Ashvi opened the door when she heard a incessant knock.

"What?" She asked folding her arms upon seeing her elder brother.

"I got you dinner. You barely ate anything."

"I am not hungry."

"At least see what it is..." Aadarsh spoke.

Ashvi pondered a bit before stepping forward and lifting the covering plate.

"Sushi from your favourite restaurant," he said with a smile.

"You're bribing me with food? I am not a kid Bhaiya!" She muttered walking into her room.

Aadarsh followed her in. His gaze falling on her laptop where some scene from a movie or series was paused.

"You'll always be one for me. Come one eat now."

"No," she muttered looking aside.

"Now whose being the kid?" He remarked sitting on the bed. He further added, "You can go to that party tomorrow but there are conditions."

Ashvi looked up at him with a bright face of surprise. "Really?"

He nodded in affirmation.

"Condition one, eat." He said taking a piece of the sushi to her mouth. Ashvi ate it with the hint of a smile.

"Two, no drinking."

"Agreed." She said quickly, chewing.

"Three, eat well from home and go, try not to eat anything there. Do not accept any sort of drink from anyone." He spoke feeding her.

"Noted," Ashvi mumbled chewing.

"Only three hours. You're not staying there until evening."

"Bhaiya...."

"Nope. No arguments!" Aadarsh declared, stuffing her mouth with her favourite food.

"You're wearing decent clothes. No shorts, no crop tops."

Ashvi smiled, "the dress code is Indian ethnic."

"Very well. Just be safe. And call me or text me once every half an hour to tell me you're okay."

"Bhaiya, that is..."

"no arguments, Ashvi." He countered whatever she was going to say. "I need to know you're safe."

"Fine I will text."

Aadarsh was going to counter but then he realized he could always call her. "I will have the driver drop you. He'll stay there and you come back with him."

"Done."

He smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I care for you Ashvi. For your happiness too. But I want you to be safe."

Ashvi shifted closer to him and hugged him. "I am sorry for earlier."

Aadarsh smiled, kissing her temple. "By the way, since when do you need a middleman to talk to me?"

Ashvi gave him a sheepish look shifting away. "I knew you'd say no. You always do. So I thought I could take Bhabhi on my side first. She gets me you know."

Aadarsh looked at her thoughtfully. "Don't do that next time. I am your brother. You definitely don't need anyone else's support to talk to me. Not Abhi, not Ruhaani, not DJ. Okay?"

Ashvi nodded, pulling the plate onto her lap.

"Enjoy your dinner and sleep well." He said.

She gave him a wide smile. "Thank you, Bhaiya!"

He got off the bed and touched her head gently before wishing her good night and leaving her room.

"Awww... I don't get this princess treatment."

Aadarsh stopped in track hearing the voice and turned around to find his annoying brother stepping forward from the dark corner.

"Eavesdropping is bad manners." Aadarsh spoke walking ahead.

Abhi sprinted to catch up with him. "You're such a hypocrite. Haven't you heard, practice what you preach?"

Aadarsh blinked wondering if Abhi knew he had been listening to the conversation after walking out earlier in the evening. Abhi's next words cleared his confusion.

"Quit it. I saw you behind the partition."

"Abhi, it's pretty late. Let's call it a night and go sleep."

Abhi hooked his arm around his brother's. "Nope, we need to talk."

"Abhi..."

"Your beloved DV had called me."

Aadarsh's expression grew rigid. "Why did he call you?"

"Because ...you didn't pick up your phone."

Aadarsh reached into his pocket only to realize his phone wasn't there. He remembered leaving it on the couch. The reason he had gone back towards the TV area.

Abhi pulled out a phone from his pocket and handed it to his brother. "You're welcome."

Aadarsh took the phone and saw ten missed calls from Devashish. "What did he say?"

"Tell your brother, I am back and everything is in control. Those were the exact words." Abhi informed him. "Why is he always so shady and annoying? I asked him what did it mean and he said you would know. He called me a baby also. I wish I could punch him."

"Never mind. I will talk to him."

