The city slept but Shreya's heart refused to.

Her footsteps echoed on the empty road, a soft rhythm swallowed by the night. A cool wind brushed against her skin, but the chill inside her had nothing to do with the weather.

Her life has turned into a blur of failure, disappointments, and loneliness.

Parents who called her a burden. siblings who never understood her. Friends who had drifted away like sand through her finger.

A career that ended before it even began. A love story that had never existed. she always felt invisible, unwanted , unloved.

There's nothing left.... nothing, the thought

repeated in her mind again and again. Tears welled up but she didn't bother to wipe them

away. They belonged to her as much as her

pain did.

Ahead across the road , stood a rusted railing.Beyond it, a deep, dark river moved silently under the moonlight, it's surface glimmering like black glass. The sound of rushing water called her- an invitation, a promise of peace.

Shreya stopped walking. Her breath caught.

The night smelled of wet earth , but to her

it smelled of endings.

Her trembling hands gripped the railing, it's metal biting into her skin, grounding her in the moment.

" I have lost everything, she thought. I have lost everyone. There's no hope left, no reason to keep breathing. I want to die. I want to die.....and I will...."

Her toes edged closer to the line of railing. she could already feel the drop, the emptiness below.

The wind tugged at her hair and dress, whispering jump.....jump....jump....

everything will end here.

But then-

A sound

At first, it was a faint , like a sigh in the dark.

Then clearer: a voice, soft but urgent.

"stop"

Before Shreya could react, a figure came running out of the darkness.

His shoes splashed through puddles, breath coming fast, eyes wide with panic.

In one swift motion, he reached her, grabbed her trembling arm, and pulled her away from the railing, dragging her back onto the pavement.

Shreya stumbled, startled, her heart hammering. She blinked at him through her tears, her mind blank.

The boy’s chest rose and fell rapidly. His hands were still on her shoulders as if afraid she might disappear.

“What are you doing?” he demanded, his voice shaking. “Why are you doing this?”

Shreya stared at him, speechless. Shock and confusion tangled inside her, and for a moment she couldn’t even find words.

He ran a trembling hand through his hair, trying to steady himself. “Listen… relax, okay? Calm down.

Take a breath. Think with a clear mind. Problems happen in everyone’s life, but that doesn’t mean this is the right way. Time heals. Things change.

Do you hear me? Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Shreya swallowed hard. Her lips trembled as she finally whispered, barely audible, “Please… just leave me alone.”

But he stepped closer, eyes desperate.

“You’ll try again, won’t you? This is your plan, isn’t it? To end everything here?” His voice cracked. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Answer me.”

“I understand you’re hurting,” he continued, words tumbling out. “I know you’re emotional right now. I know your life feels broken. But—”

“Stop!” Shreya suddenly shouted, her voice raw, breaking into sobs.

Tears streamed down her face as she backed away from him. “Please, just stop talking. I don’t need your pity.

What do you think of yourself? Huh? You know nothing about my life. Nothing about me. So how can you possibly understand?”

Her knees trembled as she clasped her hands together, pleading through her tears. “I’m begging you… please, just leave me. Let me be. Please go away…”

Her voice cracked, and she crumpled into heavier sobs, her whole body shaking as if her pain had finally found a way out.

Shreya stood trembling at the edge, tears streaming down her face, her breaths coming out in sharp, uneven bursts. Her mind was a storm, a chaos of pain and exhaustion.

The boy who had pulled her away just moments ago — stood a few feet from her now, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady himself.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Only the sound of the river below and Shreya’s quiet sobs filled the air.

Then, his voice came, low and trembling but firm.

“Look… I know this is hard for you,” he said carefully. “But trust me, everything will be fine. With time, things do get better.”

Shreya snapped her head towards him, her eyes burning red, her lips trembling.

“No!” she cried, voice cracking with despair. “Nothing will ever be fine. Nothing can ever be fixed. Never.”

