Chapter 11
Author’s POV
Some battles are loud.Some… happen in silence.That night—
Two conversations took place.One filled with honesty.The other… with intentions hidden behind smiles.
Avni’s POV
I was standing near the window.City lights stretched endlessly—
But my thoughts were stuck in one place.Him.His words.His stand.For me.
My phone buzzed.
I didn’t need to check.I already knew.Divyansh calling…
I took a breath.And answered.
“Hello…”
There was a pause.
Then his voice—
Soft.
“Hi…”
For a moment—
Neither of us spoke.
Not because we had nothing to say.
But because we had… too much.
The First Crack
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Simple question.Dangerous one.
“Hmm… I’m fine.”
A lie.A soft one.
He exhaled lightly.
“Nahi ho.”
Silence.He wasn’t asking.He knew.
Divyansh’s Honesty
“I’m sorry, Avni.”
His voice carried weight.
“Maa ne jo bola… uske liye.”
“You don’t have to say sorry,” I replied quietly.
“It’s her concern.”
“It still hurt you.”
That one line—
Broke something inside me.Because he didn’t ignore it.He acknowledged it.
“I’m used to it, Divyansh.”
My voice came out calmer than I felt.
“People usually admire me from a distance…”
“But when it comes to choosing…”
“They hesitate.”
A pause.
“I don’t blame them.”
This time.Silence on his side.Not empty.Heavy.
His Response
“Main blame karta hoon.”
His voice was firm now.
Clear.
“You’re not a risk, Avni.”
“You’re a responsibility… jo har koi deserve bhi nahi karta.”
My breath hitched slightly.No one had ever said it like that.The Soft Moment
“Tumhe pata hai…” he continued softly,
“Aaj jab tum ja rahi thi…”
“I wanted to stop you.”
“Phir roka kyun nahi?” I asked before I could stop myself.
A small pause.
“Because I didn’t want to make you stay…”
“I want you to choose to stay.”
That…
That was unfair.How can someone be this…Gentle?
“Toh ab kya plan hai, Mr. Singh?” I asked, trying to steady myself.
“Plan simple hai,” he replied.
“Tumhe irritate karunga…”
“Tumhe hasaaunga…”
“Aur dheere dheere convince karunga ki main best decision hoon tumhari life ka.”
I couldn’t help it.
I smiled.
“Confidence kaafi high hai aapka.”
“Tumhari wajah se.”
The Pause That MattersThere was a silence again.But this time—
Comfortable.
Warm.
Like something had settled between us.
The Promise
“Avni…”
“Hm?”
“No matter kitna time lage…”
“I’m not stepping back.”
My heart—
Did something strange.
“Main bhi bhaag nahi rahi,” I replied softly.
“Good.”
A small chuckle.
“Varna mujhe bhaagna padta.”
Ending Moment
“Goodnight, Avni.”
“Goodnight… Divyansh.”
But neither of us cut the call immediately.Because sometimes—
Silence with the right person…Feels like a conversation.
********************
Author’s POV
The next afternoon—Two women met.Both smiling.Both polite.
Both… calculating.
“Arre Ridha ji, aapko dekh ke bahut accha laga,” Arti said warmly.
“Same here,” Ridha replied.
Tea was served.
Formalities exchanged.And then—
The real conversation began.
Arti’s Subtle Poison
“Avni ne toh hamesha se apni marzi ki hai,” Arti said casually.
“Career, decisions… sab kuch.”
Ridha listened quietly.
“Strong hai ladki.”
“Par…” Arti paused.
“Thodi… difficult bhi hai.”
Ridha’s fingers tightened slightly around her cup.
“Difficult?”
Arti smiled.
“Adjust karna har kisi ke bas ki baat nahi hoti.”
Ridha’s Doubt Grows
Ridha spoke carefully.
“Mujhe Avni pasand hai.”
Arti nodded immediately.
“Pasand toh sabko aati hai.”
Then—
Softly.
“Par ghar basana… alag baat hoti hai.”
Silence.
That line lingered.
“Aur waise bhi…” Arti added,
“Mujhe toh laga tha… aap log Vivek ke liye dekh rahe ho.”
Ridha looked up.
Arti continued smoothly—
“Woh zyada mature hai… settled hai…”
“Avni jaise ladki ke liye…”
A deliberate pause.
“Better match hota.”
There it was.The thought—
Spoken out loud.
Ridha ReactsRidha didn’t respond immediately.
Because somewhere—
That thought had already crossed her mind.And now—
It had a voice.
“Main bas ek baat kehna chahungi…”
Arti leaned slightly forward.
“Avni strong hai.”
“Par har ghar strong ladki handle nahi kar pata.”
A soft smile.
“Aap samajh rahi hai na?”
Ridha gave a small nod.
But her mind—
Was no longer calm.
Doubt had been planted.
Carefully.
Perfectly.
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