another chance

Chapter 8

As Raghav finished his speech and scanned the gathered crowd, an overwhelming sense of uneasiness washed over him. The sea of faces felt suffocating, and he realized, with a rising panic, that he was on the verge of a panic attack. The last thing he could afford was to lose control in front of everyone; not only would it jeopardize his business reputation, but it could also impact his custody case with Sunny regarding Rithu. He needed to escape the stage and find a quiet place—fast.

He forced a smile and bid farewell to the assembled audience, introducing his PA to Ramada, the event organizer. "My team will handle everything from here," he assured them, his voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside him. He felt the weight of expectations bearing down as he made his way off the stage.

As he descended the long hallway, a wave of dizziness hit him. Everything around him began to blur, and he quickened his pace, desperate to find a refuge where he could collect himself. Finding a place to hide took longer than he had hoped. Finally, he spotted a rusty door at the end of the corridor, pushing it open and stepping inside the godown. He closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment to catch his breath.

As he turned around, his eyes landed on Pallavi, sitting on a small, broken chair. A rush of relief surged through him; she was like an oasis in a desert of chaos. He raked his fingers through his hair, feeling the tension of the day weighing heavily on him. "I didn't think I'd find anyone here," he murmured, fatigue evident in his voice.

Pallavi looked up, and for a brief moment, their gazes locked, a connection igniting in the air between them. Without a word, he walked closer and sank down beside her, the weight of his body relaxing into the chair. He bent toward her, resting his head on her shoulder, seeking comfort in her presence.

The familiar warmth of her body against him was grounding, and he closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to breathe deeply. "I thought I'd lost it up there," he confessed, his voice muffled against her shoulder. "The crowd... it's too much sometimes."

Pallavi turned her head slightly, her hair brushing against him. "You don't have to pretend with me," she replied softly, her tone soothing. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed."

He let out a shaky breath, grateful for her understanding. In that moment, the pressures of the outside world seemed to fade away, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of peace.

Pallavi jumped at the sudden contact, flinching as Raghav leaned against her. The surprise coursed through her, but as she processed his presence, she relaxed a bit, puzzled by his sudden change in demeanor.

Gently, she shifted him slightly away, though his hand remained entwined with hers. As she focused her gaze on him, she noticed a fleeting softness in his eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by sadness. Swallowing hard, she said, "You're not looking okay."

His jaw tightened at her words, and he looked away, his body trembling slightly. The chill in his hands was palpable, and she realized with a sinking feeling that he was having a panic attack. A sense of urgency washed over her.

"Could you take a deep breath while I count to ten?" she asked, concern etched on her face. He nodded, albeit shakily.

Pallavi began counting slowly, guiding him through each breath. "One... two... three..." She felt a wave of relief as he started to regain control, taking deep breaths with each count. It was true that they had reached a point in their relationship where they seemed to harm each other more than help each other, but now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Seeing him like this tugged at her heart, and instinctively, she inched closer.

At first unsure of what to say, she reached up and wrapped her arm around his neck. Her fingers found their way to the back of his head as he rested his head on her shoulder. In that moment, it didn't matter what had happened between them in the past; all she wanted was for him to be okay.