Chapter 7: Jealousy and Rivalry

The morning after their heart-to-heart, Aradhana woke up with a sense of cautious optimism. The warmth from the conversation she’d shared with Reyansh lingered, as did the promise that maybe—just maybe—there was hope for something more between them. But she knew that the past, with its complications, was never far behind. And as much as she wanted to move forward, it wasn’t going to be simple.

She stood in front of her mirror, running a brush through her hair, trying to push away the lingering sense of unease. She had spent so many years trying to bury her emotions, keeping everything locked away where it couldn’t hurt her. But Reyansh’s presence made her feel things she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a long time—hope, desire, and yes, even fear.

A knock on her door broke her thoughts. It was Mohit, her best friend, always the one who could read her like an open book.

“Aradhana, you’ve got to get out of that head of yours,” he said, his tone light as he entered without waiting for her to invite him in. “Come on, we’re going for a walk. You’ve been cooped up in here for too long.”

She smiled at him, grateful for his insistence. “You always know when I need a distraction,” she replied, setting her brush down.

As they walked through the park, talking about anything and everything except what was weighing heavily on her mind, Aradhana couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. It wasn’t just the lingering tension with Vikram—it was Reyansh. There was something about the way he had looked at her the night before, the way he had quietly waited for her to open up, that had made her feel like he saw through her defenses. And part of her wanted to let him in. But another part—her more guarded self—was terrified of what would happen if she did.

Later that afternoon, Aradhana met Reyansh at their usual café, where they often shared casual conversations that felt more like small escapes from their complicated lives. But today, Reyansh was different. There was a certain intensity in his gaze as he looked at her, a quiet but undeniable frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.

“Is something wrong?” Aradhana asked, her voice laced with concern.

Reyansh didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he shifted in his seat, eyes scanning the room. Then, finally, he spoke, though his words weren’t what she expected.

“Vikram’s been in town for a few days, and I’ve heard enough about him from others to know he’s not just here for a friendly visit,” Reyansh said, his voice tight. “I can’t help but wonder… What does he want from you?”

Aradhana’s heart dropped at the mention of Vikram’s name. She had hoped that the past could remain behind them, but it seemed that Reyansh wasn’t going to let that happen so easily. There was something in his tone—something that suggested he was worried, jealous even. And for the first time, Aradhana felt an unfamiliar twist of guilt.

“You don’t need to worry about Vikram,” she said, trying to dismiss the rising tension in the air. “We’ve already had our talk. It’s done.”

But Reyansh wasn’t satisfied with that answer. He leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. “You’re still not telling me everything, Aradhana. I can feel it. The way you act around him—it’s like you haven’t really moved on.”

Aradhana’s chest tightened. “Reyansh, that’s not fair. You don’t understand—”

“No, you don’t understand,” Reyansh interrupted, his voice rising. “I care about you. I want to be with you. But I need to know that you’ve closed that chapter, that there’s nothing left for you in your past with him. If I’m going to be a part of your life, I can’t keep competing with him in the background.”

Aradhana’s head spun, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She hadn’t anticipated Reyansh’s jealousy, his need for reassurance. She had been so focused on her own turmoil that she hadn’t considered how it might affect him.

“I’m not trying to make you feel like you’re in competition with Vikram,” she said, struggling to hold back the emotions swirling inside her. “But you have to understand—he’s part of my past. And that’s not something I can erase just because it’s uncomfortable for you.”

Reyansh’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, Aradhana thought he might say something more, something that would shift the balance of their fragile connection. But he only looked at her silently, the distance between them growing even wider.

“You’re right,” he finally said, his voice cold. “I don’t know what it’s like to have a history like yours. But what I do know is that I can’t keep waiting for you to choose. I need to know where I stand.”

Aradhana’s throat tightened. She had known this was coming—had known that the weight of her past would eventually drive a wedge between them. But hearing Reyansh say the words out loud, with such finality, made everything feel so real.

“Reyansh, I… I need time,” she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips. “I need to figure things out. For both of us.”

Without another word, Reyansh stood up and left, his footsteps echoing in the silence between them. Aradhana felt the coldness of his absence settle over her like a thick blanket. She was left alone with the heavy realization that she had lost more than just a conversation. She had lost something fragile—something she wasn’t sure she could get back.

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That evening, as Aradhana sat alone in her apartment, her phone buzzed with a new message. She looked at the screen and saw that it was from Reyansh. The words were brief, but the weight of them was undeniable.

We need to talk. I don’t think I can keep doing this.

Aradhana’s heart pounded in her chest. Her worst fear was coming true.

The past, the jealousy, and the rivalry—it was all coming to a head.

And she didn’t know if she was ready for what came next.

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