Guilt in the Unknown

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Aashna sat in the library, her fingers absently tracing the edges of the novel she had picked up. The pages in front of her blurred as her mind drifted back to a time she wished she could forget.

Five years ago...

The school corridor echoed with laughter, but not the kind that warmed hearts-it was cruel, sharp, and piercing. Aashna stood frozen, her fists clenched as Nishant and his group surrounded her.

"What's wrong, bookworm? Lost your tongue?" Nishant sneered, snatching the novel from her hands and flipping through its pages as if it were worthless.

Her heart pounded against her ribcage as he tossed the book to the floor, stepping on it with deliberate cruelty. The group of boys with him snickered while she fought back the sting of tears.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" she had whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Oh, but this is fun," Nishant grinned, shoving her shoulder lightly, causing her to stumble.

Aashna's eyes darted around, searching for an escape-searching for someone. And then she had seen him. Dhruvin.

He had been there, standing at the other end of the hallway, lost in thought, looking out the window. Unbothered. Unaware. Or maybe, just indifferent. He had been Nishant's best friend back then, always hanging around him, though never engaging in these acts himself. But he never stopped them either.

That was the day Aashna had realized something-sometimes, silence could hurt just as much as words.

Present Day...

Aashna blinked as reality came rushing back. Her grip on the book tightened. Across the library, she caught a glimpse of Dhruvin laughing at something Manan had said. The casual ease in his stance, the way he pushed his fingers through his hair-it was too familiar. Too much like him.

A fresh wave of resentment surged through her. Without thinking, she slammed the book shut and walked away.

Advait had been watching her closely. He had noticed how her mood shifted whenever Dhruvin was around, how her hands trembled slightly when she caught sight of him. And he didn't like it.

Later that day, as Dhruvin was walking through the corridor, Advait stepped in front of him, arms crossed.

"Stay away from Aashna."

Dhruvin raised a brow, caught off guard by the sudden hostility. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Advait's tone was firm, unwavering. "She wants nothing to do with you. Don't try to talk to her. Don't even look at her."

Dhruvin frowned, crossing his arms. "And why is that?"

Advait's jaw clenched. "You don't remember, do you?" he scoffed, shaking his head. "Typical."

Dhruvin's confusion only deepened. He had been wracking his brain for days, trying to understand why Aashna seemed to despise him. And now, here was her best friend, giving him nothing but riddles.

"If you're so sure I did something, why don't you just tell me?" Dhruvin challenged.

Advait let out a bitter laugh. "Because she deserves to live without that past haunting her. And you? You don't deserve to know."

With that, he walked away, leaving Dhruvin standing there, his mind racing. Then, something clicked-Aashna. That was her name.

For some reason, it made him happy. The girl who had been haunting his thoughts now had a name. And what a name it was. Aashna. Soft, delicate, and... it suited her.

But the happiness was fleeting. Advait's words echoed in his mind, leaving behind a dull ache in his chest.

And for the first time in years, he felt something he wasn't used to-guilt for something he didn't even remember.

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Author's Note

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