Chapter 64: Chapter 61

Raghav had just left the driveway, his thoughts still lingering on Siya. The weight of their unresolved issues pressed heavily on his chest. The setting sun bathed the sky in hues of orange and purple, painting a serene picture in contrast to the storm brewing inside him.

The road ahead was quiet, lined with trees swaying gently in the evening breeze. Yet, Raghav barely noticed the beauty around him. His mind was a whirlpool of emotions—anger, regret, longing, and love.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter, the leather cold under his fingers. “Just a little more time, Siya. I’ll fix everything.”

The bouquet he had pre-ordered would be arriving within a week, a small gesture to show her he was trying. He had imagined the look on her face when she received it—the faint smile tugging at her lips, her eyes softening as she read the note. But deep down, he knew gestures weren’t enough.

“I should’ve said something,” he murmured, his voice tinged with frustration. “Why didn’t I just tell her now how I feel?”

His thoughts drifted to the future he had been quietly building in his mind—a life with Siya beyond their deal. He had envisioned lazy Sunday mornings, Siya laughing as their kids ran around the house, and the quiet moments they’d share when the chaos settled.

“I wanted so much more,” he whispered, his throat tightening.

But then, the faint rumble of a truck pulled him out of his thoughts. He glanced at his rearview mirror, spotting the headlights of a large vehicle approaching rapidly. The truck swerved erratically, its tires screeching against the road as the driver showed no intention of slowing down.

Raghav frowned, his instincts kicking in. “What the—”

Before he could react, the truck veered sharply, slamming into the side of his car with a deafening crash. The impact jolted through his body like a violent wave, the shockwave reverberating in his bones. The car spun out of control, tires screaming, metal bending under the force. The world tilted, everything spinning faster and faster.

Time seemed to slow as Raghav’s car flipped. The ground, once beneath him, was now above him. His head slammed against the steering wheel with a sickening thud, the pain exploding through his skull like fire. His vision blurred, and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. A sharp pain tore through his ribs, each breath feeling like a jagged blade cutting through his chest.

Yet through the agony, his mind remained startlingly clear. The world outside was a blur of flashing lights and screeching metal, but inside the wreckage, Raghav was drowning in his own emotions.

Siya. Her name echoed in his mind, louder than the ringing in his ears or the distant sound of the truck’s engine roaring away. The chaos around him seemed distant, but the thought of her was all-consuming.

“I... I can’t go yet,” he whispered, his voice weak, his throat dry. “I haven’t told her...”

Memories of Siya flashed before his eyes—the way she had stood her ground against him, her quiet strength, her rare laughter that had always lit up the room. He had spent so much time fighting with her, pushing her away when all he truly wanted was to hold her close.

“I-I wanted to give you everything,” he murmured, his eyes wet, voice breaking. “A home... a family... all the happiness... you deserve.”

His vision darkened, but his mind painted vivid pictures of the life he had dreamed of. He saw Siya in a red dress, her smile radiating warmth as they renewed their vows—not for a deal, but out of love. He saw their children, a boy with his mischievous grin and a girl with Siya’s sparkling eyes, running through a sunlit garden.

“I want to be there... for all,” he whispered, his voice breaking. For every moment, every laugh, every tear. I want to grow old with you.

The regret weighed heavier than the pain in his broken body. I had been so consumed by anger that I had wasted precious time. Time we could have spent building a life, showing her how much she meant to me.

“I’m sorry,” he choked out, his voice barely audible. “... for not telling you sooner.”

The fading light of the day mirrored the dimming of his own life. He felt his heartbeat slow, each thud weaker than the last. The pain began to dull, replaced by a strange sense of peace. His breathing became shallow, but in his final moments, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to imagine one last scene—a moment that would never come to pass.

He saw himself sitting beside Siya, her hand in his as they watched their children play in the garden. The warmth of her love enveloped him, a love he had finally earned. He remembers her words, “If a relationship can't bring you peace, even in the chaos of life. It's not love. It's a compromise”.

He let out a small painful smile. “You were the peace I craved in this world. I love you, Siya,” he whispered, the words carrying all the weight of his unspoken feelings. “I always have.”

His lips curved into a faint smile, the image of Siya’s face the last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him.

On the side of the road, the wreckage of Raghav’s car lay still, the once vibrant life inside it now extinguished. The bouquet he had ordered sat undelivered, a testament to the dreams he had left unfulfilled.

The truck driver, Rakshit, grinned maliciously. “I told you, Raghav. You will pay for your sin.” And he let out a cold, loud laugh.

And somewhere, miles away, Siya waited—unaware that the man she had quietly come to love was no longer on his way back to her.