short tales - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Outside her apartment…
Rivan leaned against his black SUV, jaw clenched, breath uneven.
The cold air didn’t cool the fire burning in his chest.
He stared up at the closed window of her room — like he could somehow see through it. Like his eyes could reach her, hold her, fix her.
But they couldn’t.
So he did what he always did with pain—
He fought it with violence.
THUMP.
His fist smashed into the car’s hood.
The loud, angry sound echoed through the empty street.
But it didn’t calm him.
His knuckles bled.
His shoulders trembled.
"I was protecting you," he muttered to no one.
"I stayed away so you’d be safe from the monsters I deal with every day."
But deep down… he knew.
He became one of those monsters.
His forehead dropped against the cold steel of the car, blood dripping down from his knuckles like every piece of himself he wished he could offer her instead of pain.
Inside…
Aarika lay curled on the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her belly like it was the only thing she had left.
Tears soaked her pillow.
Her sobs had quieted now — but her heart hadn’t.
"Why did you come back now, Rivan?" she whispered to the dark ceiling.
"Why do you still have the power to break me?"
She closed her eyes, praying for sleep to take her away from the ache in her chest.
But then…
Thump.
She gasped lightly.
Another kick. Stronger this time.
Her hand flew to her bump.
Her baby was awake.
"Shhh, baby," she whispered, brushing her palm over the curve of her belly.
"Mommy’s okay. Don’t be scared."
But her voice cracked on the last word.
More tears slipped down.
Because she wasn’t okay.
She was scared.
And she missed the man who caused all this pain… more than she wanted to admit.
Her body curled tighter.
One hand beneath her head.
One over her child.
Heart caught somewhere between love and loss.
Meanwhile, outside the apartment…
Rivan didn’t leave.
He just… sat on the hood of his car.
Bleeding.
Staring at her window.
Waiting for a sign… that she might still love him.
Even a little.
Next Morning…
The weak sunlight slipped through the curtains, casting soft patterns on Aarika’s pale face.
She hadn’t slept much.
Eyes puffy. Head heavy.
Her body exhausted from crying.
Her heart? Worse.
She was still in bed, one hand gently resting on her bump, when her phone rang.
The screen lit up: Dr. Mehra.
She quickly wiped her face and answered.
“Yes, doctor?”
“Miss Aarika,” the doctor’s voice was calm but serious. “Your blood pressure levels from yesterday’s reports are slightly alarming.”
Aarika’s eyes widened.
“What—?”
“You need to rest. Proper rest. No emotional stress. No late-night crying. I hope you’re not staying alone?”
Aarika froze.
She didn’t answer.
The doctor sighed. “You’re in your third trimester. Any severe stress can harm both you and the baby. I’m sending the report to your emergency contact.”
Aarika sat up, heart pounding.
“No—wait—! Doctor, please don’t—”
But the call had already ended.
Late that Night…
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Then again.
Louder. Faster.
Aarika, still weak and emotionally drained, dragged herself to the door and opened it —
Only to find Rivan standing there.
Hair disheveled.
Face unreadable.
Eyes burning with rage — and fear.
“What the hell were you thinking?!” he stormed inside before she could speak.
“High blood pressure?! Crying all night?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”
She stared at him in shock. “You… you weren’t supposed to know—”
“I’m your emergency contact,” he snapped.
His voice cracked as he stepped closer, fists clenched.
“The doctor sent me the report. I thought I lost you. I thought I lost my baby!”
Aarika looked away, guilt and pain mixing.
“I told you to leave,” she whispered.
“I don’t want you to be around just because of fear or guilt—”
“I’m not leaving again,” he said sharply.
She blinked.
“I’m staying here,” he continued, eyes locked on hers.
“From tonight. Till delivery. Till you’re safe. Till our baby comes into this world with both parents standing right there.”
Aarika shook her head, her voice rising. “You can’t just barge into my life when you feel like it—!”
“I can when it’s about my child,”
he growled.
Then softer…
“And about the woman I still love more than anything.”
Silence.
Just the sound of her uneven breath… and his broken one.
She turned her back to him.
“I don’t need your protection.”
“You do,” he said quietly, stepping behind her.
“Even if you won’t admit it. You’re tired. You haven’t eaten properly. And you’re scared. Let me… let me at least be there for that.”
She didn’t reply.
She didn’t push him out either.
After a moment, she whispered, “Fine. One condition.”
He raised his eyes.
“You sleep on the couch.”
Rivan gave a tired smile.
“As long as I get to wake up every morning knowing you're both still okay… deal.”