Author pov...

Divya stood before the mirror, giving her saree one last tuck. She looked ethereal, the fabric draping gracefully as she prepared to head out.

As she reached the door, Rani’s voice stopped her.

"Where are you off to, dressed up like this?" Rani asked, eyeing her daughter.

Divya smiled softly. "Ma, I’m just going down to the Ghats with Ishani for a little while. Just to walk around."

"I see," Rani teased. "Will you be back after the Aarti?"

"Let’s see, Ma! I'm leaving now, bye!" Divya waved, stepping out with a skip in her step.

Since her 'Mayka' and 'Sasural' were practically neighbors, the distance was nothing. As she entered her new home,

Malini caught sight of her and beamed.

"Arrey! My daughter-in-law is back from her Pagphera so soon?" Malini said, her eyes twinkling with affection.

Divya chuckled, "Ma, when the two houses are side-by-side, what can I even say? I guess I’ll just be wandering between both homes now!"

Malini laughed, blessing her.

"Ma, Ishani and I are going to the Ghat for a bit," Divya added.

"Alright, beta. Go, but be careful," Malini reminded her warmly.

Divya nodded and started heading toward Ishani’s room. But just as she passed a door, a strong hand suddenly gripped her arm.

Before she could gasp, she was pulled into a room, and the door clicked shut behind her.

Startled, Divya looked up to find Vaibhav standing there, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Are you crazy? You scared the life out of me!" she breathed, hitting his chest

lightly.

Vaibhav didn't let go. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "So, you clearly haven't missed your husband at all, have you? You came all this way to meet Ishani, but what about me?"

Divya giggled, shaking her head. "Vaibhav, you’ve become so clingy since the wedding!"

Vaibhav narrowed his eyes, feigning deep offense. "Oh, I see. So, missing you and loving you makes me 'clingy' now? Fine. Go then. When I stop coming near you entirely, you'll be the one missing me. Just go!"

Right then, Divya’s phone buzzed. It was Ishani. Divya picked up, her eyes locked onto Vaibhav’s pouting face.

"Yeah, Ishani... I’m coming, just a second," she said into the phone before hanging up.

She looked at Vaibhav, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Okay, I’m going now. I’ll make it up to you later!"

Before he could respond, she stood on her tiptoes, planted a quick, lingering kiss on his cheek, and dashed out of the room.

Vaibhav stood there, a silly, lovestruck smile spreading across his face as he touched his cheek.

Outside, Ishani was waiting, a knowing smirk on her face. "Oh ho! So my best friend was busy in her husband's room, I see?"

Divya felt the heat rush to her face, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson. "Shut up! Let’s just go," she blushed.

Ishani laughed, linking her arm with Divya’s as they headed toward the river.

The evening air at Assi Ghat was thick with the scent of burning incense and the distant sound of temple bells.

Divya and Ishani navigated through the growing crowd, the golden glow of the sunset reflecting off the Ganga.

Ishani pulled out her phone and dialed Deeksha.

"Haa, Didi? Where are you guys?" Deeksha’s voice crackled over the line.

Ishani gave her their exact location near the steps. A few moments later,

Deeksha appeared through the crowd, looking slightly breathless.

She looked at both of them, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Okay, I'm here. What was so urgent that you both called me here like this?"

Divya and Ishani exchanged a knowing, mischievous glance.

Divya stepped forward, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Well... someone spilled a very big secret last night in a drunken haze. You told us everything about how much you love Rahul."

Deeksha froze. It was as if the ground had slipped from beneath her feet. Her mind raced who else did I tell? How much did I say? "I... I told you guys?" she stammered, her face turning pale.

Ishani nodded, suppressing a laugh. "Haa! Last night when you came over with Abhay. You were practically ready to go and announce your love to Rahul right then and there."

Deeksha’s heart hammered against her ribs. "Wait... did I tell him? Did I say it to Rahul? Tell me quickly!"

Seeing her genuine panic, Divya and Ishani couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. "No, no!" Divya reassured her, catching her breath. "You didn't tell him."

Deeksha let out a massive sigh of relief, leaning against a nearby pillar. "Thank God! I wouldn't have been able to look him in the eye ever again. He... he doesn't feel that way about me anyway."

Ishani and Divya shared another look, their laughter turning into gentle smiles.

"And that," Ishani said, "is where you both are absolutely wrong."

Deeksha frowned, confused. "What do you mean 'both' of us?"

Divya stepped closer, her voice dropping to a serious yet excited tone. "Deeksha... Rahul loves you too."

The world seemed to go silent for Deeksha. The sounds of the Ghat faded into the background as she stood there, paralyzed by shock. "What... what did you just say? Say that again."

"You heard me right," Divya smiled warmly. "Rahul loves you. He confessed it to me just today. He’s been terrified of telling you because he was convinced you didn't feel the same way."

Deeksha’s eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat. She searched their faces for any sign of a lie, her heart doing somersaults.

It felt too good to be true. After a long silence, she let out a nervous, shaky laugh.

"Vaah! What a prank!" Deeksha said, shaking her head as she tried to hide her trembling hands. "You guys really got me for a second. Very funny! I admit, I fell for it. Good joke!"

