Chapter Twenty-Nine: Repeating Tales, New Hearts

Nehmat adjusted her dress, checking her reflection in the mirror. She felt a rush of excitement knowing he was taking her out on a date, especially after the panic she had felt during the flight. She couldn't believe she had misunderstood him earlier, and now she was kicking herself for it.

The elevator dinged as it reached the ground floor, its doors opening to reveal him waiting there, looking as good as ever. As she walked towards him, she stood on her tiptoes, despite already wearing heels. Leaning in, she kissed his cheeks.

His hands wrapped around her waist as he pulled her close, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Holding her close, he gently caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, locking eyes with her. "Ready?" he asked, smiling. Returning the smile, she leaned into his touch and replied, "Always."

Interlacing her fingers with his, they walked out together. He knew her preferences well, and the setting he had chosen for the night was perfect. As they ordered food and ate, she kept rambling about random things, and he listened attentively, occasionally chiming in with "hmms" and nods. At times, he even fed her, knowing she had drifted off into her own world. It was always like this, her talking and him listening, a comfortable rhythm they had settled into over time.

She couldn't resist stealing a kiss while he was indulging in his ice cream. The chocolate syrup smeared on his lips made him irresistible, drawing her in despite his distraction.

As their lips met, a spark ignited between them, sending a rush of excitement through their bodies. She savoured the sweet taste of chocolate mingled with his lips, a delightful combination that left her wanting more. He blushed and licked his lips as he dug into another scoop of ice cream, which made her laugh.

After those stolen kisses and blushes, dinner came to a close. As they walked back to the hotel, their hands intertwined, they soaked in the tranquil beauty of the coastline. Her head found a comfortable perch on his bicep, a gesture of intimacy and contentment as they strolled along together, relishing each other's company in the peaceful night air.

As they walked back to the hotel, he gently wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. With a tender touch, he turned her around to face him, their bodies close and their hearts beating in sync. He lifted his hand to delicately touch his forehead to hers, a gentle and affectionate gesture that made her close her eyes in pure bliss.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at her face, struggling to find the words. Finally, he choked out, "How long have you been playing this game?"

She opened her eyes, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. A gasp escaped her mouth as she cupped his face, searching his eyes for answers. "What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling with worry.

He chuckled bitterly, salty tears trickling down his cheek as his words intertwined with emotion. "Pretending, are we?" he murmured.

Nehmat emerged in shock, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Pretending what?" she questioned, her voice laced with concern and bewilderment.

Shubman held her arms firmly, his voice tinged with frustration and hurt. "Enough of these games, Nehmat. Enough," he uttered, his words weighted with emotion.

Nehmat's eyes widened in surprise at Shubman's sudden outburst. She could sense the intensity of his emotions, his words cutting through her like a knife. "Shubman, what do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern as she searched his face for any sign of explanation.

Shubman took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside him. He released Nehmat's arms and stepped back, his gaze heavy with a mixture of pain and resignation. "I mean," he began, his voice softer now but still tinged with bitterness, "how long have you been pretending that this... whatever this is between us, means nothing?"

Nehmat's voice quivered as tears welled up in her eyes, her heartache palpable in the tremor of her words. "You think this means nothing?" she whispered, her voice barely audible as she struggled to contain her emotions. "It means everything to me," she confessed, her words catching in her throat as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Shubman laughed, wiping away his tears, refusing to appear vulnerable. "You've said that to every guy you've been with before."

She stumbled over his words, clinging to his shirt for support and pulling him closer, tears streaming down her face. "What are you even saying?" she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.

"I'm saying what I saw," he repeated, his voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and determination. Despite his reluctance to engage in this confrontation, he knew he couldn't avoid it any longer.

She tightened her grip on him, her tears dampening his shirt. "But what did you see?" Her voice was pleading now, desperate for clarity amidst the chaos of their emotions.

His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, avoiding her pleading eyes. "He might not like you," he began, his voice soft but steady, "but he would never put such allegations on you either."

She pulled at her hair in frustration, her emotions bubbling over. "Can you please just talk clearly?" she pleaded, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Shubman sighed, finally tearing his gaze away from the ocean to meet her eyes. He could see the pain and confusion written across her face, and it tore at his heart. Taking a deep breath, he resolved to be more direct.

"What I'm trying to say is that even though he may have his grievances with you, accusing you of something like that is beyond him," he explained, his tone earnest and sincere. "He may not be fond of you, but he's not the type to fabricate lies either."

"And who is he?" Nehmat asked, her patience wearing thin with Shubman's cryptic responses.

Shubman rubbed his face and pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture of frustration and weariness, before finally answering, "Virat Kohli, your Paaji."