"Yeah, whatever!" Abhi muttered, pulling his brother into his room. "So, about you and Bhabhs, what's going on?"

"Excuse me?" Aadarsh mumbled, pulling his arm back from his brother's hold.

"Don't play dumb. I know, you know exactly what I am talking about."

"No, I don't." Aadarsh replied, meaning his words. There was nothing going on between him and Ruhaani. Nothing.

"Bhai, yaar!" Abhi whined.

"Abhi, I don't have time..."

"You were pretty rude to her down there."

Aadarsh sighed looking aside. "Abhi, she's my wife. And I know how to talk to her."

"Yeah, we all saw that." Abhi remarked sarcastically. "Look, Bhai, I know you have always wanted what's best for us. You need to understand that Bhabhs also wants that. If I were in her place, I would have been upset."

"Abhi, what's between me and Ruhaani it's between us. We know how to deal with each other. Let it be that way."

"I know. And I wouldn't have spoken in between if you didn't speak to her the way you did. I know for you it's just a marriage of convenience that doesn't..."

"... it's a normal marriage Abhi. Don't put labels on it." Aadarsh spoke irritated. He didn't want to be told how to behave with his own wife. Abhi had no clue what their dynamic was. He shouldn't even be talking about it, in the first place.

"Then reality check bro, normal marriages have love and care. I have never seen Dad talk to Maa the way you did. I haven't seen Phupha Ji ever talk to Badi Bua like that. At least not in front of family. The way you treat her in front of the family sets the benchmark for how others can treat her."

"Abhi, enough." Aadarsh expressed his annoyance. "You're over stepping your limit now. I care for her and I respect her. But that doesn't mean I won't express my disappointment when she does something that I don't approve of."

Abhi sighed. "Bhai, I just want you to treat her well. She's had enough of bullshit in life and it's time she gets what she truly deserves. You and I, we both know she's a good person and she deserves the best."

"I don't know why, you think that I don't treat her well, Abhi."

"I don't know. Just don't break heart." Abhi said aloud.

Aadarsh stared at his brother, blinked for a beat and then fixed his gaze at him again. "Good night," Aadarsh muttered after the sudden long pause and walked out of his brother's room.

Abhi's sudden protective instinct for Ruhaani was hard to digest at first. However, his last words were what gave a hard blow. They felt like a warning slap across his face.

As soon as he entered the room, his gaze went around. Ruhaani was still not here.

If I were in her place, I would be upset.

Abhi's words rang in his ears. If Ruhaani was upset, she'd express it. She'd talk about it. He knew Ruhaani enough to know that if she was upset with him, she'd be up front about it. He walked around the bed to the balcony door and stepped out opening it. She was still seated on the swing.

Only difference was that the swing beside her was occupied by Nirvan. They seemed to be talking about something looking up at the sky. Aadarsh's eyes moved up and he noticed the full moon, glowing in a hue of orange.

His gaze dropped back to Ruhaani. She had turned to look at Nirvan while he was still looking up. There was something so heart-warming about her bond with the boy.

Just don't break her heart.

He wouldn't ever do that. He may have not been ready to let her inside the walls that guarded him, but that didn't mean he didn't care about her. He cared about her. About her wellbeing, about her happiness. More than he should have.

He knew the pain of heart-break, he'd never want to give it to anyone, especially not Ruhaani.

He knew that he didn't want love in his life. But that didn't mean he'd go around breaking people's hearts. He would never want to hurt her.

It disturbed him that Abhi thought he would. Why would his brother think so low about him?

Slowly the fog in his mind cleared. He remembered Abhi seeing them together in the closet. That was it. Abhi probably assumed something he shouldn't even be concerned about.

His and Ruhaani's relationship was theirs. They could do whatever they wanted with it. It wasn't Abhi's job to be concerned about their equation.

Aadarsh sighed, placing his arms on the railing.

Right and wrong was always subjective. It could depend on who was viewing the situation and from where they were viewing it. For him, it had never been difficult to straddle the line between right and wrong before as it was now.

