He was slapped in the face.

Why did it happen? 

These questions kept lingering in his mind all night long, preventing him from finding peace.

He was reflecting on where he might have gone wrong.

It wasn’t the sting on his cheek that stayed with him, it faded in minutes. What truly hurt was the reason behind it

He never understood why none of the women he loved could bring themselves to fully trust him. Why? Was he really that unworthy? The pattern haunted him, every relationship ending with the same doubt, the same distance, the same quiet accusations. Still, he had believed Amritha was different. She had that spark, that softness, that promise of something lasting. But now… even she seemed to be slipping through the cracks of mistrust, like all the others before her.

He loved her truly. With her, he could be himself, without masks or fear. She was special, unlike anyone before. Yet somehow, it still came to this silence, distance, and the ache of losing someone he thought would stay, more than stay who would trust him.

The whole night passed in restless thoughts, sleep refusing to find him. By morning he had dull ache pulsing at his temple. He pushed himself into his routine, but everything felt numb.

It wasn’t the fear of losing Amritha that weighed on him; he still believed she would come around. What truly haunted him was deeper, quieter: the fear of why he had lost her trust in the first place.

Trust, that was the foundation of everything for him. He knew it. And yes, there were other women in his life, friends who confided in him, who felt safe around him. He had that way of making people feel heard, offering warmth without judgment. But none of that ever threatened what he felt for Amritha. She was different. Special. And now, as he watched her drift away in doubt, he felt helpless, not knowing how to make her see the truth in his heart, or how deeply she meant to him.

He wanted to fix this, not just for her, but for himself. Because this wasn’t just about Amritha, never was. The pattern was too familiar. Every woman he had been with, past or present, eventually questioned the same thing: trust. Why? What was he doing wrong?

As the questions swirled in his mind, heavy and unrelenting, his phone buzzed.

Meanwhile, Amritha sat by the train window, tears in her eyes, and finally texted him.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did. I’m really sorry.”

For a moment, he just stared at the screen. The weight in his chest shifted, not gone, but lighter. But that feeling lasted only a heartbeat. It was quickly replaced by a familiar exhaustion. He was sick of this pattern,  the hurt, the apologies, the temporary peace. Deep down, he knew this wasn’t the end of it. Just another pause before the next wave.

Something had to change. He didn’t want to keep living in circles. He wanted to stop this pattern, not for her, not for anyone else, but for himself.

He took a deep breath, before he finally typed:

“I don’t want sorry. I want the reason. Why is trusting me so difficult?”

The reply came quicker than he expected.

“I felt left out,” she wrote. “I felt like you never prioritized me. It’s always your other friends, especially the girls, who seem to get more of your time, your attention. Then what’s my place in your life?”

He stared at her words, each one landing heavier than the last. It wasn’t anger he felt, it was clarity, painful but honest. 

He took a moment to reflect. It was true, he had a habit of taking those closest to him for granted, assuming they’d understand. He was a people-pleaser at heart, always trying not to disappoint those who valued him. But in doing so, he often left less time for his inner circle, his parents, Amritha. 

Lately, she’d been overthinking, feeling insecure. He knew asking him to cut off his female friends wasn’t truly what she wanted, she wouldn’t like herself for that. But still, she wasn’t at peace. 

He typed, “We need to talk openly. Trust me, or let’s move on.”

Then he paused.

“No… that would’ve been my usual reply. Instead, teach me how to earn your trust.”

With a quiet smile, he called her, ready to listen.