She kept laughing, but her eyes stayed fixed on them, desperately hoping they weren't actually joking.

Divya placed a steadying hand on Deeksha’s shoulder, her expression turning completely serious. "Deeksha, look at me. This isn't a joke, and it’s definitely not a prank. It’s the truth. Rahul loves you."

Deeksha searched for Divya’s eyes, her breath hitching.

"You know how he is," Divya continued softly. "He’s so reserved, so guarded with his heart. He never knows how to put his feelings into words. But Deeksha... he has a photo of you hidden in his room. It’s a picture from the engagement. He spends hours just looking at it when he thinks no one is watching."

The world seemed to tilt for Deeksha. "A photo? He... he kept my photo?"

"Yes," Divya nodded. "You’ve both been playing this game of hiding your feelings from each other for far too long. It’s time to stop hiding. You need to talk to him, Deeksha. Open up. Tell him what’s in your heart."

Ishani stepped in, her voice encouraging. "Think about it,

Deeksha. You’re best friends. And isn't that where the best kind of love starts? You already know each other’s souls. If he’s too afraid to take the first step, then you be the one to speak up. Take your time, think it through, but don't let this chance go. Okay?"

Deeksha didn't say much she couldn't. Her mind was a whirlwind of Rahul’s face and the hope she had tried so hard to suppress.

"Hmm..." she whispered, a small, shy smile finally starting to tug at her lips.

The three of them stood in silence for a while, the rhythmic chanting and the glowing lamps of the Ganga Aarti washing over them.

The spiritual energy of the Ghat seemed to give Deeksha the peace she needed to process everything.

Once the ceremony ended, the magic of the evening stayed with them.

Deeksha hopped on her scooty, waving a quiet goodbye as she headed home, her heart feeling lighter yet fuller than ever before.

Watching her go, Ishani and Divya shared a satisfied look before turning back toward their own home, hopeful for the love story that was finally beginning to unfold.

The ride home felt like floating on a cloud. By the time Deeksha walked through the front door, the glow on her face was impossible to hide.

She was practically radiating happiness, a constant, shy smile playing on her lips that didn't go unnoticed by her family.

Abhay leaned against the wall, watching her with a knowing smirk. "Alright, spill it. What’s the reason behind this sudden 100-watt smile today?"

Deeksha tried to pull herself together, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Nothing! I'm not smiling. Who said I’m happy?"

"Tell me too, Deeksha. I’m your brother, remember?" Abhay teased.

Deeksha decided to turn the tables on him.

"Forget about me, Bhaiya. Why did you take Ishani Didi’s number this morning? You didn't tell me about that, did you?"

The teasing smirk vanished from Abhay’s face instantly. He went silent, his gaze shifting away. Deeksha laughed softly, seeing her brother finally flustered.

She walked up to him and whispered, "By the way... I really like the idea of Ishani Didi as my Bhabhi."

Abhay couldn't help but smile at that, and Deeksha, satisfied with her comeback, skipped away from her room.

All she could think about was Rahul.

She grabbed her phone and typed a quick message: 'Hey, how are you?'

She kept checking the screen, but the 'Seen' receipt didn't appear for a long time. 'He must be busy with work,' she thought, a little giggle escaping her.

Just the knowledge that he loved her made everything feel different. She blushed, burying her face in her pillow.

Meanwhile, in the silence of the night,

Deepak was lost in a very different world.

His dreams were vivid, clouded with a passion he had been trying to suppress. In his sleep, he saw Deeksha.

They were close dangerously close. He could feel her warmth as they shared a passionate, breathless kiss.

It was a collision, a desperate attempt to consume her. He could taste her, feel the frantic beat of her pulse against his thumb as he gripped her waist, pulling her so flush against him that there wasn't even room for a breath between them.

His hands moved with a possessive urgency, tracing the curve of her hips before sliding up to find the soft, heavy weight of her breasts.

As he squeezed, a low, guttural moan broke from her throat, and she arched her back, her body a taut bow of pure desire.

The sound was his undoing. He stripped away the barriers of their clothes, his touch devouring every inch of her skin until they were a tangled mess of limbs and heat, a raw, rhythmic dance of skin on skin that left him breathless.

Deepak bolted upright, his lungs burning as if he’d been underwater.

"God... no," he choked out, his voice a wrecked whisper in the dark.

He was trembling, his skin slick with a cold, sticky sweat. The ache in his dick was a sharp, throbbing reminder of how far his mind had gone.

He looked down at the tent in his sheets, the evidence of his betrayal staring back at him.

"What is wrong with me?" he hissed, clutching his head in his hands. "She’s innocent... she’s... and I’m thinking of her like a goddamn animal."

He stumbled to the kitchen, his breath still ragged. He pulled a tray of ice from the freezer, dumping the cubes into a bucket of cold water.

The freezing water hit his skin like a shock, forcing the air out of his lungs, but it was the only way to kill the fire burning inside him.

As the cold finally began to dull his desires, he leaned his head against the bathroom wall, closing his eyes.

"Why won't she leave my head?" he muttered to the empty room. "Why is she living in my heart and mind twenty-four hours a day?"

