Chapter 20 – Not Like Before

Gayathri didn’t speak.

She stayed close to him, her fingers holding his t-shirt, her face turned slightly away as if silence would protect her.

Ravi waited for a few seconds.

Then he spoke, his tone calm but direct, “When you don’t know how to lie… don’t try.”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

He wasn’t angry.

But he wasn’t letting it go either.

“Speak, Gayu,” he said again, softer this time.

Her grip tightened slightly.

“It’s not about today…” she whispered.

Ravi didn’t interrupt.

“It happened once before,” she continued slowly, her voice carrying hesitation. “Me and Rehan… we went to a restaurant…”

Her breath hitched lightly.

“And Rakesh was there.”

Ravi’s hand stilled for a second, then resumed its gentle movement on her back.

“He came and spoke… just casually,” she said. “Like today… nothing wrong… nothing out of line…”

She swallowed.

“But Rehan already knew about him,” she added.

Ravi’s jaw tightened slightly, but he stayed quiet.

“After Rakesh left…” her voice dropped, her body tensing as she remembered, “Rehan didn’t even wait…”

Her fingers clenched harder into Ravi’s shirt.

“He stood up… right there… in the middle of the restaurant,” she said, her voice shaking now. “He started asking me questions loudly… ‘Why didn’t you tell me he’s here?’… ‘Are you still in contact with him?’…”

Ravi’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t interrupt her.

“I tried to calm him down,” she continued, her breath uneven. “I told him it was just coincidence… that I didn’t even know he would be there…”

She shook her head weakly.

“But he didn’t listen…”

Her voice broke slightly.

“He raised his voice more… people started looking… whispering…” she said. “He said things like… ‘You think I’m a fool?’… ‘You think I don’t understand what’s going on?’…”

Ravi’s hand pressed a little firmer against her back—steadying her.

“He accused me again… in front of everyone,” she whispered.

Her eyes filled.

“I felt… so small, Ravi,” she said. “Like everyone was watching… judging… like I did something wrong even when I didn’t…”

Her breathing became uneven again.

“I kept telling him to stop… to talk at home… but he didn’t…” she continued. “He even grabbed my hand tightly and said, ‘Don’t try to act innocent in front of me.’”

Ravi’s jaw clenched.

His hand stilled for a moment before he forced himself to relax it again.

“People were staring… some even recording…” she said, her voice breaking. “I just wanted to disappear…”

Silence followed for a second.

Then she whispered, “That day… stayed with me.”

Her grip on him tightened again.

“It still haunts me,” she admitted softly. “That feeling… of being exposed… judged… blamed…”

She paused.

Then added quietly—

“And today… when I saw Rakesh… and you were there…”

Her voice trembled again.

“I thought… what if you react like that… what if you misunderstand… what if… it happens again…”

She shook her head weakly.

“That scared me.”

The words came out raw.

Honest.

Unfiltered.

After a moment, she added softly, “I’m sorry…”

Her fingers loosened slightly, guilt creeping back in.

“Next time… I’ll avoid him.”

Ravi didn’t respond immediately.

He didn’t move either.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence.

Then slowly—

He shifted slightly and lifted her chin gently, making her look at him.

“First thing,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

“You’re not going to avoid anyone because of fear.”

Gayathri blinked, surprised.

“If you meet him again, you’ll speak normally,” he continued. “Like today.”

Her lips parted slightly, unsure.

“And second…” he added, his gaze steady on hers.

“I’m not Rehan.”

The words were simple.

But they carried weight.

“I don’t do drama,” he said. “And I don’t question you in front of people to prove something.”

Her eyes filled again—but this time, not with fear.

With something else.

Relief.

“You thought I’d react like that?” he asked, not angrily—but wanting to understand.

She nodded faintly.

Ravi exhaled slowly, shaking his head a little.

“Gayu…” he said, softer now. “If I had a problem, I would’ve spoken to you. Not created a scene there.”

She held his gaze, her expression slowly easing.

“You don’t have to be scared of me,” he added quietly.

That line stayed.

Deep.

Unshaken.

Gayathri’s grip on him changed again—not tight, not desperate—

But seeking.

“I didn’t know…” she whispered.

“I know,” he replied.

His hand moved back to her head, resting there gently.

“And stop saying sorry for things that aren’t your mistake,” he added.

Her eyes closed slowly as she leaned into him again.

This time—

There was no fear in her hold.

Only comfort.

Because tonight—

She didn’t relive the past.

She left it behind—

Just a little.