Right from one perspective could mean wrong from another. Just like one part of the world saw the sun rising, another saw it setting. There was only one sun. No one was right and no one was wrong. Often life was a sum of things like that.

He was attracted to Ruhaani. He didn't know when it happened, how or why it happened. Nonetheless it was a truth a part of him knew and a tiny part of him still refused to believe it.

She was his wife. She was attracted to him. In fact she'd give in, if he made the move. He had everything in his favour yet he couldn't win.

For him sex had always been a need of the body. A way to release the pent up energy, a way to have some fun, a way to feel good. In some rare days, just a distraction from his worries. He had never associated it with meaning. It was easier if feelings were kept out. It was selfish, self-centred, raw and everything that made one feel powerful and in control.

However he couldn't get himself to make that one move. For some reason the mere thought of being physically intimate with Ruhaani scared him. He was almost sure she associated physical intimacy with something deeper, with something that had to do with the soul.

If they crossed this bridge together, she'd start to harbour expectations. Expectations that he would never meet up to. Expectations that could break her heart. He'd never want that.

And yet, there was a part of him, a wild reckless part, that defied every logic and wanted nothing but to have a taste of her. A part he had kept in leash.

Just don't break her heart.

Aadarsh exhaled sharply, his gaze going back to the swings. He had to find a solution to this dilemma, before it drove him crazy or worse made him lose his footing.

***

Ruhaani grinned as Badi Bua reprimanded Phupha Ji for stealing a ghujia—a sweet, deep-fried dumpling that was specially made in homes for the festival. They all had just finished breakfast. Abhi was out in the lawn, a few of his college friends had already arrived. Shelly Bua was in the living hall waiting for her girl gang to arrive. Ashvi was probably making reels to post on her Instagram.

Mukti had broken her pichkaari, so Aadarsh had taken the kids out to buy Mukti a new one, which was pink in colour. She refused to take any of the other water guns because none of them were pink or purple.

Ruhaani was in the kitchen learning how to make ghujias from Badi Bua. Dai Jaan was preparing the stuffing for samosas.

"Offo, you're making these for us to eat, right?" Phupha Ji spoke as he savoured the sweet delicacy.

"First it needs to be offered to the Gods,"

"And I am one of yours, Pati Parmeshwar remember?" Phupha Ji spoke with a grin.

Ruhaani chuckled as Badi Bua turned to him and gave him wide eyed stare asking him to be ashamed for talking that way. It was enough to shoo him away. They were such an adorable couple.

"True it is said, that true love ages like fine wine." Dai Jaan remarked with a grin.

"Shut up, Sarla!" Badi Bua shook her head with a blush, putting the next batch to fry.

Ruhaani's lips curved up, as her heart squeezed with longing for something like that. Something she didn't have with Aadarsh, something she could have had with Harsh if fate had loved her even a little bit.

"Tchk tchk, I forgot to get the thaals to put the petals in" Dai Jaan said suddenly. "Ruhaani, please mash these potatoes, I will go get them."

"Arey, you tell me where they are. I will go fetch them." Ruhaani offered.

Dai Jaan smiled, "think again, it's in the store room, there might be lizards there."

"I am not scared of lizards, Dai Jaan." Ruhaani muttered, a light embarrassment reflecting on her cheeks. That was the third or fourth time that Dai Jaan was teasing her about it.

"Really? Why did we deep clean the whole room then?" Dai Jaan replied with a mocking smile.

"Aadarsh is scared of lizards." Ruhaani said, "I am not!"

"Is he?" Badi Bua asked surprised. "I have never seen him scared of anything. When he was a boy he used to pick roaches in between his fingers."

Ruhaani made a face of disgust.

"They both are scared." Dai Jaan added. "Abhi told me, he heard screams from their room. The next morning they claimed that a four inch long lizard was on their bed. But we found nothing while cleaning." Dai Jaan remarked full of amusement.

"No one screamed. Abhi is lying. He sleeps like a dead body. He heard nothing." Ruhaani spoke up.

Badi Bua laughed. "It's okay Ruhaani. You don't have to explain such bizarre things. Happened to all of us at one point or another."