He stayed there until his skin turned blue and his teeth began to chatter, trying to freeze out the fire that only she could start and only she could truly put out.

The next morning, Deepak couldn't bring himself to go to college. The weight of the previous night’s dream hung over him like a dark, suffocating shroud.

Every time he closed his eyes, he felt the ghost of her touch, and the guilt burned worse than the ice water had.

"How can I look her in the eye?" he whispered to his reflection, his eyes bloodshot and weary.

He decided to stay back, terrified that one look at Deeksha would strip away his self-control and reveal the "animal" he believed lived inside him.

Rahul reached the college that morning. After many days.Deeksha arrived at the college looking unusually happy.

Her hair was left open, gently falling over her shoulders.

A light shade of lipstick colored her lips, kajal highlighted her eyes, and she wore a red kurti with pants. She looked simple yet radiant.

But the moment she stepped inside the college gate, her eyes began searching for only one personRahul.

Her heart was beating fast, almost uncontrollably. She didn’t know what she would say when she finally faced him.

So many thoughts rushed through her mind, making her both excited and nervous.

At the same time, Rahul was also wandering around the campus, looking for both Deepak and Deeksha.

As she saw him, a wave of nervousness rushed through her. Her steps slowed for a moment, but then she gathered herself and walked toward him.

“Rahul…”

He turned around immediately. The moment he saw her, a warm smile appeared on his face.

“Where were you? I’ve been looking for you for so long,” he said casually.

Deeksha smiled softly.

“Really? I was looking for you too.”

Rahul nodded slightly, then asked, “Hmm… have you seen Deepak anywhere?”

Deeksha shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”

“Wait,” Rahul said, taking out his phone. “Let me call him and ask.”

She nodded quietly.

While Rahul dialed Deepak’s number, Deeksha just stood there, watching him with gentle affection in her eyes… as if the world around her had suddenly faded, leaving only him in her sight.

Deeksha stood there, her heart fluttering as she watched Rahul.

In her mind, she was replaying everything Divya had said about the photo, about his secret feelings.

She looked at him with eyes full of a "newly discovered" love, waiting for him to look at her the same way.

Deepak didn’t answer the phone.

Rahul frowned slightly as he looked at the screen and said, “He… he’s not picking up.”

Deeksha shrugged gently and replied, “It’s okay. Just send him a message.”

Rahul nodded. “Hmm… yeah.”

He quickly typed a message to Deepak.

Just then, the classes began. Putting his phone away, Rahul and Deeksha walked toward their classroom together.

As they entered and took their seats, Rahul suddenly noticed something different about Deeksha.

There was a glow on her face, and the smile she carried today felt brighter than usual. She looked unusually happy… almost radiant.

Without thinking much, Rahul said, “You’re looking really nice today. Is there some special occasion?”

Deeksha’s smile widened. Her eyes sparkled slightly as she looked at him.

“Yes,” she said softly, “it’s very special.”

Rahul blinked in confusion.

“Special? What’s special?”

Deeksha shook her head playfully. “I won’t tell you. You have to figure it out yourself.”

He watched her, trying to make sense of what she meant. But nothing came to his mind.

Maybe it’s something personal, he thought, deciding not to question her further.

Soon, the classes started.

Meanwhile, around the college, many students were busy talking about Professor Vaibhav. Since it was his first day back after his marriage, his name seemed to be on everyone’s lips.

Students whispered, discussed, and shared their reactions about the news, making him the center of attention across the campus that day.

A swarm of students surrounded him with hearty congratulations.

While most were happy, a few female students stood at a distance, their hearts shattered into a million pieces.

Their "Professor Crush" was officially off the market, and the sight of his wedding ring was a bitter pill to swallow.

Throughout the entire college day, Deeksha kept looking at Rahul with a quiet happiness.

A soft smile stayed on her lips every time her eyes met his.

Inside, she felt light and free, as if she were floating in the air, carried by an invisible breeze of joy.

When the college day finally ended,

Rahul turned to her and asked,

“Will you come to Deepak’s house with me?”

Deeksha agreed without hesitation.

Rahul rode his bike while Deeksha followed on her scooty. Soon they reached Deepak’s house.

Rahul knocked on the door.

After a moment, Deepak woke up and opened it. The moment he saw Rahul, he frowned slightly.

“Why weren’t you answering your phone?” Rahul asked. “I called you and even sent messages.”

As Rahul stepped inside, Deepak moved aside to let him in.

Just then, Deeksha arrived, walking in with a bright smile.

Deepak’s eyes fell on her and he froze in shock.

“You… what are you doing here?” he asked, clearly surprised.

Deeksha walked closer, still smiling.

She gently pinched his cheek and said softly,“I’m sorry… please, for yesterday.”

Rahul, who was standing nearby, looked confused.

“Sorry for what?”

But Deepak wasn’t listening to Rahul at all.

His eyes were fixed only on Deeksha.

Slowly, his gaze moved from her face to the rest of her, as if he couldn’t look away.

His heart began beating wildly in his chest.

Almost unconsciously, he lifted his hand and touched the cheek where Deeksha had just pinched him.

