Evening...
The evening breeze gently flowed through the Maheshwari house.
Anaya stood in front of the mirror, tying her hair into a neat ponytail before picking up her bag.
She was getting ready to visit Riyan's house to collect some sample papers.
Riyan and Anaya had been good friends ever since she was in Class 10.
Being her senior, he had helped her countless times with her studies. Over time, they had developed a comfortable friendship. Their personalities matched well, and talking to each other always felt easy.
There was one more thing...
Something only Anaya knew.
Riyan had feelings for Kiara.
She had noticed the way his eyes unknowingly searched for Kiara whenever he visited their house. One day, unable to control her curiosity, she had questioned him.
After a lot of hesitation...
He had confessed everything.
But before telling her, he had made her promise never to reveal his feelings to Kiara.
"I'll confess to her when the time feels right," he had said.
And Anaya had respected that promise ever since.
•••
Anaya walked downstairs.
"Mumma, main Riyan ke ghar jaa rahi hoon. Kuch books leni hain. Thodi der mein aa jaaungi."
She informed her mother, who was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.
As she was about to leave, her eyes landed on Kiara, who was completely engrossed in watching a movie.
"Dii, aap bhi chalo na mere saath."
Kiara didn't even look away from the television.
"Nahi... tum jao. Main movie dekh rahi hoon."
Anaya dramatically placed a hand over her heart.
"Wah! Dekh rhe h aap kanha kisi ke liye movie jyada important ho gyi hai."
"Meri toh koi value hi nahi rahi."
Kiara laughed.
"Har baat par drama karna zaroori hota hai kya?"
She pointed toward the small Krishna idol kept in the temple.
"Pata nahi Krishna ji bhi kya sochte honge... kaisi immature sakhi mili hai mujhe."
Anaya gasped dramatically.
"Dekha Kanha ? Ye mujhe hi suna rahi hain."
Kiara couldn't stop smiling.
"Theek hai baba... chal."
"Happyyyy!" Anaya cheered before immediately holding Kiara's hand.
•••
A few minutes later...
The two sisters stood outside the Ranawat Mansion.
"Dii, chalo na andar."
Anaya tried pulling her along.
Kiara immediately stepped back.
"Nahi... tum jao."
"Mera mann nahi hai."
"I'll wait outside."
Anaya narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Pakki baat?"
"Hmm."
"Fine. Main jaldi aati hoon."
As soon as Anaya disappeared inside...
Kiara looked at her phone.
Her smile slowly faded.
She remembered that her live location was always shared with Kartik.
And he had strictly warned her...
Never go near Riyan.
Taking a deep breath, she whispered to herself,
"Main tab tak paas wale café mein wait kar leti hoon."
"Anaya aayegi toh usse pick kar lungi."
With that, she quietly walked away.
•••
Inside the Ranawat Mansion...
The house was warm and beautifully decorated.
Anaya waited in the living room, looking around curiously.
Just then...
Someone entered.
Anay.
The moment their eyes met...
Both froze.
"Tum?" they spoke at the same time.
For a second...
Neither of them said anything.
Anay recovered first.
He immediately raised both his hands dramatically.
"Dekho... agar tum meri complaint karne aayi ho na..."
"Toh pehle hi bata deta hoon..."
"Mujhe tumse bilkul darr nahi lagta."
He paused before pointing toward the staircase.
"Par Papa se bahut darr lagta hai."
"So please... unke saamne meri image kharab mat karna."
Anaya blinked.
Then folded her arms.
"Bas? Aur kuch bolna baaki hai?"
Anay innocently smiled.
"Nahi... filhaal toh itna hi."
She rolled her eyes.
"Tum na..."
"Seriously..."
"Kitna bolte ho."
"I'm not here to complain."
"In fact, mujhe toh ye bhi nahi pata tha ki ye tumhara ghar hai."
"I came here to meet my friend."
Just then...
Riyan entered the living room.
"Aree... tum dono ek dusre ko jaante ho?"
"Haan," Anaya replied.
"Ye mere school mein padhta hai."
"Tumhara relative hai kya?" she asked curiously.
Riyan smiled.
"Relative nahi..."
"Mera chhota bhai hai."
Anaya's eyes widened.
"What?"
She immediately looked at Anay.
Then back at Riyan.
Then at Anay again.
'Hey Bhagwan...'
'Iske saath bhi rishta nikal aaya.'
Meanwhile...
Anay leaned toward Riyan and whispered,
"Tujhe duniya mein dosti karne ke liye yehi mili thi?"
Riyan lightly smacked the back of his head.
"Chup kar."
Anaya couldn't help but smile seeing the brothers argue.
"Baitho na," Riyan said.
"Kyun khadi ho?"
All three of them settled on the sofa.
Anaya looked toward Anay.
"Maine tumhe pehle kabhi yahan nahi dekha."
Before Anay could answer, Riyan spoke.
"Ye kuch hi time pehle wapas aaya hai."
"Pichle kuch saalon se ye Jaipur mein Tau ji ke saath reh raha tha."
"Oh..." Anaya nodded.
Then, under her breath, she murmured,
"Wahin rehta toh zyada achha tha."
Unfortunately...
Anay heard it.
He smirked.
"Sorry Ms. Rulebook..."
"Itni bhi buri kismat nahi hai tumhari."
"Lagta hai ab roz milna padega."
Anaya gave him a fake smile.
"Meri kismat hi kharab hai."
Riyan looked at both of them in confusion.
