Page 64 of Born in Ruin

“You’re my friend too, Yukhi.” Dhrithi sent her a reproving look which made her feel the slightest bit ashamed. “I’m here for you.”

“I don’t need you. I don’t need anybody.”

“No, you don’t. But I really hope you’d want me because I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”

Mayukhi’s eyes stung but she blinked it back. She inhaled deeply before saying, “We don’t talk about him. EVER.”

“Done.” Dhrithi’s prompt agreement healed a little of the hurting child inside her, the one who’d always been the one on the outside. Dhrithi smiled. “Like I said, I’m here for you. We do this your way.”

Mayukhi’s phone rang, interrupting whatever she was about to say. She silenced it without a second thought.

“I appreciate this, I really do,” she said now. “I don’t mean to be rude but I have a lot of work to do.”

Dhrithi’s smile dimmed but she got to her feet immediately. “Of course. I’ll leave now.”

Mayukhi’s phone rang again and they both glanced down at it.

“You should probably get that,” Dhrithi murmured. She walked to the door, stopped with her hand on the wooden frame. “Yukhi?”

Mayukhi looked up from her phone and the messages that were piling up there.

“I don’t know if this helps but you should know that he looks worse than you do.”

Emotion slammed through Mayukhi, rising up to grab her by the throat. She swallowed hard, forcing it back down.

When she spoke, she only said one word.

“Good.”

The door shut behind Dhrithi a second later and Mayukhi sank into her seat, burying her face in her hands. It was then,and only then, that the tears finally came. Maybe there was something to the sobbing in bed precedent, after all.

THIRTY-FIVE

Ishaan

The pain was a constant, an ache that lived under his skin, seeped into his bones and slowly ravaged his soul.

How could it hurt this badly? How could a week without her feel like a month? He knew Dhrithi had gone to see her the next day but she wouldn’t tell him anything about their catch up. The little turncoat had jumped sides without even blinking.

“Dinner is ready.” Dhrithi called out from the kitchen. “Amay made spaghetti carbonara.”

“I’m not hungry,” Ishaan muttered, his stomach revolting at the thought of food. His body had decided to starve itself as punishment for his sins and Ishaan was all for the plan.

“Yes, you are.” She appeared in front of him, her face set. She had a ladle in one hand that she poked him in the leg with. “You’re going to eat it.” Poke. “And enjoy it.” Poke. “And tell him how amazing it is.” Poke. Poke. Poke.

“Stop it,” he said irritably.

“I won’t stop it, you sad sack. Either make an effort to move on or go get your girl.” Poke.

He grabbed the ladle and yanked it away from her. “She’s not my girl,” he gritted out, each word feeling like a blade slicing through his skin.

“No, she’s not,” Dhrithi agreed making his temper flare. “Not anymore.”

“She never was,” he said curtly. “And I don’t want spaghetti.” He got to his feet, tossed the ladle aside and stormed off towards the door.

“She was…she most certainly was until you acted like a dick and broke her heart.”

“Goody.” He stopped by the door, eyes squeezed shut, and tried to breathe past the pain. “Don’t. Please don’t. I know I fucked up. Can we just let it be?”

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