Chapter 53 — The Past He Couldn't Ignore

Arnav stood on the balcony, cigarette between his fingers.

His mind wasn't on the job anymore.

It was on IIT Delhi.

He knew what that place meant to Ritika.

Veeresh had told him about her past.

Ritika had first met Pavan at IIT Delhi.

They had studied on the same campus.

Their relationship had started there, slowly becoming a love story.

Pavan later wrote the AFCAT examination and pursued his dream of serving the country.

Ritika had gone to Oxford University for higher education.

After completing her studies, she and Pavan had married.

Then came Rishi.

Arnav knew all of it.

And that was precisely why the thought of Ritika returning to IIT Delhi bothered him.

He took another drag.

Arnav thought about the possibility of Ritika walking through the same campus again.

The same buildings.

The same places.

The same memories.

Maybe she would remember Pavan.

Maybe she would remember the beginning of their love story.

Maybe there were memories she had never completely let go of.

Arnav's jaw tightened.

He didn't like the thought.

Not at all.

It wasn't that he blamed Ritika for having a past.

He knew she had loved Pavan.

He knew Pavan had been her husband and Rishi's father.

But Arnav was still struggling with something he didn't know how to explain.

He wanted to be the man Ritika looked at now.

Not someone standing in the shadow of a memory.

He closed his eyes.

Arnav: I know she loved him...

His voice was barely audible.

Arnav: But I don't know if I can accept her going back there.

He looked through the glass door toward Ritika.

She was still standing inside.

She had no idea what was going through his mind.

Arnav knew he was being unfair.

But jealousy and insecurity had already taken hold of him.

And instead of telling Ritika the truth, he had simply said no.

He took another drag and looked away.

He wasn't angry with Pavan.

He wasn't even angry with Ritika.

He was angry at himself for being afraid of a man who was no longer there.

And most of all, he was afraid that Ritika's memories of her first love might always have a place in her heart that he could never reach.