Ashvika's POV

"Bye, Mom, Dad, take care," I said to my parents as they were about to leave. Dad instructed me to take care of myself and to lock the door as they left. Dad cares about me a lot.

As they left, I locked the door carefully. I'm alone at home now. Mom and Dad went out of town to a relative's house to attend a function, while Avinash went to his friend's house. He's going to spend the night at his friend's house.

I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall; it was 5:48 PM. I thought of preparing a cup of cold coffee and watching a movie. As I was about to head to the kitchen, my phone rang from the living room. I walked over and checked the caller ID: Vedant. Why was he calling me?

I answered the call, "Hey, Vedant?" I said, as the silence stretched out.

"Hi, Ashvika..." he whispered. I sat down on the couch and asked him, "Is everything alright?"

"Maybe not," he replied. "Can we meet, please?"

“Please don't say no,” he requested. “Come to my house, I'm waiting.”

He muttered "okay" and cut the call. I smiled, looking at the phone. "You did a great job, Ashvika," I said to myself, patting my own shoulder. Maybe he'll slowly start breaking the shell around his heart and open up to me.

Vedant's POV

I stood outside Ashvika's house, rang the bell, and heard footsteps approaching. The door swung open, revealing Ashvika in front of me. A smile spread across her lips as our eyes met.

She stepped aside, allowing me to enter. I glanced around her house - simple yet elegant. My eyes burned like hell, and I took a deep breath. I looked at Ashvika, who locked the door.

"Your parents?" I asked, inquiring about them.

"They're out of town," she said, and I nodded. She gestured for me to sit on the couch.

"Water?" she offered.

"No, thanks," I replied. She nodded and sat beside me.

"You wanted to meet me," she stated seriously.

"Yeah..." I trailed off, unsure how to begin. I wanted to share my thoughts, but I felt like I'd be burdening her.

Just as I was struggling to find the words, Ashvika stood up. "Oh, okay, wait, I'll bring you some coffee." She hurried off to the kitchen.

She returned with two cups of coffee, handing me one. "Chalo, terrace pe chalte hain?" [Shall we go to the terrace?] she suggested.

We headed to the terrace, where I gazed up at the star-filled sky and the moon. "You can share whatever you want," I heard her say.

I turned my gaze to hers, and our eyes met. I searched for reassurance in her eyes, then let out a sigh and looked away.

"I was five when Nisha came to our house with her parents," I began, glancing at Ashvika to gauge her reaction. She looked confused.

"Nisha was just six months old. Her dad was my dad's close friend. They dropped her off at our house, saying they'd return after attending a business party."

"But destiny had other plans. They never returned, dying in a car accident and leaving Nisha behind, all alone."

"When I first saw Nisha, she felt like a younger sister to me. Dad adopted her because no one else was willing to take her in. However, Mom didn't approve of Dad's decision."

"Mom and Dad didn't show much care for Nisha. They hired a nanny to take care of her. As Nisha grew up, they never took the time to talk to her, understand her, or spend time with her. They didn't spend time with me either, but I was their biological child, so they loved me. Nisha, on the other hand, wasn't their blood."

I set my cup on the stool, and Ashvika followed suit. "I tried to take care of Nisha, I love her like she is my own sister, but I failed to protect her," I said, my voice laced with regret. "She's such a kind-hearted person, deserving of every happiness this world has to offer."

Memories of Nisha crying in front of me flooded my mind. Ashvika's gentle voice broke the silence. "You're a great brother to Nisha, don't think low of yourself."

I looked into Ashvika's eyes, searching for reassurance.

I told her about today's incident. She was hella shocked by it. “Kya fayda hua har saal rakhi bandhvane ka, jab usse baccha hi nahi paya.” [What's the benefit of tying rakhi every year if I couldn't able to protect her. ] I said, my eyes fixed on a star. She didn't say anything; her hand slid into mine. I didn't turn to look at her. Taking a deep breath, I started again: “I got cheated.” I could feel her eyes on me. “How?” “Remember the day I left college to go somewhere.” “Yeah... I remember.”

