24-06-2026, 03:57 PM
Chapter 57: Silent Fracture
The morning light filtered weakly through the curtains, casting long, pale shadows across the room. Nikitha woke up with a heavy chest, the events of the previous day crashing over her like cold waves. She lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, her mind replaying the open door, the possibility that Jay had seen her in Tharun’s arms — lips locked, body pressed close, lost in a kiss that should never have happened in that place.
She assumed the worst. Jay had seen it. He must have.
His last words from the night before echoed painfully: “If you are moving away, don’t care for me.” The quiet resignation in his voice had cut deeper than any argument ever could. She had no guts to justify it or casually deny it. Earlier, she had boldly told him she would experience love and sex outside marriage, just like he had with Anjali. But now, in the middle of exploring that path, the thought that Jay might have witnessed her with Tharun disturbed her far more than it would disturb him.
She hadn’t fully moved away from Jay. She wasn’t ready for that. She slowly realized her anger and disappointment might have triggered her to do so. May be her yearning for one Such love.. she whole heartedly wanted to experience love but in the process of figuring things out, she felt like she had committed a deep betrayal. It hurt her more than it would hurt Jay. She thought she no longer deserved him.
She expected a fight. Resistance. Anger. Instead, Jay seemed to have given up — quietly letting her go. She believed he hadn’t mentioned the kiss because it was too disgusting, too heartbreaking for him to voice. She didn’t want to face him. She thought she should leave the place before she caused him any more pain, but she fears, she fears leaving him abruptly might even send a signal like he is little? she doesn't want to pass such a humiliation like that.
Deep down, she knew she had rushed again with Tharun. The kiss marathon at the office had blinded her. He still hadn’t spoken to Mithra. She still hadn’t come to proper terms with Jay. The loan was almost cleared — just two more months of payments, thansk to their recent increase in pay scale after promotions. The house had her name too, but she was ready to give it all up for him, for the hurt she had caused. Her heart even warned her: What if Tharun’s love fades after sex? Like Jay warned.
She decided she should not go back to Jay if she face such a situation like Tharun used her.. Jay had showed her a kindness once, its enough she thought.. after what she had done, she don't have guts to think about that. She had now realized that hearts were not playthings.
On the other side of the bed, Jay lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He had read her silence, her avoidance, her turned back every night as clear signs — she hated him now. She didn’t love him anymore. He felt like he looks despicable in her eyes. He thought Challenging her to prove his or her love doesn't matter anymore. With such silent withdrawal from her he doesn't want to have a false hope, accept reality and move one. He also realised hanging on to her would only cause more pain. He decided to step away, to give her the freedom she clearly wanted. But he was not ready to tell it to her face, deep down he love her so much that he is okay to live with her as long as she doesnt object. He thanked the house to united them and make them bonded to it.
Both of them, trapped in their own assumptions, had reached the same painful conclusion: separation was inevitable. But neither knew how to start the conversation.
The car ride to the office was suffocatingly silent. Nikitha drove, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. Jay sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window, his face calm but his eyes hollow. Neither spoke. The radio played softly in the background, but the music felt distant, irrelevant. Every red light felt like an eternity. Every glance they avoided carried the weight of unsaid words.
When they reached the office parking lot, they stepped out without a word.
The elevator ride was even heavier.
They stood side by side, separated by a wide, painful gap.
It wasn't much in feet, but it felt endless.
The doors began to close with a soft ting.
At the last second, they slid open again.
Sharmi stepped in with a bright smile and slipped neatly into the space between them,
as though that empty stretch had been waiting for her all along.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully, completely unaware of the storm raging silently around her.
The doors closed. The elevator began its slow ascent.
The elevator rose floor by floor, carrying three people upward. And somehow, with Sharmi standing between them,
the gap that had felt like a chasm moments ago seemed a little more like a bridge waiting to be crossed.
The morning light filtered weakly through the curtains, casting long, pale shadows across the room. Nikitha woke up with a heavy chest, the events of the previous day crashing over her like cold waves. She lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, her mind replaying the open door, the possibility that Jay had seen her in Tharun’s arms — lips locked, body pressed close, lost in a kiss that should never have happened in that place.
She assumed the worst. Jay had seen it. He must have.
His last words from the night before echoed painfully: “If you are moving away, don’t care for me.” The quiet resignation in his voice had cut deeper than any argument ever could. She had no guts to justify it or casually deny it. Earlier, she had boldly told him she would experience love and sex outside marriage, just like he had with Anjali. But now, in the middle of exploring that path, the thought that Jay might have witnessed her with Tharun disturbed her far more than it would disturb him.
She hadn’t fully moved away from Jay. She wasn’t ready for that. She slowly realized her anger and disappointment might have triggered her to do so. May be her yearning for one Such love.. she whole heartedly wanted to experience love but in the process of figuring things out, she felt like she had committed a deep betrayal. It hurt her more than it would hurt Jay. She thought she no longer deserved him.
She expected a fight. Resistance. Anger. Instead, Jay seemed to have given up — quietly letting her go. She believed he hadn’t mentioned the kiss because it was too disgusting, too heartbreaking for him to voice. She didn’t want to face him. She thought she should leave the place before she caused him any more pain, but she fears, she fears leaving him abruptly might even send a signal like he is little? she doesn't want to pass such a humiliation like that.
Deep down, she knew she had rushed again with Tharun. The kiss marathon at the office had blinded her. He still hadn’t spoken to Mithra. She still hadn’t come to proper terms with Jay. The loan was almost cleared — just two more months of payments, thansk to their recent increase in pay scale after promotions. The house had her name too, but she was ready to give it all up for him, for the hurt she had caused. Her heart even warned her: What if Tharun’s love fades after sex? Like Jay warned.
She decided she should not go back to Jay if she face such a situation like Tharun used her.. Jay had showed her a kindness once, its enough she thought.. after what she had done, she don't have guts to think about that. She had now realized that hearts were not playthings.
On the other side of the bed, Jay lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He had read her silence, her avoidance, her turned back every night as clear signs — she hated him now. She didn’t love him anymore. He felt like he looks despicable in her eyes. He thought Challenging her to prove his or her love doesn't matter anymore. With such silent withdrawal from her he doesn't want to have a false hope, accept reality and move one. He also realised hanging on to her would only cause more pain. He decided to step away, to give her the freedom she clearly wanted. But he was not ready to tell it to her face, deep down he love her so much that he is okay to live with her as long as she doesnt object. He thanked the house to united them and make them bonded to it.
Both of them, trapped in their own assumptions, had reached the same painful conclusion: separation was inevitable. But neither knew how to start the conversation.
The car ride to the office was suffocatingly silent. Nikitha drove, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. Jay sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window, his face calm but his eyes hollow. Neither spoke. The radio played softly in the background, but the music felt distant, irrelevant. Every red light felt like an eternity. Every glance they avoided carried the weight of unsaid words.
When they reached the office parking lot, they stepped out without a word.
The elevator ride was even heavier.
They stood side by side, separated by a wide, painful gap.
It wasn't much in feet, but it felt endless.
The doors began to close with a soft ting.
At the last second, they slid open again.
Sharmi stepped in with a bright smile and slipped neatly into the space between them,
as though that empty stretch had been waiting for her all along.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully, completely unaware of the storm raging silently around her.
The doors closed. The elevator began its slow ascent.
The elevator rose floor by floor, carrying three people upward. And somehow, with Sharmi standing between them,
the gap that had felt like a chasm moments ago seemed a little more like a bridge waiting to be crossed.
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