The hotel room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. Shubman sat on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, his head buried in his hands. The hike had left him physically tired, but it was the conversation with Aarohi that weighed heavily on his mind.

Abhishek walked in, tossing his sunglasses onto the nightstand. He glanced at Shubman, immediately sensing something was off.

“Alright, spill,” Abhishek said, crossing his arms.

Shubman didn’t respond.

“Shub, you’re not exactly subtle when something’s eating you up,” Abhishek continued, sitting across from him.

After a moment of silence, Shubman finally spoke, his voice low. “She told me her dad died. A week after our fight.”

Abhishek blinked, surprised. “Whoa. That’s… heavy.”

Shubman lifted his head, running a hand through his hair. “She said she tried to call me. Text me. I didn’t even know. I just—” He shook his head, frustration evident in his tone. “I was so angry back then. So wrapped up in my stupid ego that I didn’t even think to check on her.”

Abhishek watched him silently, letting him vent.

“You know what hurts the most?” Shubman continued, his voice cracking slightly. “She was always there for me. When no one else cared. When I was just some quiet kid with barely two friends, she was one of them.”

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “She saw me before all this. Before the fame, the followers, the people who suddenly want to be around me. She knew me when I was… me.”

Abhishek leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And now you feel like you let her down.”

Shubman nodded, his jaw tightening. “I don’t know if I can ever make it up to her. She’s been through so much, and I wasn’t there for any of it. Not even when she needed me the most.”

Abhishek exhaled deeply. “Look, you screwed up. No one’s denying that. But you’re here now, aren’t you? You’re trying. That has to count for something.”

Shubman let out a bitter laugh. “Does it? She probably hates me. And honestly, I wouldn’t blame her.”

“Shub,” Abhishek said firmly, “you don’t get to decide how she feels about you. That’s her choice. All you can do is show her that you care, that you’re sorry. The rest is up to her.”

Shubman nodded slowly, taking in his friend’s words.

Abhishek stood up, clapping a hand on Shubman’s shoulder. “You’ve got time to fix things. Don’t waste it.”

Shubman sighed, the guilt still heavy but slightly less suffocating. “Thanks, man.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Abhishek replied. “Now, come on. Let’s get some food before you drown yourself in regret.”

Shubman nodded, standing up. But as they headed out the door, he couldn’t help but wonder if it would ever be enough to repair what they had lost.