Riya/Ariya FF: Aakhri Umeed {A/N on p.1 | Update 14} - Page 7

Hey, no update for this one?

Part 14

Riya sat in the sleek, minimalistic waiting room of Dr. Ananya Kapoor’s clinic. The faint aroma of lavender lingered in the air, meant to soothe the patients, but her hands still felt clammy against her lap.

Her fingers toyed with the hem of her shirt, twisting and untwisting the fabric nervously as she stared at the pale cream-colored walls.
Her heart thudded heavily in her chest.
Loud enough for her to hear it in her ears.

She hadn’t told anyone she was here.
Not Shree.
Not Chotu.
Not even Arjun.

She wanted this step to be hers alone.
To prove to herself that she was strong enough to take it.

The receptionist’s voice was faint when she called her name.

“Ms. Riya Mukherjee? The doctor will see you now.”

Riya exhaled sharply, her grip tightening faintly around the strap of her purse.
She got to her feet, legs slightly shaky, and walked toward the door.

Her hand hovered over the knob for a brief second.
Her breath caught faintly.

But then she closed her eyes briefly.
And with slow determination, she pushed the door open.

***

The office was softly lit, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the cityscape.

It didn’t feel sterile or impersonal.
It felt warm.
Calm.
Safe.

Dr. Ananya sat in a plush armchair by the window. Her eyes were kind—dark brown and gentle—with faint creases at the corners that spoke of years of listening and healing.

She offered a small, reassuring smile as she gestured toward the couch.
“Baithiye, Riya.”

Riya’s throat bobbed faintly, but she did as asked, sinking into the couch.
Her fingers curled around the edges of the cushion.
Her nails dug slightly into the fabric.
Her pulse thudded in her ears.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.
And then Dr. Ananya’s voice came, calm and steady.

“Kuch share karna chahogi aaj?”

Riya swallowed thickly and nodded.
“Haan…” her voice cracked softly.
“Bohut kuch.”

The doctor nodded, her smile softening.
“Darr lag raha hai?”

Riya’s throat constricted slightly.
She stared down at her hands for a moment, watching the way her fingers trembled faintly.

“Bohot zyada.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Dr. Ananya didn’t rush her.
She didn’t probe.
She simply waited.

And then, softly, she said,
“Batao Riya… kya tumhe yeh darr pehle bhi mehsoos hota tha?”

Riya exhaled sharply.
Her eyes stung.
Her fingers tightened around the cushion.

And before she could stop herself, the words began to spill.

“Hamesha… bachpan se,” she whispered brokenly.
“Bachpan se darr hi raha hai. Har waqt. Har jagah.”

Her voice shook faintly, but she didn’t stop.
She couldn’t stop.

“Apni hi family ke saath…”
Her voice cracked painfully.
“Jahaan sabko safe feel karna chahiye… wahaan mujhe hamesha dar lagta tha.”

Her throat bobbed sharply.
Her nails dug into the cushion as the dam began to break.

“Mujhe dant padti thi un galtiyon ke liye jo maine ki hi nahi thi.”
Her breath came out in sharp, shaky gasps.
“Main hamesha galat thi. Bas… kyunki main badi thi.”

Her hands were trembling slightly.
Her voice grew rawer with each word.

“Ghar pe sab mujhse naraaz rehte the… hamesha. Mera bas rehna hi unhe chubhne laga tha.”
Her voice fractured softly.
“Aur main… bas chup chap bardasht karti rahi.”

She was breathing heavily by now, her chest rising and falling sharply.
Her vision blurred with tears.

Her voice broke when she choked out the next words.
“Mere bhai behen mujhse nafrat karte hain… unhe meri koi izzat nahi hai.”

The words spilled out of her in a broken sob.
“Unke liye main bas… unki nakami ka ek excuse hoon.”

Her entire body trembled faintly.
Her knuckles were white where she clutched the cushion.
And her voice cracked with sheer vulnerability.

“Mujhe kuch bhi mehsoos karne ki permission nahi thi… bas bardasht karti rahi.”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Jab tak mujhse nahi saha gaya.”

Her breath hitched painfully.
Her voice fell to a broken, barely audible whisper.

“Tab tak… jab tak maine khudko khatam karne ki koshish nahi ki.”

Her voice shattered.
And the moment the words left her lips, she broke.

She bent forward slightly, her shoulders shaking violently as the sobs wracked through her frame.
She clutched her face in her hands, gasping softly for breath.

And she didn’t stop herself.
She didn’t hold back.
She didn’t suppress it.

She let herself fall apart.
For the first time.
Completely.

Dr. Ananya didn’t say anything.
She simply slid the box of tissues closer.
And let Riya cry.

***

Riya sat in her car outside the clinic, her forehead pressed against the steering wheel.
Her face was damp with tears.
Her throat ached from crying.

But her chest felt lighter.
Freer.
As if she had exhaled a breath she had been holding for years.

Her eyes fluttered shut as she let out a shaky sigh.
Her hands still trembled faintly.
But there was no suffocating heaviness in her chest.
Just… a quiet, faint lightness.

She pulled her phone from her bag, her fingers still slightly shaky, and dialed the one number that gave her strength.

“Haan?” Arjun’s voice came on the first ring.
He always answered on the first ring.

Her throat tightened faintly.
But she smiled softly through her tears.

“Main… clinic gayi thi aaj.”
Her voice was soft, but steady.
And she heard him exhale sharply on the other end.
As if he had been holding his breath.

“Tum theek ho?” he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her lips quivered faintly.
And she nodded.
Even though he couldn’t see her, she nodded.

“Haan, Arjun.”
Her voice cracked softly.
“Main theek hoon.”

There was a brief silence.
And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said,
“Mujhe tumpe fakr hai, Riya.”

Her breath caught faintly.
Her eyes stung again.
But this time, the tears were different.
Warmer.
Softer.
Healing.

Her voice broke softly.
“Mujhe khud pe bhi…”

And for the first time in years, she meant it.

She needed to do this herself. Supported by others are okay but there are some steps we have to take ourself

Her family is trash and yeah some people are awful for no reason, her parents didn't treat her right so it transferred to her siblings. But i would love to have a story behind their dislike. Why is her parents so abusive? Kinda like durseley of harry potter you know? Just a reason for Riya and readers to get answers

She is so lucky to have Arjun

Read part 4-6 in one sitting...will read the rest soon