Sorry for disappearing, I guess? This book just slipped out of my mind for the longest time but surprised to see how many of you missed it. Happy Reading sweethearts, your love will be so appreciated.

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A A R A V

Life can be tough sometimes— so, so tough. But all of us have that moment where you feel that life is finally getting back to place, everything is finally settling down and that you'd find your peace again. I was going through that phase.

I was back to my family, to the people who loved me the most, to my twin, whom I could call my second half without any hesitation.

It was just my second week back in my home country and it all felt so amazing. I loved London in the start, but now that I'm back, I realise I've missed so much.

But most importantly, I've missed her. Who's her? She's—

"Aarav! You're lost again!" Myra shouted in my ears, breaking my chain of thoughts.

"And you're troubling me again! Don't you have a boyfriend to go to? Or are you sick of him in just a day?" I snapped back immediately and she rolled her eyes, settling on my bed like it was hers.

"I just came to tell you that Mum's calling you." She shrugged, before getting back to eating the pop tarts in her hand.

"And you came to tell me that all the way to my room?" I turned my chair to face her as I got up and stretched my arms. "What's your motive, haa? Water balloons on my face? Or is it the Holi colours?" I smirked.

She looked bored as she finally looked up. "What? No!" She sounded surprised. "Where did you even get that from? What are we, ten?" She chuckled.

I sighed. Looking at my baby sister so matured just made me realise all the responsibilities I was running away from. "You're right! We're not kids anymore," I nodded, moving out of my room.

We weren't kids anymore. And I hated that. I could trade anything to reverse time and make me a kid again, and there are so many things I'd do just right.

I walked out of my room, sighing when I felt something wet falling on me like a thunderstorm and before I could make out, I was wet from head to toe, water dripping from my hair and clothes.

I clenched my hands picking up the water balloon as my twin's laugh surrounded me. "MYRA!" I shouted pulling her and she ended up in the water too. I bet she hadn't expected this.

But she didn't stop laughing. And then I gave in too.

"I'm gonna seek revenge!" I told her when we were done laughing.

"Oh come, Aarav. I know you missed these too!" She laughed. Oh, I had. I had missed her and so many things about her, including these stupid pranks she plays on me and I always fall right into them.

Mom walked in on us, listening the noise with wide eyes. Uh oh, Myra was so gone.

"I win the bet, Mum! I told you Abeer would so fall for this!" Myra said as she laughed more and mum joined her.

"Well, you won. I'll take you shopping tomorrow and it's a cheat day. Happy?" Mom gave in as Myra yayed.

"Aren't you supposed to like shout at her for making the house dirty and wet?" I raised my eyebrows and mum nodded negatively casually. "I helped her set this up for you!" She accepted and I nodded my head in disbelief.

She had to be the coolest Mum in the universe. And I was hating it right now.

"Also, Aarav. Please go to Ruhaana's place, will you? I need to drop in a package at Aryamman's place!" She looked at me with heart eyes.

"Ruhaana is Myra's friend. Why can't she go?" I sighed, getting up.

"She's your friend too!" Mum scolded. "And Myra and Abeer have a date today. So you're going!" She smiled.

"Date? Seriously?" I raised an eyebrow, crossing my elbows against my chest. "You're her mother. You're supposed to stop her from seeing boys and going for dates and you're encouraging her? Come on!" I was irritated.

"You and your dad are enough for doing that, I don't need to!" She nodded. "I'm going to support my daughter, I trust her. And I also trust her long lost love because if you're forgetting, he's grown up in front of my eyes. I changed his first diaper," mom accepted proudly.

"Gross. Who even remembers that?" We heard another voice as we turned to see Abeer walking in with flowers in his hand. He kissed Mom's cheek and then gave the flowers to my sister who smiled and ran into his arms. And he, like a fool, hugged her back without caring that she was wet.

And they were busy in their stuff again. I walked in my room, knowing I wasn't seeing my sister or my best friend for a while. Atleast until they're done with the whole obsession of their new found love.

I guess I'd never be able to understand love. Not the way they do.

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An hour later, I parked my car outside Aryamman Uncle's house and setting my hair in the rear view mirror for the last time, I took the package, walking in.

"Hey Aaru!" Pihu Aunty smiled generously helping me in. "Came to see Ruhaana?" She asked and I nodded negatively. "Kaira?" She guessed again.

"Kiara's here too?" I asked in confusion and my question was answered by a wail coming from upstairs.

"Yeah. Kaira has just removed her wisdom tooth and she's still not in her senses. Ruhaana's having a tough time handling her, would you wanna help?" She asked and I nodded. Cause why not.