Dai Jaan burst out laughing. "Apparently, the other night they were both locked out in the backyard. Abhi had to open the door for them."

Ruhaani gaped looking at Dai Jaan as Badi Bua chuckled. These ladies were blowing it way out of proportion. She couldn't believe Abhi filled DJ with all that information. Forget that, she couldn't believe DJ took him seriously. Everyone knew to take whatever Abhi said with more than a pinch of salt.

"Where are the keys, of the store room?" Ruhaani asked attempting at deflecting the topic.

"In the hanger there," Dj pointed to the key holder that hung on the wall next to the lift.

Ruhaani took the keys and marched out while the woman had a hearty laugh. She had been to the store room once before with DJ. It was during one of the days leading up to their engagement to help Dai Jaan collect a few extra utensils.

The store room had access from outside the house. She got onto the lawn and walked around to the back. Opening the door of the storage rooms she let herself in, switching on the lights.

She looked around. There was one cupboard dedicated to utensils and the like. She walked up to it and opened it, her eyes searching for big copper plates.

She looked over her shoulder suddenly noticing the piano. Somehow she had missed it the first time. Fascinated, she walked over to it. The notes of piano and guitar always fascinated her. She had always wanted to learn an instrument. But she never had the time or the means to.

The cover of the piano was laid with dust. She slowly pulled it up. It was an old brown maple wood piano. She stretched her arm and struck a few keys. A smile made it to her face at the sound. She knew Abhi played the guitar. She wondered who played the piano. Aadarsh didn't seem to have a musical inclination. She would have known by now if it was one of the other three siblings.

She sighed dropping the end of the cover back. She was about to turn when she saw a brown box placed atop the piano. She leaned forward and peeped. There were a few papers on the top.

She drew the box closer. Maybe it had notes for the piano. Perhaps a name would be scribbled on it. She picked out the first thing that her hand landed on.

Her lips curved up slowly. It was a photograph of Aadarsh in his boyhood days. Gosh, what a pretty boy he was. She unfolded the photograph her smile faltering as her gaze landed on the picture of a cute girl. Aadarsh was looking at her with a wide bright smile, he had his arm around her shoulders. She was smiling tilting her head, looking at the camera. They both wore similar school uniforms.

Ruhaani's smile was lost. She just couldn't take her eyes off the picture. It should have been because it was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen on him, but it was because... the way he looked at the girl. Like he was. . . entirely in love.

We went to the same school. We were friends since primary school. We started dating in eight grade. Broke up in the final year of school.

Aadarsh's words about his girlfriend came rushing back to the forefront of her mind. She shouldn't be going through this stuff. But there was nothing that could stop her. She stepped closer to the piano. She pulled out a card from the box. It read— will you be my girlfriend. At the top of the card, there were two handwritten words— Dear Siddhi. At the bottom of the page there was one name— Aadarsh.

Ruhaani parted her lips, suddenly it became difficult to breathe. She always knew in her heart that Aadarsh had someone else in his heart. Off late she was beginning to brush it off as a teenage crush that went on too long Somehow she wasn't ready to witness how much he loved her.

She should have stopped right there. She had no business poking her nose into his belongings. But she couldn't stop. She wanted to know everything.

Next, there was a small notebook. In between the pages of that book there was a dried rose. Ruhaani's fingertips caressed the dried petal. She flipped through the pages of that book. A few pages had stick figures of a guy and girl. The other few had cheesy love poems. Some had two names written inside the shape of heart.

Siddhi & Aadi.

Siddhi. The name sounded familiar. She wondered if she had heard someone mention it. Perhaps Aadarsh mentioned it. She just couldn't recollect where or by whom she had heard that name.

Ruhaani kept the notebook aside along with the other things and started pulling out more things from the box. There were three birthday cards from his girlfriend. One of them was signed as— the love of your life. The second one as— your forever. Among the contents of the box there were paper chits, friendship bands and old photographs.

