Echoes of Love and Lies

Ria spent the following days in turmoil, replaying the conversation she had had with Arun. His words echoed in her mind, but there was an unsettling feeling deep inside her that she couldn't shake. Was she overreacting, or was there something more to Arun's relationship with Kiran than he was letting on?

Her heart wanted to believe in Arun's sincerity, but her mind kept coming back to the nagging feeling that he was hiding something. The more she tried to brush it off, the more it consumed her.

One evening, unable to contain her curiosity, Ria found herself standing in front of Arun's apartment building. She had told herself she would stop doubting him, but the need for answers was overwhelming. She told herself that if she could just get a glimpse of what was really going on, she would be able to put her mind at ease.

Ria hesitated for a moment before sending Arun a text. "Are you home? I need to talk."

No response came.

Feeling the weight of her decision, she stepped into the lobby and waited by the elevator. Minutes later, she saw Arun walking in from the parking lot, his expression tense. He didn't notice her right away, but when he did, his face shifted—surprised, then guarded.

"Ria... what are you doing here?" Arun asked, clearly caught off guard.

"I need answers, Arun," Ria said, her voice unsteady. "You've been distant. And I can't shake the feeling that you're hiding something from me."

Arun sighed and glanced around, as though weighing his options. After a few moments, he led her into his apartment. Once inside, he closed the door behind them and gestured for Ria to sit. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by an awkward tension.

"Ria, I never meant to hurt you," Arun began, his voice strained. "Kiran and I... We've had a complicated history. We were close once, but we broke up years ago. It wasn't the kind of relationship that ended well, and I didn't want to drag that into ours. I thought it would be easier if I kept it from you."

Ria's chest tightened. She had been right. He had been hiding something, and now it was out in the open.

"But why keep it a secret, Arun?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why not tell me from the start? Why did you let me get caught up in all these lies?"

"I didn't want to hurt you," he said quietly. "I thought if I told you about Kiran, it would make things awkward. I thought it would ruin what we had. But now I see how wrong I was. I should have trusted you enough to be honest."

The words were an apology, but Ria felt no comfort from them. Trust was shattered, and no amount of apologies could undo the hurt she felt. She stood up abruptly, feeling as though the ground beneath her had been ripped away.

"Maybe you're right," she said coldly. "Maybe it's better if we end things now. I can't keep living like this, not knowing what's real and what's not."

Arun's face crumbled, but Ria didn't wait for him to respond. She turned and walked out of the apartment, feeling the weight of her decision settle in her chest. She loved him, but could love survive a betrayal like this?