"Beyond The Boundary "

chapter 25

"You evil genius," Aashna grinned through the call.

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The Café - The Next Day

Rihi sat at the window table, fingers wrapped tightly around her iced coffee. Her leg bounced under the table.

She hadn't wanted to come. But Aashna had insisted. Said it was just coffee. Just casual.

And now she was here.

With him.

Shubman looked... tired. Not just tired-burnt. The kind of exhaustion that seeps into your soul. Dark circles under his eyes, stubble rougher than usual, eyes lacking that soft spark she'd once adored.

They talked. A little. Mostly silence.

"So..." he said after a while, eyes on his untouched drink. "You really don't have anything to say to me?"

Rihi looked down. "I did. I just... don't know how to say it."

"Try."

She opened her mouth. Closed it. Then finally said, "I didn't mean for things to change like this."

He snorted. "But they did."

She nodded.

More silence.

Outside, the rain had started. Typical Kolkata drizzle.

They left the café, walking under the same umbrella, the silence louder than traffic.

And then-he snapped.

---

Outside the Café - Rain Falling Softly

Shubman suddenly stopped walking.

"Rihi."

She paused.

He turned to her, eyes blazing. "Why are you doing this?"

"What?" she asked, confused.

"This. Us. Pretending nothing happened. Acting like I'm just a stranger. Like I didn't mean anything that night."

Her throat closed up. "I never said that."

"But that's how you act! One-word replies. No texts unless I message first. No warmth. Not even anger. Just... cold."

She looked away. "I was ashamed."

He blinked. "Ashamed? Of what?"

"Of myself," she said, voice cracking. "Of how I let go. How I didn't stop it. I'm not that girl, Shubman. I've never been that girl."

He laughed bitterly. "So I made you that girl? I ruined you?"

"I didn't say that!"

"But you didn't have to."

And then-he lost control.

"You know what your problem is?" he hissed. "You think too much. You drown in your own overthinking. You push people away before they can even try to stay. And now you're hiding behind your shame like it makes you noble."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Please don't-"

"No. Let me finish. You act like I used you. But I didn't. I loved you, dammit! I looked at you and saw everything I wanted. Even with your insecurities, your PCOS, your facial hair, your dusky skin-"

She gasped. Took a step back.

He froze.

Shit.

"No, I didn't mean it like-"

"Like what?" she whispered. "Like all the things I hide from the world, you kept track of?"

"Rihi, I-"

"You noticed them. Every single one. And threw them at me like knives."

Tears streamed down her face now.

"Do you have any idea what it took for me to even be with you? To say yes that night? To believe, just for one second, that someone like you could want someone like me?"

He reached out. "I was angry. Please-"

She stepped away.

"You broke me," she said quietly. "And you don't even realise it."

Then she turned and walked away.

Shubman stood in the rain, soaked, heart in his throat, the sound of her footsteps echoing long after she was gone.

And for the first time in years-he let himself cry.

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Did you all like this part ...
Whose fault is it shubman or rihi ?
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Aashna I think will surely turn into a influencer.
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Drop even 5 comment and votes for next part.
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Until then take care 💙