The Unknown Feeling

Ahana's fingers curled slightly as she watched the silent exchange between Aksh and Meher. It was unsettling—this effortless understanding between them, the way Meher spoke to him as if she had every right to be here.

As if she belonged.

Aksh turned to Ahana then, his sharp gaze scanning her expression. He must have noticed something—her stiff posture, the slight tension in her jaw—because his brows furrowed, and for the briefest moment, concern flickered in his eyes.

But before he could say anything, Meher spoke again.

"You haven't introduced us properly, Aksh." She arched a brow, a hint of mischief in her tone. "Aren't you going to tell me who she is?"

Ahana's breath hitched.

She wanted to hear it—from his lips. Wanted to know how he saw her, how he would define her in a world where he kept so many secrets.

But Aksh merely exhaled, his expression unreadable. "She's Ahana."

Nothing more.

Ahana.

Not a friend. Not someone important. Just… her name.

Meher's lips curved, and Ahana swore she saw amusement flicker in her dark eyes, as if she had expected that very answer.

"Hm," Meher murmured, tapping a perfectly manicured finger against her chin. "Interesting."

Ahana swallowed back the lump in her throat. She had no right to be upset. She and Aksh weren't anything. Not really. But it still stung.

Meher turned back to Aksh. "We need to talk. Alone."

Ahana tensed, waiting for Aksh to refuse—to say whatever this was could be discussed here. But instead, he nodded.

"Wait for me," he said to Ahana, his voice quieter now, softer. And then, just like that, he walked past her, Meher following closely behind as they disappeared into another room.

The moment the door clicked shut, Ahana let out a shaky breath.

She hated this feeling. This gnawing uncertainty, this unfamiliar ache in her chest.

Who was Meher to Aksh?

And why did it feel like she was losing a battle she hadn't even realized she was fighting?

Ahana sat down, gripping the edge of the couch, her thoughts spinning. The walls felt too close, the air too heavy.

She wasn't the type to get jealous. At least, she had never thought she was. But the way Aksh had looked at Meher—like she was someone who had always been there, someone who understood parts of him Ahana never could—made her stomach twist painfully.

How long had they known each other?

What did Meher mean to him?

The sound of muffled voices from behind the closed door caught her attention. She knew she shouldn't eavesdrop, but curiosity and insecurity pushed her to her feet. Quietly, she stepped closer, pressing herself against the wall near the door.

"…more dangerous than you think," Meher's voice was sharp, carrying through the wood. "You've made enemies, Aksh. And now you've dragged her into it."

Ahana's breath caught. Were they talking about her?

A pause. Then Aksh's voice, calm and firm. "She's not involved."

Meher scoffed. "Not involved? Do you even hear yourself? She's in your house. She's being watched. They know she's important to you, even if you refuse to admit it."

Silence.

Ahana's heart pounded.

Important?

She waited—prayed—for Aksh to deny it. To say she meant nothing. That would hurt, but it would be better than the alternative.

But he didn't say anything.

Not a single word.

Meher sighed. "You're getting reckless. And that's not like you."

"You're worrying over nothing." Aksh's voice was cool, unaffected. "I can handle it."

Another beat of silence.

Then Meher's voice dropped lower, more personal. "You used to tell me everything, Aksh. When did that change?"

Ahana's stomach clenched.

She forced herself to step back, away from the door. She didn't want to hear any more.

Who was Meher to Aksh? A friend? An old flame? Someone who knew him in a way Ahana never would?

Her throat felt tight.

She turned away, heading to the balcony, needing fresh air. But as she stepped outside, the city lights stretching before her, one thought echoed in her mind.

Meher had said something dangerous.

"They know she's important to you, even if you refuse to admit it."

Ahana didn't know if that should make her feel relieved… or terrified.

Ahana leaned against the railing, the cool night air brushing against her skin. Her heart was still racing, her mind caught in the loop of Meher's words.

"They know she's important to you."

She swallowed hard, gripping the cold metal tighter. Was it true? Did Aksh care for her more than he let on? Or was Meher just assuming things?

Before she could sort through the mess of emotions, the balcony door slid open behind her.

She turned, expecting Aksh.

But it was Meher.

Ahana straightened, masking her uncertainty.

Meher stepped closer, her expression unreadable. "Fresh air helps when you're overthinking."

Ahana forced a small smile. "I wasn't overthinking."

Meher hummed, leaning against the railing beside her. "Sure." She tilted her head, studying Ahana with sharp, knowing eyes. "You like him, don't you?"

Ahana's breath hitched.

Meher smirked. "You don't have to answer. It's obvious."

Ahana looked away, trying to steady herself. "How do you know Aksh?" she asked instead.

Meher was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "I've known him for a long time. We've been through a lot together."

Something about the way she said it—the familiarity, the history—made Ahana's chest tighten.

"Are you…?" Ahana hesitated.

Meher chuckled. "No, not like that." Her gaze softened, as if she could see the question buried in Ahana's hesitation. "Aksh isn't the type to let people in easily. But once he does, he protects them. Even from themselves."

Ahana frowned. "What do you mean?"

