(From Reyansh's POV)
I should've known.
He never paid for his own tea, his own meals—not even the smallest things.
Always had an excuse.
"Forgot my wallet."
"UPI not working."
"You're the couple everyone loves, you can afford to treat me."
I laughed. Saanvi smiled.
And Prakash? He was already leeching.
But what I didn't see coming… was how deep he'd sink.
He didn't just feed on our time, our kindness.
He used my name—my name—to crawl into her family's good books.
Told her parents, "Reyansh always talks about you with so much respect."
Brought up memories he'd only heard me speak of in confidence and twisted them into his own words, delivered with fake sincerity.
And they believed him.
Because why wouldn't they?
He came as my friend… spoke like he supported us… and slowly, without them realizing, he became the trusted one.
The safer one.
The one who "stood by Saanvi" while I apparently drifted.
And Saanvi?
She cooked for him. Paid his bills. Took him seriously.
All while he quietly assassinated my character and made himself the messenger of false concerns.
He didn't do it with malice on his face.
He did it with manners and free food in his hand.
He poisoned the well and called it protection.
And I…
I was the fool who introduced him into our lives.