Ananya's hands were wrapped around her tea cup, but she wasn't drinking. The steam rose slowly, like a silent ghost, like something warm trying to escape a cold life. She kept staring at the pages of her book, but her eyes weren't reading anything. They were lost somewhere far away, somewhere painful. I sat in front of her, not sure what to say. Sometimes, when a person is drowning, even the smallest question can feel like a stone tied to their neck. So I stayed quiet. And maybe that silence was the first thing she needed.
Because after a few minutes, she spoke on her own.
"Do you know what the worst part is, Arjun?" she asked.
I looked at her. "What?"
She smiled slightly, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. "The worst part is… nobody sees it."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She looked outside the window at the station lights flickering in the rain. "They see a girl who is about to get married. They see jewellery. They see happiness. They see celebrations." Her voice broke a little. "But they don't see the fear. They don't see the nights where I cry without making a sound. They don't see how I feel like my life is already over."
My throat tightened. "Why are you marrying him then?"
She laughed. It wasn't a real laugh, it was more like a helpless breath. "Because my father thinks he is perfect. Because my mother thinks marriage is the only way a girl becomes safe. Because my relatives think love is a crime. Because everyone thinks I should adjust." She looked at me. "And because I'm tired of fighting."
Her eyes were red again.
I didn't know what to say, so I said the truth. "You shouldn't have to live like this."
Ananya stared at me for a long moment. Then she whispered, "You say that because you don't know him."
I leaned forward. "Then tell me."
She hesitated. Her fingers trembled on the cup. Then she finally said, "His name is Raghav."
The way she said it felt like she was spitting poison.
I stayed silent.
She continued, "He doesn't shout. He doesn't hit. He doesn't insult me in front of people."
I was confused. "Then… what does he do?"
She looked down at her book. "He controls."
The word fell heavy between us.
"He controls what I wear. He controls who I talk to. He checks my phone. He reads my messages. He tells me which friends are good for me. He tells me my smile is too loud. He tells me my dreams are childish." Her voice cracked. "And when I cry… he says I'm overreacting."
I clenched my fist under the table. "That's not love."
Ananya nodded slowly. "I know."
She took a sip of tea for the first time. Then she whispered, "But everyone else thinks it is."
The café was crowded. People were laughing. Some college boys were talking loudly. A couple was taking selfies. And in the middle of all that noise, Ananya was breaking.
I suddenly felt angry, not at her, but at the world.
"At least tell your parents," I said.
She looked at me with tired eyes. "I tried."
"My father said, 'A good girl doesn't complain.' My mother said, 'Marriage is sacrifice.'" She smiled bitterly. "And my aunt said, 'At least he is rich. Be grateful.'"
That sentence made my stomach twist.
Ananya's eyes filled with tears again. "I wanted to run away once," she whispered.
I looked at her. "When?"
"Two months ago," she said. "I packed a small bag. I had money. I had a train ticket." She stopped. Then she said something that felt like a knife. "But I came back."
"Why?" I asked.
She looked at me. "Because my mother cried."
Her voice shook. "She held my hand and said, 'If you go, society will kill us.'"
Ananya wiped her tears quickly, as if she was ashamed of them. "And I stayed."
She looked at me again. "And now I don't know if I am living for myself or living for their reputation."
I didn't know what to say.
So I asked the simplest question. "Do you love someone else?"
She froze. Her eyes widened slightly. She looked at me like I had touched a forbidden topic. Then she shook her head. "No."
But her voice didn't sound convincing.
So I asked softly, "Have you ever loved someone?"
Ananya didn't reply. She just stared at her book for a long time. Then she whispered, "Once."
My heart skipped. "Who?"
She shook her head again. "I don't want to say."
"Why?" I asked.
She looked at me with a painful smile. "Because saying his name will make it real again. And I don't want to feel that pain again."
I swallowed. "Did he leave you?"
Ananya's eyes turned darker. "No." She looked at me. "I left him."
My breath stopped. "Why would you do that?"
Her voice broke. "Because I loved him too much."
I didn't understand.
She continued, "He was the kind of boy who looked at me like I was his whole world. He was poor. He had no power. No money. No status." She laughed softly. "But he had love."
Her eyes filled again. "And I was scared."
"Scared of what?" I asked.
She whispered, "Scared that my family would destroy him."
My chest tightened. "So you sacrificed love… to protect him?"
Ananya nodded. "Yes."
"And now you're sacrificing yourself," I said.
She didn't deny it. She only whispered, "Maybe this is what I deserve."
"No," I said immediately. "You don't deserve this."
She looked at me. Her eyes were shaking. Then she whispered, "Arjun… you're kind."
I smiled slightly. "Maybe I'm just human."
She stared at me for a moment. Then she said something I wasn't ready to hear.
"Don't become attached to me."
My smile faded. "What?"
She leaned closer, her voice low. "Because if you stay close to me… you will get hurt."
I held her gaze. "I'm already hurt."
She blinked. "What?"
I swallowed and said it. "I don't know you for long. But every time I see you, I feel like my chest becomes heavy. I feel like I'm watching someone drown, and I'm standing there doing nothing."
Ananya's eyes softened. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something.
But then the café door opened.
A cold wind entered.
And with it… Raghav.
He walked inside like he owned the place. He wore a dark shirt, his sleeves folded neatly, his watch shining under the lights. His eyes scanned the café. Then his eyes landed on Ananya. And then on me. His smile appeared again, that fake smile, the one that doesn't belong to a good person.
