But deep down, a doubt started to creep into his mind.
What if their differences were too big?
She loved going out, exploring, and being surrounded by people. đâ¨
He was a homebody, happiest in his own quiet space. đĄâ
Would they ever truly connect?
Or were they just two people, too different to last?
As they continued talking, diving deeper into each other's thoughts, he suddenly asked the questionâ
"Are you ready to share your past?"
Somika paused.
Was he really going back to this again? To digging up the past? đ
She had never been the kind of person to dwell on what was already behind her. To her, the past was the pastâit didn't define who she was today.
Still, she answered honestly.
"I've never had a boyfriend in my life."
At 27, she knew it wasn't the answer he expected. But it was the truth.
Instead of accepting it, Dhurba let out a small scoff.
"Now, that's a total lie."
His words hit her like a cold splash of water. đ
"How can I believe that? A girl who looks like you? C'mon. You're pretending. This is fake. You really have the audacity to say something that's nearly impossible to digest?"
Instead of trusting her words, instead of even trying to believe her, he just went on and onâdoubting, questioning, refusing to accept it.
And in that moment, Somika realized something.
Maybe it wasn't her past that was the problem.
Maybe it was his inability to believe in her.
Dhurba sighed, his voice calm yet firm.
"You know, I've had this conversation with so many girls before," he admitted. "And every time, I walked away. I never spoke to them again."
Somika listened in silence, feeling the weight of his words.
"Back in school," he continued, "I manifested that a girl would be mine. And she was. She was my girlfriend. But you know what triggered me?"
He paused, as if replaying the memory in his head.
"One day, I saw her on a bike with a male friend. She never told me about it. I had to find out from someone else."
Somika frowned. That's it? đ¤¨
"And just like that, I broke up with her," Dhurba said, shaking his head. "Over something so small. But I couldn't take itâI needed honesty."
He turned to her, his eyes searching hers.
"So be honest with me, Somika."
There it was. The expectation. The test.
Somika exhaled slowly. Was this about honesty? Or was it about control?
Dhurba's voice dropped, his tone serious now.
"Your past is too big to hide, Somika."
She felt her chest tighten. đđ
"If you're not willing to share it," he continued, "then maybe you just don't want to put in the effort for this relationship."
His words hung in the air, heavy and unshakable.
Was honesty really what he wanted? Or was it validation?
Because in that moment, it didn't feel like trust.
It felt like a test she would never win.
Somika hesitated before speaking, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her blanket as she lay on her bed, phone pressed to her ear.
"Yes," she finally admitted, exhaling softly. "I've kissed someone before. I've gone out with a guy and even briefly dated him. But I never really saw him as my boyfriendâit didn't last long enough to mean anything."
Silence
She couldn't tell if Dhurba was processing her words or judging them.
She let out a small, dry laugh. Silence.
She couldn't tell if Dhurba was processing her words or judging them.
She continued before he could respond. "Honestly, I never had a boyfriend or even a fling till after I finished my bachelor's. My friends kept pushing me to try dating, so I did. But within a week, the guy started acting possessive and jealous, trying to control what I did, what I wore, and even who I talked to."
She let out a small, dry laugh. "I've been alone my whole life, making my own decisions. And suddenly, this guy comes in and expects me to change overnight? No way. That's when I knew relationships like that weren't for me."
Dhurba's voice finally broke the silence. "And after that? Did you try again?"