"Beyond The Boundary "

chapter 24

"You didn't do anything wrong."
"I wasn't ready. I thought I was. But now..."
"Then we deal with it. Together."

He'd meant it. She could tell. There was no manipulation in his voice, no pressure. Just... care. Maybe too much of it. Enough to break her.

---

Scene: 10:10 AM - Flight to Kolkata

Aashna had fallen asleep, neck awkwardly tilted, hoodie pulled up over her eyes.

Rihi sat still. Staring straight ahead. Not crying. Not blinking.

Just... there.

Thinking about how his voice had sounded when he said take care. Not cold. Not cruel. But... distant.

She'd made it distant.

And now she was flying away from whatever it was that happened that night-without any idea whether it was a beginning or the end.

She stared out of the window, watching Mumbai shrink beneath the clouds, her mind racing.

"Agar Aashna ko pata chal gaya toh? Mumma Papa ko? Woh kya sochenge mere baare mein? Ki unki beti itni zyada careless ho gayi hai? Jis ladki ne kabhi shaadi se pehle haath pakadna tak mana kiya tha..."

She closed her eyes. The guilt weighed like bricks on her chest.
Maybe he regretted it too. Maybe that's why he didn't try to stop her.

Maybe she had become just another one-night story in his life.

No. That didn't feel right. He wasn't like that.

And that made it worse.

Because then the question wasn't did it mean something?

It was-why does something that meant so much suddenly feel like a mistake?

---

Scene: 11:40 AM - Outside the Airport, Kolkata

"Papa is here," Aashna said, pointing at the white SUV honking near the pickup zone.

Rihi nodded.

They got in. Her uncle drove, cheerful, asking about the trip, food, weather.

Aashna carried the conversation effortlessly.

Rihi stared out the window, her phone in her lap. No notifications.

No message from Shubman.

She wasn't sure if she wanted one.

Because what would it even say?

"I miss you"?
"I'm sorry"?
"Let's not talk about it ever again"?

The truth was: she didn't know how to talk about it either.

She just knew this-

Her heart was still with him.

And she didn't know how to bring it back.

Scene: 10:20 AM - Mumbai Airport (Shubman's POV)

The airport felt emptier now.

Not because there were fewer people. But because she had walked through that glass gate without looking back.

Shubman shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, jaw tense. Next to him, Abhishek was busy scrolling through their selfie, muttering something about filters. But Shubman wasn't hearing it.

His eyes were still locked on the gate.

She hadn't hugged him.

No "see you soon."