Nehmat's eyes widened in shock, her mind struggling to process the revelation. "Paaji?" she repeated her voice barely a whisper.

She knew Virat didn't like her, but the extent of his hatred was beyond anything she could have imagined. Clutching her heart, Nehmat took deep breaths, trying to steady her racing thoughts. Shubman looked at her, his expression filled with concern, and moved to offer his support, but she stopped him with a firm gesture.

"Just utter it out," she demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance. "What crap has he spoken about me?"

Shubman hesitated, knowing that his next words would inflict even more pain upon Nehmat. But he also understood that she needed to know the truth, no matter how harsh it may be.

Shubman kept his hands on his waist, blowing out a breath as he prepared himself to relay Virat's hurtful words. "He showed me pictures," he began, his voice heavy with reluctance, "of all the boys you've been with before. He claimed you used them, sharing your story to gain sympathy, only to discard them when you were bored or they were no longer benefitting you. And for me, he said you saw me as a jackpot — someone to provide you with money and fame."

Nehmat's heart sank as she listened to Shubman's words, feeling the weight of Virat's accusations bearing down on her. It was like a betrayal on top of a betrayal, her own brother spreading lies and manipulating situations to tarnish her reputation.

Tears welled up in Nehmat's eyes as she struggled to comprehend the depth of Virat's animosity towards her. "How could he say such things?" she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

Shubman's voice quivered with a blend of anger and sorrow, tears flowing down his cheeks. "He wouldn't let me become your prey," he uttered bitterly, "that's why he confessed. And I trust him. Despite his feelings toward you, he wouldn't deceive about this. I'm sorry, Nehmat, but we can't continue together."

Nehmat's heart shattered into a million pieces at Shubman's words, the weight of his belief in Virat's accusations crushing her spirit. She felt the sting of betrayal from both her brother and the man she loved, a pain too deep to bear.

"But Shubman, please," she pleaded, reaching out to him with trembling hands. "You know me. You know I would never do those things. Please don't let his lies tear us apart."

Shubman's resolve wavered as he looked into Nehmat's tear-filled eyes, torn between his love for her and the doubts sown by Virat's words. But at that moment, he couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, the nagging suspicion that maybe there was some truth to Virat's accusations.

"I'm sorry, Nehmat," he repeated, his voice choked with emotion. "I can't do this anymore. I can't trust you."

And with those words, he turned away, leaving Nehmat alone with her shattered heart and the echoes of Virat's lies ringing in her ears.

Nehmat's cries echoed in the air, stopping Shubman in his tracks as he turned to face her once more. Her words pierced through the tumult of emotions raging within him.

"Why would you believe him and not me?" she sobbed, her voice laced with anguish. "Why did you promise me you would believe me?"

Shubman's heart ached at the raw pain in Nehmat's voice, the weight of his decision bearing down on him with crushing force. He struggled to find the words to explain himself, to justify his actions, but the truth hung heavy in the air between them.

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to believe you, Nehmat. I wanted to trust in our love. But... I couldn't ignore the doubts."

Nehmat's shoulders shook with sobs as she struggled to make sense of the shattered dreams and broken promises that lay before her. "I never thought it would come to this," she whispered, her voice trembling with grief. "I thought our love was stronger than this."

Shubman's own tears mingled with Nehmat's as he reached out, his hand hovering uncertainly in the space between them. "I'm sorry," he choked out, the words heavy with remorse. "I never wanted to hurt you."

Running towards him, Nehmat threw her arms around Shubman and kissed him desperately, her fingers clutching his collar as if holding onto the last shreds of their love. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pulled back slightly, her gaze pleading as she looked into his eyes.

"Please, Shubman," she begged, her voice cracking with emotion. "Please trust me. Please don't let it go. Pleaseeeee..."

Releasing her hand from his collar, Shubman stepped back slightly, his expression pained as he met Nehmat's gaze. "I wish I could," he whispered, his voice heavy with regret, "but there are enough proofs making it hard for me to believe."

Nehmat's cries pierced the air once more as she shook her head vehemently, desperation colouring her every word. "They are lying, all of it is morphed, believe me, please."

Shubman shook his head, tears mingling with his own anguish as he prepared to distance himself from Nehmat. "I don't think so," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "He wouldn't go to that extent to lie about something like this."

With a heavy heart, Shubman turned away, his steps heavy as he moved to leave Nehmat behind. Her cries followed him, a haunting melody that echoed in the empty street, pleading with him to stop, to reconsider. But he couldn't bear to face the uncertainty, the doubts that threatened to consume him whole.

Nehmat's cries faded into the distance, Shubman knew that he had lost more than just the love of his life — he had lost a part of himself in the process.