If anyone told her Aadarsh would be so sentimental as to save all of this, she would have laughed, considering it a joke. Aadarsh was a tough man, he didn't do sentiments.

She unfolded the tiny pieces of paper one by one.

'I am the ocean, you're my shore.'

'Why did you tell your Maa about us? It was supposed to be our secret.'

'All the best for your basketball game! <3'

'I am not talking to you.'

'You'll get us caught, dummy.'

'If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put "U" and "I" together.'

'Happy Valentine's Day, new boyfriend! ♡'

'let's bunk after lunch? Library? :p '

'I am coming to sit with you in the next period.'

'Please write my lab record. I am still doing my math assignment. Thanks. <3'

'You and me we will always be us and we.'

Ruhaani's fingers reached her cheeks. She didn't know when heavy hot droplets had trickled down her cheeks. Why was she crying? It was just two teenagers thinking they were in love, true real love.

She rubbed the tears off her cheek going through the photographs. Aadarsh looked tall, lean and athletic. His face having the chocolate boy charm. But it was his smile that took the crown. In every picture, he was smiling like he was the happiest person in the world. There was something about his smile, it was innocent, it was heartfelt, it was the kind that could tug on hearts. The kind that she had never witnessed on him.

She picked another folded paper from the box. This was an A3 sized paper. She unfolded it to find a drawing, a map of sorts. The title read— Life Plan of Aadi & Sidz.

'College in US' was written in a box that was of the shape of a milestone. Then an arrow was drawn to the next Milestone.

'Jobs in New York, Washington, Boston or California. Or any place where we both get good jobs.'

The next milestones were—Buying A house, Destination Wedding In India, Beach honeymoon and Happy Family, in that order. Inside the circle drawn by the milestones, there were smaller goals. Like dinner date in Paris, anniversary celebration under Northern lights, coffee date in a cozy Café in London. There were so many more written in tiny handwriting. At the end of page, they both had signed. Next to their signature was a figure of two hearts fitted into each other.

Why did you break up?

We realized we wanted different things from life.

Aadarsh words echoed in her ears. More tears rushed down Ruhaani's cheeks. She didn't know why it hurt so much. She knew Aadarsh had a past where he was in love. She had always suspected and believed he was still in love with that person. So all of this shouldn't have hurt like it did. It was not like she loved him. It was not like they had anything a normal couple had.

She didn't even like him completely!

Then why did it hurt so much to know that he had been deeply in love with someone else, that maybe he still had that someone else in his heart.

She began putting the things back into the box. She didn't know why his relationship with his childhood sweetheart ended. But she now knew for sure that it hadn't gone down well with him. It wouldn't for anyone who was so invested into a relationship to have their entire life chalked out around it. There would be no other reason he would store memories from more than a decade back.

She had put everything back when her eyes noticed the diary on the corner. She shouldn't. There was no point reading whatever was written in it. But her curiosity got the best of her. She picked it up and opened it.

The initial few pages had his feelings written about his friendship with Siddhi. There was page that was folded into a triangle to mark the beginning of a different section in the book. On that triangular folded paper were written four words in beautiful handwriting— She's my girlfriend now! 

A tear slipped down Ruhaani's right eye. Aadarsh was madly in love with Siddhi. She couldn't even imagine Aadarsh loving someone so much as to be so goofy, so stupid, so adorable.

More tears rushed down her cheek. All she had from Aadarsh was stupid arguments, ignorance and judgements.

She flipped the page to find a polaroid photograph of them. He was kissing her cheek, while she had her eyes closed.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. She remembered how he had withdrawn from her when they were about to kiss the other night. She remembered how he left the room. She remembered his words from before marriage, about not believing in love and romance.

Tears streamed down her already wet cheeks. She dropped the diary back into the box and pushed the box back, to where it had been. Her palms rubbed her cheeks.

It didn't make sense. She was not supposed to feel this way. She wasn't supposed to feel anything. She was definitely not supposed to cry. She never cried so easily.

She sniffed, wiping her tears vigorously willing herself to stop being a mess. She quietly went back to finding the thaals she had come for. Her heart a lot more heavier just like her eyes. No, she shouldn't be crying.