“My girlfriend was cheating on me with one of my and Ishaan’s mutual friends. Ishaan was already aware of it, but I didn't trust him, and... That day I saw her with another guy and having fun.” I sighed, remembering that day. “She was just using me because I belong to a wealthy family. I broke up with her, and just...” “You loved her?” she asked. “Maybe, but I used to care about her a lot. She never showed interest in my matters, but I was okay with it. Socha tha mohabbat ke badle mohabbat milegi par khayanat mili.” [I thought that in return for love, I would get love, but I got betrayal instead.]

“Kamini kutti sali.” She muttered under her breath. I chuckled when I heard her. “Hasse kyu?” [Why are you laughing?] “Aise hi.” [Just like that] I smiled, looking at her.

“Tum udas mat hona uske piche, she never deserved you” [Don't be sad about her; she never deserved you] She said cutely. I chuckled and shook my head, agreeing with her.

I looked at our hands, which were intertwined. “Haath chhodogi ki aise hi pakad ke rakhogi?” [Will you let go of my hand or keep holding it like this?] I teased.

She rolled her eyes and pulled her hand away. “Sanitizer use karna padega ab” [I'll have to use sanitizer now].

I looked at the same star, then averted my eyes to the moon, thinking about something. “Main kisi ke liye aham hi nahi hoon” [I am not important to anyone] I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Par mere liye ho" [But you are important to me] Ashvika replied, her words gentle but powerful. For others, it might have been just four words, but for me, they meant the world. “Ham ittefaq se mile hai, Ashvika.” [We met by coincidence, Ashvika] I stepped towards her. “Aur ittefaq se mile log apni marzi se bichhad jate hai.” [And people who meet by coincidence can also part ways by their own will]

“Par mai hamesha tumhare sath hu, tum badal jaoge par mai nahi, hamesha yehi Ashvika rahugi.” [But I'll always be with you, you may change but I won't, I'll always be the same Ashvika]

“Ishq toh nahi hogya tumhe mujhse?” [Haven't you fallen in love with me?] I asked, teasingly.

“Tauba tauba, ishq? Tumse? Itne bure din nahi aaye mere.” [God forbid, love? With you? Those bad days haven't come for me yet] She said, doing her all-time favorite melodrama.

I chuckled. “Denial is the first stage of love, sweetheart.” I winked.

She took out her slipper and threw it at me. I laughed seeing her crimson face under the dim light. “Nikalo mere ghar se, bhalai ka toh zamana hi nahi hai aaj kal.” [Get out of my house, kindness is out of fashion these days] She said, putting hair strands behind her ear.

“Dusri chappal bhi de do, dhandha hi kar luga inhe bechke main.” [Give me the other slipper too, I'll make a business out of selling them] I said, who would say I'm a billionaire's son?

She threw another slipper and grabbed the coffee mugs, heading downstairs. I ran behind her, descending the stairs. "Ashvika, think about me one more time, okay? There's nothing wrong in loving me." She stepped down from the last stair and turned to me, pointing her index finger at me. "Chup raho varna kal tumhari tasveer newspaper pr print ho jayegi!" [Shut up, or else your picture will be printed in the newspaper tomorrow!]

I surrendered, holding both slippers in my hands. "Sorry, Ashvika ji!" She went to the kitchen; I put her slippers on the floor and waited for her near the door. As she came back, I asked her, "Abhi aap kahe toh mai jau ya yahi rahu?" [Now, should I go or stay here?]

"Dafa hojao yaha se" [Get out of here]. "Are you sure?" I asked. She averted her gaze at me and then said, "Go after having dinner." "Sorry, but some other day. I'll leave now." I smiled. She nodded and stepped toward me; soon her arms wrapped around me. "Bye-bye, take care!" She said, parting away.

"Don't you think you're forgetting something else too?" "Nikalo yaha se!" [Get out of here!] She pushed me away; I laughed at her reaction.

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