NOTE: This chapter explores emotional conflict, blurred boundaries, and choices that may not be morally right.

The story does not glorify cheating, but reflects how complicated human emotions can be.

Not all love stories are clean.

Some are complicated, messy, and aware of their own consequences.
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Idhika's POV continued

I went out, at the same place were last night we smoked, and he was already sitting there, waiting.

As he saw me, he suddenly stood up.

"Hi..", he said, the shortest hi I have ever heard.

I was feeling shy, but still managed to look at him, "Hi.. please sit", I said softly, noticing his lip wound again.

He gestured me to sit first, and as I sat, he sat down too.

"You...wanted to meet?", he said, his voice cracking a little.

"Aah yeah..umm. Sorry for calling you to meet this late.", I said, looking at him.

His eyes were playful, had a small smile on his face.

"What?", I asked him, mock glaring.

"Nothing.. bolo kyun bulaya?", he asked, smiling playfully.

What is he? He is not scared of anything. Idiot!

"First you stop smiling like an idiot", I said, scolding him a bit.

He pressed his lip, "Sorry...I did not mean to. I mean–"

"You mean what huh? What was that message?", I asked him, scolding.

He sat straight, cleared his throat, "If you did not like it, that's ok. I won't say any such things anymore. I just wanted to clarify my intentions. You know, you thought I was a bad person.", He said, straight looking into my eye.

Such a sincere student. I wanted to tame him more. Hahaha.

"Haan ok ok.. I know you are not bad. I thought you were toying with me and Aira.", I said, finding it too difficult to look him in the eye.

He got serious and sad, "I am not. Please, no no. I just... it just happened to me."

"Happened to you? What am I? Weather? Just happened to people?", I teased him, but with a straight face.

"Why are you scolding me?", he asked, jaw slightly tight.

I cleared my throat, "No, that's my tone. Go ahead.", I said.

He kept quiet, observing me, jaw flexing again and again, and then he took out a cigarette.

"You are getting addicted, huh?", I said, smirking.

He lit it up and took a drag, "To you? Yes."

My eyes widened, "Haan? Kya? Phir se bolo."

He chuckled, "Why? Sounded sexy?"

"You are such an idiot.", I sat there, smiling at him, narrowing my eyes. 

He offered me the same cigarette, "A drag?", not smiling but face was softened.

"You know I don't share, right? Why do you offer again and again?", I asked, softly.

He held the cigarette there itself, not retreating, but his eyes said he wanted me to share it.

"Fine, give.", and I took the cigarette.

He leaned forward towards me, "You know you look so unhinged while smoking?"

And as I exhaled the smoke, the air between us became foggy. I coughed a little getting unsettled by his words. 

"Unhinged? You are completely losing it, it seems Mr. Raisingh.", I said, in a low tone, because he was closer.

He took the cigarette from me and took a drag, "Hmm... I know that. I tried to resist. But could not. You were planning to trap Shashank, trying to get him drunk on you.. but it seems—"

"Stop, stop. I can take only that much.", I said, leaning back.

He chuckled, "Ok, I will stop. You look so cute, that I could not control."

He looked at me softly, warm, and something I could not explain.

"You are an emotional person. I am scared you might get hurt, Ranveer.", I said, purely concerned for him. His bruise on the lips gaining my attention.

"Don't worry about that. I will handle everything.", He said, smiling cheekily.

"Acha? Wahh, Aira was right. You are like Mahabharat warrior. Hahaha.", I chuckled at his craziness.

"Jokes aside, do you like what we have or not?", He asked, tilting his head slightly, eyes narrowed, and a fading smile.

My stomach fluttered. How to answer that?

I blinked, and kept quiet.

"Idhika– what are you scared of?", he asked, as if he is way older than me.

"Consequences..", I just said that word.

He looked at me, amused, "Consequences? Woh toh bohot baad ki baat hai. Abhi jo puchha uska toh jawab do."

Yes, I think ahead, I think way ahead. I think about what will happen after 10 years and brace myself for it.

I blinked again, I knew I could trust him, but the guys who broke my trust were floating in my mind.

"Idhika—", he said my name again, softer.

"Yes I do, I mean not like something inappropriate. I like the banter. The cigarette game.", I said, over explaining myself.

He smiled and nodded, "You don't have to explain. I know what we have. You like it is the confirmation I needed.", he said it in a comforting way.

I blinked hard, "Yeah, I like this. Absolutely."

Why was I glitching? You fucking asshole brain of my mine.

He kept staring at my soul, amused, loving, warm. Ugh—

"Stop looking at me like that, as if I am a candy.", I said, rolling my eye.