His mind went completely blank.

He couldn’t understand what was happening to him.

Suddenly, Deeksha grabbed Deepak’s hand and squeezed it firmly a silent signal telling him that Rahul must not find out the real reason behind their fight.

Rahul spoke again, still curious.

“So… what were you two fighting about this time?”

Deeksha quickly smiled and replied casually,“Oh, it was nothing. Just a small argument. Right, Deepak?”

She looked straight at him.

Deepak seemed completely intoxicated by her presence.

Without even thinking, he immediately nodded.“Yes… it was nothing. Just a small fight.”

Rahul shrugged lightly and said,

“Oh, okay.”

Rahul looked at him with curiosity and asked again,“So tell me… why didn’t you come? And why weren’t you answering your phone?”

But Deepak seemed completely lost in another world.

He didn’t respond.

His eyes were fixed only on Deeksha.

Rahul noticed the strange silence and the unusual expression on Deepak’s face.

Slowly, he followed Deepak’s gaze and what he saw made him freeze.

Deepak was staring at Deeksha…

intensely… as if he couldn’t look away.

Deeksha, unaware of the storm of thoughts building in Rahul’s mind, walked over to the sofa and sat down comfortably.

“Come on, Deepak,” she said casually. “Tell me, why weren’t you answering your phone?”

Deepak quickly replied, trying to act normal,“My phone was silent… that’s why I didn’t pick it up.”

“Oh… I see,” Deeksha said with a small nod.

But Rahul wasn’t listening anymore.

He kept watching Deepak carefully.

The way he was looking at Deeksha… the softness in his eyes… the way his attention was completely captured by her.

It reminded Rahul of something.

It is the same way he used to look at Ishani.

Rahul’s eyes widened in sudden realization.

Wait… does Deepak actually like Deeksha?

He stared at his friend with disbelief, whispering softly under his breath,

“Oh my God…”

Deeksha noticed the strange silence between them and raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you two staring at each other like that?” she said, half-amused. “At least give me some water. Deepak, you have guests in your house.”

She stood up and added,

“I’ll go to the washroom and come back.”

As soon as she walked away, Deepak turned toward the kitchen to get water.

But before he could take another step,

Rahul quickly grabbed his arm and stopped him.“What are you hiding from me?”

Rahul asked sharply.

Deepak turned toward him, startled.

“I–I… what are you talking about?” he stammered nervously. “I’m not hiding anything.”

Rahul narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t lie to me,” he said firmly. “I saw the way you were looking at Deeksha just now. Tell me the truth… you’ve started liking her, haven’t you?”

Deepak went silent for a moment.

In that instant, he knew Rahul had already figured it out.

He quickly pulled his hand free and forced out a laugh.

“Are you crazy?” he said, trying to brush it off. “Deeksha is my best friend. What nonsense are you saying?”

But Rahul wasn’t convinced at all.

He grabbed Deepak again and looked straight into his eyes.“Tell me the truth,” he insisted. “You like her… don’t you?”

Deepak shook his head quickly.

“No. Nothing like that,” he said defensively. “Why would I like Deeksha? Are there no other girls left in the world?”

Rahul carefully watched Deepak’s body language the nervousness in his movements, the way his eyes avoided meeting his.

It was obvious to Rahul now. The truth had already slipped out.

Rahul leaned closer and said in a low but threatening voice,

“If you don’t tell me the truth right now… I’ll go and tell Deeksha everything myself. Then you deal with her.”

Deepak’s eyes widened in shock.

“Are you crazy?” he whispered quickly. “No… you won’t do that.”

Suddenly Rahul shouted loudly,

“Deeksha—!”

Before the name could fully leave his mouth, Deepak panicked. His eyes went wide and he instantly covered Rahul’s mouth with his hand.

“Stop talking nonsense!” Deepak whispered urgently. “Okay? There’s nothing like that.”

Rahul pulled his hand away, completely unconvinced.

“Fine,” he said calmly. “Then Deeksha will ask you the truth herself. Wait… I’ll call her.”

He turned as if to call her again.

That was the final push.

Deepak groaned in frustration and

quickly said,“Okay! Fine! Yes I like her. Are you happy now? Just shut up, please… for God’s sake.”

The moment Rahul heard it, he burst out laughing.

“Wow!” he said dramatically. “My best friend likes my other best friend… and this idiot didn’t even tell me till now!”

Deepak glared at him angrily, his eyes burning with irritation while Rahul kept laughing.

Just then, Deeksha walked out of the washroom and looked at them with confusion.

“Rahul… did you call me?” she asked.

Deepak quickly interrupted before Rahul could say anything.

“No, no! No one called you,” he said hurriedly.

“Oh… okay,” Deeksha replied.

Rahul watched the entire scene, trying hard to control his laughter as he looked at Deepak’s nervous expression.

“Why are you two looking so weird?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “What happened while I was gone?”

“Nothing,” Rahul said quickly, though his voice carried a playful tone. “We were just… talking.”

Deepak shot Rahul a warning look, silently begging him to stay quiet.

Rahul noticed it and smirked.

