Bewafa = Betrayer

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The two friends stood on the doorstep, helplessness etched across their faces. With every passing second, Rudraksh sped further away, leaving them rooted to the spot, their eyes following the fading trail of smoke Karan's car had left behind.

Siddharth’s fingers clamped around Karan’s upper arm, dragging him along. "C’mon, Karan, we can’t just stand here! We need to follow him. Make sure he’s okay!"

Karan stumbled after him, eyes widening at the sudden pull. "But how? We can’t just run after him!"

Siddharth’s lips pressed into a thin line, their footsteps thudding heavily against the pavement. "We’ll find a way! An auto, a taxi—something! We can’t let him go off on his own like this!" His voice broke between ragged breaths.

Karan struggled to keep pace behind him, his breaths coming in short gasps. "Sid—Siddharth… Slow...slow down. We’ll find him, I’m sure."

But Siddharth pressed on into the unknown, his heart pounding against his ribs. His eyes swept the crowded street, desperate for a flash of Karan’s car, or even a faintest glimpse of Rudraksh’s familiar silhouette.

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The evening sun melted into the horizon, drenching the beach in a warm orange glow. Siddharth and Karan finally arrived, exhausted and breathless. Their eyes swept across the vast expanse of golden sand in search of a familiar figure. The fading light stretched long shadows across the wanderers scattered along the shore.

Karan raised a hand to his eyebrow, wiping the sweat away with the back of his palm. He let out a heavy breath and planted both hands on his hips. "Siddharth, trust me—" he shot Siddharth a look through clenched teeth, "—if he doesn’t listen to us this time, I’m gonna beat him senseless." He jerked his head forward, face twisting. "What’s so special about that Sanam Bewafa, anyway?"

Siddharth let out a stifled chuckle and slung an arm around Karan’s shoulder, giving it a light pat. "Nice one, Karan. But it’s Sanam Grover, not Sanam Bewafa."

Karan’s nose wrinkled, his arms dropping to his sides, fists curling tight. "Yeah, yeah, whatever! She’s clearly not worth all this trouble."

Siddharth’s gaze drifted back to the crowd, sweeping the beach. "Karan, c’mon. Let’s just find him first. We’ll deal with the rest later."

Karan’s expression softened, his voice gentler now. "Yeah… you’re right. Let’s just find him."

They moved on, each step sinking into the sand, the grains tugging at the soles of their shoes. Then, without another word, they split, vanishing into the crowd in opposite directions. Every movement was driven by a growing unease, and the gnawing fear of what they might find... or what they might not.

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Rudraksh stood alone at the edge of the sea, his gaze lost in the vast stretch of orange sky, that fell into a distance like a projectile. The wind whipped his hair into disarray, tugging at his clothes with restless fingers. The waves crashed against the shore in a rhythm echoed the storm inside him—a haunted melody whispering the ghosts of his past.

Shards of an empty wine bottle lay scattered in the sand, mute witnesses to his attempts at drowning his sorrow. In his left hand, he still clutched another bottle, half-filled with the amber liquid that seemed to be his only refuge. The setting sun drenched the world in gold, yet his heart remained cloaked in shadow, untouched by its warmth.

"Rudraksh! Rudraksh, buddy, please turn around!" Siddharth and Karan called out together, their voices rising in unison, edged with concern.

Rudraksh didn’t move, his eyes locked on some faraway point, his mind remained consumed by the memories of someone that made no sense now.

As they drew closer, Siddharth’s voice softened into a gentle, coaxing tone.
"Rudraksh… come on, man. Let’s talk about this. We’re here for you."

Rudraksh stayed silent, his shoulders hunching, head bowing forward.

Karan’s brows knit together as he closed the distance with quick, urgent steps. "Rudraksh, snap out of it, dude! You’re scaring us!"

Siddharth’s face pinched, his voice breaking into a plea. "Rudraksh, please… please don’t do this. We’re your friends. Your brothers. We just want to help you. Please, Rudraksh… let us in."

Karan’s face twisted, his eyes blazing with fierce intensity. He stormed toward Rudraksh, fists clenched. Without warning, he unleashed a flurry of blows, striking his friend twice with a resounding thud.

The first punch cracked against Rudraksh’s jaw, snapping his head to the side. His eyes widened at the sudden, brutal turn of events. The second punch slammed into his chest, knocking the wind out of him and leaving him gasping for air. The half-filled wine bottle slipped from his grasp, shattering against the rock below in a spray of amber and glass.

