The Space Between Them
Ranveer was not used to being ignored.
Not by his staff.
Not by his family.
And certainly not by Najma.
Yet for the past two days, she had perfected distance.
She greeted him politely.
Answered when spoken to.
And never once stayed long enough for conversation to deepen.
It unsettled him more than anger ever could.
That evening, the family gathered for dinner.
Najma sat beside Saraswati and across from Twinkle, her posture calm, her expressions soft—but her eyes never lingered on Ranveer.
He noticed every time.
When she passed him the salt without looking.
When she stood to leave the table before dessert.
When she smiled at everyone except him.
Finally, he stood.
"Najma."
The room fell quiet.
She paused, fingers tightening slightly around her dupatta. "Yes?"
"Walk with me."
It wasn't a request.
Twinkle's eyes flicked between them, concern flashing briefly before Najma nodded.
They stepped into the garden, the night air heavy with jasmine.
Ranveer turned to face her. "What changed?"
Najma looked at the flowers instead of him. "Nothing."
He exhaled sharply. "You're lying."
She met his gaze then—steady, unreadable. "I'm protecting myself."
From what? he wanted to ask.
From you, the silence answered.
"Did someone say something to you?" he asked.
She hesitated.
That was all the confirmation he needed.
"Rachel," he said flatly.
Najma didn't respond.
Ranveer's jaw tightened. "Why didn't you ask me?"
Her voice was calm, almost gentle. "Because I didn't want to hear an answer I wasn't ready for."
He stepped closer. "You think I belong to someone else?"
She looked up at him. "I think you chose responsibility long before you chose me."
The words weren't angry.
They were honest.
And honesty hurt more.
Ranveer ran a hand through his hair. "You're wrong."
"Am I?" she asked softly. "You don't let anyone in."
His voice dropped. "I'm trying."
She searched his face, as if weighing something dangerous.
Then she stepped back.
"Trying isn't the same as choosing," she said.
And she walked away.
Ranveer remained in the garden long after she disappeared inside.
For the first time in years, he felt something unfamiliar settle in his chest.
Fear.
Because losing her suddenly felt possible.
And that realization came far too late.