Author’s POV
Just when they were beginning to lose themselves in each other’s embrace
“What the hell are you doing?”
The shout tore through the night like shattered glass.
Both of them froze.
Ruhi’s heart crashed violently into her stomach as she pulled back at once, her fingers slipping from Aayansh’s jacket. Panic surged through her veins so fast she forgot how to breathe.
Slowly dreadfully they turned toward the voice.
Aditya.
Standing there.
Riya stood behind him, frozen in shock.
Aditya’s arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his jaw clenched, his eyes burning with a fury Ruhi had seen only once before and never directed at her.
“A… Aayansh,” Ruhi whispered, her voice trembling.
Before she could gather the courage to say anything more, Aayansh moved.
One instinctive step forward.
Protective.
He placed himself slightly in front of Ruhi, as if his body alone could shield her from what was about to happen.
“Bhai” Ruhi tried again, but the word died in her dry throat.
Aditya’s gaze flicked between them sharp, unforgiving. There was no confusion in his eyes. No hesitation.
Only anger.
He didn’t think .
He moved forward and, without a second thought, punched Aayansh.
Aayansh didn’t fight back.
He stood there, taking the hit.
Another punch followed.
This time, both Riya and Ruhi rushed forward.
Riya grabbed Aditya’s arm, trying to pull him back. “Aadi! What are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” Aditya shouted. “How dare he kiss my sister!”
“Bhai” Ruhi tried to speak, but he cut her off instantly.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he said sharply. “Right now, I need to talk to him. Go inside.”
He turned to Riya. “Take her inside.”
Ruhi wanted to argue, wanted to scream, but Aayansh looked at her steady, reassuring and silently told her to go.
Each step back toward the house felt heavier than the last. Ruhi’s chest tightened, her pulse pounding wildly in her ears. Before entering, she turned back one last time.
Aayansh was still standing there.
She went inside.
This wasn’t just embarrassment.
This wasn’t just fear.
This was the storm she had always known would come
And it had finally arrived.
Outside, Aditya stood glaring at Aayansh, his fists clenched.
“How long has this been going on?” he demanded through gritted teeth.
Aayansh stood firm. “I didn’t even realize when I started falling for Ruhi. But I confessed to her the day after your wedding.”
“On my wedding?” Aditya scoffed. “I was getting married, and you decided to flirt with my sister?”
“I like her,” Aayansh replied calmly.
“Really?” Aditya snapped. “You like her? Don’t forget I’m your friend. I know you better than anyone. We grew up together. You never cared for any girl. You always stayed away from them.”
“And now you’re saying you like Ruhi?”
“If you know me so well,” Aayansh said firmly, “then you should know this Ruhh is not just any girl. I like her, and no matter what happens or what you think, I’m not backing away.”
Aditya’s expression hardened.
“Then let me be clear,” he said coldly. “I don’t agree with this relationship. Back away.”
He turned. “Just go home.”
And with that, he walked inside, leaving Aayansh standing there alone.
Aayansh stayed for a few moments, his thoughts tangled and heavy only Ruhi on his mind. He wondered how she was handling everything, whether she was okay.
He messaged her.
No reply.
He thought of calling her, but stopped himself.
He didn’t want to make things worse.
The entire drive home, her face haunted him. Sleep never came that night.
Inside the house, Ruhi stood in the hall, pacing back and forth. Riya sat on the couch, tense and silent.
When Aditya entered, Riya stood up immediately. Ruhi stopped pacing and looked behind him searching.
Aayansh wasn’t there.
“Ruhi,” Aditya said sternly. “Give me your phone. And go to your room. You’re not meeting or talking to Aayansh.”
“Bhai, I’m not a kid anymore,” Ruhi protested. “I can take my own decisions”
He cut her off sharply.
“If you don’t listen,” he warned, “I’ll tell Rishabh. And you know exactly how he’ll handle this.”
Ruhi’s hands trembled as she handed over her phone.
She went to her room and collapsed onto the bed, tossing restlessly. Sleep refused to come. The only thought in her mind was whether Aayansh was okay.
