A few days later, Aarav finally confronted her again.
"Riya, this isn't you," he said.
She avoided his gaze. "This is exactly who I am."
"No," he said firmly. "You're running away."
"From what?" she asked.
"From your feelings."
The words hit her like a storm.
"I don't have feelings," she said quickly.
Aarav stepped closer.
"You do," he said softly. "You're just scared of them."
Riya felt her heart race.
"I'm not scared," she insisted.
"Yes, you are," he replied. "You're scared of caring. Scared of trusting. Scared of getting hurt."
Her silence confirmed it.
"I've seen people break," she whispered after a moment. "I've seen what love does."
Aarav's expression softened.
"Love doesn't always break people," he said gently.
"But it can," she replied.
"And so can everything else in life," he said. "That doesn't mean we stop living."
Riya looked at him, her eyes filled with conflict.
"I don't want to lose myself," she said.
"You won't," Aarav replied. "Not with the right person."
"And how do I know who the right person is?" she asked.
Aarav smiled faintly.
"The one who stays… even when you try to push them away."
Riya's heart skipped a beat.
Because that was exactly what he had been doing.
For the first time, her walls felt fragile.
For the first time, her fear felt weaker than her feelings.
But fear doesn't disappear easily.
It lingers.
It whispers doubts.
It reminds you of everything that could go wrong.
"I can't do this," she said suddenly, stepping back.
Aarav looked at her.
"Yes, you can."
"No," she shook her head. "I'm not like you. I can't just believe in love."
"You don't have to believe in it," Aarav said. "Just… feel it."
Riya closed her eyes.
Because that was exactly what she was afraid of.
Feeling.
That night, Riya sat alone, thinking.
Her mind said one thing.
Her heart said another.
Her fear was real.
But so were her feelings.
For the first time in her life, she stood at a crossroads—
Safety or love.
Control or vulnerability.
Fear or trust.
And she didn't know which path to choose.