After the Fall

Anaya stepped out of the restaurant, her legs trembling beneath her. The city lights blurred through her tears as she walked toward the road, refusing to let herself cry in public. She flagged down a cab with a shaking hand and climbed in, barely whispering the hostel address.

She stared out of the window as the car pulled away, but all she could see was him—sitting at that decorated table, eyes glassy, mouth slightly open as if he still had things to say.

Her hand brushed her collarbone.

The necklace was gone.

Tears spilled again.

> "Why did I trust him again?" she whispered, so softly the cab driver didn't even glance.

Her voice cracked.

> "Why does it still hurt when I already knew the truth?"

She bit her lip hard, trying to hold it in.

But by the time she reached the hostel gates, she couldn't anymore.

She ran.

Straight to her room.

She shut the door, locked it, and collapsed on the floor.

Her sobs were raw, unstoppable, shaking her entire body. She curled into herself on the cold tiles, gripping her arms as though trying to hold herself together.

> "He said he loved me…" she choked. "He said it wasn't the dare… Then why did it start with one?"

There was a knock on the door. Then Anna's voice, soft but worried:

> "Anaya? Are you okay? Please open the door…"

No answer.

> "I know it hurts. I'm here, okay? You don't have to say anything. Just… open the door."

But Anaya stayed silent. She couldn't speak. Couldn't move.

She didn't want comfort. Not yet.

She needed the silence.

She needed to break first.

Back at Pearl Garden, Aarav sat motionless at the candlelit table, long after Anaya had gone.

The soft background music played on.

A wind brushed past him, but he didn't flinch.

His eyes were fixed on the necklace she had thrown, lying like a discarded promise beside the chocolate he had picked just for her.

Suddenly, images flooded his mind—soft, warm, bittersweet.

Anaya, as a kid, giggling as she tied a handmade friendship band on his wrist.

Anaya chasing him around the school playground, both of them laughing breathlessly.

Anaya sitting beside him under the stars during their first school trip, whispering, "You're my favorite person, Aarav."

The memory of that day he gave her the necklace.

Her smile.

Her words: "You always know what I like. How do you do that?"

Now… her last words replayed like a cruel echo:

> "Don't make me hate you more than I already do."

Aarav lowered his head into his hands.

Tears slipped through his fingers.

> "I lost her…" he whispered.

And the lights around him kept glowing softly, mocking the darkness within.

Later That Night – Aarav at the Hostel

By the time Aarav reached the hostel, he looked completely hollowed out.

His roommate, Arjun, took one glance at him and stood up in alarm.

> "Aarav—what happened?"

Aarav didn't answer. He just dropped his bag, kicked off his shoes, and sat down heavily on the bed.

He looked… done.

Drained.

Arjun didn't ask more. He quietly placed a hand on Aarav's shoulder and stayed there, letting the silence speak for both of them.

Next Morning

Aarav woke early and reached for his phone like it was instinct.

He called Anaya.

No answer.

He called again.

Voicemail.

Again.

Still nothing.

Desperate, he called Mira.

> "Mira—please. I just… is she okay?"

Mira didn't even greet him.

Her voice was cold. Controlled. But shaking with rage.

> "You have any idea what you've done to her?"

> "Mira, please—let me explain—"

> "Explain what? That she was a joke to you? A part of some dare?"

> "No! I swear, I love her. I didn't do it because of the dare—"

> "But it started because of it!" she snapped. "You think it matters what you felt after? Aarav, she trusted you with her heart. And you treated it like a game."

Aarav stayed quiet.

> "You don't deserve her," Mira said finally. "Don't call again. Don't text. Just stay away." and she hung up

The line went dead.

Somewhere across campus, Nitya watched everything unfold with quiet satisfaction.

She heard from a mutual friend that Anaya had walked out.

She saw Aarav hadn't posted anything.

And she knew—the plan had worked.

> "Now's my chance," she whispered, and quickly dialed his number.

"Hey, I heard what happened… Want to go out for a walk? Clear your head?"

His voice was lifeless.

"No, Nitya. Not today. I don't feel like anything."

Click.

Her jaw tightened.

She wasn't done.

She grabbed her bag, filled it with his favorite snacks, and rushed to his hostel.

> "Come on, Aarav… Just five minutes?" she said over the phone once she arrived.

But he didn't even come down.

> "I don't feel well. I don't want to eat. I'll talk to you later," he said quietly—and hung up.

Again.

Nitya's smile dropped.

> "Why is he still hung up on me?"

She turned away, eyes burning.

> "You'll come back to me, Aarav. You will. And when you do… she won't be there to stop me."