Her body shook violently as she clutched her arms around herself. “I tried. I tried so hard,” she whispered, broken.

“But no one wants me. No one needs me. No one loves me. There’s no one to care for me, no one who worries about me. And there never will be.

I’ve failed at everything… everything. My life has no meaning. No meaning at all.”

He took a step closer, his eyes soft but determined. “That’s not true. Please, think clearly. There are people who love you. Who cares about you. Your family—” your friends -"

“Family?” Shreya’s laugh was bitter and hollow. “Friends?” Her voice cracked as she choked on her own sobs. “I have no friends. And family? I’m just a disappointment to them. A burden. The sooner I disappear from their lives, the better it will be for them.”

His jaw tightened. He wanted to reach out but hesitated. “That’s not how it is. Parents say harsh things, but deep down they love you—”

“Stop!” Shreya shouted, her voice full of rage and anguish. “You don’t know anything about me or my life. Who are you to tell me who loves me or who doesn’t? You think you know my parents better than me? Leave me alone!”

Her knees buckled, and she whispered to herself in a broken rhythm, “No one loves me… no one needs me…” Then, suddenly, before he could react, she lurched forward again, toward the edge.

“No!” He lunged and grabbed her wrist, yanking her back with all his strength.

Shreya thrashed in his grip, screaming, “Leave me! I don’t want to live! Nobody loves me!” She tried once more to break free, her body trembling with rage and despair.

His heart pounded in his chest. He didn’t know what else to do, what words could reach her.

And then, suddenly, the words burst out of him, raw and unplanned.

“I love you,” he shouted.

Shreya froze.

Shreya’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, her tear‑filled eyes wide, her whole body trembling. The wind from the river whipped her hair across her face, but she didn’t move.

For a heartbeat, everything was silent.

Her lips parted, and a whisper escaped her, shaky and uncertain. “W‑what… what did you just say?”

The boy froze too. He hadn’t meant to blurt it out, yet the words had already left his mouth. Inside, his heart raced like a storm, but on the outside he forced himself to stay calm. There was no turning back now. He took a small step closer, his voice low but steady.

“Yes,” he said softly. “I love you. I’ve… I’ve liked you for a long time.”

Shreya blinked at him, stunned. Her tears clung to her lashes. The ache inside her chest deepened. “You’re lying,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “You’re joking, right? You’re just saying this… so that I don’t…”

He shook his head immediately, his eyes searching hers with desperate sincerity. “No. Not at all. I’m not joking.” His voice trembled now, thick with emotion. “I really love you. I have… for a long time. Since the first time I saw you.”

Shreya’s lips quivered. Her heart pounded painfully, her mind screaming for an explanation, for something to hold on to.

“I know,” he continued quickly, his words rushing out in a flood. “I know it’s hard to believe me now, in this situation. But it’s the truth. Completely. I tried so many times to talk to you, to tell you how I felt, but I could never find the courage. I was so scared… scared you’d reject me, scared I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

He took another step closer, his voice breaking now. “Because I love you so much. I can’t even imagine my life without you. I know it feels awkward, it feels sudden… but it’s real. Please believe me. Please… give me a chance. Please don’t do this.”

His eyes glistened as he spoke, every word trembling with raw emotion. “I can’t live without you. Please…”

Shreya stared at him through her tears, her heart torn between disbelief and the strange, fragile warmth blooming in her chest.

Shreya couldn’t think.

Everything felt hazy — the world, the sound of the river, even the air around her. His words echoed inside her mind again and again, I love you… I love you…

It felt impossible. Too sudden. Too unreal. Her heart didn’t know whether to shatter or to hope. She couldn’t fully believe him, not after everything she had been through — yet something in his voice, in the way his eyes trembled when he spoke, made her chest tighten.

Her mind was a battlefield — disbelief clashing with a fragile spark of something she hadn’t felt in a long time… hope.

