About half an hour later
He stood behind Ira, leaning on the sofa, watching her game on the TV — she was playing against Anamika.
Seeing that Ira was losing again, With a teasing smile, Aditya placed a hand on Eira’s forehead and said, “Still losing, huh? Doesn’t my little wildcat get hungry after so many defeats?”
Eira smacked the controller in frustration.
“I’m not eating a single bite until I win! Not even water!”
Ruhi laughed and teased, “Sir, I think Eira’s about to start a full-blown hunger strike.”
Eira spun toward Ruhi in mock rage—distracted enough for the final blow.
“Game Over.”Anamika won again.
Eira let out a dramatic wail. “Ahhh! Why do I keep losing?! I just want to win once!”
Anamika stood up, smiling, “I’ve been playing video games since childhood, so I’m pretty good at them. But if you practice, you’ll beat me someday.”
Just then, Aniket’s voice echoed from the kitchen: “Breakfast is served! Everyone, come to the dining table!”
Aditya tugged Ira’s cheek and said, “Go fuel up first. You’ll need strength to train. Then go back home, practice hard, and finally beat Anamika, alright?”
Eira and Ruhi both turned to glare at him.
Together they said, “So, you want Lady Boss/Anamika to lose?!”
Aditya was stunned and stammered. But Anamika laughed and added, “No, no. He just wants to see his little sister win. Right, Aditya?”
Aditya smiled nervously, “Yeah! I want both of you to win!”
Ira narrowed her eyes, “Pick a side, brother. Or you’ll be labeled a traitor and kicked out from both teams… then sacrificed!”
Aditya pouted, “You’re getting way too comfortable roasting me.”
Rudra entered, clearly annoyed, “I worked hard to prepare breakfast and set the table, and you all are here wasting time, letting it go cold!”
Walking off, Ruhi said playfully, “Stirring soup doesn’t count as hard work, Rudra. I personally believe Aditya Sir and Aniket Sir did most of the real cooking — and I refuse to let their effort go to waste.”
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As Ruhi walked away, Eira paused beside Rudra and added with a grin, “Truth hurts, I know. But hang in there, brother.
Rudra stood frozen — as if emotionally shattered.
Aditya chuckled, “They’re in a fun mood today. Ignore them, Rudra. You really did work hard!”
Rudra dramatically grabbed Aditya’s hand and said, “Only you understand me!”
Just then, a cold voice entered the scene.
“He’s just too nice to break your heart with the truth, Mr. Malhotra,” Saaniya said from the hallway.
All eyes turned to her.
Her hair was still wet, but she didn’t seem to care. Her eyes were cold, sharp—just like always.
She approached Rudra, Aditya, and Anamika.
“Mr. Malhotra was shouting so loud, I had to come here without even drying my hair properly.”
Rudra made a childlike face, “Can you compliment me for once? I’ve been roasted by you so often, I’m now willing to pay just to hear a compliment!”
Anamika and Saaniya both ignored him completely.
Anamika gently took Saaniya’s arm, “Come, dry your hair first or you’ll catch a cold. I’ll help you.”
Saaniya hesitated. “I can do it myself—but if you insist, then… fine.”
As they walked away, Rudra whispered in emotional defeat, “Why does this always happen to me…”
Aditya, smiling, patted his back. “They didn’t ignore you on purpose. Probably.”
“Probably?!” Rudra gasped. “That’s not reassuring.”
Aditya took Rudra along to the dining table.
Seeing them, Aniket asked, “Where are Saaniya and Anamika?”
Aditya answered, “Saaniya’s hair was wet, so Anamika went to help her dry it.”
Aniket squinted suspiciously, “She’s not a child. She can do it herself. Then why…?”
Aditya smiled and replied, “Not everything needs logic. Sometimes we think someone doesn’t need something — but in truth, they need it more than anyone else.”
Ira clapped dramatically, “Wow wow! What a deep line, brother. Where did you copy it from?”
Aditya pouted, “Just focus on your food, wildcat!”
As Aditya and Ira bickered, Ruhi laughed — while Aniket stared at the door, lost in thought.
“What Adi said is true… but Saaniya isn't that kind of girl,” he thought to himself.
Remembering Saaniya’s condition last night, he reflected, “She’s hiding so many secrets. I doubt Anamika even knows all this. A girl who can’t bear loud voices — how could she carry the weight of a blood-soaked past alongside Saaniya? I think… I’m the only one who knows Saaniya’s truth.”
Meanwhile, in Saaniya’s room…
Anamika was drying her hair — but it was clear she had come not just to help, but to read her emotions. She didn’t know what exactly was bothering Saaniya… but she knew it was tied to her past.
She knew Saaniya pretended to be strong — but inside, she was deeply alone.
Saaniya’s heart felt incredibly heavy.
She just wanted to hug someone and cry — but she couldn’t. Or rather, she was stopping herself.
When Anamika gently brushed her hair after drying, Saaniya’s strength began to crack. She held back her voice… but not her tears.
Anamika placed a hand on her shoulder and softly said, “It’s okay. You can cry in front of me.”
And finally — Saaniya broke.
She hugged Anamika tightly, sobbing.
Anamika stroked her back gently and said, “You don’t have to hide your wounds from me.
If you are the beginning of the story — I am its end.
If you are a character in it — I’m the reason it even exists. We are one.”
Through her tears, Saaniya said, “But I… I can’t move on.”
Anamika held her and whispered, “Because you’ve been carrying me. To protect me from pain, you’ve taken it all on yourself.
But not anymore. I’m strong enough now to carry myself.
You… you go build your own world.”
Saaniya wiped her tears, “No… I don’t want a new world. I want to be a part of your new world.”
Anamika smiled and replied, “You already are. You were the first person in it.
Then came Aditya… and then Aniket — whom you brought into my life.
With them, Ruhi came with her smile. Rudra followed Aniket into our world…
And Ira — that little wildcat barged in herself!
Now that woman… she’s not in our life anymore. I’m sure of it.
Our new world is beautiful.”
Saaniya replied with hesitation, “I know… but my place in this world…”
Before she could finish, Anamika held her hand tightly and looked into her eyes:
“You are the foundation of my world.
Without you, there would be no light in it.
We fought through the darkness together — how can I walk into the light alone?
You brought fireflies to guide me… until the sun itself arrived.
Now that it has, I’m not letting you go.”
With tearful hope, Saaniya asked, “Will there really be a place for me in that light?”
Anamika touched her forehead softly and said, “The biggest place belongs to you.”
That moment — Anamika and Saaniya…
Different in thoughts, personalities, and expressions… yet so clearly one today.
Their eyes shimmered with love and longing — And the love they both sought… was right there in their own home.
Their home — was now full of light.
But…
Will it always stay that way?
For now, forgetting about the future —Anamika and Saaniya smiled for the present.Perhaps their happiness will stay…Or perhaps…a storm might return to test their world again.
