Panic Attack

AUTHOR'S POV

While the three of them were talking, Sanjana came downstairs and entered the hall. She looked like she was in a hurry to leave. But Karan's gaze found her instantly.

It always did.

And just as always, he noticed the slight shiver in her movements whenever his eyes settled on her.

For a moment, he simply admired her.

She looked beautiful in her deep red gown.

She had changed.

Her features had matured, her presence had become quieter, deeper.

Karan found himself completely lost in her.

Then he noticed something.

She was winding up.

Leaving. And searching for her bag.

"Trisha, where is my bag?" Her voice trembled slightly. Karan stared at her intensely. He knew she could feel his gaze.

Yet she completely ignored him.

The deliberate ignorance hurt more than he expected. Desperate for even a glance, he moved closer.

A man who never bent. A man who was never desperate for anything.

Was now yearning for her attention.

"Sanjana," he whispered.

But Sanjana remained determined to ignore him.

She picked up her bag and turned around.

She had barely taken her first step when Karan grabbed her wrist from behind and pulled her back.

She crashed into his chest.

Strong.

Warm.

Familiar.

She immediately struggled to free herself. But Karan was stronger.

Much stronger.

"Leave me." Her voice was cold.

Distant.

"I won't leave you. Not now. Not ever." His voice came out husky.

Then, almost like a plea, "Look at me... like you used to." For a second, his vulnerability made her shiver. She had never seen him like this.

"You already left me." She twisted her wrist. "So don't do this drama." Karan's grip tightened.

"When did I leave you, my lady?" His voice was clouded with emotions.

"Don't call me that." Her eyes burned with unshed tears.

"Call you what?" he snapped.

"Leave me." Slowly, Karan shook his head. Like he was delivering his final verdict.

"No."

"You..." She struggled against his hold.

"Karan, ye kya tamasha hai?" Her breathing became uneven. "Jab mujhe hamesha ke liye chhod hi diya tha toh..." Her voice cracked. "Ye sab kyun?" The moment he heard those words...

His entire existence shook. For the first time that evening, Karan loosened his grip. Sanjana immediately jerked her hand free.

And walked away.

Karan stood frozen.

Watching her leave.

Confused.

Perplexed.

A girl who once shined like sunlight. A girl who chirped endlessly like a sparrow.

Had become this.

What happened?

"Sanjana! Wait!"

Karan ran after her. "Please... rukooo." He grabbed her wrist again. This time she turned around instantly.

"Don't you touch me." Her voice trembled. "You are nothing to me, Mr. Grover."

Pain.

Guilt.

Heartbreak.

Everything was hidden inside those words. Karan stared at her in disbelief. Then gently asked, "What happened, Jaan? What's the matter?"

"Leave me." This time her voice was firm.

Unyielding.

Inside his head, panic erupted.

Acchi khaasi toh chhod kar gaya tha... Isse kya ho gaya? Itna kyun garaj rahi hai?

The mighty Commander Karan Grover was scared. Scared of his own lady.

What an irony.

The man who frightened the world was terrified of a five-foot girl.

"Have you ever tried to contact me in the last two years?" Her voice broke. Tears filled her eyes. "Have you ever tried to find out how I was?" She took a shaky breath. "Do you know what happened in these two years? No..." She shook her head violently.

"No..."

Tears streamed down her face. "You never tried to contact me." "You never tried to know how I was." "You never had any idea what condition I was in." Karan stood there.

Silent.

Frozen.

His mind screamed at him to pull her into his arms.

To tell her everything. To comfort her.

But he couldn't move.

His lady.

The girl who was always overflowing with life. Was standing before him completely broken.

Her cab was already waiting outside. For one final second, she looked at him. Then turned away.

And left.

SANJANA'S POV

The moment I entered the hall, my heart began beating wildly. Like a roller coaster. Like a storm.

And then He was standing there.

Karan.

For a second, I couldn't breathe. Is he really here? Or am I dreaming?

I couldn't take it anymore. My emotions were colliding. On one side, I was happy. Happy to see him alive. Happy to see him standing before me. On the other side—I wanted to cry. Cry in his arms. Tell him everything.

And then... I wanted to scream at him. Be angry.

Be selfish.

Be hurt.

Everything was mixed together. I couldn't understand myself. I couldn't tolerate his gaze. Not anymore. Especially when it still affected me exactly the same way. So, while everyone was busy with him, I quietly slipped away.

I went to Trisha's room.

Trying to gather enough courage to face him. But my breathing became uneven. My mind filled with memories.

Papa.

His body.

My mother.

My sister.

The accident.

The loss.

The silence.

My head started spinning.

I stumbled.

My hands began shaking violently.

I tried to breathe.

But it felt as if someone was choking me.

I rushed into the washroom and splashed water on my face.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Trying to stay grounded. Trying to stay present. Trying not to break. My panic attack was returning.

"Oh God..." I closed my eyes. "No... no... Sanjana... Take a breath."

"You are not weak."

It took me fifteen long minutes to calm myself. When I finally entered the hall again... He was still looking at me. I could feel it. His gaze hadn't changed. Not after two years. Not after everything.

He still had the same power over me. The power to make my heart race. To make me shiver.

To pull me toward him.

And the worst part?

He knew it.

Oh Karan... Please stop.

The moment I entered my room, my dam broke.

I cried. I cried for my family.

For my parents.

For everything I had lost.

For Karan.

He was so close.

And I... I failed. I wanted him. More than I wanted to admit.

AUTHOR'S POV

Sanjana was gone. But Karan continued staring at the road where her cab had disappeared.

"What happened to her?" He murmured.

More to himself than anyone else. "She's ignoring me. And she looks broken."

Rehana stepped forward. "Aapne kya kaha tha, Bhai? You said you'd come back in one year." Her voice softened. "But you came back after two."

"Just because of the operation." Karan replied automatically. Then his expression darkened.

"But why did she say all that? What happened in these two years? What happened to her?" His voice was desperate. Almost pleading.

Rehan answered quietly. "She is suffering."

A pause.

"She is broken."

Another pause.

"And she is alone."

.

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THAT IS IT FOR TODAY...

PRESS ⭐BUTTON