Aakrati didn't remember standing up.
One moment she was sitting there, frozen, every word cutting deeper than the last—
and the next, she was already walking.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Wait —" Krish said, confused, immediately getting up and following her.
She didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
The restaurant doors pushed open sharply as she stepped out, the cool air hitting her face—but it did nothing to calm the storm inside.
Her eyes were already burning.
By the time she reached the parking area and opened Krish's car door —
She broke.
Tears spilled before she could stop them, her breath uneven, chest tightening like something inside her had just… collapsed.
Krish reached her within seconds.
"Aakrati," he said softly, not asking questions, not forcing anything—just there.
He pulled out tissues, gently placing them in her hand.
She didn't even take them properly.
Her hands were shaking too much.
"Come," he said quietly.
This time—
She didn't resist.
The drive was silent.
Completely silent.
No questions.
No explanations.
Just the faint sound of her uneven breathing and the occasional sniffle she tried—and failed—to hide.
Krish didn't look at her much.
But he noticed everything.
The way she kept staring out of the window without seeing anything.
The way her fingers clenched and unclenched in her lap.
The way she looked like she was trying so hard not to fall apart again.
After a while—
The car slowed.
And stopped.
Aakrati blinked slightly, her vision still blurred.
She looked up.
Sunset point.
The sky stretched wide in shades of orange and pink, the sun slowly dipping below the horizon—calm, quiet, untouched.
Her favorite.
Of course he brought her here.
Krish stepped out first, then opened her door without a word.
She followed.
And the moment she stood there—
Looking at the sky—
Something inside her finally gave in.
She sat down.
And cried.
Not softly.
Not silently.
But like everything she had been holding back was breaking all at once.
Krish sat beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Just enough.
He didn't interrupt.
Didn't say "it's okay."
Didn't give her empty comfort.
He just… stayed.
And sometimes—
That's all someone needs.
Time passed.
She didn't know how much.
An hour.
Maybe more.
Her crying slowly turned into quiet tears… then silence.
They both just sat there, watching the sky darken.
For another hour—
No words.
Just presence.
Finally—
Aakrati spoke.
Her voice was low. Tired.
"Let's go home."
Krish nodded.
No questions.
The drive back was quieter than before.
But different.
The storm had passed.
What remained—
Was something heavier.
Something numb.
He stopped outside her house.
Aakrati unbuckled her seatbelt slowly, then paused.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Krish gave a small nod.
"Anytime."
She stepped out.
He waited until she went inside.
Then drove away.
Back at the restaurant—
Arsh stood up.
"I'm over you, Sakshi."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
"There's nothing left here."
Sakshi watched him, unfazed.
"We have different paths now," he continued. "And you should stop holding onto something that's already gone."
But Sakshi smiled.
Not sadly.
Confidently.
"You still feel something," she said.
Arsh didn't respond.
"Next week, I'm leaving," she added, standing up slowly. "You have time to think."
A pause.
"I'll wait."
Arsh looked at her for a moment.
Then—
"Don't."
Her smile faltered—just slightly.
"I wish the best for you," he said quietly. "Just not with me."
And with that—
He walked away.
Without looking back.
Later that night—
Arsh stood in his balcony.
Waiting.
The city lights flickered below, but his eyes stayed fixed on the road.
Minutes passed.
Then—
A car stopped.
Krish's.
Aakrati stepped out.
She looked… off.
Different.
She said something to Krish—he nodded—and then she went inside.
Arsh frowned slightly.
Something wasn't right.
He called her.
Once.
Twice.
No answer.
Without thinking further—
A few minutes later—
He stood outside her door.
Knocked.
A pause.
Then the door opened.
Aakrati stood there.
Her eyes slightly swollen.
But her expression—
Blank.
"I'm not well," she said before he could speak. "I need rest."
Arsh's brows pulled together.
"Are you okay?" he asked, stepping slightly forward. "I can stay. Take care of you."
A small pause.
Then—
"No, thank you."
Her voice was polite.
Distant.
"I just… don't want anyone around right now."
That—
Didn't feel normal.
Not for her.
Arsh looked at her carefully.
Trying to read what wasn't being said.
But she didn't let him.
Because the truth was—
He had no idea.
That everything—
Had already changed.