Meher turned, her gaze sharp now. "I mean, he's keeping things from you."

Ahana's stomach twisted. "I know."

Meher studied her, then nodded slightly. "Then you should decide. If you're going to stay close to him, you need to be prepared for what comes with it."

Ahana inhaled deeply. She didn't know what she was getting herself into.

But she knew one thing—she wasn't ready to walk away from Aksh just yet.

Ahana leaned against the railing, the cool night air brushing against her skin. Her heart was still racing, her mind caught in the loop of Meher's words.

"They know she's important to you."

She swallowed hard, gripping the cold metal tighter. Was it true? Did Aksh care for her more than he let on? Or was Meher just assuming things?

Before she could sort through the mess of emotions, the balcony door slid open behind her.

She turned, expecting Aksh.

But it was Meher.

Ahana straightened, masking her uncertainty.

Meher stepped closer, her expression unreadable. "Fresh air helps when you're overthinking."

Ahana forced a small smile. "I wasn't overthinking."

Meher hummed, leaning against the railing beside her. "Sure." She tilted her head, studying Ahana with sharp, knowing eyes. "You like him, don't you?"

Ahana's breath hitched.

Meher smirked. "You don't have to answer. It's obvious."

Ahana looked away, trying to steady herself. "How do you know Aksh?" she asked instead.

Meher was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "I've known him for a long time. We've been through a lot together."

Something about the way she said it—the familiarity, the history—made Ahana's chest tighten.

"Are you…?" Ahana hesitated.

Meher chuckled. "No, not like that." Her gaze softened, as if she could see the question buried in Ahana's hesitation. "Aksh isn't the type to let people in easily. But once he does, he protects them. Even from themselves."

Ahana frowned. "What do you mean?"

Meher turned, her gaze sharp now. "I mean, he's keeping things from you."

Ahana's stomach twisted. "I know."

Meher studied her, then nodded slightly. "Then you should decide. If you're going to stay close to him, you need to be prepared for what comes with it."

Ahana inhaled deeply. She didn't know what she was getting herself into.

But she knew one thing—she wasn't ready to walk away from Aksh just yet.

The next morning, Ahana woke up to the sound of hushed voices outside her room. For a moment, she forgot where she was—until the events of last night came rushing back.

Meher. Aksh. Their quiet conversation. The way Meher seemed to know parts of him that Ahana didn't.

She clenched the blanket in her fists before forcing herself to sit up. She wouldn't let this bother her.

Not too much, at least.

With a deep breath, she got out of bed, smoothed down her hair, and stepped out into the hallway.

In the living room, Meher stood near the kitchen counter, sipping a cup of coffee while Aksh leaned against the table, scrolling through his phone.

They looked so… comfortable together.

Ahana pushed down the annoying twist in her stomach and cleared her throat.

Both heads turned toward her.

"You're awake," Aksh said, his tone unreadable. "Come eat."

Ahana nodded, stepping forward. But she felt Meher's gaze lingering on her.

"Did you sleep well?" Meher asked, her voice polite, but Ahana caught the sharpness behind it.

"I did," Ahana replied evenly, meeting her eyes. "You?"

Meher smirked slightly. "Like a baby."

Something about the way she said it made Ahana's fingers twitch.

Aksh, oblivious to the silent tension, set his phone down and gestured toward the food. "Eat. We have to leave soon."

Ahana frowned. "Leave?"

"Change of plans." His voice was calm, but there was something final in it. "It's not safe here anymore."

A chill ran down her spine. "Because of last night?"

Aksh didn't answer immediately. Meher, however, let out a small sigh. "He's being extra cautious. Which is a good thing."

Ahana glanced between them.

Had they already discussed this before she even woke up?

She bit the inside of her cheek and sat down at the table. As she reached for a piece of toast, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something.

That Meher knew more than she did.

And that Aksh wasn't going to tell her everything.

Not yet.

The day passed in a blur of quiet tension. Ahana tried to ignore the nagging feeling in her chest, but it refused to leave. No matter what she did, her mind kept circling back to the same thing—Meher.

Meher, who seemed to understand Aksh in ways she didn't.

Meher, who spoke to him in hushed tones, as if they shared secrets.

Meher, who was still here.

By evening, they were preparing to leave. Aksh had arranged for a car, and Ahana stood by the door, waiting. She tried not to watch as Meher helped him pack a small bag, but the way their movements synced so effortlessly only made the discomfort in her chest grow.

Then, it happened.

Ahana turned just in time to see Meher adjust Aksh's collar, smoothing the fabric with ease—like it was something she had done a hundred times before.

Ahana froze.

Aksh didn't pull away. He didn't even look surprised. If anything, he seemed used to it.

Something inside her cracked.

Meher smirked slightly, as if she knew exactly what she was doing, and leaned in just a little. "You never change," she murmured.

Ahana's hands curled into fists at her sides.

Aksh's response was casual, barely a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Neither do you."

That was it.

That was the moment Ahana felt like an outsider in her own life.

She turned away before they could see the sudden tightness in her throat.

Because for the first time since she had met him, she wasn't sure where she stood with Aksh anymore.