Storm

The weather forecast said that there would be heavy rains and hence the gala ended earlier than usual. All the guests started making their way towards the exit.

Elina and Oswal made their way back to the penthouse they would be staying together at. This was an arrangement Oswal had made claiming that if they were ever photographed coming out from different houses than it would negatively impact their businesses.

Throughout the way the two remained quiet. There was heavy rain outside the car window but there was an even bigger storm brewing inside their minds. They were so close to each other but yet they felt that the distance between them was a lot.

Elina kept looking outside the window, not wanting to spare a glance towards the man sitting besides her.

Her mind kept playing his words that she was the only one for him. She felt her heart shiver. She was scared very very scared. She had trusted this man with all her heart all those years ago and he had shattered her feelings. Left her battered and broken for years and now he claims that she is the only one for him?

How could she believe those words?

As soon as the car was parked at the penthouse entrance, Elina opened the car door and walked inside, not even bothering to wait for the man.

The storm didn’t wait for midnight.

It rolled in just as they stepped into the penthouse, thunder echoing like an omen in the distance. Elina peeled off her heels, her silence loud enough to compete with the wind lashing against the glass windows. She didn’t need to look at Oswal to know he was watching her.

He always did—when he thought she wasn’t paying attention.

“I’m going to bed,” she said, voice clipped and emotionless.

“You’re upset.” he sounded wounded

She stopped mid-step. Fuming she turned around “Really? I had no idea you were so perceptive.”

He sighed. “I told you the truth tonight.”

“Years too late,” she snapped, turning to face him. “Do you think that makes it okay? That's because you dropped it like a grenade during a gala, I’m just supposed to thank you for your honesty? Did you ever consider how this would make me feel before you made your decision?”

He walked closer to her and said with all seriousness “I thought you deserved to know.”

Elina’s voice lowered. “You don't get to decide that anymore.”

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration barely masked. “Why are you doing this?”

She snapped “Doing what?”

“Pushing me away like I was the one who never cared.” His voice sounded defeated and lonely.

She felt a tug at her heart but her laugh was bitter. “Isn’t that what you wanted? Distance? Clean exits? Contracts? Didn’t you always want to just leave?”

Oswal moved closer. “I never wanted to leave. I wanted a future with you. Your father—he gave me an ultimatum. And I was stupid enough to think you were safer without me. That I would just be a burden to you if I stayed”

She chuckled, “You didn’t even call.”

“I couldn’t.” He murmured

“You could have,” she whispered. “You just didn’t.”

For a moment, the room was nothing but the sound of rain drumming against glass. Oswal’s shoulders tensed, his gaze burning through her.

“I loved you, Elina.”

She froze.

Past tense.

“I still do,” he added, softer now.

And that was worse.

Because suddenly, the carefully built walls around her heart started to shake under the weight of that one confession.

“You don’t mean that.” she whispered

“I’ve meant it since we were nineteen.”

Her defenses flared. “Well, you’re married now. To me. For money. For the company. For headlines. Congratulations.”

“That’s not what this is,” he snapped.

“No?” she challenged. “Then what is it?”

He stepped forward, voice low and furious. “It’s me trying to fix the mess I made. It’s me finally being near you after years of wondering if you still hated me. It’s me watching you every day and dying a little inside knowing you won’t let me close. It’s me finally trying to hold on to you”

She stared at him. She was feeling lost. No longer able to understand what was true and what was a lie. A part of her wanted to trust him once again but the major part of her was simply scared of getting hurt.

She spent a minute to calm down then turned away.

“You should get some sleep,” she said, retreating toward the guest room. “Big week ahead.”

“Elina—” He faltered towards her. Too scared that she would walk away.

“Don’t,” she said without turning around. “Because if you keep talking like that, I might believe you again. And I can’t survive being wrong about you twice.”

She closed the door behind her.

And Oswal stood there alone, the thunder outside no louder than the silence between them.

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