“Oh yeah,” Rahul continued casually, stretching his arms. “Deepak was just telling me how some people suddenly start not answering phones… and then act very strange when certain guests arrive.”

Deepak’s eyes widened.

“Rahul…” he said through clenched teeth.

Deepak quickly grabbed a glass and started pouring water just to avoid Rahul’s eyes.

“Here,” he said, handing the glass to Deeksha. “Drink water.”

Rahul watched the scene like it was the most entertaining thing in the world.

“Wow,” he said teasingly. “Look at that service. Deepak doesn’t even offer me water like that.”

Deeksha looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Rahul leaned forward with a playful grin. “I’ve been coming to this house for years. Sometimes I have to get water myself.”

Deepak glared at him. “You’re perfectly capable of walking to the kitchen.”

Rahul placed a hand dramatically on his chest. “See? Such attitude. But today… suddenly he’s being so polite.”

Deeksha laughed a little, still not understanding the hidden joke.

“You’re overthinking things,” she said.

Rahul slowly turned his head toward Deepak and whispered just loud enough for him to hear,

“Oh, I know exactly why he’s being nice.”

Deepak almost choked.

He quickly kicked Rahul’s leg under

the table.

“Ouch!” Rahul yelped.

“What happened?” Deeksha asked immediately.

“Nothing,” Rahul said, rubbing his leg but still grinning. “Your best friend here just attacked me.”

Deepak rolled his eyes. “Stop being dramatic.”

Rahul leaned closer to Deeksha with a mischievous smile. “You know, Deeksha… I just discovered something very interesting about Deepak today.”

Deepak instantly panicked.

“Rahul!” he snapped.

Deeksha looked between them curiously. “What an interesting thing?”

Rahul paused for a moment… then

suddenly burst out laughing.

“Nothing,” he said finally. “Just that our dear Deepak is getting weirder day by day.”

Deepak threw a cushion at him in irritation.

Rahul caught it easily, still laughing, while Deeksha sat there shaking her head.

“You two are impossible,” she said, completely unaware of the secret that Rahul was enjoying teasing Deepak about.

Deeksha sat there with them for a while, casually talking about random college things.

Rahul kept throwing playful glances at Deepak, clearly enjoying the secret he now knew.

Deepak, on the other hand, tried his best to act normal, though his eyes kept drifting toward Deeksha again and again.

Just then, Deeksha’s phone rang.

She checked the screen.

“Oh, it’s Abhay bhaiya,” she said.

Rahul nodded casually while Deepak looked at her quietly.

Deeksha stood up as she answered the call, speaking softly for a moment. After finishing, she picked up her bag.

“Okay guys, I have to go,” she said. “Bye.”

“Bye,” Rahul replied.

Deepak only nodded, his eyes following her as she walked toward the door.

“See you tomorrow,” Deeksha said with a smile before stepping outside.

The door closed behind her.

But Deepak was still standing there… staring at the door as if she might

walk back in any second.

Rahul watched him for a few seconds, then slowly leaned back against the sofa with a smirk.

“So…” Rahul said casually.

Deepak blinked and finally looked at him. “What?”

Rahul folded his arms and grinned.

“So, bro… when are you planning to propose to Deeksha?”

Deepak’s eyes widened immediately.

“Are you insane?” he snapped. “Why would I propose to her?”

Rahul raised an eyebrow.

“Oh really?” he said teasingly. “Then why were you staring at the door like a tragic hero after she left?”

Deepak rolled his eyes and walked toward the table, pretending to busy himself with the glasses.

“You imagine too much,” he muttered.

Rahul chuckled and stood up, walking closer to him.

“Come on, Deepak,” he said, nudging his shoulder. “I saw the way you look at her. Even a blind person would understand.”

Deepak stayed silent.

Rahul tilted his head and studied his friend.

“But seriously,” he said more calmly now, “when will you tell her?”

Deepak let out a long breath and leaned against the table.

“Never,” he said quietly.

Rahul frowned. “Why?”

Deepak looked toward the door again, where Deeksha had just left.

“Because if I tell her and she says no…” he said slowly, “I might lose her as a friend too.”

Rahul watched him for a moment.

Then a small smile appeared on his face again.

“Wow,” he said dramatically. “My friend has finally become a full movie hero.”

Deepak grabbed a cushion and threw it straight at Rahul.“Shut up.”

Rahul burst out laughing.

Rahul was still laughing when he caught the cushion Deepak had thrown at him.

But after a moment, his laughter slowly faded. He looked at Deepak more seriously now.

“Okay, jokes apart,” Rahul said, sitting back down on the sofa. “If you really like her… you should tell her.”

Deepak shook his head immediately.

“No,” he said firmly.

Rahul sighed. “Why not?”

Deepak leaned against the table, folding his arms, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

“Because things will change,” he replied quietly. “Right now everything is normal. We’re friends. We talk, we laugh… everything is easy.”

Rahul raised an eyebrow. “And you think it’s easy for you?”

Deepak didn’t answer.

Rahul continued, “I saw the way you look at her, Deepak. That’s not just friendship.”

Deepak ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“You don’t understand,” he muttered. “What if she gets uncomfortable? What if she stops talking to me?”

