"Ryan.." Khushi screamed in excitement and ran towards him as soon as she spotted him.

"Khush, my darling.." Ryan called out and opened his arms wide for her. Khushi jumped into his arms and Ryan twirled her around, both of them laughing with abandon.

Zahir's eyes narrowed as he watched Ryan twirl Khushi around in his arms, their laughter ringing out like some kind of twisted melody in his ears. He crossed his arms, glaring at the scene as if his sheer annoyance alone could pry them apart.

"What is this guy, a human merry-go-round?" He muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping impatiently against his biceps. He wasn't even sure why it bothered him so much. It's not like he had any claim over Khushi. Still, something about seeing her wrapped up in Ryan's embrace made his blood boil.

Amar, standing beside him, glanced over and smirked.

"You alright there, Zahir? You are staring pretty hard." Amar teased and Zahir scoffed, trying to sound indifferent.

"Who, me? I am fine. Just... wondering if that's even safe. I mean, what if he drops her? We will have a hospital case on our hands."

"Yeah, sure. That's exactly what you are worried about." Amar said with a chuckle.

Zahir rolled his eyes, his gaze shifting back to Ryan and Khushi.

"Seriously, though. Twirling? What is this, a rom-com? Who does that in real life?" Zahir couldn't hide his annoyance.

He knew he was being ridiculous, but the sight of Khushi's joy in Ryan's arms gnawed at him. It was irrational, infuriating, and—worse—he had no idea why it bothered him so much.

"Seriously, Vansh? You have no problem with this? Some random guy is twirling your sister around like a sick romantic movie and you are smiling and watching?" Zahir asked Vansh, who was watching Khushi and Ryan with a smile on his face.

"When it comes Khush, I blindly trust Ryan." Vansh said with a shrug and Zahir scowled.

"Maybe she likes dizzy spells," Zahir grumbled. "Whatever, it's none of my business." He shoved his hands in his pockets, trying not to glare, but failing miserably.

Once the excitement subsided, Khushi dragged Ryan to the group.

"Ry-Ry, do you remember me?" Neha asked excitedly and Ryan had an exaggerated frown on his face and Neha's smile dimmed thinking he didn't remember her.

"I can't recall.." Ryan said and Neha pouted. Zian breathed a sigh of relief.

"I grew up. Maybe that's why you didn't recognise me." Neha said sadly.

"My Eha-Eha grew up? No way!" Ryan exclaimed and Neha's face lit up hearing that.

"You remember me!" Neha squealed in joy.

"Eha-Eha? What rubbish!" Zian said, making a face.

"Oh Zi-Zi. That is Ry-Ry's pet name for me. When I said I would call him Ry-Ry, he said he would call me Eha-Eha. Isn't that sweet?" Neha asked with a giggle.

"Sickeningly!" Zian muttered under his breath.

Zian's jaw tightened as he heard Neha giggle over the 'Eha-Eha' nonsense. He could barely stand the sound of it. His eye twitched as he tried to keep his cool, but the whole situation felt like a slow burn under his skin.

"Ry-Ry? Eha-Eha" Zian muttered again, unable to keep his annoyance in check. "Who even comes up with these ridiculous names?"

Neha, oblivious to Zian's growing irritation, was too busy fawning over Ryan.

"Oh, and do you remember how we used to play those silly games when I used to come over? You always let me win."

"Of course! I couldn't say no to you, Eha-Eha. You were the cutest little thing." Ryan laughed, throwing a playful wink Neha's way.

Zian, trying his best not to roll his eyes, clenched his fists. 'Cutest little thing?' he thought bitterly. 'What is she, a puppy?' He cleared his throat loudly, hoping Neha would catch on to his discomfort, but she was far too engrossed in her trip down memory lane with Ry-Ry.

"Yeah, right," Zian interjected, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So cute, you probably had her on a leash, too."

"What are you talking about, Zi-Zi?" Neha blinked at him in confusion.

"I am just saying, it's kind of pathetic how you are fawning over someone who used to let you win at everything. It seems as if he had no confidence in you winning otherwise.."

"You go, brother!" Zahir cheered his brother in a low tone. He couldn't openly express his dislike towards Ryan, but Zian can easily do that.

"Oh Zian! Don't tell me you are jealous!" Khushi teased him. Zian's face flushed with irritation.

"Jealous? Of him?" He scoffed, shooting a sideways glance at Ryan, who seemed completely unfazed by the whole exchange. "Please. I just don't get why everyone is acting like he is a celebrity or so.."

"Relax, man," Ryan cut in, a smirk playing on his lips. "We are just catching up. Nothing for you to worry about."

Zian bristled.

"I am not worried." His voice came out sharper than he intended, and Neha looked at him in confusion. Her Zi Zi is a gentle sweet man. She has never seen him talking so rudely to someone.

"Then why do you look like you want to punch him?" Khushi asked, half-serious, half-amused.

"I do not!" Zian exclaimed, quickly crossing his arms over his chest. "I just think it's ridiculous, that's all."

Ryan chuckled, clearly enjoying how riled up Zian was getting.

"Hey, don't worry, Zi-Zi. I am not here to steal your thunder."

"You know what? Call me Zian. Just Zian." Zian gritted his teeth at the use of the nickname.

"Whatever you say, Zian," Ryan said smoothly, flashing Neha a grin that made Zian's blood boil all over again.

"Good," Zian snapped, feeling both embarrassed and infuriated that he was even letting this get to him. It wasn't like Neha liked Ryan — she was just being friendly. But something about seeing her light up around Ryan made Zian feel like he was suddenly irrelevant.

"Ryan, did you recognise who this is?" Khushi asked, pointing at Zada who was silent until now.

Ryan looked at the beautiful girl and his eyes lit up in a way it hadn't when he saw Khushi or Neha. Amar clearly noted it and his jaws clenched in anger.

"Ryan, do you remember me?" Zada asked with a soft smile. Amar scowled seeing Zada smiling at Ryan.

"Does anybody forget their first love?" 

A/N

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