Climax Before The Interval Itself

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A month had passed since the Nishant incident, and Aashna was finally back to her normal self—well, almost. There were still moments when the shadows of her past crept up on her, but she had found solace in Dhruvin’s presence. His quiet reassurances, his casual touches meant to ground her, the way he instinctively pulled her closer whenever her hands trembled—he was her safe space. And she had started to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could let herself heal.

That weekend, the group had decided to go for a movie night. Dhruvin had been annoyingly persistent about watching some Bollywood chick-flick that apparently had “top ratings,” much to Aashna’s disbelief. “You, Dhruvin Deshmukh, willingly sitting through a rom-com? What’s next, you starting a book club with me?” she had teased, earning an eye-roll and a muttered, “It’s got good storytelling, okay?”

With laughter and playful arguments filling the air, they finally made their way to the theater.

As Dhruvin and Manan went to get the tickets, Aashna stood with Sia and Advait, chatting about absolutely nothing, when two familiar voices cut through the noise.

“Aye, Dhruvin!”

She stiffened.

That voice.

No.

Turning slowly, she saw them—Nishta and Taaruk. Old school friends of Dhruvin’s.

Aashna’s breath hitched, and before she could stop herself, she curled up slightly behind Dhruvin’s back, her fingers clutching the fabric of his sleeve. She hadn’t seen them in years, but the memories were instant—hallways, whispers, eyes that had watched but never spoken up.

Dhruvin, oblivious to her distress, grinned and hugged them. “Damn, where have you guys been? It’s been months!”

“We should be asking you that!” Taaruk laughed. “Mr. Bad Boy Image doesn’t even check in on his old friends anymore.”

Dhruvin chuckled, then turned slightly, bringing Aashna into view. “By the way, meet Aashna. My girlfriend.”

The moment their eyes met hers, both Nishta and Taaruk exchanged glances. And that’s when Dhruvin felt it—the way Aashna’s grip on him tightened, the way her nails dug into his skin slightly. His brow furrowed as he looked between them, something twisting in his gut.

Nishta’s expression faltered, guilt washing over her face. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled Aashna into a hug. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Aashna froze, her entire body stiff. Her breaths became shallow, panic creeping in.

No.

No.

Not now.

Dhruvin, standing just beside them, went completely still. His gaze snapped to Nishta, confusion and unease settling in his chest. “Sorry?” he echoed. “For what?”

Nishta pulled back, biting her lip. “I should have done something back then. I should have stopped him.”

Dhruvin’s heartbeat slammed against his ribs. His mind raced.

“What are you talking about?”

Silence stretched between them before Taaruk spoke, voice grim. “You don’t know?”

Dhruvin’s hands clenched. “Know what?”

Taaruk exhaled, looking at Aashna, then back at him. “Nishant. He used to bully her. Way too much.”

The world stopped.

Dhruvin heard the words, but it took a second for them to register. When they did, something inside him snapped.

He turned his head slowly, eyes locking onto Aashna.

And in that moment, he saw it—the barely concealed panic, the way she looked at him like she was afraid of what would come next, the way her hands trembled against her sides.

She had known he would find out. She had known all along.

And she had kept it from him.

“Aashna,” he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. His stomach twisted. “Is this true?”

Aashna opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She swallowed thickly, looking away, her fingers tightening around the hem of her top.

She didn’t need to answer.

Her silence was enough.

Dhruvin’s chest felt like it was caving in. His vision blurred at the edges, rage, guilt, and betrayal tangling inside him.

His breathing turned ragged. His hands clenched into fists. He had been there. Physically. He had walked those hallways, sat in those classrooms, existed in the same space as her.

And yet—he had seen nothing. Done nothing.

“Aashna,” he tried again, his voice breaking this time. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Aashna took a step back. Then another. “Because it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Dhruvin flinched. “It matters to me.”

She shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to disappear. “I didn’t want you to look at me like this,” she whispered. “Like I’m some fragile thing. Like I’m broken.”

Dhruvin exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You’re not broken, Aashna.”

She looked up at him then, eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Then why do you look like you’re about to fall apart?”

Because I am, he wanted to say.

Because knowing that you suffered like that, and I never noticed—it’s killing me.

Before he could say anything, before he could reach for her, she turned and walked away.

And Dhruvin was left standing there, feeling more helpless than he ever had before.

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Author’s Note

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