Rahul shrugged lightly. “Or what if

she says yes?”

Deepak gave him a dry look. “Yeah, right.”

Rahul leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Listen,” he said seriously, “you won’t know anything unless you tell her. You’re just making stories in your head.”

Deepak stared at the floor silently.

Rahul smirked again after a moment.

“Besides,” he added playfully, “if you take too long, someone else might propose to her first.”

Deepak’s head snapped up instantly.

Rahul noticed the reaction and grinned.“See? That bothered you.”

Deepak looked away, clearly annoyed.

Rahul stood up and walked toward the door.

“Think about it, bro,” he said casually. “Sometimes the biggest regret isn’t rejection… it’s never trying.”

He opened the door and stepped outside, then turned back with a mischievous smile.

“And if you need help planning the proposal, your best friend is always available.”

Deepak grabbed another cushion and threw it at him again.

“Get lost!”

Rahul laughed and walked away, leaving Deepak standing there alone, staring at the door again lost in thoughts about Deeksha.

Days passed slowly, each one carrying the same quiet hope in Deeksha’s heart.

Somewhere deep inside, she kept waiting… believing that Rahul would finally gather the courage and confess his feelings to her.

Every small moment with him every conversation, every smile made her think, maybe today he’ll say it.

But day after day went by.

And Rahul never said anything.

The silence began to weigh heavily on her heart.

One evening, unable to keep it inside anymore, Deeksha sat with Ishani and Divya and finally spoke about what had been troubling her.

“I thought Rahul would propose to me,” she said softly, her voice filled with frustration and vulnerability. “But he hasn’t said anything.”

Ishani and Divya exchanged glances, listening carefully.

Deeksha took a deep breath before continuing, her emotions finally spilling out.

“I can’t hide these feelings anymore,” she admitted. “It’s becoming too hard for me.”

There was a quiet determination in her eyes now.

“So… I’ve decided something,” she said.

Both Ishani and Divya leaned forward curiously.

“I’m going to propose to him myself.”

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Then Ishani slowly smiled, and Divya nodded in agreement.

“If that’s what your heart wants,” Divya said warmly, “then you should do it.”

Ishani added a playful grin, “Yes. Sometimes boys take forever to say things. Someone has to take the first step.”

Hearing their support made Deeksha feel lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.

For the first time in days, a hopeful smile appeared on her face.

She had made up her mind.

The Pagphera ceremony finally came to an end, and Divya returned to her in-laws' house.

Vaibhav hadn't spoken to her for four days.he had been consistently ignoring her, which was making

Divya incredibly angry.

When she arrived, Malini saw her and said with a smile, "Finally, my daughter-in-law is home!" Divya smiled back.

Ishani was also thrilled to see her and exclaimed, "I missed my Bhabhi so much!" Divya laughed at her enthusiasm.

Vaibhav took her bag and went to their room to put it away. Divya followed him inside and closed the door behind her.

Vaibhav refused to make eye contact, sitting in his chair and burying himself in his work.

Divya walked over, sat directly in his lap, hugged him, and said, "I missed you."

Vaibhav remained silent. When he didn't respond, Divya looked at him and said, "Okay, I'm sorry. I missed you so much... are you happy now? Say something!"

Vaibhav looked at her, and his resolve began to melt. Sensing his continued silence, Divya got annoyed and tried to get up from his lap, but Vaibhav quickly grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back down.

"Is this the only way you know how to make up with me?" he asked. "You were gone for four days, and it felt like you had gone so far away. You didn't even call me. Even when you messaged, it felt like you were doing me a favor."

Divya replied, "I just got busy once I reached home."

Vaibhav sighed, "Hmm... and who am I to you? Why would you bother remembering me?"

"You are everything to me," Divya whispered, kissing him on one cheek. "You are my life," she added, kissing his other cheek. "You are my world," she murmured, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

A smile finally broke across Vaibhav’s face.

Seeing him give in, Divya laughed and teased, "Oh, my dear husband! You gave in so easily? I didn't even have to try that hard."

Vaibhav looked at her with feigned annoyance and said, "I can never truly stay mad at you, and that’s exactly why you take advantage of me, isn't it?"

Divya giggled. "I haven't even begun to take 'full advantage' of you yet! If I had, you’d really know."

Vaibhav shook his head. "How shameless have you become? Are you planning to rob me of my dignity?"

Divya wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer until their faces were inches apart. "If I don't 'rob' my own husband's dignity, whose will I rob?" she challenged, before pressing her lips against his.

Vaibhav gripped her waist firmly, pulling her flush against him as he returned the kiss fiercely biting, licking, and tasting her lips with a desperate hunger.

"I missed you so much," he managed to say between breaths. "Don't ever leave me and go away again."

Divya laughed softly against him. "Alright, alright... I’m not going anywhere."

Outside Ishani went to see Rahul, who had just returned home from college.

She approached him and asked, "Rahul, I need to go to the market. Will you come with me?"

Rahul agreed instantly, his face lighting up with joy.

Ishani glanced at his clothes and said, "Why don't you change your shirt? You’ve just come from college, it must be dirty."