Siddharth’s eyes flew wide, his mouth falling open. "Karan! No! Stop!" he shouted, his voice ringing out in protest. He lunged forward in long strides, desperate to calm the situation before it took an unpatchable turn.

Karan’s anger had boiled over, his frustration and worry for Rudraksh’s well-being exploding into a violent outburst.

Rudraksh’s eyes narrowed, jaw tightening as he faced Karan. His feet wavered beneath him—partly from the alcohol, and perhaps partly from the punches.

"What was that for, Karan?" he spat, his voice low and menacing, fingers curling into fists at his sides.

Karan’s face contorted, his eyes flickering at the sight of Rudraksh’s reddened face.
"You weren’t listening to us, Rudraksh! You weren’t hearing us out!" The desperation in his voice trembled beneath the force of his words.

Siddharth stepped between them, his hands raised in a bid to calm the situation. "Hey, hey, hey! Let’s not do this. We’re here to help Rudraksh."

Rudraksh scoffed, backing away as he rubbed his cheek with the back of his palm.
"Help? You call this help? Do you think punching me is going to fix everything?"

Karan stepped toward him slowly, his gaze dropping to the sand. "I just wanted to snap you out of it, Rudraksh. I didn’t mean to hurt you." His head shook slightly, matching the quiet intensity of his words.

Rudraksh’s laughter came out harsh, mocking. "You think I’m in some kind of trance?" His eyes narrowed, a bitter chuckle escaping. "I’m perfectly aware of what’s going on, Karan. I’m aware of how much I’ve lost."

Karan’s eyes narrowed into slits. "Aware? Are you sure, Rudraksh Maurya?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Because for the past six months you’ve been wandering around like a bloody Devdas, oblivious to everything and everyone around you. Your family is worried sick, your work is falling apart, your friends are at their wits’ end. But hey, you’re aware, right?" He gave his head a sharp shake.

"You’re aware of your own heartbreak." His sarcasm bled into frustration as he pressed on, ignoring the anger hardening Rudraksh’s face. "You’re aware of that girl who betrayed you. You’re aware of your own pain, but not of the pain you’re causing others!"

Rudraksh’s face twisted, teeth gritting behind pressed lips.

Karan didn’t stop; his words came in a torrent, like a volcano eruption. "If not us, at least think about your father!"

Rudraksh’s eyes snapped up at the mention, but in the next breath he retreated back into his earlier aloofness, unmoved by Karan’s coaxing.

"He’s put his trust in you, Rudraksh. Don’t throw it away with this attitude." Karan’s voice dropped to a low, urgent whisper. "Think about the people whose families depend on you to survive. Every step you take matters, and your carelessness is tearing everything apart."

Rudraksh’s face contorted, but his gaze stayed locked on the broken glasses scattered across the beach, each shard catching the sun’s orange rays like tiny diamonds.

Karan’s expression twisted. He seized Rudraksh’s arms and shook him like a leaf whipped in a sudden gust. "We are losing deals, Rudraksh! Investors and employees arere losing faith in us! We’re working our butts off to keep this company alive, and you… you’re still crying over a double-crosser bitch!"

Siddharth’s eyes widened. "Karan, that’s enough!" He reached in, trying to pry Karan’s hands away.

Karan shoved Siddharth’s hand aside without looking. "No, Siddharth! It’s not enough! Someone has to tell him the truth! Someone has to knock sense into him!"

Rudraksh’s jaw trembled, his eyes blazing red. In a blur, he lunged, grabbing Karan by the collar and spinning him around. "Mind your language, Karan!"

Karan’s face hardened, mirroring Rudraksh’s fury. He wrenched free and shoved him hard, sending him staggering into the rocks. "You’re still blinded by love for her! She’s not coming back, you stupid fool!"

Rudraksh pushed himself up, closing the distance in two strides. His fists bunched in Karan’s shirt. "Shut up, Karan! You don’t know anything!"

Karan stepped closer, erasing the last inch between them. "I know she destroyed you. I know she ripped your heart apart. And still… you’re holding onto her." His whisper cut through the quiet air like a jagged blade.

Rudraksh’s face tightened. His hands dropped limply to his sides, and he stepped back, voice falling into a whisper. "You don’t understand… she’s… she’s the reason I’m living."