Before she could say anything, he spoke again — his tone softer this time, but full of emotion.

“I know,” he said gently, stepping a little closer. “I know this is shocking for you. But you don’t have to worry, okay? I’m not asking you to believe me right now. Take your time.”

His eyes searched hers with quiet desperation. “If you can’t trust me yet, that’s fine. I understand. You can ask me anything you want — I’ll answer everything. I’ll prove it to you, in every way I can. I’ll go through every test you give me, I’ll do whatever it takes… but please…” His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard. “Please take those thoughts out of your mind. Don’t do that to yourself. I can’t watch you in pain. I can’t see you hurt yourself.”

His words trembled, his breath unsteady as he whispered, “You don’t have to like me back. You don’t have to give me a chance. Just… please, don’t end your life. Please…”

Before Shreya could react, he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.

For a second, she froze — his warmth pressed against her cold, trembling body. The world around her blurred. No one had held her like this in years — like she mattered, like someone was terrified to lose her.

Her fingers twitched, her tears falling silently onto his shoulder. She didn’t hug him back — not yet — but she didn’t pull away either. And in that one fragile moment, something inside her — something that had been dying for so long — flickered to life again.

For a long moment, he just held her — not knowing what else to do, not knowing if she had really started to believe him or not. His heart pounded against his chest as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

Did she believe me? Or do I need to say more?

God, what am I even doing?

He closed his eyes, his thoughts spiraling. I just met her… and yet I can’t let her go like this. I can’t watch someone die in front of me.

He tightened his grip slightly, his mind screaming in confusion. But damn, the lies I’ve told tonight… I’ve never lied this much in my entire life.

He exhaled shakily. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but please, God… please make her stop. Let her give up this idea, at least for now.

He lifted his head slightly, looking up at the dark sky. And God, one more thing… please don’t let her ask me any questions — because I don’t even know her name.

A faint, helpless smile tugged at his lips. I know I lied, but if a lie can save someone’s life, then maybe… it isn’t really a lie, right?

He drew in a slow breath and looked down at the girl in his arms — her face pale, eyes still glistening with tears. Gently, with all the softness he could gather in his voice, he asked,

“Are you okay…?”

As soon as he asked, “Are you okay?” she tried to respond — her lips trembled, her voice shaky,

“I... I…”

and before she could complete the sentence, her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

For a moment, he froze. His heartbeat skipped, panic rising in his chest.

“Hey! Hey, get up... what happened now? Hello? Can you hear me?” he said, lightly tapping her cheeks.

But there was no response.

“Oh God…” he muttered, looking up helplessly. “I just told you not to make her ask me any more questions, and now you made her faint?! If you had to make her faint, at least u should do it earlier— I wouldn’t have had to lie so much!”

He sighed, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you, God? I get it, you’re watching me suffer and laughing. I was supposed to attend a party tonight… look at me now!”

He looked back at the unconscious girl, still breathing faintly.

“What do I even do now? I don’t know her name, I don’t know her address… I can’t just leave her here like this.”

He glanced around — the street was quiet, the night growing colder.

“Doctor? No, it’s already late… and the clinics on the other side of town get closed until now.” He groaned. “By the time I go there and come back, she might…”

He shook his head quickly, cutting off the thought. “No, no, think, Shreyansh, think!”

And then, suddenly — an idea.

“Home…?”

He froze again. “Wait— what the hell am I even thinking?! Take her to my house? Seriously? What will I even say to my family??

He looked at her again, her pale face barely moving with each breath. His heart twisted.

“Damn it…” he muttered under his breath, “there’s no other choice.”

He gently lifted her motionless body and placed her in the back seat of his car. His heart was pounding fast, and his hands trembled — a strange mixture of fear and helplessness. Just as he got into the driver’s seat, his phone started ringing.

“Hello…” he answered, trying to sound as normal as he could.

“Bro, where the hell are you? We’ve been waiting at the party for an hour!” his friend shouted from the other end.

