.Nisha. 

Haah! Tomorrow, our outing to Amsterdam. At Sahay Mansion, I and Anshul are going to pack and plan for tomorrow, Friday it'll be. I was watering the plants, wearing those favorite wireless earplugs, listening to the title track 'Luck.' It's an energetic song, actually.

I was enjoying it until a pair of arms back hugged me. Tears fell on my shoulder and neck. I turned around to find her, Priyal. Seeing her broken, I was devastated, the strongest is falling?

"Di" she called meekly. It didn't take me a second to clasp her in my arms. 

"Piya," she spoke up. I maintained a cold face, but none knew the hurricane going inside me.

"W-what? P-Piya? Why are you taking this name? Why bring the past again?" I asked her in a broken voice.

"Her name is ringing, and it's more than Piya. Her name can't break me, the major reason is Aarush," she confessed, leaving me perplexed. All that she confessed broke me down, like once, when our parents left us and Piya left us.

How Aarush is the receiver of Darsh's heart, how he got to know about Darsh and Priyal's past, and how Aarush created a moment of extreme physical intimacy between them that night? It didn't take me a second to bring her face close and me, kissing her forehead. 

Silent tears waved down from my eyes. As I, once, decided to live in a carefree fashion to block all the sadness coming towards me. 

But, how did I forget Priyal? She was younger than me but quite mature at an early age.

"Pri, I am going to Amsterdam tomorrow, with Anshul. You can also be free from all the things, for some time. Ok?" I asked, cheering her up.

"Di?" she muttered. I hummed.

"Can you stay over? I need you. Even if you're carefree, you definitely stand as a pillar." she spoke up. 

"There's a meeting, overall, a task in our San Francisco branch of P&N Publications. I can't leave now. Please handle that. I need you. You can also take Anshul bro with you, right?" she requested. I sighed and agreed. She hugged me again. 

I took her with me and Aarush was embracing Anshul, while everyone had tears in their eyes. Had something happened?

.Aarush.

After Priyal left to meet Nisha's sis, I stepped into my house, after so many years. The first thing that came to my notice, was, simply, the house. The way I had left it behind, wasn't the same. 

So much furnished, better, like my childhood, and every credit goes to Priyal. I smiled at my fate, got her as a friend, but not something more. And, she engulfed me in a hug, leaving me with immense peace.

"Aarush? Baby, are you fine? Are you discharged? You are back?" mom continued asking me.

"Yes, mom." I smiled. She ran to bring a pious plate for the 'aarti.' I laughed, old people, old traditions. Moving from her, dad came into the picture.

My eyes started flowing, seeing him in the wheelchair. He smiled meekly and signaled me to come aside. I sat beside him with my head hanged low. He held my chin, and behind those scratched glasses, stood the beautiful sweating eyes. 

"Don't exaggerate," he commanded. I chucked, my childhood coming back. He embraced me and patted my back, his sobs getting prominent. 

Never in the wildest dreams, I thought, getting back to my family, like this. Dad pushed me slightly and tried to get up. With some effort, he got up on his legs till I and mom dazed at him. 

"Manish?" my mom was startlingly happy along with me.

"As much as you are happy, much more I was. This is a surprise, which I discovered at night." he sang like a rhythm. 'Rhythm', leaves my mind back to her, my Pri. Where is she? I groaned. 

"Dad..." her voice reached my ears. I smiled. She came by my side and embraced dad. I joined the hug, getting closer to Priyal. After an emotionally happy moment, mom had kept a bowl of Mishti- Doi in front of me. 

My eyes became glassy. Everything I got, because of Priyal, but not Priyal herself. 

"Aarush," Anshul bro's voice came. He ran down the stairs to reach me and engulf me in a warm hug. This warmth, I missed it, I missed him. Probably the most, after Priyal.

"You got some time from your sleep schedule?" mom taunted Anshul bro. I sighed heavily which couldn't get completed, as Nisha di engulfed Anshul bro in a hug. 

"Enough now." she roared. 

"Do you know what Anshul had faced? Drugs, they were his companions when you weren't. For your younger son, you tarnished your motherly love for Anshul. Because he couldn't take the fact of Aarush being not with him, he sustained himself somehow in drugs. He was dreaded from again going in that state, that's why he was never into relations then. His time went with friends and partying, and he too became carefree, as me." Nisha di set me back into a trauma.

Mom felt the most guilty. She couldn't look into Anshul bro's eyes. Nisha di took Anshul bro back to his room. I felt guilty, for not being with him. 

I saw her, Priyal going behind Nisha di and Anshul bro. As much as I wanted to stay nearer to her, she ran away from me. Fury and blood filled my eyes. 

Dad patted my shoulder and fed me with his hands. Mom went inside her room. Should I be pitiful or angry?

.Author.

Priyal went inside the room to find Anshul massaging Nisha's head. Priyal smiled and seated beside Nisha. She urged her to massage her head. Nisha agreed. The sisters got peace and Anshul smiled at their bond. 

"Bro? You would go with Nisha di, right?" Priyal asked Anshul. He nodded.

"Nisha told me about the meeting at San Francisco. Don't worry," he said. 

Priyal got a phone. 

"I have to attend the Annual Doctor's meet tomorrow. I got a reminder today." Priyal said. 

❁❁❁O∩〒❁O∩〒❁❁❁

Writin' this chapter wasn't easy. I had severe time problems. But, writin' for you all. 

Another thing comin' up- Piya, a major turn of the plot.

Stay tuned. 

#Vote #Comment #Share (Share as much as possible)

Much love, Priya