Chapter 54

Abhimanyu

The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet earth and the distant hum of the city. We walked in comfortable silence, the warmth of her presence beside me enough to keep my mind from spiraling.

Subhi had said she wasn’t going anywhere.

She had looked me in the eye and said it with a certainty that both scared me and settled something deep inside.

I didn’t know what to do with that.

People always left. Either by choice, by circumstance, or by fate itself.

But she was still here.

And for the first time in a long time, I wanted to believe that maybe—just maybe—she meant it.

She walked a little ahead of me, humming a tune under her breath. The streetlights cast a soft glow on her face, making her look almost unreal. Or maybe that was just my exhaustion playing tricks on me.

"You look like you're thinking too much," she said suddenly, turning to me with a knowing look.

I scoffed. "I always think too much."

She grinned. "I’ve noticed."

I shook my head but didn’t argue. She wasn’t wrong.

We reached her street, and my steps slowed unconsciously. I wasn’t ready to let this moment end.

"Abhimanyu," she said gently, stopping in front of her house.

I braced myself, expecting her to say goodnight and leave. Instead, she hesitated, her brows furrowing like she was debating something.

Then, before I could process it, she reached for my hand again.

It was warm. Steady.

"You're not alone," she whispered. "I hope you know that."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wasn’t sure I did.

But looking at her, standing there with that quiet determination in her eyes, I wanted to.

She gave my hand a gentle squeeze before stepping back. "Goodnight, Abhimanyu."

I nodded, not trusting my voice. "Goodnight, Subhi."

And as she disappeared into her house, I stood there for a moment longer, staring at the closed door.

Maybe she was right.

Maybe I wasn’t alone after all.