Arjun woke up before the alarm again.
This time, he didn't feel tired.
He felt alert. Like his mind had been awake all night even though his body had slept.
The first thing he did was check his phone.
No messages from Riya.
No messages from the unknown number either.
That silence felt planned.
He sat up, stretched his shoulders, and went to the kitchen. The gas stove clicked twice before lighting up. He poured water into the kettle, leaned against the counter, and waited.
While the water heated, his mind kept circling one sentence.
Tomorrow, you won't hear it from her.
Who else could it be?
Vikram?
Someone from her college?
Someone he didn't even know existed?
The kettle whistled. He turned it off, poured water into a mug, dropped a tea bag in, and let it sit untouched.
He wasn't hungry.
He wasn't nervous either.
He was preparing.
At work, Sameer noticed the change immediately.
"You look like someone who already knows the ending," Sameer said.
Arjun sat down and turned on his system. "I don't. But I know it won't be gentle."
Sameer leaned on the divider. "Any new messages?"
Arjun shook his head. "Nothing."
"That's not good," Sameer said.
"Neither is chasing people who don't want to be honest," Arjun replied.
Sameer studied him for a moment. "You're serious about walking away, aren't you?"
Arjun didn't answer immediately.
"I'm serious about not being the last person to know things that affect my life," he said.
Sameer nodded. "Fair."
At 11:18 a.m., Arjun's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Different one again.
His stomach tightened, but he didn't hesitate this time.
Unknown:
Can you step out for five minutes?
Arjun stared at the message.
Arjun:
Who are you?
A pause.
Then:
Unknown:
Someone who stood exactly where you're standing now.
Arjun picked up his wallet and stood.
Sameer looked up. "Everything okay?"
"Not sure," Arjun said. "I'll be back."
Outside the office building, the sun was harsh. Arjun squinted, scanning the area.
A man stood near the tea stall across the road.
Late twenties.
Average height.
Simple clothes.
Nervous energy.
The man noticed Arjun and raised a hand slightly.
Arjun crossed the road slowly.
"You texted me," Arjun said.
The man nodded. "Yeah."
They stood facing each other awkwardly.
"I'm not here to fight," the man said quickly. "And I'm not here to create drama."
Arjun crossed his arms. "Then start talking."
The man took a deep breath. "My name is Kunal."
Arjun waited.
"I know Riya," Kunal continued. "And Vikram."
Arjun's jaw tightened. "From where?"
"College," Kunal said. "All of us were in the same circle."
That explained familiarity.
History.
Silence.
"You've been messaging me," Arjun said. "Why?"
Kunal looked down at his hands. "Because when I saw you with her at the café that day… it felt wrong to stay quiet."
Arjun's eyes narrowed. "You were there."
"Yes," Kunal said. "Not spying. Just… present."
Arjun remembered the message.
Different table.
"Say what you want to say," Arjun said. "Clearly."
Kunal nodded. "Riya and Vikram didn't just date."
Arjun didn't interrupt.
"They were engaged," Kunal said.
The word landed heavily.
Engaged.
Arjun felt it in his chest, but his face stayed calm.
"She told me they dated," Arjun said. "Nothing more."
"That's because the engagement didn't end cleanly," Kunal replied.
Arjun's fingers curled slightly. "What do you mean?"
Kunal swallowed. "It ended because Vikram cheated. Repeatedly."
Arjun frowned. "Then why would she—"
"Because she never got closure," Kunal said. "Because she blamed herself. Because Vikram came back saying he'd changed."
Arjun looked away.
This was starting to make sense.
Not in a comforting way.
"And you?" Arjun asked. "Why are you involved?"
Kunal hesitated. "Because when Vikram cheated, Riya leaned on me. A lot."
Arjun turned back. "Leaned how?"
Kunal met his eyes. "Emotionally. Constant calls. Late nights. Crying. Confusing lines."
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"So you liked her," he said.
Kunal nodded. "Yes."
"And did she like you?"
Kunal didn't answer immediately.
"That's the part she won't tell you," he said quietly.
They stood in silence for a few seconds.
The noise of traffic filled the gap.
Finally, Arjun asked, "Did anything happen between you two?"
Kunal shook his head quickly. "No. Not physically."
Arjun watched his face carefully.
"But emotionally?" Arjun asked.
Kunal didn't deny it.
"That's when I stepped back," Kunal said. "I knew she wasn't ready. She was stuck between past guilt and present comfort."
Arjun laughed softly. "Comfort."
"You were stability," Kunal said. "Vikram was familiarity. I was… the pause in between."
Arjun felt a dull ache.
Not jealousy.
Realization.
"She never chose," Arjun said.
Kunal nodded. "Exactly."
"Why tell me now?" Arjun asked.
"Because Vikram isn't leaving," Kunal said. "He never planned to."
Arjun's eyes sharpened. "She told me he was."
"She told you what she wanted to believe," Kunal replied. "He's moving back. New job. Same city."
That explained the bus terminal photo.
"He's making her choose," Kunal continued. "And she's delaying."
Arjun felt something settle inside him.
Not pain.
Decision.
"Thank you," Arjun said.
Kunal looked surprised. "You're… not angry?"
"I am," Arjun said calmly. "Just not confused anymore."
Kunal nodded slowly. "I didn't want you to find out later. Or worse—marry into it."
That sentence hit harder than anything else.
"Marry?" Arjun asked.
Kunal winced. "She was thinking about it. With you. Because she wanted safety."
Arjun closed his eyes briefly.
Safety.
Not love.
Not certainty.
Safety.
Back at his desk, Arjun couldn't focus.
Sameer noticed. "You look like someone just rearranged your entire life."
Arjun nodded. "Pretty much."
He didn't share details. Not yet.
He needed to hear one more thing.
From Riya.
That evening, Riya finally called.
Arjun answered.
"Arjun," she said, voice shaky. "Please don't hang up."
"I won't," he said. "Just tell me the truth."
There was a pause.
"What did he tell you?" she asked.
"He?" Arjun repeated. "You mean Kunal?"
Her silence was confirmation.
Arjun smiled sadly. "So you knew he'd talk."
"I didn't want it this way," she whispered.
"Then how?" Arjun asked. "After marriage?"
She cried softly.
That sound ended something inside him.
"Were you engaged to Vikram?" Arjun asked.
A long pause.
"Yes," she said.
"And you never thought that mattered?"
"I was ashamed," she said. "I didn't want you to see me as broken."
Arjun exhaled slowly. "You didn't let me choose."
"I was scared," she said. "Of losing you."
"You lost me the moment you decided my feelings were less important than your fear," Arjun replied.
She sobbed openly now.
"I love you," she said.
Arjun closed his eyes.
"That's not enough anymore," he said.
That night, Arjun sat alone in his room.
Phone silent.
Mind clear.
At 11:59 p.m., a message came.
Unknown number.
Unknown:
Now you know.
Arjun replied.
Arjun:
Yes.
A pause.
Then:
Unknown:
What will you do when she chooses?
Arjun typed slowly.
Arjun:
I won't be an option.
Arjun's phone buzzed again.
This time, it was Riya.
One line.
Vikram wants to meet you. Tomorrow.
Arjun stared at the screen.
Because he realized something clearly—
This wasn't about love anymore.
It was about who walked away first.