I was sixteen when I first fell in love with him.And somehow… years later, I still hadn’t learned how to stop.”
“Yashvi!”
Aditya’s voice echoed through the house the moment I stepped inside.
I froze.
Not because he was shouting—that was normal.
But because of the tone.
Sharp. Controlled. Angry.
I slipped off my shoes slowly, my heartbeat picking up.
Something was wrong.
“Yashvi, come here. Now.”
I walked into the living room—
And my breath caught.
Aditya stood near the center, still in his office clothes, sleeves rolled up, jaw tight.
And beside him—
Neil.
Of course he was here.
He was always here.
My heart reacted the same way it always did.
Fast. Unfair. Uncontrollable.
Years had passed.
I wasn’t sixteen anymore.
I wasn’t that girl who didn’t understand her feelings.
But nothing had changed.
Not really.
“What happened in college today?” Aditya asked.
I blinked. “Nothing.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Don’t lie to me.”
My stomach dropped.
“Bhai, I—”
“A guy,” he cut me off. “Who is he?”
My fingers tightened around my bag.
So that’s what this was.
“Naina told us,” he added.
Of course she did.
I let out a small breath. “It’s nothing serious.”
Aditya laughed, but there was no humor in it.
“Some guy is bothering you, proposing to you, and you think it’s nothing?”
“I said no,” I replied quickly. “It’s over.”
“Who. Is. He.”
His voice dropped.
That dangerous kind of calm.
The kind that meant he was already planning something.
I knew my brother.
If I said the name—
That guy wouldn’t just get a warning.
He’d disappear from my life completely.
“Bhai, I handled it,” I said, trying to stay calm. “Trust me.”
Silence.
Before Aditya could speak again—
“Let it go.”
Neil.
His voice was quiet.
Controlled.
Aditya turned to him. “You think I should just ignore it?”
“She said she handled it,” Neil replied simply. “She’s not a kid.”
My eyes flickered toward him.
Just for a second.
He wasn’t even looking at me.
But something about his tone—
felt like he was.
Aditya exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
“If I find out who he is—”
“You won’t,” I interrupted. “Because it’s done.”
The tension didn’t leave.
It just… settled.
Just then—
another presence entered.Just then—
another presence entered.
Aarav.
And the moment I saw him—
my heart dropped.
Oh God… not now.
If Aditya was loud anger—
Aarav was quiet destruction.
And before I could even process that—
another figure stepped in behind him.
Papa.
Rishi Singhania.
Great. Just great.
Don’t panic, Yashvi.
They don’t know.
They can’t know.
Because if they did—
that guy from college?
He wouldn’t just disappear.
He’d be erased.
“What’s going on?” Aarav asked calmly, his eyes scanning the room.
“Nothing,” Aditya muttered.
Aarav didn’t respond.
He just walked toward me.
Slow. Measured.
And then—
he placed his hand gently on my head, ruffling my hair.
“Bhai!” I frowned instantly. “What is this?”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“Barbie,” he said, voice low, almost teasing. “Why are you getting angry today?”
I froze.
Because Aarav didn’t tease without noticing something first.
His expression shifted.
The softness gone.
Replaced by something sharper.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
And just like that—
it began.
The questions behind the question.
The way he looked at me—
like he was already putting pieces together.
“I said I’m fine,” I replied quickly.
Too quickly.
His gaze didn’t move.
He stepped a little closer.
“Who—”
“Stop troubling my princess.”
Papa’s voice cut in.
Firm. Protective.
Final.
Relief rushed through me so fast it almost made me dizzy.
I turned and walked straight to him, almost hugging him.
“Thank you, Papa.”
He smiled, placing his hand on my head.
“Always,” he said softly.
That was Papa.
He didn’t ask first.
He protected first.
“Why is everyone standing like this?” Mom’s voice entered just then as she walked in.
Anita.
Warm. Familiar. Safe.
And just like that—
the tension shifted again.
Her eyes moved across the room—
and then stopped.
On Neil.
And instantly—
they softened.
Like they always did.
“Neil beta…” she said gently, taking a step toward him.
For a second, it looked like she wanted to say more—
maybe ask something, maybe scold him for not taking care of himself—
But before she could—
“Rishi, your phone!” she called out instinctively.
Papa glanced at his screen, already pulling his tie loose with one hand.
He held up a finger.
“One minute.”
And then he was gone.
Heading upstairs, loosening his tie, already lost in work.
Mom shook her head, smiling faintly.
“Him and his phone…” she muttered under her breath.
Then her attention shifted back—
to Neil.
And just like that—
everything in her expression changed again.
Soft. Caring.
“Beta, you look so thin,” she said, walking closer. “Come, sit. I’ve made your favorite blueberry muffins.”
A small, polite smile appeared on his face.
“Thank you, Aunty.”
I watched that moment quietly.
The way she fussed over him.
The way he didn’t pull away.
He wasn’t just Aditya’s best friend.
He was… more than that here.
Just then—
I noticed aarav bhai
His eyes had shifted.
Finally landing on Neil.
It wasn’t obvious.
Not to anyone who didn’t know him.
But I did.
That look—
calm, observant, measuring.
He gave a slight nod.
“Neil.”
“Bhai,” Neil replied respectfully.
“How’s work?” Aarav bhai asked. “Handling Uncle’s business well?
“ya Construction is doing good,” Neil said. “Still learning.”
Aarav nodded once.
“Good.”
That was it.
Simple.
Normal.
Warm, even.
At least on the surface.
Because I knew—
Aarav bhai was always fine with Neil.
As long as he stayed exactly what he was—
Aditya’s best friend.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
But sometimes…
I caught it.
That slight shift in his expression.
That silent tension.
Especially when—
Neil looked at me.
I didn’t understand it.
Not really.
Because there was nothing to understand.
Neil didn’t feel anything.
And I—
I was just his best friend’s sister.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
“Beta,” Mom’s voice broke my thoughts, looking at Aarav bhai now, “did you call Deepika?”
“Yes.”
“What time are they coming?” she asked.
“Evening,” he replied. “Her whole family will be here.”
Something inside me lit up instantly.
“Really?” I stepped forward, excitement slipping through before I could stop it. “Bhai, did you talk to bhabhi?”
For a second—
just a second—
Aarav’s serious expression softened.
“Hmm,” he nodded.
And just like that—
the house felt lighter again.
Like everything was normal.
Like nothing was about to break.
But somewhere—
deep inside—
I knew.
Things were already changing.
And I just didn’t see it yet.
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