The Moon to my night

40

∞ I was gone∞

Rudransh Singh Chauhan

"I can't do this, Bhai!" Abhir exclaimed loudly, causing me to glance over at Aradhaya, who was standing in the corner with a smirk, clearly pleased with how things were unfolding.

"Abhir, you need to learn. Rohan and Miss Rajvansh will help you wherever you feel the need," I tried to reassure him, but he was adamant. "No, at least I need mental preparation of two weeks," he countered, adding to his list of demands.

"Of course, he's right. Someone from a non-business background will need time to understand a project he's handed," Aradhaya chimed in with a seemingly professional demeanor, though the amused glances she exchanged with Abhir suggested otherwise.

"He's an MBA," I retorted, trying to keep things on track, but Abhir just sulked. "An MBA with a 6.2 CGPA. You know how I passed it," he shrugged, sinking into the sofa.

"Okay, two weeks. I'll give you all the needed reports on this project. You should be thorough with it in that time. Until then, I'll handle it with Miss Rajvansh," I conceded, noting the triumphant smiles on their faces—clearly, they had planned this.

"Abhir, you're free to go now," Aradhaya said brightly, giving him a high five. He hugged her and left the room, leaving us alone to discuss the project.

"We need to discuss the finances and fix the six-month estimate," she said, approaching me with measured steps.

"We can do it tomorrow morning," I suggested, settling back into my chair, but she had other ideas.

"No, it's urgent. We only have two weeks. So after you finish here, come to the penthouse. We'll go over it there, and I can cook you dinner too," she insisted, her face glowing with excitement.

I hesitated, knowing it would be difficult to say no to her enthusiasm. "No, it can be done tomorrow," I tried again.

"No, I want to do it today," she insisted, her stubbornness showing.

"Okay, but no dinner," I relented, trying to set a boundary.

"I'll see about that. Be there by six," she said, leaving the room humming a song, clearly in high spirits. I couldn't help but wonder what had made her so happy.

I was left alone in the four walls of my office, feeling them close in on me. Last night, after Aahana told me about what happened with her seven years ago, after she left the club, after I let her go, my world was shattered. I couldn't help but blame myself for being the cause of her pain. Nothing would have happened if I had stopped her, if only I had kept her with me, if only I had not let my ego take charge. She was right to hate me all this time, to not love me anymore, because I deserved every bit of it. Her hate, her anger, her despise for me—everything was justified after last night.

It was obvious that my presence suffocated her. Every time she saw me, she saw the cause of her pain without even realizing the damage I had done to her. How hurt she must have been, and here I was, a stupid idiot, trying to get things right between us when she was right—nothing can get right between us. Even if she forgives me for what I did, I could never forgive myself for being the reason she was in a coma for a full month and I wasn't there. She's right—what now and why now? When I wasn't there with her when she needed me the most, why would she need me anymore? No wonder she hated every second of my presence near her. I should have thought, I should have understood, but as usual, I was too full of myself to see the blunder I was making.

So I finally stepped back, even though it was killing me. I don't deserve her. She doesn't deserve to go through the hurt I always cause her. No matter how much I love her, I can't change the fact that my love destroyed her love for me, and I can't get it back. It's her kindness that she acts so cordial around me, around the person who hurt her multiple times.