Part 8 – A Night at Arjun’s Home

As they left the clock tower, the streets stretched quiet before them, the occasional flicker of a streetlamp casting elongated shadows. The night air was cool, carrying the distant hum of a passing vehicle.

"You can stay at my place," Arjun offered, breaking the silence. "It's late, and I don't think you should be alone."

Maya hesitated. She didn't want to go home—to a house that barely felt like one anymore. The idea of being around someone who actually cared felt… easier.

She nodded. "Okay."

Arjun's House

His home was unexpectedly warm. Not just in temperature, but in the way it felt. A modest two-story house, the walls lined with bookshelves and old paintings. The scent of jasmine and old paper filled the air, and the wooden floors creaked softly beneath their steps.

Dr. Varman was already setting plates on the table when they entered. He barely looked up. "You're staying for dinner, then?"

Maya nodded.

Dinner was quiet. The clinking of cutlery against plates was the only sound. Dr. Varman wasn't much of a talker, and Arjun—normally playful—seemed more observant than usual.

Afterward, the doctor excused himself to his room, leaving Maya and Arjun in the dimly lit dining area.

Maya traced patterns on the wooden table absentmindedly. The house felt too comfortable. Too safe. And something about that made her uneasy—because safety wasn't something she was used to.

A Call Home

Before she could stop herself, she pulled out her phone and dialed.

Ring.

She wasn't sure why she called. Maybe out of habit. Maybe to hear a familiar voice.

Her mother picked up after a few rings. "Maya?"

Maya's grip on the phone tightened. She sounded tired. Distant.

"I'm staying at a friend's place tonight," Maya said.

A pause. Then—"Alright."

Nothing else.

No 'Where are you?' No 'Is everything okay?'

Just alright.

Maya swallowed. "Mom… are you okay?"

Another pause. Then, "You know how things are, Maya."

Maya did. She knew exactly what that meant. It meant she was still thinking about him. About the son who left. About the one who mattered.

Her chest tightened. "Okay. Goodnight."

Click.

The call disconnected.

She stared at her phone for a long moment before placing it on the table.

Arjun, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. "She didn't ask where you were."

Maya let out a dry laugh. "She never does."

The Breakdown

Arjun didn't push, but she saw the way he looked at her—like he was waiting for her to let go.

And for some reason, tonight, she did.

"I had a brother." The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Arjun stilled. "Had?"

She nodded, voice hollow. "He left."

The weight of it felt heavier than usual. Maybe because she never said it out loud.

Arjun leaned forward. "What happened?"

Maya clenched her hands together. "He was everything to my mother. And when he left, it was like I disappeared too."

The words cracked something open inside her. Before she knew it, her vision blurred. She was shaking, and she hated it.

Arjun reached for her hand. Warm. Steady. Present.

"Maya," he said softly. "You're still here."

She shook her head. "Sometimes, it doesn't feel like it."

Her voice broke. And then—the tears came.

Not the quiet, controlled kind. The real, raw kind. The ones she had been holding back for far too long.

Arjun didn't say anything comforting just for the sake of it. He just pulled her close. Held her. Let her cry.

For the first time in a long time, she let herself be vulnerable.

And when she finally looked up, her breath still uneven, Arjun was there. Watching her. Not pitying her—just seeing her.

His fingers brushed against her cheek, wiping away a stray tear.

And before she could think—before she could talk herself out of it—she leaned in.

Their lips met.

It was slow, hesitant at first, then deeper—a kiss filled with every unspoken word, every hidden feeling.

When they pulled apart, the silence between them wasn't heavy. It was something else. Something unspoken, but understood.

Sharing the Same Room

Arjun hesitated before speaking. "You can take my bed."

Maya looked at him, her emotions still raw. "I don't want to be alone."

Something flickered in his eyes, but he didn't question it. He just nodded.

They lay side by side on the bed, not touching, just staring at the ceiling.

After a long silence, Arjun murmured, "Maya?"

"Hmm?"

"You're not invisible."

She closed her eyes. For the first time in years, she believed it.

Sleep found her before she could think any further.