Rahul looked down at his shirt, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Right! Okay, just give me one minute. Please wait right here!"

Ishani laughed softly. "No, no, take your time. Make sure you get ready properly before you come out." She watched him smile as he dashed off toward his room.

Meanwhile, Deeksha had finished all the preparations to propose to Rahul.

She had decorated the room beautifully with balloons, cakes, and flowers, making sure everything was perfect.

Ishani’s real plan was in motion she was about to bring Rahul straight to Deeksha for the big surprise.

Rahul returned quickly, fully dressed and ready to go.

Ishani was chatting with Rani when he arrived. "Shall we?" Rahul asked eagerly. Ishani nodded, "Yes, let’s go."

He immediately hopped onto his bike and turned the ignition. Ishani climbed on behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders. Rahul was overjoyed by the gesture.

He asked, "Which market are we heading to?" Ishani gave him the directions, and they set off.

As they rode, they kept talking, but Rahul’s heart was racing in his chest.

Eventually, Ishani asked him to stop at a particular spot.

Rahul got off the bike, looked around the market area, and asked, "What do we need to buy here?"

"Oh, come on, I’ll show you," Ishani replied. She reached out, took his hand in hers, and began leading him away.

Rahul couldn't stop staring at their interlaced fingers he was so happy he didn't even care where she was taking him.

He felt that as long as he was with Ishani, he would follow her anywhere even to hell.

Ishani led him to a place where there was a small, single-room house. Rahul looked around, confused. "Why are we here?"

"It’s a surprise," Ishani teased. "You won't find out just yet."

Rahul chuckled, "What kind of surprise? It’s not even my birthday today!"

Ishani laughed and said, "Just wait, baba!" She pulled out a handkerchief and began to tie it around his eyes.

Rahul was completely bewildered. "Ishani, what is happening? I don't understand anything."

"Nothing is 'happening,' just walk with me," she reassured him. She opened the door, led him inside the room, and left him standing there.

With a mysterious smile on her face, she stepped back out and closed the door.

Just then, Deeksha stepped forward, looking stunning in a red frock but visibly nervous.

She saw Rahul standing there with the blindfold still over his eyes.

Hearing footsteps, Rahul asked tentatively, "Ishani? Ishani, are you there?"

Deeksha giggled softly. She took a red rose, dropped it down on one knee, and held it out. "You can take off the blindfold now," she said.

Recognizing a girl's voice, Rahul pulled the cloth from his eyes.

He was stunned to see Deeksha kneeling before him. Confused by the entire setup, his eyes darted around the room.

"Where are you looking, Rahul? I'm right here," Deeksha said.

"What... what is all this, Deeksha?" Rahul stammered.

Deeksha looked him in the eye and said clearly, "I love you, Rahul."

Rahul was paralyzed with shock. He couldn't believe his ears. "What are you saying? You... you love me?"

Deeksha nodded with a beautiful smile. "For years, Rahul. Ever since that day in school when you applied ointment to my wound and fought the whole class for me. I've loved you since then, but I never said anything because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. But when you told Divya Didi that you loved me too, I kept waiting for you to propose. Since you weren't doing it, Ishani Di and I planned this whole decoration so I could finally confess to you."

Rahul’s shock turned into a different kind of realization. "Ishani... Ishani helped you with this?"

Deeksha smiled and nodded. Rahul ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and stress.

"Get up first, Deeksha," he said urgently.

"What's wrong?" Deeksha asked, her smile faltering.

"Please, just stand up."Rahul said

As Deeksha stood, Rahul grabbed her by the shoulders and looked at her intently. "Listen to me carefully, Deeksha... I do not love you."

The words hit Deeksha like a physical blow. Her world crumbled in an instant, and she immediately burst into tears.

Rahul sighed, "I don't know what kind of misunderstanding Divya Didi had, but I don't love you, Deeksha. I love someone else. You will always be my best friend, but nothing more."

Deeksha, trembling, managed to ask, "Who... who do you love then, Rahul?"

"That isn't what’s important right now," Rahul replied. "What matters is that you had these feelings for me and you should have told me sooner."

Deeksha sobbed uncontrollably. "But I really thought you loved me back!"

Seeing her in such pain hurt Rahul deeply. "I know, I know... it’s not your fault, Deeksha. You fell in love, and there's no crime in that. But I just can't love you in that way."

"But why not, Rahul?" Deeksha cried. "Am I not good enough?"

Rahul spoke gently, trying to soothe her. "No, Deeksha. You are a wonderful girl. You’re beautiful, strong honestly, one of the best girls in the world. But I just don't feel that way about you. I am so sorry if I ever gave you any hints or signals that made you think otherwise."

Deeksha kept weeping. "But can't you give me one chance? We could be such a great couple..."

"But I don't love you, Deeksha," Rahul repeated firmly. "I love someone else. Besides, there is already someone who loves you very much. He truly cares for you."

Deeksha looked up at him through her tears, shocked. "What?"

"It's true," Rahul said. "Deepak loves you, Deeksha."

Deeksha froze. "What are you saying?"