He walked towards our table slowly. Not in a hurry. Like he was enjoying the moment.
Ananya's body stiffened immediately. Her fingers started trembling again.
Raghav stopped beside her. He looked at her. "Ananya." His voice was calm, too calm.
She didn't answer.
He turned to me. "And who is he?"
Ananya tried to speak, but he raised his hand, stopping her. "No. I asked him."
I looked at Ananya. Her eyes were begging me silently, begging me not to create trouble.
But I couldn't stay silent.
"I'm Arjun," I said.
Raghav nodded slowly. "Arjun," he repeated. Then he smiled. "A friend?"
I didn't answer.
Ananya whispered, "Yes. Just a friend."
Raghav's smile grew.
He sat down without permission, right at our table, like he owned even the space between us.
He looked at Ananya's tea cup. "You didn't tell me you drink tea here."
Ananya lowered her eyes. "I just came."
Raghav leaned back. Then he looked at me again. "So Arjun… what do you do?"
I replied, "I'm a student."
Raghav nodded. Then he said casually, "Be careful with friendships."
His tone was sweet, but his words were poison.
Ananya's face turned pale.
I clenched my jaw.
Raghav suddenly placed his hand on Ananya's shoulder. Not gently. Not lovingly. Like a grip.
Then he said, "Come. We are leaving."
Ananya looked at me for a second. Her eyes were full of apology, full of helplessness.
And she stood up.
Before leaving, she whispered softly, almost without moving her lips, "Don't follow me today."
And then she walked out with him.
I watched them leave. My heart was burning. But I stayed seated. Because I knew if I followed, I might destroy her life more.
That night, I couldn't breathe properly. I kept imagining her walking beside him. I kept imagining his hand on her shoulder. I kept imagining her silent tears.
I went to the station again. I didn't know why. Maybe because I was hoping to see her again. Or maybe because I was hoping to stop something.
The station was almost empty. Only a few passengers. A few vendors.
And then I saw her.
Ananya was standing near the platform wall. Alone. Her phone was in her hand. Her eyes were wet.
I ran towards her. "Ananya!"
She looked up quickly. She was shocked to see me.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
"I came to see if you're okay," I said.
She shook her head. "No, Arjun. Please go."
"Why?" I asked.
She looked around nervously. "He will come."
"Let him come," I said.
Ananya grabbed my arm. Her grip was tight. "Arjun, please… you don't understand." Her voice was shaking. "If he sees you here, he will ruin everything."
I stared at her. "Everything is already ruined."
Ananya's lips trembled. Then she said, "He slapped me today."
My whole body froze. "What?"
She looked down. "He didn't like that I was talking to you. He said I was shameless."
I felt my blood boil. I wanted to find Raghav and break his face.
But Ananya held my arm tighter. "Don't," she whispered. "Please don't."
I looked at her face. And for the first time, I saw pure fear.
Not sadness.
Not pain.
Fear.
Then she whispered, "Arjun… I don't want to die."
My heart stopped. "Why are you saying that?"
She swallowed. And her voice came out like a broken prayer. "Because sometimes… he looks at me like he could kill me."
I couldn't breathe.
The rain started again. Soft drops. Cold drops.
Ananya's hair stuck to her cheeks. She looked like she was drowning again.
And without thinking, I pulled her into my arms.
Not tightly.
Not forcefully.
Just enough to make her feel safe.
Ananya froze for a second.
Then she slowly rested her forehead on my shoulder.
And she started crying.
Not loud.
But deeply.
Like she had been holding it in for years.
My hands trembled.
I didn't know if I was allowed to hold her.
But I knew I couldn't let her cry alone.
So I whispered, "I'm here."
Ananya's voice came muffled. "Why are you doing this?"
I closed my eyes. "Because I don't want your story to end like this."
She pulled back slowly and looked at me. Her eyes were full of tears.
And then she said something that destroyed me.
"Arjun… I think I love you."
My heart stopped.
I couldn't speak.
She continued, her voice shaking. "I didn't want to. I tried not to. I kept telling myself you're just a stranger." She wiped her tears. "But every time you look at me like I matter… I feel alive again."
I stared at her.
My throat was tight.
Then I whispered, "Ananya… I…"
But before I could finish…
A voice came from behind.
A cold voice.
A dangerous voice.
"Ananya."
We both turned.
Raghav was standing there under the platform light.
His eyes were dark.
His face was expressionless.
But his smile was there.
That same smile.
The one that belongs to a devil.
Ananya's face went pale.
Her hand slipped from mine.
Raghav walked closer.
Slowly.
Like a predator.
And he said softly, "So this is why you were acting innocent."
Ananya whispered, "Raghav… please…"
He laughed.
Then he looked at me and said the words that made my blood turn cold.
"Arjun, right?"
I didn't move.
He came closer.
So close that I could smell his perfume mixed with anger.
Then he whispered, "If you ever come near her again… I will make sure you disappear."
Ananya grabbed his arm. "Please stop."
Raghav didn't even look at her. He only stared at me.
Then he smiled again.
And said, "Tomorrow is our engagement ceremony."
He turned to Ananya. "And you will be there."
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.
Ananya looked back at me.
Her eyes were screaming.
She tried to say something.
But her voice didn't come out.
And she disappeared into the darkness of the station.
I stood there in the rain.
Completely helpless.
My hands were shaking.
My heart was burning.
And I realized something painful.
Love wasn't the only thing in her life.
Fear was stronger.
And tomorrow…
She would be forced to smile in front of everyone…
While dying inside.