Chapter 12 – Let It Out

Gayathri didn’t realize when her eyes filled again.

One moment she was sitting still… the next, her breath started shaking, and the tears slipped out before she could stop them.

Ravi noticed immediately.

“Gayu…” he called softly, turning toward her.

But she didn’t answer.

Her shoulders trembled, and suddenly it wasn’t quiet anymore—her pain surfaced all at once, raw and uncontrollable.

Without saying anything further, Ravi reached out and pulled her toward him.

That was all it took.

Gayathri broke completely.

She clutched his shirt tightly, her fingers gripping it like it was the only thing holding her together, and buried her face against him as her sobs grew heavier.

“Don’t…” she said between breaths, her voice breaking. “Please don’t ask me to stop…”

Ravi’s expression softened instantly.

He adjusted his hold around her, one hand resting firmly on her back, steady and reassuring.

“You’re pregnant, Gayu,” he said gently, his voice calm but careful. “So I need to say it…”

She tightened her grip on him, her tears not slowing.

“…but you can cry,” he continued softly. “As much as you want.”

Her sobs only deepened, like she had been waiting for someone to say that.

Ravi didn’t say anything else.

He simply held her.

After a few moments, he stood up slowly, still holding her close, and carried her inside to the bed.

She didn’t resist.

She didn’t let go either.

He laid her down gently, but even then, her fingers remained twisted in his shirt, refusing to release him.

Ravi exhaled quietly and lay down beside her.

“Gayu…” he called softly.

She shook her head weakly, her face still pressed against his chest.

“Nothing…” she whispered.

Her voice was small.

Tired.

Broken.

But her grip tightened again as fresh tears escaped.

Ravi didn’t push.

He just adjusted his arm around her, pulling her closer, letting her rest against him properly.

His hand moved slowly along her back, rubbing gently, steadily—giving her something constant to hold onto.

“You can talk to me,” he said after a while, his voice low and patient.

She didn’t answer.

She just cried.

Not holding back this time.

Not stopping halfway.

Not trying to be strong.

Her tears soaked into his shirt, her breaths uneven, her body shaking as everything she had been holding in finally came out.

Ravi stayed awake.

Listening.

Feeling every bit of it.

But he didn’t interrupt.

He didn’t rush her.

He didn’t tell her to be strong.

He just stayed.

“Do you want to talk?” he asked again softly after some time.

Gayathri shook her head weakly.

“Nothing…” she whispered.

But she didn’t move away.

She didn’t let go.

Instead, she held onto him even tighter, as if letting go would bring everything back again.

Ravi closed his eyes for a moment, his hand still moving gently on her back.

“Okay,” he murmured quietly.

And that was enough.

Because tonight—

She didn’t need answers.

She didn’t need solutions.

She just needed to cry.

And he let her.

Without conditions.

Without distance.

Just… in his arms.