So, my mom was absolutely right—someone who enjoys breaking hearts once will do it again and again, to everyone!
But then, from a different perspective, I asked Ryan Bhai,
___"Are you sure about what you're saying about him?"
Hearing this, he looked stunned. With a somber expression, he said,
___"Do you think I have any reason to lie to you? What do I gain by lying about him? Lia, I wanted to share the truth about him with you, and here you are doubting me?"
I stammered and said,
___"No, no, I'm not doubting you! I'm just asking if what Dipti said and what you've learned is accurate. Because Tiyas told me in front of me that Dipti was his life, and he'd do anything for her!"
___"Well, do you want to talk to Dipti? She's offline now, but you can call her tonight. I'll give you her number."
I opened my phone and took down her number. Then I said softly,
___"I'm sorry if my words hurt you. In this world of painted facades, it's hard to distinguish black from white, you know? Trusting people again feels impossible."
Ryan Bhai nodded and said,
___"I understand. Your trust was shattered, so it's hard for you to trust anyone easily. You've become very guarded, haven't you? Well, with time, things will become clearer. You'll learn to recognize people too. Now, let's go have a cup of coffee. This is the first time we're meeting outside campus."
I shook my head and said,
___"Not today. Maybe another time. By the way, can you do me a favor?"
His face lit up immediately. With enthusiasm, he said,
___"What favor? I'll do my best."
___"Are you busy tomorrow?"
___"Yes, I'll be busy from 11 AM to the evening."
___"That's fine. Can you come with me to the coaching center tomorrow morning? I mean, drop me off there. Tiyas is supposed to join from tomorrow. I don't know if he'll come, but if he does, I want him to see that his plans have failed. Now, let's head back."
He adjusted his sunglasses and ran his hand through his hair, saying,
___"By the way, why did you tell him so much about me, Priliya?"
I fidgeted with my handbag and said,
___"I'll explain later. Let's go now. See you tomorrow."
He smiled and headed to his destination on the right, while I went left toward mine.
When I got home, I threw my bag aside and collapsed onto the bed. Why is the past haunting me now? Why is Tiyas doing this again? Is he really as bad as I've learned? Or even worse? Even if he's betrayed countless girls, why does he still want me? What's his ulterior motive? I realized he hadn't changed when I was humiliated at his house. But why is he trying so hard to win me over now? How will I ever know the truth?
Tiyas will never tell me the whole truth himself. Besides, he has a terrible habit of lying. Otherwise, how could he have told Ryan Bhai all those nonsense things about me?
If I try to hear anything from him, he'll definitely come up with new tricks!
But then, an old memory of Tiyas doing something good resurfaced in my mind. It was about how he helped Nuzhat get married to Saad's family.
If he didn't value love, why did he do that that day?
I slapped my forehead and said to myself,
What kind of genius am I? I don't know how to read people. Despite coming this far, what have I achieved with my ignorance about people?
No, no, I've learned a lot academically. Now, I need to learn a different kind of education. And I'm at a stage where no one can pierce my heart, no matter who comes or goes. So, I need to find out if there's a word for 'right' in a crowd of billions!
The next morning, I woke up early, cooked, ate, and then left the house after telling Ryan Bhai to wait.
When I arrived, I saw he was already standing at the corner, waiting for me.
I walked up to him, and we started walking together. It had been a long time since I walked side by side with someone, matching my steps with theirs. As we approached the coaching center, I saw what I had expected—Tiyas was standing in the distance.
I subtly moved closer to Ryan Bhai. As we walked, I gently held his hand with my left hand, keeping my steps steady.
He was surprised when I held his hand. He looked down at our hands, then held mine and said with a simple smile,
___"Priliya, back then, your acting with Tiyas was just for show. But this time, with me, could this acting be real? Could it come from the heart? I'm genuinely…"
I cut him off, letting go of his hand, and whispered,
___"Look, Tiyas is leaving. I'm sure he's burning with jealousy!"
He looked and saw Tiyas walking away. But he didn't say anything. I thanked him with a smile and entered the class.
Tiyas didn't come inside. He must have realized that the lies he told yesterday had been exposed. He probably left because he didn't know how to respond.
The day passed normally. A month went by. Occasionally, I noticed Tiyas watching from a distance, but he never dared to come close. He didn't even try to make excuses to talk to me. Whenever I saw him around, I pretended not to notice and went about my business.
I didn't talk to Ryan Bhai either. Even if he called, I didn't pick up, and if I did, I made excuses about being busy. Honestly, I didn't want to give him any false hope. If I ever failed to keep my word, I'd end up in the same category as Tiyas—a deceiver. It's better to keep my feelings hidden for now. Let the emotions stay inside—they're more intense when kept secret.
That day was a holiday. I spent the whole day at home, buried in books. In between, I kept calling my parents, driving them crazy. On every holiday, I call them repeatedly. For some reason, no matter how much we talk, I always feel like talking more. I'm thinking of bringing them to live with me soon.
In the evening, while I was studying, Nuzhat called. I closed my book, answered the phone, and said cheerfully,
___"Hey, mommy, how are you?"
I could hear Nuzhat's broken voice clearly. She cried and said,
___"Saad has married someone else, Lia. He got married a year and a half ago, and I'm only finding out now!"
I jumped up from my seat, horrified, and said,
___"Who did he marry? And why haven't you filed a case against him yet? You have a child together—how could he marry someone else? I'd have killed him!"
Nuzhat sniffled and said softly,
___"Remember Tiyas? The one I once thanked with joy! If I ever take up the weapon of protest, I'll cut his throat first. Because he knew everything!"
Hearing Nuzhat's words, my whole body shivered. I couldn't speak for a moment. After a pause, I said softly,
___"Tiyas?"
Nuzhat said firmly,
___"Yes, Tiyas! He's behind everything. Four years ago, he convinced me to accept Saad, saying, 'You're already married, so just accept it. You can keep a wife and still have affairs—no problem.' Tiyas was only pretending to be a good person to win you over. Remember how you blocked Tiyas after hearing about Saad's misdeeds that night?"
I stayed silent, unable to find the words. Nuzhat continued,
___"Tiyas is also behind Saad's provocations toward me. He's the one who poisoned Saad's mind. He's deceiving you too, Lia. Don't ever forgive him! He's not just playing with your life—he's played with many lives."
I sat frozen, just listening. Then it suddenly struck me—I still hadn't called Dipti to verify the truth, even though I'd gotten her number from Ryan Bhai. What am I hearing today? The bad thoughts I had about Tiyas have crossed all limits. He's far more guilty than I thought!
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T/N: If you like it please vote with power stone please. More stones equals faster release.
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