Shreyansh closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling deeply. “I’m sorry, man. Something urgent came up. I’ll meet you guys tomorrow.”

A disappointed sigh followed. “Fine, but you better have a damn good reason.”

“Yeah, sure,” he murmured, ending the call.

The silence that followed felt heavier than ever — only the soft sound of Shreya’s breathing filled the air. He sat there for a few seconds, staring blankly at the steering wheel before starting the car.

As he began to drive through the empty road, thoughts flooded his mind like a storm.

“I’m taking her home… but what will I even say when they ask? Who is she? Where did I find her? Why is she unconscious?”

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I’ve never taken any girl home before… and tonight, of all nights, this happens.”

He glanced at the girl lying beside him, pale and still, and muttered under his breath, “Think, man… think of something believable. Something that makes sense.”

He sighed again, shaking his head.

“You have no idea what you’ve put me through,” he whispered, looking at her with a mix of concern and disbelief. “Since the moment I met you, all I’ve done is lie. First, I lied to you… now I have to lie to my family. God knows how many more lies are waiting for me.”

He gave a small, nervous laugh. “Damn, I’ve never been this scared before. Not even during my final exams.”

His gaze softened as it fell on her face again. She looked so calm, almost peaceful — as if sleeping in a world far away from all the pain she had just felt. “And you… you’re lying there so peacefully, while I’m the one losing my mind here,” he whispered.

The road stretched endlessly ahead, darkness wrapping around them like a quiet secret. He gripped the steering wheel tighter and drove on — not knowing that this single decision… would change both of their lives forever.

After wrestling endlessly with his thoughts, Shreyansh finally reached home.

He parked the car in front of the large iron gate and just sat there for a few moments, staring blankly at the steering wheel. The silence around him was deafening. His heart raced as he looked at the unconscious girl beside him.

“What the hell am I supposed to say now…” he murmured to himself, running a hand through his hair. “Well… whatever happens, happens.”

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car and walked around to the other side. Carefully, he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside.

The moment he entered the living room, everyone froze.

His parents were sitting on the couch, and his two younger brothers, Aarav and Armaan, were playing a video game. Within seconds, all eyes were on him.

A mix of shock and confusion filled the air.

His father was the first to speak, his voice firm and slightly angry.

“Shreyansh… what is this? Who is this girl? And why have you brought her here? Why is she unconscious? What on earth is going on?”

Before he could even open his mouth, his mother spoke — her voice soft but filled with worry.

“Yes, beta… who is she? And what is she doing here in this condition?”

From behind, Aarav and Armaan exchanged mischievous glances, clearly enjoying the scene.

Aarav smirked. “Bhaiya, why are you so quiet? Come on, tell us… no need to be nervous!”

Armaan laughed. “Yeah, bhaiya, what’s there to hide? If she’s your girlfriend, just admit it. We won’t tell anyone!”

Shreyansh blinked in disbelief. “Girlfriend?” he repeated, completely thrown off.

Armaan chuckled again. “Oh, so that’s how you planned to introduce our future bhabhi, huh? Just bring her home unconscious so we can’t ask her anything?”

Both brothers burst into laughter.

Shreyansh’s jaw tightened. “Can you both just shut up for once?” he snapped, glaring at them.

Aarav raised his hands playfully. “Alright, alright… we’ll stay quiet. But at least say something, bhaiya, right Armaan?”

“Exactly,” Armaan nodded, still grinning.

Before the teasing could go any further, their father’s voice boomed across the room.

“That’s enough! All of you, quiet!”

The laughter died instantly. His father turned back to Shreyansh, his expression serious.

“Now,” he said slowly, “are you going to tell us what’s going on?”

The room went silent again — everyone waiting, eyes fixed on him, while Shreyansh stood there, clutching his nerves and trying to come up with a lie convincing enough to hide the chaos that had just entered his life.