"Tum dono har baar ladte hi ho kya?"
Both of them answered at the exact same time.
"Iski galti hai!"
They instantly glared at each other.
Riyan sighed dramatically.
"Bhagwan hi bachaye tum dono se."
The room echoed with light laughter.
After a while, Riyan picked up a pile of books and handed them to Anaya.
"Ye lo... saare sample papers."
"Thank you," Anaya said with a grateful smile.
Meanwhile... At the Café
The café was calm and peaceful.
Soft music played in the background as Kiara quietly sipped her coffee, trying to distract herself from the chaos inside her mind.
Just then...
Her phone started ringing.
Kartik Calling...
She took a deep breath before answering.
"Hello?"
Instead of a greeting...
A cold voice came from the other side.
"Kiske saath café mein ho tum?"
Kiara frowned.
"Kisi ke saath nahi. Main akeli aayi hoon."
"Jhooth mat bolo."
"I can see your location."
"Sach batao... kaunsa ladka hai tumhare saath?"
Something inside Kiara finally snapped.
"Kartik... enough!"
Her voice was louder than usual.
"Bahut ho gaya!"
"Har baar bina wajah mujh par shak karna band karo."
"A relationship sirf pyaar se nahi chalta..."
"Trust bhi utna hi zaroori hota hai."
"Aur tumhe mujh par bilkul trust nahi hai."
"Har baar bina soche-samjhe mujhe judge kar dete ho."
There was complete silence from the other side.
Kiara took a deep breath.
"And I'm tired of explaining myself again and again."
Without waiting for his reply...
She disconnected the call.
The moment the screen went black...
The tears she had been holding back finally escaped.
She lowered her head.
Sometimes...
The person who was supposed to make her feel safe...
Had become the very reason behind her pain.
A few minutes later, the waiter arrived.
"Ma'am, your burger."
Kiara looked at it.
Suddenly...
She wasn't hungry anymore.
She quietly paid the bill before looking outside through the café window.
A few underprivileged children were standing near the roadside.
She smiled sadly.
"Please... give this burger to those children outside."
The waiter smiled politely.
"Of course, ma'am."
Without another word...
Kiara picked up her bag and walked out of the café.
•••
She reached outside the Ranawat Mansion and immediately called Anaya.
"I'm outside."
"Come quickly."
"Okay, Dii. Two minutes."
After a few minutes, Anaya came out carrying the books.
The sisters smiled at each other before walking home together.
Neither of them noticed...
Kiara's smile still couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes.
•••
Later That Night...
The cool night breeze filled the Ranawat garden.
Anay slowly walked beside his grandfather, who took careful steps along the garden path.
No matter how busy he was...
Anay never missed their evening walks.
He loved his grandfather dearly and always made sure he stayed active and healthy.
Tonight, however...
Anay was unusually quiet.
His grandfather noticed it immediately.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Kis ladki ke khayalon mein khoya hua hai mera pota?"
Anay looked at him in surprise.
"Dadu!"
"Aapko kaise pata ki main kisi ladki ke baare mein hi soch raha hoon?"
His grandfather chuckled.
"Beta..."
"Ye baal dhoop mein safed nahi hue."
"Ab bata bhi de."
Anay sighed.
"Dadu..."
"Meri class mein ek ladki hai."
"Anaya."
His grandfather listened quietly.
"Usne meri complaint teacher se kar di thi."
"Gusse mein aakar maine uski notebook kharab kar di."
He paused.
"Aur..."
He lowered his eyes.
"Ab pata nahi kyun..."
"Mujhe bahut bura lag raha hai."
"I can't stop thinking about it."
His grandfather smiled gently.
"Galti karna buri baat nahi hoti, beta."
He placed a comforting hand on Anay's shoulder.
"Galti ko galti maan lena..."
"Ye sabse badi baat hoti hai."
Anay remained silent.
"Dadu..."
"Par main kya karun?"
"Ye guilt ja hi nahi raha."
His grandfather looked toward the stars before speaking.
"Uska jawab main nahi de sakta."
"Ye tujhe khud dhoondhna hoga."
He smiled.
"Shararat karne ke ideas toh tujhe ek second mein aa jaate hain."
"Ab soch..."
"Us galti ko kaise theek karega."
Anay gave a small smile.
"Thanks, Dadu."
His grandfather ruffled his hair.
"Bas ek baat yaad rakh..."
"Ego insaan ko bada nahi banata."
"Lekin apni galti maan lena..."
"Bahut bada bana deta hai."
The two continued walking under the moonlight.
But Anay's mind was somewhere else.
He kept remembering Anaya's trembling voice...
"This notebook wasn't just paper..."
"It was my hard work."
He closed his eyes.
For the first time...
The victory of his revenge didn't feel like a victory anymore.
It felt like a burden.
Deep inside...
He knew he had crossed a line.
But he wasn't ready to admit it aloud.
Not yet.
*********************************************************
Hiiiii, my beautiful readers! 🤍🥹
How was today's chapter? 👀
There were so many emotions today...
💔 Kiara trying to stay strong...
😂 Anay and Anaya meeting at his house...
🤭 The surprise that Riyan is Anay's brother...
🌙 And Anay finally sharing his guilt with his Dadu.
Also... did anyone else smile when Anay and Anaya started arguing the moment they met? 😂❤️
I can't wait to read all your opinions and theories, so don't be a silent reader!
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See you in the next chapter! Take care and stay happy. ✨
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