Only You [ON HOLD]

NEIL'S P.O.V

When I entered into my house there I saw them.....

My Parents. They were looking at me with their piercing gaze. Beside them I noticed Isha. Now I understood as I didn't return home and didn't pick any of her calls she called my parents!! Like seriously??? I can't even enjoy my life. I was waiting for them to start a conversation then my father said.

"Where were you yesterday?"

My father demanded, his voice thick with irritation and fury. I responded as calmly as I could.

"I was at my friend's house."

Without a word, he rose from his chair, his anger palpable.

"Seriously? At a friend's house? This is why you're failing in your studies! Look at this-Neil Verma, someone who's worked hard for everything, now sharing his top position with an ordinary girl. We're wasting our hard-earned money on a failure."

His words sliced through me, each one sharper than the last. It felt as though he had plunged a dagger into my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the tide of tears that threatened to spill.

In society, we've always been taught that boys aren't allowed to cry-that they have no right to show their emotions. If they do, they're branded as weak. My hand clenched into a fist, and I lowered my gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

"Why are you looking down, huh?"

He snapped.

"I sent Isha here, to help you, to take care of you, and what do you do? You ignore her, make her feel like a stranger in this house? This is completely unexpected, Neil. I honestly feel ashamed to call you my son."

His voice trembled with disgust as he continued.

"I'll have Isha's parents take her back with them. She deserves better than this."

Suddenly, Isha exclaimed.

"No, no, Uncle, I want to stay here with him. Neil isn't bad, he just needs time to feel at ease." She walked over and took his hand in hers, looking up with determination. "I'm with him, Uncle, and I'll always help him. You don't need to worry about him." She forced a fake smile, masking her true feelings.

Neil's father, visibly frustrated, rubbed his temples and retorted, "Learn something from her! She's so well-behaved, unlike you."

Neil glanced at the clasped hands of Isha and himself, a wave of disgust washing over him. He wanted to scream, to demand why he was forced to be there in his friend's house, but deep down, he knew it was pointless-his parents would never believe him.

Desperation tugged at his chest as he turned to his mother, searching for some glimmer of support, but she remained silent, her gaze diverted elsewhere. Feeling utterly helpless, Neil lowered his eyes, the weight of his loneliness pressing down on him.

Neil's father barked, "Why are you standing there like a statue? Go to your room!"

Without a second's hesitation, Neil jerked his hand away from Isha's-though it was more her holding onto him-and bolted towards his room, slamming the door behind him.

Collapsing to his knees, he sobbed uncontrollably, the weight of his father's cold indifference crushing him. His father, acting as though he were a stranger, had turned his back on him completely.

And his mother? Well, it was as if she was no different from the stone walls around them.

In every other home, a mother's heart would soften when her child was scolded, offering comfort and solace. But here, she remained silent, as though his pain was nothing more than an everyday occurrence-something she had long since grown numb to.