The Twisted Knots

37.

Rajveer's car came to a stop in front of my house, and I fumbled with my seatbelt, unable to unlock it. His chuckle filled the air as he leaned closer to me, his presence sending a shiver down my spine.

With a deft motion, he reached over to unlock the belt, his proximity making me acutely aware of how close we were. My heart raced as I tried to focus on anything but his mesmerizing gaze and perfectly sculpted features.

"Why am I looking at his face?" I wondered silently, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Before I could regain my composure, the belt clicked open, and Rajveer remained in his position, his intense gaze fixed on me.

Unconsciously, I bit my lip, a nervous habit that betrayed my unease. His smile vanished, replaced by an unreadable expression as his eyes lingered on my lips. Feeling exposed under his scrutiny, I quickly averted my gaze, only to find relief when he retreated to his seat.

As I reached for the door handle, Rajveer's voice broke the silence, his words cutting through the tension in the air. "Tara, I need to talk to you," he began, his tone serious.

I turned to face him, uncertain of what he was about to say. "What is it, Rajveer?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I need you to understand that Yash isn't a bad person," Rajveer stated firmly, his gaze unwavering. "He loves you more than anything, and he only acted out of concern for you."

I listened, my mind reeling at his unexpected defense of his brother.

Rajveer's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his expression pained. "He told me about that incident in the park. Yash was beside himself with worry when you didn't talk to him for days.," he explained. "He didn't sleep for nights, Tara. He only cared about your well-being."

His words struck a chord within me, and I felt a pang of guilt for not considering Yash's perspective sooner. "Yash told you about that?" I asked, surprised by his revelation.

Rajveer nodded solemnly. "Yes, he did. He was devastated that you were upset with him," he admitted. "But Tara, I believe Yash did the right thing. If it were me, I would have done the same and much worse. That guy would not be alive right now."

I felt a chill run down my spine at his words, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Thank you for the ride, Rajveer," I murmured, my voice trembling slightly. With a quick nod, I hurried out of the car, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere and make sense of the conflicting emotions swirling within me.

As I stepped into the familiar surroundings of my home, relief washed over me to find that Yash was no longer there. My parents had returned, their concerned gazes meeting mine as they inquired about my whereabouts. Before I could respond, Kalpana interjected, providing a simple explanation that I had been with Yash.

Grateful for her intervention, I offered Kalpana a silent nod of thanks as my father remained silent, his expression unreadable. Sensing the tension in the air, I made a hasty retreat to my room, desperate to escape the prying eyes and lingering questions.

***

Before me stood an old, rusty apartment building, its weary appearance telling stories of bygone days. Windows were boarded up, paint peeled off the weathered walls.

I double-checked the address Shrestha had sent, confirming it was correct. With a quick call, I hoped to clarify her exact location, but she didn't answer. Odd. I messaged her my arrival and received a swift reply: "Flat no. 303."