He chuckled, "Candy? Who compares themselves with a candy, doctor?"

"I mean stop looking at me like that.", I said again.

He leaned forward, "Like what? Say it."

My breath hitched, "Why are you...flirting like this huh?"

"Don't you like it? Tell me honestly.", He said, smiling with his lips pressed.

"Ranveer, you are married, stop this craziness.", I said softly.

He leaned back, "Yeah, sorry....Well, I know I am married, I know I love my wife, but I like teasing you harmlessly, and Aira knows it. What can I do now? How to stop?", he said, with a playful smile.

"I know how much Aira knows, don't fool me.", I looked away.

"Hmmm, already jealous?", He teased me again.

I frowned at him, "What? Jealous? Me? Of Aira? Dream on."

He chuckled, "No? Then why are you afraid of anything. I haven't touched you, did I?"

I shook my head, "No, you didn't", I said, looking down, "But is this really that harmless, Ranveer?", I asked, looking up at him. 

"Idhika, I really don't want anything from you, in fact if you need anything, want anything, just let me know.", He said that line again, the tea stall one. 

"What? You will give me everything? Ok, I want the moon, give.", I said, with sass. 

"Trust me, agar possible hota na, toh zaroor la deta.", he said, with such a soft voice that I wanted to faint.

But all I did was clench my teeth, and swallowed. 

"Also I will be exactly what you want me to be, a friend, a confidante, a....", he paused, "Just don't label me forbidden.", he said, extending his hand.

He felt like a good man.

Too good... for something that didn't feel entirely right.

"I won't. Just don't hurt Aira, or yourself.", I said, and I felt like crying.

"Aira thik rahegi, tum tension mat lo.. and I won't let you get hurt too. You did a lot for me, saved me from that Henry. I really....", he stopped again.

"Why don't you finish the sentences? Aishh..", I said, frowning.

 "Because honestly I never speak this much. Aira was the always the one to talk. She talks, I listen. But with you, you just don't speak, so I have to...", he said, scratching his neck. 

My jaw dropped, nobody, fucking nobody ever told me this. 

How to process this much of deep psychological information? Being a psychiatrist I was baffled seeing his thought process. 

"So I will finish the sentences when I feel you can absorb it fully. Don't worry.", He said, smiling cutely. 

I shook my head and then saw his hand still there, extended. I finally took his hand, "Why didn't you retreat your hand?", I asked.

He brushed my knuckles, "Didn't want to."

 "Its getting late. 10 minutes bola tha, 20 minutes ho gaye. Go back, she is alone.", I said, trying to retreat my hand back, but he held it tighter. 

"I will, just two more minutes.", He said, softly, which made my throat dry.

He held my hand for those few moments, and then gently let go, "I will see you off till your home."

 "It's just....round the corner.", I said, suddenly feeling shy. 

"Still, I want to.", He said and gestured me to walk ahead. We walked in silence, and his hand found mine again, "Don't put a wall like you did with Abhi. Hm?", he muttered near my ear. 

And that moment I knew, I WAS DOOMED. 

I looked up at him, blinking, jaw clenching to not let my emotions leak out, but I nodded, "Hmmm.." 

"Good, jao ab so jao. Good night.", He stood near the gate of my house, letting go of my hand. I nodded, with a smile that I could manage, "Good night. See you tomorrow."

"Wear red, please.", He smiled, boyishly. 

I chuckled, "Ok, fine. Now go, already bohot late ho gaya.", and I walked inside before he could say anything more., but heard his chuckle.
I went to my room, and sat on the bed, blinking on air. My phone buzzed with Abhimanyu's text again. 
"Reply please, are you still not forgiving me?", Abhi texted. 
I saw the notification, and sat there like a doll. 
'I will be what you want me to be', Ranveer's words replayed in my mind. 
I took the phone in my hand. It felt like a crossroad. I had to choose. 
Ranveer was untouchable, he was someone else, but Abhimanyu broke me. I could not choose him. 
I stood up and looked in the mirror. My heart was racing. And then it sparkled, the diamond in my ear, and my lips quivered. 
"If this is wrong... then why does it feel like the only thing that's real?", I muttered under my breath, my voice shaking.

I touched the earring, and it felt like removing it from my body would be like breaking a silent vow. 
A tear rolled down my cheek, and I realised, I was in trouble, and I knew exactly with whom.
I took my phone in my hands, and opened Abhimanyu's chat. 
"Please don't contact me from now onwards. Bye.", I typed the message and sent it to him.

I didn't hesitate.

And that scared me more than anything else.