Karan’s frustration erupted into the twilight, bouncing off the darkness. He clutched his hair, face twisting, and seized Rudraksh’s arms. "You live because of her?" He shook him sharply, voice climbing. "What is she, an oxygen cylinder?!"

Siddharth’s lips twitched, eyes narrowing. He exhaled through a faint smirk, a strange mix of concern and reluctant amusement.

Karan drew a long breath, closing his eyes for a beat before facing his friend again.
"Listen to me, Rudraksh." His voice was tired, the words dragging under their own weight. A plastic smile spread across his face. "You’re destroying yourself over someone who doesn’t deserve you. You’re throwing away your life, your family, your friends, your business… all for someone who left without a backward glance." His head bobbed slowly as his wide eyes searched Rudraksh’s drawn features.

Rudraksh’s voice trembled. "She loved me. I know she loved me. She must have had her reasons." But the words rang hollow, even in his own ears.

Karan snorted a growl through his nose, eyes rolling skyward. "You know, Siddharth? Even a fool would’ve understood me by now. But this… this creature won’t get it!"

With a sudden burst of anger, Karan kicked hard at the water, sending droplets flying everywhere. He shook Rudraksh violently, his grip tightening like a vice. "For fuck's sake, Rudraksh! She left you! She betrayed you! She never loved you! She used you, and you're still clinging to that lie! Can't you see the truth?! Can't you understand that she's gone, and she's never coming back?! Why are you still holding on?! Why can't you get this simple thing, you fuc-"

"Enough, Karan!" Siddharth stormed towards them cutting off Karan's unpleasant words with firm and authoritative voice. He grasped Karan's wrists, loosening his grip on Rudraksh. "You're making things worse than they already are!" He shot Karan a warning glance. "Move."

Karan's expression darkened, eyes narrowing in rebellion. He shifted his weight, his movements tense, and turned to the other side.

Siddharth shook his head, his expression softening as he turned to face Rudraksh. "Rudraksh, listen to me." He held Rudraksh at arm's length, his voice a gentle contrast to his earlier outburst. "I know it's hard to accept, but Karan is trying to make you see reason. Think about it practically, okay."

Rudraksh's puffy, tear-stained eyes locked onto Siddharth's filled with a deep sadness.

Siddharth's voice remained gentle but firm. "If Sanam had truly loved you, would she have left you without any explanation? Would she have broken your trust like that?" He paused, letting the question hang in the air, as he searched Rudraksh's face for any sign of understanding.

Rudraksh's lips trembled, his voice barely above a whisper. "She had her reasons..."

Siddharth nodded sympathetically. "Maybe, maybe she did. But don't you think, you deserve someone who will communicate with you? Who will work through problems with you? Not someone who will just leave you hanging in between without a word?"

Rudraksh's glance downward was accompanied by a slump of his shoulders, his entire posture screamed hopelessness.

Siddharth's hand came to rest on Rudraksh's shoulder. "We're not asking you to erase her from your memory, Rudraksh. That's impossible. We're asking you to see that you deserve better. You deserve someone who'll love you truly, not just use you for their own gain."

Rudraksh's voice cracked as he whispered, "But, it's hard..." The words hovered in the air like a fragile plea, a desperate admission of the pain ravaging his heart.

Siddharth offered a gentle smile, his voice a soothing balm. "I understand. I understand it's hard. But you have to stop destroying yourself, bit by bit, piece by piece."

Rudraksh's gaze sank, his entire being overwhelmed by the sheer force of his anguish. His legs trembled, and he crumpled to his knees on the sand, concealing his face in his hands. His body shook with silent sobs, the sound of his despair echoing through the night.

Karan's expression transformed, witnessing his friend's heart-wrenching state, his eyes shone with a heartfelt apology.

Siddharth's kneeled down to his level, his words measured and meaningful. "Life is a masterpiece, Rudraksh, and you are the artist. Don't let someone else's brushstrokes define your work."

Karan nodded in agreement. "Yes, Rudraksh. You are worth so much more than this. We are here for you, always. But you need to start being here for yourself too."

With a sob, Rudraksh buried his chin in his neck, his body wrecked with sobs. Siddharth and Karan enveloped him in a tight hug, holding him close as he finally allowed himself to break down, to release the pent-up emotions that had been suffocating him for months.

As they held him, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the sounds of Rudraksh's heart, that slowly, tentatively, began to heal.

A/N: Hello, everyone!

So, how was it? And, who do you think is Rudraksh's real friend, Siddharth or Karan, and why? Share your insights below in the comment box.