blade.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Yes, now cry! That's all you women know how to do—cry, cry, and cry!" His glare bore into her. "Why can't you just let me fucking breathe for a second?"
Siya clenched her fists, taking a shaky breath. She knew why he was angry, but she hadn't meant for this to happen. "I—I didn't mean to—"
"Didn't mean to? Do you even understand the consequences of your actions?!" he snapped. "Do you know how important that business file was? The one you carelessly spilled juice on? And all for what? This stupid birthday party you threw for me?"
He grabbed her wrist. "You knew I hate celebrating my birthday, yet you—"
"I-I just wanted you to relax," she stammered, her voice quivering. "You've been so stressed these days with work and—"
"I'm not stressed because of work, Siya!" His words came cold and sharp. "I'm stressed because of you. Your stupid love, your clinginess, your idiotic attempts to make me happy! This—this is not what I need. Your dumb actions won't bring me investors or help my startup succeed!"
He let go of her wrist as if even touching her was unbearable. Siya's breath hitched, tears slipping down her soft, chubby cheeks.
"I—I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She knew he hated birthdays, but how could she ignore this day of the person she loved most? All she wanted was to ease his burden, to give him a moment of joy amidst his never-ending stress. She never imagined he would explode like this—especially over an accident. She hadn't even realized the file was important.
Her heart clenched at his next words.
"Leave."
She looked up at him, wide-eyed, not believing what she had just heard.
He stared back, his expression unreadable. "Get out of my apartment, Siya. I'm not in the mood to talk, and I have to redo that damn file."
He turned away, walking to his room without sparing her another glance, leaving her standing alone amid the birthday decorations she had so lovingly put together.
Fucking Happy Birthday.
************************
One Week Later
"C'mon, Siya, don't lose hope so soon!" came a voice from her phone.
Siya sighed as she navigated the streets on her way home after yet another failed job interview. The evening sun bathed her face in warm golden hues.
"I know bhai can be terrifying at times, but I promise you, he loves you," the voice continued. It was Anu, Ishaan's younger sister.
Siya blinked. "Di, how did you—?"
"I left my purse at his apartment on his birthday," Anu admitted hesitantly. "When I went back to get it... I overheard you two arguing. Or rather, him screaming at you."
Siya swallowed. Were they really that loud that night? She sighed, knowing Anu wouldn't tell anyone.
"Trust me, Siya," Anu pressed. "He loves you. It's just... after Ma and Baba passed away, everything changed. Bhai has so many responsibilities now—to take care of me, Dadi, Dadu, and his startup. He's under so much pressure."
Siya remained silent, gripping the steering wheel tightly. A week had passed, and Ishaan hadn't reached out. Not once. It was as if he had vanished. Never in their four years together had he ignored her like this.
She knew Anu was right. Ishaan's parents had died in an accident a few months ago—it was the worst day of his life. The weight of their family now rested on his shoulders.
"He's frustrated," Anu continued, "and you became the easiest target for his anger. I'm not excusing him, but... give him some time. He'll come back. He'll realize he was wrong. My bhai might be an idiot, but he would never intentionally hurt you."
Anu ended the call, leaving Siya to her thoughts.
Siya sighed, gripping the phone in her lap. She wanted to believe Anu. She wanted to believe that Ishaan would reach out.
But then...
Why did she feel this awful dread in her heart?
A gut-wrenching fear that something worse was waiting for her?
She had spent years loving Ishaan. She couldn't imagine a life without him.
From the moment they had become neighbors, from the moment she had first gotten to know him, he had stolen her heart.
He was the heartthrob of their school, but that wasn't why she loved him. She loved him for who he was beneath it all. And when he confessed his feelings for her, it was the happiest day of her life.
Even when he went off to college while she remained in school, she had feared—feared that he would find someone better. Someone prettier. Someone not little chubby like her. But he didn't.
And that made her love him even more.
But now...
The shrill ring of her phone startled her. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn't even realized she was parked in front of her house.
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