1 Hour Later...USA
Aditya’s car entered the driveway of his house. Just as it stopped, Ira stepped out and—completely copying a prince—or more specifically, copying Aditya himself—she opened the door for Anamika like a gentleman.
Seeing this, Aditya made a face and said, “She’s not coming! I’m taking Anamika somewhere.”
Hearing that, Ira turned toward him with a mischievous but helpless smile, “Why though? Where are you taking my Anamika?”
Aditya instantly snapped, “Yours?! She’s not yours!”
Ira teased, “Then is she yours?”
And with that, the argument began. Five minutes of nonstop bickering later, when neither could prove their point, they both turned to Anamika and said in unison,
“So… who do you belong to?”
Meanwhile, Anamika was on the phone, and the person she called had already answered.
Seeing this, Ira leaned toward Aditya and whispered, “Who’s that?”
Aditya, sulking like a kid, muttered, “The answer to our question.”
Ira took a deep breath and said dramatically, “So… it’s her boyfriend!”
Before Aditya could say anything, Anamika’s voice rang out,
“I already had it, but you tell me—did you eat anything, Saaniya?”
Hearing that, Ira grabbed Aditya’s hand and pulled him a bit away, “Okay, not boyfriend—but she has a girlfriend!”
Aditya, annoyed, groaned, “You idiot! She doesn’t have a boyfriend or a girlfriend! She’s her best friend!”
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Ira sighed in relief, “Which means… you still have a chance! Brooo… I want her as my sister-in-law, please do something!”
Aditya's face turned red like a tomato. Controlling himself, he said, “Hey! She’s not an object you can just demand for! She has… she has her own wishes, her own choice!”
As he said this, his eyes were fixed on Anamika.
Ira, tugging his hand like a stubborn child, said, “But you just said she doesn’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend yet, which means she hasn’t used that choice yet! What if your efforts become her choice? Please, brother… I want her as my sister-in-law!”
Aditya looked at Ira, who now stared at him with the innocent eyes of a kitten filled with hope.
Taking a deep breath, Aditya said softly, “She’s what I want too… but this time I’m scared. I might try… but I no longer have the courage to go further and tell her.”
Ira stomped her foot, “Then I’ll tell her!”
Aditya immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her back, folding his hands dramatically, “Okay, okay, my dear mother like sister! I promise… I’ll try my best to make her your sister–in–law. Just please, don’t ruin it in a hurry!”
Ira, beaming like a proud cat, said, “That’s all I wanted to hear! Even if it takes 10 years, I don’t care. I just wanted to know that my brother hasn't given up! After all, how can Ira’s brother lose in love? Now go—take my sister-in-law out somewhere! I’m off to bed!”
Saying that, she walked away in style, while Aditya stood behind, blushing like a tomato. It was as if steam would start coming out of his ears any second now. Ira’s teasing had left him completely flustered.
As he tried to calm himself, Anamika’s voice came from the car, “Shall we go? Or are we not leaving today?”
Aditya turned toward the car—and was surprised to see Anamika had shifted from the back seat to the front.
Walking up, he asked awkwardly, “Why did you move to the front seat?”
Anamika replied, “Well, Ira left. If I sit alone in the back, I’ll be bored. I didn’t even bring my drawing book today, so I thought I’d sit in front and talk to you while you drive… make it pleasant for both of us. But maybe you don’t like that… so I—”
Before she could step out of the car, Aditya instinctively grabbed her hand to stop her. Realizing what he’d done, he quickly let go.
By now, he had completely failed to hide his embarrassment.
Looking away, he said, “Please stay here. I… I actually do like talking to you while driving.”
Aditya had turned his face away, so Anamika couldn’t see him. She moved closer, gently cupped his face in her hands, and turned it toward her.
“From now on, whenever you say something… say it while looking at me. I don’t trust words unless I see the face behind them. And… and when I see the truth in your eyes, I start believing in myself too. I feel like what I’m doing… might actually be right.”
Aditya kept looking into her eyes and softly asked, “Do you… really start believing in yourself because of me?”
Without replying, Anamika quietly got into the car and said, “Hmm… We should go now. We’re getting late.”
Aditya felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped she’d say it again, more clearly. But maybe… maybe for Anamika, that one moment had already said too much.
Her hands were clasped tightly together. Her gaze stayed fixed outside the window. Her ears were red from emotion—but Aditya didn’t have the courage to look at her just yet.
From a distance, hiding and watching all of this, Ira had a sly grin on her face, like a cat who just found her favorite snack.
She whispered to herself, “I knew it… it’s not one-sided anymore. Hah! Someone give me the ‘master of love’ title already… right?!”
Ira was proud that her instincts were right.
But what will happen when Anamika’s past comes in front of Ira and Aditya?
As beautiful as her present seems… her past is just as terrifying—currently replaying in Saaniya’s memories.
When that dark truth comes before Ira… will she still accept Anamika?
Will a girl who lights up at just a smile… be able to hide her own wounds, or will she learn to understand Anamika’s pain?
