"I Didn't Leave... I Protected You"

Hi guys, I have recently started watching this show on Colors Tu Juliet Jatt Di. So, this story starts just after 1 month leap. No Heer Arjun engagement.

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Nawab had started getting used to it.

The distance.

The silence.

The way she existed... but not for him anymore.

He told himself it was fine.

She made her choice... and I'll live with it...

But some habits don't leave easily.

Like noticing her.

He still saw everything.

The way she walked a little slower now.

The way her hands always had faint marks.

The way she avoided looking at him... not because she didn't want to-

But because she couldn't.

And still-

He stayed away.

She chose this...

That's what he kept telling himself.

Until she came to him.

He was at the practice ground.

Bat in hand.

Focus.... Trying hard to focus.

But then-

A familiar presence.

Soft. Hesitant.

Behind him.

He didn't turn.

He didn't need to.

He knew it was her.

He always did.

"Kitni acting kar lete ho tum..."Her voice.

Low.

Tired.

And something in it... broke his focus instantly.

He still didn't turn."What do you want, Heer?"

Cold.

Controlled.

Like nothing touched him anymore.

That hurt her more than anything else.

Heer let out a small laugh.

Empty.

"Bas itna... ki tum ek baar normal behave kar lo."

Silence.

Nawab tightened his grip on the bat. "Main normal hi hoon."

She nodded slowly. "Haan... yahi problem hai...You didn't even look back..." she said quietly.

That made him turn.

Finally.

She looked... different.

Not weak.

Not broken.

Just... exhausted.

"Kab?" he asked.

She smiled faintly."Har baar..."

A pause.

"Jab main girti thi..."

"Jab main hurt hoti thi..."

"Jab main tumhare paas se guzarti thi..."

Her voice stayed soft. But every word hits. "Tumne ek baar bhi nahi dekha..."

Nawab's expression flickered. "Dekha tha...Har baar dekha tha..." he said quietly.

Her eyes snapped to his. "Phir aaye kyun nahi?"

There it was.

The question he had been avoiding.

Nawab looked away for a second.

Then back at her but making sure not to look into her eyes.

"Kyuki mujhe laga... tum yehi chahti thi." He siad pointing at the distance between them.

That... broke something.

Heer laughed softly.

This time... tears in her eyes.

"Main yehi chahti thi?" She repeated She stepped closer, covering a little bit of distance.

Not angry.

Just... hurt.

"Kya tumhe sach mein aasa lagta hai?"

He frowned. "Matlab?"

She stepped even closer.

Not too close.

Just enough.

"Matlab main aur carry nahi kar pa rahi hu... I'm exhausted Nawab"

Silence.

His expression changed slightly. "Carry what?" he asked quietly.

She smiled faintly.

A sad one.

"Tumhara sapna..."

That caught him off guard. "What?"

Her eyes finally met his for the first time. "Maine tumhe reject nahi kiya tha, Nawab..." she said softly. "Maine tumhe protect kiya tha... Tumhare sapne ko protect kiya tha..."

His breath stilled.

"Papa ne jo kiyaa tha... tum jaante ho (referring to calling the police in CPU) ..."He nodded slightly. "Par tum yeh nahi jaante..." she continued "ki uske baad kya hua..."

A pause.

"Main har din yeh soch ke jee rahi thi... ki maine tumhe khud se door karke tumhare sapne ko pura kar rahe hu... cricket tumhara sapna hai aur use protect karna mera farz" Her voice trembled now. "Par jab tumne bhi mujhe ignore karna shuru kiya..."

A tear slipped down. "Tab laga... shayad main hi galat thi..."

Nawab's jaw tightened. "I wasn't ignoring you..." he said.

She shook her head gently. "Tum dekhte the...par aate nahi the..."

A pause.

"Woh zyada hurt karta hai..."

Silence.

Because she was right.

"I thought..." he started, then stopped.

She waited.

"I thought tum strong ho..." he said quietly. "Handle kar logi..."

She smiled again.

This time... it broke.

"Strong log thakte nahi kya?"

That hit.

Hard.

She stepped even closer now. "Maine tumhe choose kiya tha, Nawab. Tumhare sapne ko choose kiya tha..."

A pause.

"Par tumne mujhe choose karna band kar diya..."

He looked at her.

Really looked at her.

And for the first time-

He saw it.

Not just strength.

But the weight she had been carrying. Alone.

"I didn't know..." he whispered.

She nodded. "Mujhe pata hai..."

Another silence.

Soft.

Heavy.

"Par ab pata hai," she added.

He took a step closer to her. "Ab kya chahti ho?" he asked.

She didn't answer immediately.

Because this wasn't about demands or conditions.

"I just didn't want you to think..." she said slowly, "...ki maine tumhe chhod diya."

A pause.

"Maine tumhe bachaya tha..."

That line stayed between them.

Nawab closed the distance.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Standing so close that he could hear her breathing.

"Khud ko hurt karke..." he said.

She didn't deny it.

"Worth it tha?" he asked softly.

She looked at him.

Eyes tired... but honest.

"Tumhara sapna?" she whispered. "Haan..."

A pause.

"Par tumhara silence?" Her voice broke. "Nahi..."

That was it.

Nawab didn't think anymore.

Didn't calculate.

He just pulled her into a hug.

This time-

No hesitation.

No ego.

"Ab akeli nahi karna padega..." he murmured.

She closed her eyes.

Finally.

Because for the first time-

Someone understood the difference between leaving... and protecting.