FLASHBACK CONTINUED

The hallway felt colder after he walked away. Avneet stood there for a few moments, unmoving, her confidence cracking under the weight of something she couldn’t name.

Disappointment.

Not fear. Not hate.
He’d looked at her like he felt sorry for her.

That stung more than any insult ever had.

She blinked and turned, heels clicking furiously as she stormed out of the building, desperate to drown out the echo of his words. The laughter. The judgment.

What does he know? What does he even know about me?

A Few Days Later

She stared at the white plastic stick in the bathroom, the result flashing clearly in front of her.

Positive.

Her jaw clenched.
Her eyes didn’t blink.

There was no gasp. No breakdown.
Just silence.

She opened her drawer, pulling out a small box tucked in the back, already containing two other positive tests from months ago. She dropped this one in.

Now three.

And the fourth?

She remembered the hospital visit last year. Quiet. Discreet. Alone.

This one would be the fourth.

Faisu didn’t know. Didn’t care enough to notice the mood swings. The nausea. The distance.

He was just another piece of noise in her life—like everyone else.

Later That Evening – With Jannat

They sat at her house, music low, drinks in hand.

“You okay?” Jannat asked softly, noticing her distant eyes.

Avneet took a long sip and smiled without warmth.

“I’m fine. Just tired.”

“You’ve been off lately. Is it about Faisu?”

She laughed bitterly. “It’s never about Faisu.”

There was a pause. Then—

“I’m pregnant.”

Jannat gasped. “Avneet—again?”

She nodded. Calm. Cold.

“I’m taking care of it tomorrow. Like always.”

Jannat looked horrified. “Avi… that’s your fourth. Are you—doesn’t it… I mean, don’t you feel anything?”

Avneet looked at her friend for a long moment.

Then whispered,

“I stopped feeling things a long time ago.”

NEXT DAY:

She sat alone in the waiting room, arms crossed, legs bouncing slightly.
The nurse called her name.

She walked in without flinching.

The doctor asked the usual questions. She nodded mechanically, signed the papers, stared at the white ceiling above the exam table.

As the anesthesia took hold, the last thing she whispered was:

“I don’t want it. I never wanted anything.”

But deep down…
Somewhere in the buried part of her that Siddharth’s words had cracked open—

She knew that wasn’t true.

---

Avneet stepped out of the cab, clutching her bag against her chest as the evening breeze brushed her. She felt cold. Not because of the weather—but because there was nothing left in her that felt warm.

Her steps were slower than usual. Her legs ached. Her body was still sore from the procedure. The nausea hadn't left. Neither had the dull ache in her abdomen.

But worse was the silence inside her.
That awful emptiness.

She climbed the stairs to her room, ignoring the laughter coming from the common hallway. Someone called her name—she smiled briefly, waved, and kept walking. No one noticed how pale she looked. No one asked. No one cared.

Inside her room, she closed the door softly, locked it, and leaned back against it.

Her body slowly slid down to the floor.

She wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her head.

She didn’t cry. She wanted to cry. But even the tears wouldn’t come.

Her phone buzzed.

“Mom” calling.

She hesitated.

Then picked up, forcing her voice into cheerful lightness.

“Hey, Mom.”

Her mother’s warm voice filled the line. “Hi, beta! How are you? Are you eating properly? You sound tired.”

Avneet smiled through the ache in her stomach. “I’m fine, just… exams and all. You know how it is.”

“Oh, my poor baby. I told your father—our daughter is working so hard. We’re so proud of you, you know that? Always focused, never distracted like those other girls.”

Avneet’s throat tightened.

“Yeah… thanks, Mom.”

Her mom continued, “I keep telling everyone, my daughter is going to be something big. So graceful, so mature. You’ve always made us proud, Avni.”

Avneet closed her eyes.

“Okay, Mom. I have to sleep now. I’m really tired.”

“Alright, sweetheart. Rest well. Call us tomorrow. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

She ended the call and slowly placed the phone down beside her.

She stared at the ceiling. Her stomach turned again, the pain sharper now.

She didn’t move.

The world saw her as the perfect girl with the perfect life.
Her parents thought she was a hardworking, brilliant daughter.
Her friends thought she was strong and heartless.

Only she knew the truth.

That she was broken.
Alone.
Sick.
And… ashamed.

She curled up on her bed later that night, hugging her pillow.

Her body trembled. Whether from the cold, the pain, or the weight of guilt—she didn’t know anymore.

All she knew was that no one really saw her.

Except maybe… him.

And she hated that.

Because it meant he’d seen this coming.