The path to the mandap was just ahead.
Voices called out.
Music rose.
Everything was ready.
Everything—
Except him.
Reyansh walked forward—
Steps steady.
But his chest—
Wasn't.
Too many thoughts.
Too many moments.
All at once.
Her voice—
"I love you."
His own—
"I loved you too."
And the way she had looked at him after that.
It hit again.
Harder this time.
He stopped.
Abruptly.
So suddenly—
That the people around him paused too.
"…Rey?"
But he didn't move.
Didn't look back.
Because something inside him—
Had finally snapped.
"…guys."
His voice came out—
Too serious.
Too rough at the edges.
"Please… give me a few minutes."
A pause.
"…this can't wait."
Silence fell.
Not complete—
But enough.
Because that tone—
Wasn't casual.
It wasn't teasing.
It was final.
Someone opened their mouth—
About to joke.
But—
"…not now."
Arya stepped in.
"…let him go."
Something in his voice—
Made the others stop.
And just like that—
The path cleared.
Reyansh turned—
Walking back.
Not slowly.
Not hesitating.
But like someone who had already decided.
Inside the room—
Anaya stood where he had left her.
Still.
Slightly shaken.
Because that shift—
In him—
Wasn't small.
The door opened again.
She looked up.
And there he was.
Different.
Not calm anymore.
Not composed.
Real.
"…Reyansh?"
He stepped in.
Then turned—
"…can we have a moment?"
The others glanced between them.
Confused.
But this time—
No one argued.
One by one—
They stepped out.
The door closed.
And silence returned.
Thicker than before.
He stood there for a second.
Like he was gathering everything inside him.
Then—
"…do you trust me?"
The question landed softly.
But heavily.
She blinked.
"…what?"
"…just answer me."
His voice steadied.
But his eyes—
Were anything but.
"…do you trust me?"
A pause.
"…yes."
She said it.
Without thinking.
Because that—
She knew.
He nodded once.
Like that answer meant everything.
"…then listen to me."
A step closer.
Not too much.
Just enough.
"…this time… till the end."
Something in his tone—
Made her heart beat faster.
"…please."
That word again.
Rare.
"…I can't keep you in the dark anymore."
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Heavier.
"…you deserve to know."
Her breath slowed.
Because now—
This wasn't small.
This wasn't casual.
This was—
Everything.
"…what are you talking about…"
A whisper.
But he didn't stop.
Couldn't.
"…I tried to tell you before."
A faint, almost bitter breath.
"…so many times."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"…but something always came in between."
A pause.
"…and maybe I let it."
Because it was easier.
Because he was scared.
"…but not anymore."
His eyes met hers.
Directly.
Unwavering.
"…even if you hate me after this."
Her breath hitched.
"…even if everything changes."
A step closer.
"…I'll accept it."
Because this time—
He wasn't running.
"…but you need to know the truth."
Silence.
Loud.
Because something inside her—
Had already started reacting.
Even before he said it.
"…Reyansh…"
Her voice was softer now.
Uncertain.
"…what truth?"
And this time—
He didn't stop.
"…we knew each other."
The words fell.
Simple.
But they shattered something.
Because suddenly—
Everything she had tried to ignore—
Started connecting.
"…before this."
A breath.
"…before all of this."
Her fingers curled slightly.
Because now—
That feeling—
Had a direction.
"…in high school."
And just like that—
The past—
Stepped in.
Uninvited.
Unstoppable.
"…in high school."
The words didn't just land—
They echoed.
Inside her.
Somewhere deeper than she could reach.
Anaya stilled.
Completely.
Because something—
Shifted.
"…what…?"
Her voice came out faint.
But Reyansh didn't stop this time.
He couldn't.
"…we were in the same class."
His voice was steady—
But every word carried weight.
"…we used to sit together."
A flicker.
Something—
Flashed.
A classroom.
Sunlight through windows.
Two desks.
Her breath hitched.
"…you used to talk a lot."
A faint, almost broken smile touched his lips.
"…and I used to listen."
Another flash.
Laughter.
Her voice—
Endless.
"…and still you never got tired of me."
A whisper escaped her lips—
Unconsciously.
Because that line—
She hadn't thought it.
She had remembered it.
Reyansh froze.
"…Anaya…?"
But she wasn't looking at him anymore.
Her eyes—
Unfocused.
Because now—
It wasn't just flashes.
It was breaking through.
"…the library…"
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"…books falling—"
A sharp breath.
"…you stood in front of me…"
The memory hit.
Clearer.
Stronger.
Reyansh's chest tightened.
"…yeah…"
His voice softened.
"…that was me."
She stepped back slightly.
Because now—
It wasn't just feeling.
It was real.
"…Ana."
The name slipped out.
Soft.
Familiar.
And that—
That broke something completely.
Because no one—
No one called her that.
Except—
Her head spun.
"…Ansh…"
She whispered.
And this time—
It wasn't confusion.
It was recognition.
Pure.
Reyansh's breath stopped.
Because she remembered.
Not everything.
But enough.
"…you…"
Her eyes filled—
Not with tears yet—
But with shock.
"…you're…"
More pieces collided.
The park.
Rain.
A sunflower.
"…you gave me that…"
Her voice shook.
"…you said—bright like you…"
His eyes closed briefly.
Because every word—
Was pulling them back.
"…we were—"
She couldn't finish.
Because now—
The memories weren't soft anymore.
They were breaking.
Fast.
"…the play…"
Her voice dropped.
Shaky.
"…Romeo and Juliet…"
Reyansh stepped forward.
"…Anaya—"
But she didn't hear him.
Because now—
That scene.
That moment.
Crashed back.
"…you…"
Her breath turned uneven.
"…you kissed her…"
The words came out—
Broken.
Not as a question.
As a wound.
Reyansh's expression fell instantly.
"…no—"
But she shook her head.
"…I saw it."
Tears filled her eyes now.
"…I saw everything."
The backstage.
The curtain.
That moment.
Her chest tightened.
"…and then…"
Another memory.
The corridor.
Running.
"…you didn't even come after me…"
Her voice cracked.
And that—
That hit him.
"…I did."
Immediate.
Desperate.
"…I ran after you—"
"…and then you were with her again."
The words cut through.
"…hugging her."
Silence.
Heavy.
Because now—
Both truths stood there.
Facing each other.
"…that wasn't what you think—"
"…then what was it?"
Her voice broke.
Because this—
This wasn't just memory.
This was pain.
Unresolved.
Years old.
"…why didn't you stop me?"
"…why didn't you explain?"
"…why did you let me leave?"
Each question—
Hit harder.
Because he had answers.
But none of them—
Had reached her back then.
"…I tried."
His voice dropped.
Raw.
"…you didn't listen."
A pause.
"…and then you were gone."
Her breath stilled.
Because that—
She didn't remember.
"…I waited for you."
His voice softened.
"…you never came."
Her brows furrowed.
"…I did…"
A whisper.
"…I came to the park…"
His eyes widened slightly.
"…what?"
"…you were with her."
Her voice trembled.
"…so I left."
And just like that—
The truth completed itself.
Two moments.
Two perspectives.
One misunderstanding.
Everything—
Shattered between them.
Silence fell.
Because now—
There was nothing hidden.
Nothing left unsaid.
Only truth.
And the damage it carried.
Their eyes met.
Not soft this time.
Not easy.
But real.
Because now—
They both knew.
What had happened.
And what it had cost.