Falling Destiny

Episode 31: "Boundaries and Gaze"

(Neha's POV)

It had been four months since I started teaching dance to Ruhani. What began with simple warm-up routines had now evolved into elaborate choreographies. She was an eager learner — always wanting more. There was something sweet about her energy, the way she giggled after mastering a step, or how she called me "Nehu" without hesitation. Over time, we grew close.

Meanwhile, seven months had passed in Disha's pregnancy. Her strength amazed me every day but the doctor asked to be more careful now. Rohit had also grown close to us — to her. But we still hadn’t told him about Sanchit. Not because we didn’t trust him — but because Disha never felt ready. And I had to respect that. Even in their silent exchanges, I could tell Rohit cared for her, and for me too, maybe more than he admitted.

One afternoon, as I taught Ruhani a new contemporary sequence, we took a break, sitting on the polished wooden floor. She stretched her arms and turned to me with a sudden twinkle in her eyes.

"Let’s go shopping! I need some new outfits for the wedding I have to attend. Come with me!"

I laughed. "I can’t today, I have a few things to finish."

But Ruhani, being Ruhani, pulled a dramatic face. "You’re like my sister, and I don’t even have one! Don’t you love me, Neha di?"

How could I say no to that?

"Okay okay, I’ll come. But only for a while."

We shopped for hours. From jewelry to shoes to the latest designer gowns. She tried everything, and somehow still asked my opinion on each one. I didn't expect the joy I'd feel just watching her light up in those outfits.

Later, she insisted on buying a few things for me. I refused. The prices were absurd. I couldn’t let her spend so much on me. But she pouted, whined, and finally, shoved a dress into my hands.

"This one’s a gift. No arguments."

It was a beautiful pastel blue gown, something out of a dream.

It was late by the time we stepped out of the last store. I quickly messaged Rohit.

Neha: Can you check on Disha, please? It's gotten late.

He replied almost instantly.

Rohit: Of course. Don’t worry about her. I got this.

Ruhani’s driver was occupied, and our driver had already left after dropping us at the mall. That’s when Veer arrived.

"I’ll drop you," he said, casually. "It’s too late to go alone."

I hesitated. Something about his gaze tonight was... different. But I had no choice. We got into his sleek black car.

The road was quiet. Streetlights passed by us like blinking fireflies. Veer didn’t speak for a while. Then he asked, voice low:

"Who do you live with?"

"Disha," I replied. "She’s my family. That’s all I have."

He nodded slowly. I could feel his eyes occasionally drifting to me. The silence grew comfortable — and strangely tense.

Suddenly, the car jerked and slowed to a halt.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Looks like we broke down," Veer said, stepping out. He made a quick call. "The driver’s bringing another car. We’ll wait."

The wind picked up, brushing my hair into my face. I tucked it back, but a strand refused to stay.

And then… Veer stepped close. Too close. His fingers gently brushed the strand from my face.

I froze.

His eyes met mine. Dark, intense, unreadable.

"Neha," he whispered. "I like you."

I didn’t know what to say. My breath caught.

But just as the moment lingered, the driver’s headlights appeared in the distance.

Veer stepped back. The tension snapped like a thread.

He dropped me home in silence. At the door, he paused.

"Good night, Neha."

I watched the car disappear into the night.

(Disha's POV)

I was folding baby clothes when Rohit entered, placing a small bag of groceries on the table.

"You didn’t have to," I smiled.

"I wanted to," he said simply. Then, a pause. "Can I ask something?"

I nodded.

"Neha… she’s special. I like being around her. But I’m not sure how she feels about me."

I looked at him. For all his confidence, this question made him seem boyish, uncertain.

"You care for her?"

"More than I thought I would. But… I come from a world that’s dark. I don't want to pull her into that. Not unless she wants to."

I reached out, touched his arm.

"Just be there for her. She notices. Even when she pretends she doesn’t."

He gave me a half-smile, and I saw something in his eyes — hope. And fear.

---

(Rohit’s POV)

Some people walk into your life quietly… and suddenly, they’re everywhere.

That’s what Neha is to me now.

I don’t know when it started—maybe it was the way she smiled even when she was tired, or how she spoke with so much care when it came to Disha. We reconnected by chance, but these past few months, it doesn’t feel like chance at all. It feels like something I was supposed to find. Or maybe someone.

But no matter how close I get, there’s always something… missing.

Like she’s carrying a life I don’t know about.

I still don’t know what exactly she does for work. She never brings it up, and I don’t want to push. But I see the signs—how she comes back late some nights, how she looks distracted like her body’s here but her mind’s somewhere far away.

I’ve asked before, casually, like it doesn’t bother me.

She always laughs and says, “Just work stuff,” and changes the subject.

I let it go… even if it gnaws at me.

Tonight, she went out for something—said she’d be late and asked me to stay with Disha. I agreed without hesitation. Disha’s seven months along now, and though I don’t know her entire story either, I know enough to care.

We were sitting in the living room. She was flipping through a baby book, absentmindedly tracing the outlines of clothes and cribs with her fingers.

“You and Neha seem really close,” she said suddenly.

I looked up. “I guess we are. Or… I hope we are.”

“She trusts you,” Disha said with a small smile. “That’s rare, you know.”

I nodded slowly. “I like her. More than I’ve liked anyone in a long time. But I don’t want to mess it up by saying something at the wrong time.”

Disha tilted her head. “Do you think she knows?”

“Maybe,” I said. “But she never talks about what she wants. Or who she wants. It’s like… she’s always hiding something.”

She gave a short laugh. “That’s Neha. She carries too much on her own.”

I sighed. “I just wish she’d let me in. I want to be there for her—for real. Not just as someone who hangs around when it’s convenient.”

“She’s not keeping you out to hurt you,” Disha said gently. “She just doesn’t let people in easily. But that doesn’t mean you don’t matter.”

I didn’t reply right away. I just watched the curtains flutter in the soft breeze, listened to the silence between us.

There’s so much I don’t know about her.

Where she goes. What she hides.

Who she leans on when she’s not with us.

But I do know this—I’ll be here.

Until she’s ready to stop hiding.

Until she’s ready to look me in the eyes and say, “This is all of me.”

And if that day never comes…

At least she’ll know someone stayed long enough to mean it.