In Aditya and Riya’s room, Riya finally spoke.
“Why are you opposing this?” she asked softly. “You know Aayansh. You know he’s good for her.”
“Enough, Riya,” Aditya snapped. He looked at her closely. “You already knew about this, didn’t you?”
Riya swallowed.
“I’m asking you again,” he said, stepping closer. “Did you know or not?”
She nodded reluctantly.
“How long?” he demanded. “How long did you know, and you didn’t think about telling me?”
“I… I knew from the start,” she admitted. “I knew Aayansh liked her. And when Ruhi agreed to be his girlfriend… I was there.”
Aditya scoffed. “You knew from the beginning and you chose to lie to me.”
“I didn’t lie,” Riya said quietly. “I just didn’t tell you. It was their thing to share, not mine.”
Aditya stepped back, his face unreadable.
Without another word, he walked out of the room.
“Aditya!” Riya called after him.
He didn’t turn back.
Morning arrived, but the heaviness of the previous night lingered in the air.
At the Raichand house, the dining table was set, breakfast served, yet one chair remained empty.
“Where’s Ruhi?” Parth asked casually, taking a sip of his tea.
Riya paused for a second before answering, her voice carefully neutral. “She’s not feeling well. Said she didn’t want breakfast." She will eat later.
Aditya sat at the head of the table, silent.
His jaw was tight, his eyes fixed on his plate, untouched. He didn’t say a word not a comment, not an argument, not even his usual morning instructions.
The family noticed.
Aditya being quiet was rare.
Rishabh glanced between Aditya and Riya, sensing the tension instantly. Riya avoided his eyes, focusing too hard on her food.
“Did you two fight?” Parth asked lightly, trying to ease the atmosphere.
Riya shook her head quickly. “No… it’s nothing.”
But Aditya’s clenched fist around his spoon said otherwise.
The air felt strained, uncomfortable like something had cracked beneath the surface, something no one was ready to name yet.
After a few minutes, Aditya stood up abruptly.
“I’m late,” he said flatly and walked out without finishing his breakfast.
Riya watched him leave, her chest tightening.
Upstairs, Ruhi lay curled on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She wasn’t sick.
She just didn’t have the strength to pretend she was okay.
Her phone lay locked away, unreachable, her thoughts spiraling endlessly around one name.
Aayansh.
Across the city, at the Singhania house, something felt off as well.
Breakfast was already halfway done when footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Aayansh appeared.
Late.
Which was rare.
His siblings froze mid-argument, surprised.
“Wow,” one of them muttered. “The sun really did something new today.”
Aayansh didn’t react.
He took a seat, eyes distant, lost somewhere far away. Even when his siblings continued bickering, he didn’t scold them didn’t even acknowledge them.
That was when his mother noticed.
She studied him for a moment before asking gently, “Aayansh, what happened?”
He looked up slowly, blinking as if pulled out of deep thought.
“Nothing,” he replied. “Just work.”
His tone was flat. Empty.
Before anyone could question him further, he stood up.
“I’m leaving.”
And just like that, he was gone.
At the office,
Aayansh sat in front of his laptop, staring at the screen.
The files were open.
The emails are unread.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
He rubbed his face in frustration.
This was pointless.
He picked up his phone and stared at it for a long moment before realizing again that Ruhi’s phone was switched off.
His chest tightened.
Without thinking further, he dialed another number.
Her assistant.
“Hello?” the assistant answered.
“Is Ruhi there?” Aayansh asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
There was a brief pause.
“No, sir,” the assistant replied. “She didn’t come to the office today.”
The words hit harder than he expected.
“She didn’t come?” Aayansh repeated quietly.
“No. She informed me that she’s unwell.”
Aayansh ended the call, his grip tightening around the phone.
Unwell.
The phone switched off.
Absent.
A thousand worries rushed through his mind.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, knowing deep down
Last night hadn’t ended with just anger.
It had left cracks.
And if no one acted soon, those cracks might turn into something far more dangerous.
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