The Night Everything Changed
Ruhi stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around her damp hair.
She walked toward her bed and sat down, slowly rubbing the towel through her hair.
Outside, the rain continued to fall.
She looked toward the window.
For some reason, the sound of the rain felt different tonight.
Maybe because it reminded her of him.
Of that day.
Of that look in his eyes.
Of everything she had tried so hard to forget.
Her hand slowly stopped moving.
Four years.
Four years since she had last heard his voice.
Four years since she had convinced herself that she had moved on.
And yet, one look at him had brought everything back.
Every memory.
Every feeling.
Every wound she thought had finally healed.
Her eyes fell to the rain-streaked window again.
And suddenly, she remembered another rainy night.
A night four years ago.
A night she could never forget.
---
20.11.2024 — 2:27 A.M.
Ruhi was fast asleep when her phone suddenly began ringing.
Tring… Tring…
She groaned and reached for it without even opening her eyes.
“Hello… who…?”
There was silence on the other end.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
“Ruhi…”
Her eyes opened immediately.
“It’s me.”
“Ansh?”
She sat up.
“What happened? Everything alright? Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am.”
He paused.
“It’s just…”
His voice sounded strange.
Tired.
Heavy.
Like he'd been carrying something far too big for him.
“My mind isn’t at peace.”
Ruhi's fingers tightened around the phone.
“I can’t stop overthinking about things that are happening.”
Her sleep had completely disappeared now.
“What are you overthinking about?”
There was silence.
“You…”
Ruhi frowned.
“Me?”
“You, me… my career, our relationship, my family’s expectations…”
He took a shaky breath.
“All these things.”
Ruhi stared into the darkness of her room.
Why does he sound like this?
“Ansh…”
“Hmm?”
“What are you really overthinking about?”
Another silence.
Then—
“I know I’m disappointing you, Ruhi.”
Her heart sank.
“What?”
“I know I am.”
“No, Ansh—”
“I can’t find time for you anymore.”
His voice was quiet.
“I can’t call you. I can’t text you. I can’t spend time with you the way I used to.”
Ruhi opened her mouth to respond, but he continued.
“I know you don't say anything. You never complain.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“But I know you.”
He paused.
“And I know this isn't the kind of relationship you wanted.”
Ruhi's eyes stung.
How could he think that?
“Ansh, I never—”
“My family…”
He interrupted.
“They've done so much for me.”
Ruhi went silent.
“They gave me the best coaching they could afford. The best medical college. The best facilities.”
His voice became quieter.
“They sacrificed so much because they believed in me.”
Ruhi looked down at her hands.
“And their sacrifices deserve something in return.”
He swallowed.
“I need to build a good career, Ruhi. I need to become a good doctor. I need to make my family proud.”
Ruhi's eyes filled with tears.
I never wanted you to choose between me and them.
“Ansh…”
“I…”
He stopped.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then, finally—
“Ruhi…”
His voice trembled.
“You tell me.”
She held her breath.
“What do I do?”
She couldn't answer.
“Who do I choose?”
Her heart dropped.
“The girl I love more than anything…”
He took a shaky breath.
“The girl who is my everything…”
His voice cracked.
“Or the family who sacrificed everything to give me this life?”
Ruhi closed her eyes.
Please don't make me answer that.
“I can't, Ruhi.”
His breathing became uneven.
“I can't.”
And then she heard it.
His sob.
It wasn't loud.
But it felt like a punch to her gut.
Ansh was crying.
The same Ansh who always tried to keep himself together.
The same Ansh who would joke when things became difficult.
And now he was crying because of them.
Because of her.
“Ansh…”
Ruhi immediately tried to steady her voice.
“What are you doing?”
She wiped her tears.
“Please calm down. It's okay.”
Her voice trembled.
“You don't have to choose anyone.”
She took a shaky breath.
“I am always here for you. I'll wait for you. I'll—”
“It's not about you waiting, Ruhi.”
His voice was soft.
But somehow, that made it hurt even more.
“It's about me.”
Ruhi stayed silent.
“It's about the disappointment I'm creating in your life.”
“No…”
“I don't want you to keep waiting for me.”
Her heart clenched.
No.
“I want you to have a boyfriend who has time for you.”
Ruhi's tears slipped down her cheeks.
“Not someone who is me…”
He paused.
“Someone who gets five minutes to talk to you in a day.”
His voice cracked.
“And sometimes…”
He swallowed hard.
“Sometimes not even that.”
Ruhi shook her head.
“But I don't care about that.”
“I do.”
His answer came immediately.
“I care about it.”
He breathed shakily.
“Every time I can't call you, I feel guilty.”
“Every time I see your message and can't reply, I feel guilty.”
“Every time you wait for me…”
He stopped.
“I know I'm hurting you.”
Ruhi covered her mouth.
I never wanted this.
“I never wanted you to feel like loving me was a burden.”
“It's not a burden, Ansh.”
Her voice broke.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
He didn't answer.
Ruhi's breathing became unsteady.
“But I don't want that kind of relationship with someone who isn't you.”
She wiped her tears.
“I want you, Ansh.”
Her voice became smaller.
“I want my Ansh.”
There was silence.
A long, painful silence.
Then—
“Ruhi…”
The way he said her name made her heart sink.
“I can't live like this.”
She froze.
“I can't live every day choosing between the person who is my life…”
His voice shook.
“…and the people who gave me this life.”
Ruhi couldn't speak.
“Please…”
He took a deep breath.
“I can't be in this relationship anymore.”
Her heart shattered.
“I love you.”
A pause.
“I love you more than myself.”
His voice was barely audible now.
“But…”
He couldn't finish.
Ruhi's sob escaped.
The moment Ansh heard it, he closed his eyes.
Don't cry.
Every part of him wanted to take it back.
To tell her he was sorry.
To tell her they would figure it out.
To tell her he'd find time.
To tell her he didn't want to lose her.
But he knew himself.
If he heard her voice for another minute—
he would give in.
So he stayed silent.
And then the call ended.
Call disconnected.
Ruhi stared at the screen.
His name was still there.
Ansh.
She couldn't understand what had just happened.
One minute he was there.
The next—
He was gone.
And four years later, she could still remember exactly how empty that silence had felt.
---
Ansh sat alone in his room.
His phone was still in his hand.
Her name remained on the screen.
His thumb hovered over the call button.
Call her.
Just once.
He wanted to hear her voice.
He wanted to tell her he was sorry.
He wanted to tell her he had made a mistake.
But he knew if he called—
he wouldn't be able to leave.
So he locked his phone.
Closed his eyes.
And whispered—
“I'm sorry, Ruhi.”
A tear slipped down his cheek.
He opened his eyes again and looked at her name.
He desperately wanted to call.
But he knew he couldn't.
Not anymore.
Because sometimes loving someone meant knowing when to let them go.
Even when every part of you wanted to hold on.
---
PRESENT DAY
Ruhi blinked.
The memory slowly faded.
She was back in her room.
Back in the present.
The rain was still falling outside.
She looked down at the towel in her hands.
Her chest felt strangely heavy.
Four years…
She had spent four years convincing herself that she didn't care anymore.
That she had forgiven him.
That she had moved on.
But today, when she saw him again—
she realized something she didn't want to admit.
Some people leave your life.
But they don't always leave your heart with them.
Here is the 4th chapter how is this one
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