The Twisted Knots

28

"Kabir, I am really sorry," I said, my voice wavering with emotion.

Kabir looked up from his coffee, concern flickering across his face. "What's wrong?"

"I owe you an apology," I began, feeling the weight of my words. "I didn't believe you when you said you didn't cheat on me. I let doubt cloud my judgment, and I'm sorry."

Kabir's eyes softened as he reached out to gently touch my hand. "I understand why you doubted me. It wasn't easy to hear, but I don't blame you for questioning."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I met his gaze. "You've always been there for me, Kabir. I should have trusted you."

He squeezed my hand reassuringly. "It's okay. What matters now is how we move forward."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Kabir's lips. "I've never stopped caring about you Tara. And if you want to leave Yash, I'll be here for you. We can figure things out together, even if it means running away from all of this."

A chuckle left my mouth. "Thank you for the offer, Kabir but I really like Yash and want him in my future."

As I uttered the words, expressing my unwavering love for Yash, I couldn't help but notice the flicker of disappointment in Kabir's eyes. It was as if a cloud passed over the warmth that usually radiated from them, leaving behind a shadow of sadness.

"I understand," he said softly, his voice tinged with resignation. "Yash is a lucky man to have your love."

The weight of his words settled heavily on my heart, and I reached out instinctively to touch his arm, hoping to ease the ache of rejection I saw reflected in his gaze.

"Kabir, I hope you know that it's not because I don't care about you," I said earnestly, searching for the right words to convey my feelings. "You've been such an important part of my life, and I value our time together more than anything."

A bittersweet smile touched Kabir's lips, but I could see the pain behind it. "I know, and I cherish that too. I just... I had hoped for something more. How it was supposed to be. You and me."

The weight of his unspoken longing hung between us, heavy with the weight of missed opportunities and unfulfilled desires. I wished I could take away his pain, but I knew that some wounds ran too deep to be healed with mere words.

"Kabir, please don't be upset," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper. "I just need some time to figure things out with Yash. But no matter what happens, you'll always have a special place in my heart."

He nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor as he struggled to mask his disappointment. "I understand. Just know that I'll be here for you, no matter what."

"I know,"

As I sat in the cozy corner of the café, sipping on my delicious cup of coffee, I couldn't help but notice the sparse crowd around me. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the soft chatter of the few patrons scattered throughout the space.

I glanced around, puzzled by the lack of bustling activity in such a charming café. The décor was inviting, with warm earth tones and comfortable seating arrangements, yet the place seemed oddly deserted.

I look next to me and find Riya busy typing in her phone. Upon seeing me, she closes her phone and puts it aside.

"Riya, I just can't bring myself to talk to Yash after what happened," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly as I stirred my coffee, avoiding her gaze.

Riya placed a comforting hand on my arm, her eyes filled with concern. "I understand, but if you want to sort things out with him, you need to have a conversation with him."