Ruhi stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on the entrance of the dimly lit café. Every second that passed gnawed at her nerves. She had sent the message. Now, all she had to do was wait.
The chime of the doorbell made her heart jump, but as she looked up, disappointment flickered in her eyes. It wasn't Abhi. Instead, Aarav strolled in, his usual smug expression in place. He spotted her immediately and made his way to the table, sliding into the seat opposite her.
"Didn't think I'd be getting a call from you, Ruhi," he remarked, propping his elbow on the table. "You usually pretend I don't exist."
Ruhi let out a slow breath, masking her frustration with a forced smile. "I needed someone to talk to."
Aarav's smirk deepened. "Must be bad if you're turning to me."
She shot him a warning glance but decided against snapping. Instead, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "Abhi's slipping away from me. I can feel it."
Aarav scoffed. "What, the great Ruhi finally facing some competition?"
Ruhi's grip on her cup tightened. "I don't lose, Aarav. And I'm not about to start now."
He tilted his head, studying her with mild amusement. "You actually love him, don't you?"
Ruhi let out a quiet chuckle. "Love? That's a fairytale emotion for fools."
Aarav leaned forward. "Then why are you so desperate?"
She met his gaze, her voice chillingly steady. "Because Abhi isn't just a person. He's an opportunity. A golden one. And I won't let anyone take him from me."
Aarav let out a low whistle. "Damn, Ruhi. You're ruthless."
She shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. "I prefer 'ambitious.'"
Their conversation was quiet, almost lost in the low hum of the café. But not quiet enough.
Behind the counter, a barista, who had just been wiping down the counter, stiffened. Eyes flicking toward Ruhi and Aarav, their hands faltered slightly as they continued cleaning-pretending not to have heard, but making a mental note of every word.
And in the farthest corner of the café, a figure sat in eerie stillness, fingers gripping the phone screen so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His jaw was clenched, expression unreadable.
He had come to meet Ruhi, to try and mend the growing distance between them. But now-
Now, all he could do was listen as the girl he thought he loved unraveled the truth before him.
The air around him felt heavy, suffocating, as the weight of realization settled in his chest.
Abhi had heard everything.
The golden illusion he had been living in had just shattered.
And Ruhi had no idea that the floor beneath her feet was about to crack wide open.
.....to be continued.....