***

Aadarsh smiled as Pari went around showing everyone the bracelet made out of fresh flowers he had bought her. Mukti went and gave a pair to Ashvi. While Nirvan handed Ruhaani another pair. Aadarsh walked up to Dai Jaan and his Badi Bua handing them each one pair. He was only buying it for Pari and Mukti when Nirvan had suggested that Ruhaani would like it too. Aadarsh had ended up buying a pair for all the women at home.

"These are so pretty," Badi Bua exclaimed wearing them on her wrists.

He smiled placing the one for Shelly Bua on the table.

"There were so many more pretty garlands that that aunty was selling." Mukti told them.

Aadarsh turned aside to Ruhaani as she wore the ones with red flowers on her hands. His gaze observed her. She had worn a light pink kurti with a dark pink leggings. A dupatta of matching color with white dots hung on her shoulder. Her hair was braided, just like she had braided Mukti's. A free lock of hair wrapped itself like a climber plant around her metal earring that had tiny pieces of mirror embedded in a shape of a flower.

His gaze dropped to her hands. Red suited her. A small smile made it to his face as Pari smile touching the flowers around her mother's wrists, her own wrists covered with white flowers. White and red was a beautiful combination.

Soon they were all in the lawn. Aadarsh was greeting the few guests they had invited, alongside his uncle and aunt. It was a small gathering. Only a few close relatives of Badi Bua were invited. Each of them had invited a small group of people, except for him.

The music was blasting from the speakers. The kids were already playing with the flower petals and colours. His gaze went back to them while Badi Bua spoke to her relative. Abhi, Ashvi and Ruhaani had joined the kids. His gaze focused on Ruhaani. She was relatively quiet since the morning.

Soon, Badi Bua called Ruhaani over as her family arrived. Aadarsh touched the feet of her uncle and aunt and stood beside her, greeting Arti with a nod of head. Thanks to Mr. Khatri's blatant suggestion of marrying Arti to him instead of Ruhaani, during the initial days, Arti and him were always awkward around each other.

He turned to Ruhaani as Badi Bua led them in for some refreshments, his hand reaching out to hold her by the arm before she followed them inside. "Are you okay?"

She finally looked up at him. "Yes, why?"

"No. Just. Nothing." He muttered, leaving her hand.

She nodded and walked away, leaving Aadarsh more puzzled. He followed her into the house quietly. Something was off, but he didn't know exactly what.

The samosas and ghujia were served alongside thandaai, while her uncle and aunt sang about how much they missed her.

"I can understand you, Bhaisaab," Badi Bua said with a smile. "Ruhaani is like that, she makes a place for herself in everybody's heart."

"Yes, both Ruhi and Arti are like that." Her uncle spoke. "Speaking of Arti, we have some good news to share. Arti is going for her masters to London."

"Oh wow, congratulations!" Badi Bua wished turning to Arti.

"That's wonderful." Aadarsh commented, his tone coming out very formal, almost bordering cold. "Congratulations!"

She forced a cordial smile, uttering a quick 'Thank you,"

"Congrats Arti. I am happy for you," Ruhaani remarked turning to Arti while her uncle began telling Badi Bua about how Arti had always been a bright student and good at everything.

Aadarsh stared at the man. He never liked him. He was the definition of disappointment. A person was better off without an uncle instead of one like him. He turned to Ruhaani who sat next to Arti. Her words from the other night echoing in his mind.

Because I know how it feels to live in the shadow of someone close to you getting all the love and care that you don't.

Ruhanai felt, Arti squeeze her hand and turned to her. The latter whispered, suggesting to go somewhere else to talk. Ruhaani nodded and they quickly excused themselves and walked towards the guest room. Her smile faded as she saw Aadarsh's eyes follow them.

Ruhaani was genuinely happy to see Arti, just as the latter was to see her. However, every time she saw Aadarsh she'd remember that he was in love with someone else. She'd remember all the tiny things of his love he still treasured and hid in the store room.

