That day, Sejal was staying at her parents' house. Her heart felt heavy—uncertain shadows filled the eyes of her parents, pressure from every side weighed her down, and thoughts of the past and future kept swirling in her mind. Nothing felt peaceful anymore.
Meanwhile, Dean had gotten buried in his professional life. Office pressure, endless meetings, and a sudden urgent business trip—everything piled on, and for two full days, he couldn't contact Sejal.
He had no idea what had transpired in Sejal's life during those silent hours.
But Sejal too didn't try reaching out.
In her heart, a quiet decision had already formed:
> "Maybe it's best if I walk away from Dean's life. Everyone's hurting because of me—my parents, my brother. How can I be so selfish?"
The very next morning, she packed her bags and quietly returned to her college hostel.
That same day, Dean finally returned and, exhausted, made his way to the new house he had recently bought—just a few streets away from Sejal's hostel, just so he could be close to her.
After resting a little, he finally picked up his phone and called Sejal.
But no one answered.
At first, Dean tried to reason with himself:
> "Maybe she's still mad at me. I haven't spoken to her in days. Or perhaps she's just busy with studies and part-time work…"
But no matter how much he tried to stay calm, an ache started growing inside his chest.
So by evening, he went straight to the café where Sejal used to work part-time.
But what he heard there startled him.
> "Sejal quit a few days ago," the café manager told him casually.
Dean froze.
> "She didn't even tell me? She never does this. Something must have happened…"
Panic rising, he rushed toward Sejal's hostel and called her again. And again. And again.
Still… no answer.
Worried, he requested the security guard,
> "Can you please check her room? Just tell her Dean is waiting downstairs."
The guard went inside and returned a few minutes later.
> "Sir, Sejal isn't in her room. She's not here."
And just like that, the ground seemed to slip under Dean's feet.
> Has she really left without telling me anything? Is she that angry?
> Or… did something happen to her?
> Or maybe… maybe this is her way of erasing me from her life… completely?
Hundreds of thoughts began tormenting Dean's heart. A creeping fear crawled into his chest.
And maybe, at that moment, he finally understood—
> Love, when left unattended, doesn't take long to turn into painful silence…
---
To be continued…