A PLACE MEANT FOR TWO

The rooftop air was still heavy, thick with the remnants of the conversation that had just taken place.

Nagesh Pa had left.

His footsteps had faded down the stairs, but his words still echoed in my mind.

"Let her go."

"You can't live in the past forever."

"One day, you'll regret this."

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as I turned to stare at the night sky. The city stretched before me, glittering with lights, but everything felt dim.

Empty.

Regret?

I scoffed under my breath.

What did he know about regret?

What did he know about love?

My fingers curled into fists as I forced myself to breathe through the tightness in my chest.

I didn't want to be here anymore.

Not in this house.

Not surrounded by these people who wanted me to forget her.

Forget her?

I let out a bitter laugh.

They didn't understand.

I was holding on to the only love that ever mattered.

And so, before I could change my mind, my feet moved.

Down the stairs.

Through the hall.

Past my parents, past Agatha, past the guests who were still lingering.

I barely heard them calling after me.

I didn't stop.

I didn't explain.

I just walked straight to the garage.

I needed to see her.

I needed to be in the only place where she still existed.

As I slid into the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly, I whispered to myself—

"I'm coming to visit you, baby. Get ready."

And with that, I drove.

.

.

.

The apartment wasn't far from my parents' house.

It never was.

I had made sure of that when I bought it for her, when I handed her the keys on the day of her graduation.

"This is yours, baby."

"But—this is too much!"

"Nothing is too much for my little angel."

I still remembered the way her eyes had sparkled.

The way she had hugged me so tight, burying her face against my chest.

"I love it. Thank you, Yuvaa."

"Anything for you, baby."

And now—

I stepped into that same house.

But the moment I opened the door, reality slammed into me like a punch to the gut.

The air was stale.

Dust had gathered on the furniture, settling into the crevices of the life we had built here.

The framed pictures remained where I had left them. Her books still lined the shelves.

Untouched.

Frozen in time.

Because no matter how many times I told myself to move on, my body always betrayed me.

Every month, I came here.

Every month, I wiped away the dust, rearranged the cushions, opened the windows—

But I never changed anything.

Because if I did—

It would be like erasing her.

I stepped further inside, closing the door behind me. The silence of the apartment wrapped around me like a heavy embrace.

And then—

"Baby, I finally came here," I murmured, a ghost of a smile tugging at my lips.

"Guess what? This time, I came earlier to visit you."

I could almost hear her teasing reply.

"Took you long enough, mister."

I let out a shaky breath, walking to the living room, running my fingers along the edge of the sofa.

"I wish you were here, baby."

I swallowed hard.

"Did you know? I got married today."

The words felt foreign on my tongue.

"Her name is Agatha. She's the same age as me. That's all I know about her."

I let out a bitter chuckle.

"Are you happy to hear that I married someone I barely know, but she looks beautiful?"

Silence.

But in my mind—

I imagined her glare.

I imagined her crossing her arms, pouting.

She hated when I talked about other women.

"You're not allowed to call other girls beautiful."

"Why not?"

"Because you already have me. And I'm the most beautiful."

I used to tease her about it.

I used to push her buttons, just to see her jealous little scowl.

She'd ignore me for a few minutes—ten at most—before coming back to me, wrapping her arms around my waist, burying herself in my chest.

"If you ever do that again, I'll disappear, Yuvaa."

"Liar."

"Try me."

But she never did.

She never left my side.

Until that day.

Until she did.

And this time—

She never came back.

I sank onto the couch, gripping my head, the ache in my chest becoming unbearable.

"Why did you leave me, baby?"

"Why did you break your promise?"

No answer.

There never would be.

Time passed. I didn't know how long I sat there, lost in the silence, lost in my memories.

But eventually, I sighed, rubbing my face.

It was getting late.

And I knew—

My parents were probably calling.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out my phone.

A dozen missed calls.

I ignored them all.

They already knew where I was.

They always did.

This was the only place I would go.

I stood up, stretching slightly, exhaling a deep breath.

"See you again, baby."

I walked to the door, pausing just for a second.

Then—

"Take care, love you."

With that, I locked the door behind me, leaving the house exactly as it was.

Exactly as it had always been.

A home for a love that still lived—

Even if she didn't.