"What is it?" Ruhaani asked her with a suspicious eye, settling on the bed.

Arti took a deep breath and settled on the bed beside her.

"So, I don't know how to tell his. But if I don't share somebody, I am going to lose it. It's not exactly anything to be shared but..."

"Arti, breathe. You can tell me anything. What is it?"

"Uh, actually, during your wedding I got along well with Aadarsh's cousins you know." She shrugged.

Ruhaani nodded, silently urging her to go on.

"And I stayed in touch with Rohan after your wedding. You know just texting and all."

Ruhaani's eyes slowly began to widen. "Badi Bua's son Rohan?" She asked for confirmation.

Arti nodded, "Rohan Desai. I think I like him." She said in a single breath.

Ruhaani's jaw dropped.

"I mean we just talk and text. We haven't really spoken about what we are. But he is in London and ..."

"You're going there." Ruhaani completed for her. Now she understood why the sudden switch from US to UK appeared in a masters plan.

"Yeah. That." Arti mumbled hesitantly, looking at her cousin.

"Wow," Ruhaani uttered. "So, umm, he's into you too?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I mean, I think it is that way." She got up from the bed and walked around nervously. "That's where I am stuck. I don't know if I should... or I should not. I mean it's weird. He's related to you now and ... my parents are also trying to pursue his proposal. I overheard Papa asking Mom to bring this up with Rohan's mother today."

"That's...uh, not a good thing?" Ruhaani asked puzzled.

"Come on. You know Maa and Papa, they're awful when it comes to this. Papa spends dinner time showing me photos of guys, these days. They are not just focused on Rohan. They're trying all possible ways to get a good match. And after you marriage to Aadarsh, they're only looking for similarly well to do families. I am just so confused. I don't know what to choose. There's way too much to take on and process and understand."

Ruhaani sighed. "Take a deep breath and think about what you, actually want."

Arti walked back and sat beside her cousin. "I think I like Rohan. But the fact that Maa and Papa want him for me makes me want to avoid it. I guess I have done too much of what they want me to do. I haven't even told them I am in touch with him. If they know, they'd be talking about my Rishta right now claiming that their son loves me."

Ruhaani chuckled.

"This is serious!" Arti whined.

"I know it is. You're just over thinking it." Ruhaani spoke, placing her hand on Arti's. "Rohan seems to be a nice person. His parents are even more nicer. Maybe you should just go with the flow. Go to London, hang out with him, if you have mutual feelings, it will work out on its own."

"I am just scared. What if I am making the wrong choice? How does one be sure that their choice is correct?"

Ruhaani stared at her cousin, it became harder to keep her smile. She was the last person who should be giving advice on that question.

Maybe hurrying into marrying Aadarsh was the worse decision she had made. Perhaps if she had given it some time, she would have known him better, she would have figured out that he was in love with someone else.

Would that change anything?

Would she not chose him?

Would she not want him to be Pari's father?

Would she not want to be a part of his family?

No. The answer to all those questions was no.

She'd still want him. Like she wanted to still be with him.

I will remember to not ignore you.

You're jealous.

Hold my hand.

Are you okay?

Ruhaani blinked. Why was she thinking about him? Why was he all over her mind? Why couldn't she get him out of there?

Why did her heartbeat fasten when she thought of him, when he was close? Why did she care for his opinions? Why did she always want his validation? Why did she care if he was sick or worried? Why had she cried a while back over him?

Some things are an acquired taste. You don't necessarily like them at first but over time they become ... likeable.

She clutched on to the dupatta she wore over dress. No. She was being stupid. It couldn't be that.

Distracted she looked at her cousin who said something and walked to the washroom.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, in an attempt to purge out all thoughts about him. It was foolish. For all she saw in that darkness was him— his scowls, his glares, his amusement filled eyes, the soft smile he more than often gave to her daughter, the way he came close to her, the way he almost kissed her.

She couldn't be in love with Aadarsh, could she?

• — • — •

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Looking forward to read your thoughts on it.

Next : Monday

Don't forget to vote ☆ on the chapters.

—Anami!♡