"It’s the truth. But I’m not going to force you to accept his feelings. It’s your life and your decision. Just remember, I will always be by your side, and I won't tell a soul about what happened here today." Rahul said

Deeksha broke down even further and pulled him into a tight hug. Rahul gently patted her back, whispering, "There, there... stop crying now."

But Deeksha couldn't stop. In her heart, she only wanted Rahul.

She kept wondering why he couldn't love her back and what she was lacking. Her heart was completely shattered.

Deeksha couldn’t take it anymore she pulled away from the hug and ran out of the room.

Outside, Ishani was waiting in the market and saw Deeksha sprinting away in tears.

Rahul ran after her, panicked, but Ishani grabbed his arm and asked, "What happened to Deeksha? Why is she crying?"

Rahul immediately called Deepak and explained everything.

Deepak was shocked. Ishani, overhearing the conversation, asked in disbelief, "You... you don't love Deeksha?"

Rahul looked at Ishani, then spoke into the phone, "Deepak, go find her and take care of her."

"I'm on it," Deepak replied and hung up.

Rahul then grabbed Ishani’s hand, pulled her back into the room, and slammed the door shut.

"Who told you to do all this?" he yelled, his voice echoing.

Ishani flinched, startled by his anger. "Why? What’s the problem? Don't you love Deeksha?"

"No, I don't love her, Ishani!" Rahul shouted. "Can’t you see it in my eyes? Don't you know who I actually love?"

Ishani looked at him, completely stunned. "What are you saying, Rahul? I don’t understand anything."

In a fit of rage and desperation, Rahul confessed, "I love you, Ishani! Have you never seen even a hint of how much I love you?"

Ishani froze. She was silent for a moment, then let out a nervous laugh. "You love me? You mean... like a brother loves a sister?"

This only fueled Rahul’s anger.

He stepped forward, gripped her shoulders firmly, and looked directly into her eyes. "I love you as a man  loves a woman."

Ishani was paralyzed. Her mind went completely blank as the world around her seemed to stop.

Ishani stared at Rahul, rendered speechless for a moment.

She began to pull away, signaling for him to release his grip on her shoulders.

Rahul let go, and they stood there, locked in a tense silence, gazes fixed on one another.

Finally, Ishani spoke, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and authority. "Are you even in your right mind, Rahul? I am six years older than you. I have always looked at you as my younger brother."

She took a step back, her expression hardening. "Whatever filth you’ve filled your head with, clear it out right now. Do you understand?"

Rahul's eyes turned red with emotion, but he didn't flinch. "What 'filth,' Ishani? Is loving someone a crime? Is it 'dirty' to want to spend my life with the person who understands me better than anyone else?"

He took a step toward her, his voice cracking. "You keep talking about these six years but do those years change how my heart beats when you walk into a room? Does an age gap erase the way you look after me, or the way I would give my life for your smile? You see a 'younger brother,' but I see my soulmate."

Ishani tried to look away, but he continued, "I am in my full senses. I've been in my senses for years while I watched you, cared for you, and waited for the right moment. If my love is 'filth' to you, then maybe I don't know the meaning of purity at all. But don't you dare tell me that what I feel isn't real."

Ishani couldn’t take his words anymore. Before he could say another syllable, her hand flew through the air.

SLAP!

The sound echoed sharply in the small room.

Rahul’s head snapped to the side, and he went silent. Ishani was trembling, her eyes wide with rage and tears.

"Shut up! Just shut up, Rahul!" she screamed, her voice shaking. "How dare you speak to me like that? How dare you even think of us in that way? I brought you here to build a life for deeksha , and you... you are standing here insulting the very bond we’ve shared since childhood!"

She pointed a shaking finger at the door. "Don't you ever ever say those words again. If you have even a shred of respect left for me or our family, you will bury this 'love' of yours right here in this room and never let it breathe again."

Rahul stood there, the red mark of her fingers blooming on his cheeks.

"Ishani, please... listen to me once," Rahul begged, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you. I have never thought of you as anything else. To me, you aren't just a girl you are my pure love, my everything. There is no 'filth' in my heart, only you."

He looked at her with pleading eyes, hoping for a single spark of understanding. "Every breath I take, I take for you. My love isn't a mistake or something I can just 'wipe away' because of an age gap. It’s the truth of my life."

But Ishani wouldn't listen. She kept her face hidden in her palms, shaking her head violently.

Every word he spoke felt like a fresh wound.

"Stop it, Rahul! Just stop!" she cried out, her voice muffled but firm. "I don't want to hear another word. No matter what you say, it will never change the fact that you are like a brother to me. I don't accept this, and I never will."

She stood up abruptly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, refusing to even look at him. To her, his confession wasn't a romantic gesture it was a betrayal.

Without another word, Ishani turned her back on him and walked out of the room.

She didn't look back, her footsteps echoing her haste to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the confession.

Rahul stood frozen in the center of the room, his hand still instinctively touching the cheek she had slapped.

He watched her figure get smaller as she walked away through the market, his heart sinking with every step she took. The silence left behind was deafening.

He had laid his soul bare, and in

return, he was left with nothing but the stinging memory of her rejection and the sight of her leaving him behind in the shadows.

............................................................................................................................................

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