That night, Aarav couldn't sleep.
Rohan's words kept repeating in his mind.
"Leave Anaya… and I'll solve all her family's problems."
Aarav sat on his bed staring at the ceiling.
His heart felt heavy.
If he refused, Anaya's family could be in serious danger.
But if he agreed…
He would have to lose the girl he loved.
He closed his eyes and remembered all their moments together.
Their first meeting.
Laughing in class.
Walking together in the rain.
And the moment Anaya said,
"I love you too."
A tear slowly rolled down his cheek.
"Why does love have to be this difficult?" he whispered.
After thinking for hours, Aarav finally made a decision.
A painful one.
The next morning, he went to the park where he usually met Anaya.
She arrived a few minutes later.
As soon as she saw him, she smiled.
"Aarav!"
She ran toward him happily.
But when she looked at his face, her smile faded.
"You look tired," she said.
"Did you sleep?"
Aarav forced a small smile.
"I'm fine."
They sat on the bench.
Anaya looked curious.
"So… did you talk to Rohan yesterday?"
Aarav stayed silent for a moment.
"Yes."
"What did he say?" she asked.
Aarav took a deep breath.
"He said he can solve your family's problem."
Anaya looked surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Her eyes filled with hope.
"That's amazing! Then everything will be okay!"
But Aarav's expression didn't change.
Anaya noticed.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
Aarav looked away.
"There's a condition."
"What condition?"
Aarav felt his chest tighten.
"He said… I have to leave you."
Anaya froze.
"What?"
Aarav forced himself to continue.
"He wants me to disappear from your life."
For a moment, Anaya couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"And what did you say?" she asked slowly.
Aarav stayed silent.
That silence told her everything.
Her eyes widened with shock.
"You agreed… didn't you?"
Aarav looked down.
"Yes."
Anaya stood up immediately.
"Are you serious?"
Her voice trembled with anger and pain.
"You're just going to leave me like that?"
Aarav clenched his fists.
"This is the only way to keep your family safe."
Tears started forming in Anaya's eyes.
"So you decided everything without even asking me?"
"I'm doing this for you!" Aarav said.
"I don't want this!" she replied loudly.
People in the park started looking at them.
Anaya's voice broke.
"I would rather face the problem together than lose you."
Aarav felt his heart breaking.
But he forced himself to stay strong.
"This is already decided."
Anaya stared at him with tears in her eyes.
"So that's it?"
Aarav didn't answer.
She slowly stepped back.
"I never thought you would give up on us so easily."
Then she turned around and walked away.
Aarav watched her go.
Every step she took felt like a knife in his heart.
But he didn't stop her.
Because he believed this sacrifice was the only way to protect her.
What he didn't know was…
Someone had been watching their entire conversation from a distance.
Rohan.
And he smiled.
Because his plan was working perfectly.