TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

Another week slipped by, and Nimish’s condition showed no sign of healing. Each day seemed to pull him deeper into the quicksand of guilt and self-blame. Then, as if fate hadn’t done enough, a letter arrived cold, official, and merciless. It stated that an inquiry had been launched to investigate his professional and ethical conduct in Mathew’s case. The words blurred before his eyes. His world collapsed all over again. Without a word, he walked to his room and slammed the door shut. The sound echoed through the house like a heartbreak. Kaaya stood frozen for a moment, then ran after him.Kaaya had come to console Nimish. As she was approaching Nimish, Akaay had called her, and in her daze, instead of declining she answered the call.

Sitting beside Nimish, she gently placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “Whatever’s happening right now it’s not your fault, Nimish. Don’t blame yourself or drown in guilt. You couldn’t have known he was pretending. No one could have. I’m here for you. Please don’t worry. Things will get better.” Nimish, brimming with frustration, snapped. “Why? Who are you to decide whether it was my fault or not? Are you a judge? A therapist? What gives you the right to declare me innocent? Why do you always have to be so nice? Why does everything have to go according to your version of kindness? You and your sweet talk are suffocating. You pretend to be optimistic for others, but deep down, you’re hollow and lonely. That’s why you do all this so no one leaves you.”

He stood up, voice rising, “You’re too good to be true. It’s no wonder every person you’ve dated felt overwhelmed. You don’t even realize how exhausting your over-kindness is. Don’t pretend to be this saint. You’re just hiding your misery behind a fake smile.”

What Nimish and Kaaya didn’t realize was that Akaay had put his phone on speaker. Aaji, Aajoba, and Kriya heard everything. Kriya was livid. She immediately told Akaay, “Let’s go. Now.”

Kaaya’s worst fear had unfolded before her eyes. Shattered, she stood up and left Nimish’s room without saying a word. Rain was pouring, thunder echoing in the skies, but she kept walking numb, directionless. The one person she never imagined would hurt her, had hurt her the most. No one had ever spoken to her so cruelly.

Eventually, she sank down on the temple steps. Soaked, broken, and exhausted, she cried, cried for everything she had held back over the years. The pain, the fear, the rejection, it all spilt out.

Meanwhile, Kriya and Akaay reached Nimish’s house. The maid opened the door. Without a word, Kriya stormed into Nimish’s room and slapped him hard across the face. Akaay and the maid stood frozen in shock.

Akaay quickly stepped in to stop her.

Kriya’s voice trembled with fury, “I understand you’re going through something. But how dare you say those things to a girl who only wanted to lift you up? Do you even realize the weight of your words?”

Nimish, still in a rage, shot back, “Get out. I don’t need life lessons from either of you. I meant every word. Now leave.”

Kriya turned to the maid, asking if she had seen Kaaya. The maid told her Kaaya had left crying about half an hour ago.

Panic struck. Kriya rushed out, Akaay close behind.

Back inside, the maid quietly began cleaning the remnants of Nimish’s fury. Nimish shouted, "You too, leave, now!" When his parents returned, she informed them about what had happened. They were stunned. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined Nimish capable of such cruelty.

Meanwhile, Kriya and Akaay scoured the neighborhood, desperately trying to find Kaaya.

22/05/2025