The cool breeze from the open window did little to calm Mishti's racing thoughts. She sat beside Raghav in the backseat of his car, the hum of the engine mingling with the tension that hung thick in the air. The evening had been a disaster, though it hadn't started that way. Aryan had lightened her mood, but Raghav's behavior had crushed any hope of meaningful conversation or connection.

As the car glided through the city streets, Mishti stole a glance at Raghav. He had been silent for most of the ride, staring out the window, his fingers tapping impatiently against the armrest. She could feel the gap between them widening with every passing second. She tried to summon the words to break the silence, but nothing seemed right.

"Raghav," she said finally, her voice quiet but firm, "What was that back there?"

He didn't answer immediately. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel, and Mishti saw his jaw clench.

"What do you mean?" His voice was tight, a defensive edge creeping into his words.

Mishti's pulse quickened. She wasn't sure what she expected, but this lack of response felt like a slap in the face. She had been waiting for this dinner to be a turning point, a moment where they would finally connect, where they would find something real between them. But instead, she had been ignored—abandoned, even—for his ex.

"Don't play dumb with me, Raghav. You saw her—the woman across the room—and you left me sitting there like I was invisible. Why did you even bother bringing me here?" Mishti's words came out in a rush, her emotions spilling over like a dam breaking. She wasn't angry at him for meeting his ex, but she was hurt by the way he had treated her. 

He looked at her then, a conflicted expression on his face. "I'm trying, Mishti. I am. But it's not easy. You don't understand. Every time I see her, it's like everything we had... it comes back. The memories, the pain. I didn't want to hurt you by dragging you into that."

Mishti felt her chest tighten. "So, you thought it was better to hurt me by pretending I didn't exist? By leaving me like that? You don't get it, do you? I'm not some placeholder, Raghav. I'm not your second choice." 

He looked at her, his eyes softening with regret. "I never meant to make you feel that way. But my feelings... they're complicated. I'm trying to move on from her, I swear. But it's hard. You have to understand that." 

Mishti's heart sank. She had known it wouldn't be easy, but hearing him admit that he was still struggling with his past made her feel like she was standing on the edge of an abyss. She wanted to yell at him, to scream that she wasn't some therapy session, that she didn't deserve to be treated like this. But all she could do was sit there, silent, staring out the window.

The rest of the ride passed in strained silence. When they reached her apartment building, Raghav parked the car, but neither of them moved to get out. The tension was suffocating, and Mishti couldn't bear it anymore. She unbuckled her seatbelt, grabbed her bag, and opened the door.

"Goodnight, Raghav," she said, her voice clipped. She didn't look back as she stepped out of the car, leaving him behind in the car.

---

The following morning, Mishti's phone buzzed with a message from Aryan. 

*"Coffee? I know you could use one."* 

She didn't have the energy to respond, but the thought of seeing him—a breath of fresh air after last night's emotional turmoil—was too tempting to ignore. Mishti replied quickly, agreeing to meet at their usual café.

When she arrived, Aryan was already seated, his feet propped up on the chair in front of him, a casual, carefree grin plastered on his face. He didn't need to ask; he could see the exhaustion in her eyes.

"Coffee's on me," he said, motioning for the barista to take her order.

Mishti smiled faintly. "Thanks." 

As she sat down, Aryan studied her for a moment, his expression shifting from playful to serious. "So, how's Raghav treating you?"

Mishti let out a long sigh, leaning back in her chair. "I don't even know anymore. He's trying, I guess. But it feels like he's stuck in the past, and I'm just... I'm just here. It's like I'm an afterthought in his life."

Aryan's eyes narrowed. "He's an idiot."

Mishti chuckled dryly. "Tell me something I don't know."

"No, seriously." Aryan leaned forward, his voice lowering. "If Raghav can't see what he has in front of him, if he can't appreciate you, then he doesn't deserve you. You deserve someone who sees you, who's not weighed down by ghosts from the past. Someone who'll be with you, not just for now, but for the future."

Mishti's heart fluttered at the sincerity in his words. There was something about Aryan—something that felt genuine, like he didn't have an agenda but she can't let her gards down.

"Thanks, Aryan," she said, her voice soft. "I just wish it was that simple."

Aryan's eyes softened, and he reached across the table to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It will be."

---

Later that afternoon, Mishti found herself walking into a local restaurant, a place she had frequented with Aditya before their disastrous breakup. She had agreed to meet a friend there, but her stomach churned as soon as she saw who was seated at the table.

Kavya and Aditya were laughing together, the kind of laugh that made Mishti feel like an outsider. Her ex and cousin, the two people who had shattered her world, sitting across from each other as though nothing had ever gone wrong.

Mishti hesitated for a moment, her heart sinking in her chest. She could feel the old wounds reopening as they caught sight of her. Kavya's eyes sparkled with something that almost looked like amusement, while Aditya's smile faded into something that bordered on pity.

"Mishti! What a surprise!" Kavya's voice was sweet, but it had an edge to it. "Didn't expect you to come here. You and Raghav were supposed to be on a dinner date last night, weren't you, How did it go?" 

Mishti froze, her breath catching in her throat. Kavya's words, dripping with sarcasm, stung more than she was prepared for. 

"Don't mind her," Aditya added, his tone dismissive. "She's just jealous. We've been through this before, Mishti. You'll get over it." 

Mishti's jaw tightened. "You don't get to tell me how I feel, Aditya." 

Kavya laughed, a sound that made Mishti want to leave right then. "Oh, don't be so sensitive. We're happy now. You should be happy for us, don't you think?"

Mishti could feel the anger building within her, her fingers curling into fists. She wasn't sure whether it was the words or the smug expressions on their faces that hurt more, but she knew she couldn't stay there. Not with them taunting her like this.

Just as Mishti stood to leave, a familiar voice rang out from behind her.

"Hey, what's going on here?" 

Mishti turned, relief flooding her when she saw Aryan striding toward the table. He didn't even glance at Kavya or Aditya, his gaze fixed on Mishti. "Need a hand?" he asked, his voice low but full of confidence. 

Mishti's chest tightened. "I'm fine. Let's go." 

Aryan didn't hesitate. "No, you're not. I'll deal with this." He turned to Aditya and Kavya, his eyes cold. "Do you two always treat people like this, or are you just special today?" 

Kavya raised an eyebrow, but Aryan's presence was enough to silence her. Aditya shot him a warning look, but Aryan stood firm, his posture unyielding. 

"We were just leaving," Mishti muttered, pulling at Aryan's arm. "Let's go." 

Aryan looked down at her, his expression softening.

With that, they walked away, leaving Kavya and Aditya behind, their cruel taunts fading into the background.

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