The days passed in a silent storm for Rishad, a bittersweet pain building in his heart as he watched Alia and Rihan together. Alia seemed genuinely happy, her laughter ringing through the house, a sound that once filled him with joy but now only reminded him of what he had lost. He tried to avoid them as much as possible, choosing solitude over the painful reminders of his shattered dreams.
But sometimes he couldn’t avoid it. Like tonight. The family had gathered for dinner, and Alia sat across from him, her face glowing with happiness as she talked excitedly with Rihan. Rishad could barely look at them, each glance feeling like salt rubbed into a fresh wound. He forced himself to focus on his food, pushing around pieces on his plate more than actually eating.
Soumita, his mother, noticed his unusual silence and the far-off look in his eyes. She knew her son better than anyone and sensed that something was troubling him deeply. After dinner, as he excused himself and headed out to the garden to be alone, Soumita quietly followed him.
Rishad sat on a bench, looking up at the stars, their cool light doing little to ease the pain in his heart. His mother’s presence next to him was a comfort, yet he remained silent, not ready to share the pain that felt so intensely.
“Rishad,” Soumita said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve seemed so distant lately. Is everything alright?”
Rishad forced a smile, but his mother’s warm, understanding gaze made it impossible to hide. “I’m fine, Mom. Just... caught up in a lot of work.”
Soumita sighed, sensing that he wasn’t telling the whole truth. “I know there’s something more. You can talk to me, you know. I’m here for you.”
Rishad took a deep breath, his mind racing with emotions he had kept bottled up for so long. "Mom, have you ever loved someone but felt like you could never tell them?”
She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and empathy. “Love can be complicated, Rishad. Sometimes we’re afraid to reveal our feelings, thinking it will only bring pain.”
Rishad nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. “Sometimes, it feels like... like I’m stuck in my own world. No matter how much I want to reach out, I just... can’t.”
Soumita felt deep pain for her son. She knew how much he had sacrificed, his quiet, introverted nature often leaving him feeling isolated. “You know, Rishad, being quiet doesn’t mean you don’t have strength. It just means you feel things deeply. And sometimes, loving someone in silence is a powerful form of love.”
Her words resonated with him, but they also deepened the pain, for he knew his love for Alia would forever remain untold. “Thank you, Mom,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Soumita gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze, silently vowing to support her son in any way she could. But in her heart, she feared that this hidden love would continue to hurt him, leaving scars that only time might heal.
As the weeks passed, Rishad’s struggle became an inseparable part of his daily life. Every interaction with Alia felt like a reminder of everything he would never have. He tried to focus on work and on his responsibilities in the family business, immersing himself in endless tasks to numb his emotions. Yet, every now and then, he would catch glimpses of her—the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, the way she laughed—and his heart would betray him, filling with a warmth that only added to his torment.
One evening, after a long day, Rishad returned home, exhausted but resigned to the same silent routine. He walked into the study to find Alia there, flipping through a book, lost in her own world. She looked up as he entered, giving him a warm smile that made his heart skip a beat.
“Rishad!” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I haven’t seen you around much lately. Busy with work?”
He nodded, keeping his expression neutral. “Yeah, there’s a lot to manage these days.”
She closed the book and looked at him thoughtfully. “You know, you work too hard. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a break and... enjoy life a little.”
Rishad smiled softly, though the words felt like a bittersweet reminder of everything he wished he could share with her. “Maybe someday,” he replied, his voice carrying an untold sadness.
There was a brief silence as they looked at each other, and for a moment, it felt as though the world around them had faded away. Alia noticed a hint of something in his gaze, something she couldn’t quite place—a vulnerability, a depth of emotion she hadn’t seen before. But before she could say anything, Rihan appeared at the doorway, breaking the silence.
“There you are, Alia! I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Rihan said, smiling as he walked over to her.
Alia turned to Rihan, her face brightening as she stood up to join him. Rishad watched as she reached for Rihan’s hand, her eyes filled with warmth and affection. The sight was like a knife twisting in his heart, and he swiftly turned his eyes away, feeling an overwhelming need to escape.
“I’ll… I’ll be in my room,” he muttered, excusing himself as he hurried out of the study, his emotions barely under control.
That night, alone in his room, Rishad sat in the darkness, wrestling with his thoughts. The memory of Alia and Rihan together haunted him, a painful reminder of everything he had lost. He knew he couldn’t go on like this, carrying a love that was tearing him apart.
Yet the thought of forgetting Alia and burying his feelings for her was equally unbearable. She was etched into his heart, a part of him he could never let go. He closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek as he whispered to the empty room, “I love you, Alia, even if you never know it.”
The silence that followed was deafening, a stark reminder of the loneliness he felt.
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7MjJnITWJ
(Coming next part)
-----------------------------
ns 15.158.61.20da2