"And yeah, thanks for bringing this!" She smiled taking the package that I had forgotten about. I gave her a sheepish smile as she ruffled my hair before I walked upstairs, to Ruhaana's room.

The second I opened the door and stepped in, someone came flying into my arms and I caught her before she could fall. Guess I'm opening doors to just surprises today.

It was Kaira. She tumbled another time before finally standing up, her eyes dazed and a sheepish smile on her face as she saluted me, standing in attention.

And then, another smile broke up on her face. "I guess I know you. You're hot, right? Myra's brother." She pointed at me, laughing. "Why do you Malhotra's have all this good genes. Why ain't I a Malhotra too? Can Manik Uncle adopt me?" She asked, pouting. I rolled my eyes but before I could answer, she had already left from there and went on the bed, counting the fingers on her hands.

With the vision now removed, I saw Ruhaana behind her. She had sweat on her forehead and was panting. "Hi Aarav!" Her eyes held mine for longer than they should and I smiled back at her.

"Having a tough time, I see?" I asked her and she nodded, biting her lower lip.

"Removed her wisdom tooth in the morning today. Doctor said it's going to last another hour, and I'm trying to get her to sleep since the past three. I could really use some help here." She smiled, and I nodded.

"On it!" I said and she laughed as we turned towards Kaira on the bed.... except she wasn't there anymore.

This wasn't going to be as easy as expected.

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After the toughest seventeen minutes, forty two seconds later, I put the blanket on a sleeping Kaira as Ruhaana tied her hair and we both moved towards the balcony.

"This wasn't as easy, was it?" She asked, initiating conversion and I nodded, sighing. This couldn't get anymore awkward.

"How've you been, Ruhaana?" I asked. She smiled, amusing. "As amazing as ever. How've you been?" She asked back.

"Fine, you could say." I nod. I hated lying.

"Something's disturbing you," she said, looking closely, and I squeezed my eyebrows. "Come on, we were best friends. I can tell that much." She insisted.

We were best friends, before I went to London. And then, we gradually lost touch.

"Yeah, it's just.... nothing." I shrug. What could I tell her was wrong, when I didn't know myself?

"There is something. And you know what it is. You're a terrible liar," she insisted and I sighed, deeply. "It's completely okay if you don't want to tell me, I understand, okay?" She asked.

"It's not that," I whisper. "It's just.... I feel incapable."

"Incapable of what?" She asked.

"Incapable of being what I should be. Incapable of singing like my father did or handling business like him. Incapable of being that perfect guy that girls want a shoulder to cry on, or being the boy that brings his girl flowers. I feel flawed, and I don't understand in what way." I sigh. I couldn't believe... here I said that.

"Incapable?" She laughed. "You can't be serious. Aarav, you're the most perfect guy I've laid my eyes on. You're an amazing singer and the nights that I couldn't sleep, it was your voice recordings that did the magic, not your father's professional songs. You know business more than I do, and I have been trained for it ever since I was kid... so that says something. And you're the most, most perfect man a girl would want. You don't have to be what people expect from you, you have to be yourself and see the world love you for it. And about bringing flowers... you did bring me flowers once." She smiled, keeping a hand on mine.

"Wow, thanks." I smile with gratitude. "That was amazing of you!"

"Well, what else are friends made for?" She winked smiling the sweetest smile.

"Uh Ruhaana!" I call and she looks at me. "I want to tell you something."

She nods, waiting for me to go ahead. "I think I like—..." my voice was cut off when I heard her phone ring like a siren in her hand.

I couldn't help but glance at it. Ishan, it said. Her face lit up like a light bulb and I raised my eyebrows at her. She smiled sheepishly, "gotta take this one."

I nodded, as she went to the corner. I hated eavesdropping but couldn't help but notice the enthusiasm and love in her voice when she whisper screamed a hello.

Deciding to give her privacy, I walked back in her room, too look at Kaira stirring in her sleep. I covered her with the blanket, which made her relax as she snuggled into it, accidentally taking my hand. But she didn't leave it as she held it closer, hugging it tightly like it was the priciest possession. I smiled, not minding.

Minutes ticked by and I couldn't stop staring at Kaira. I just couldn't help it.

"Sorry this took long!" Ruhaana walked in, looking into her phone and when she looked back at me, her eyes travelled to my hand that lied in Kaira's.

I didn't even realise she was away for fifteen minutes.

"You were saying something?" She asked and I squeezed my eyebrows, playing innocent. "Was I?"

"Yeah." She was pissed. "I heard you say that you think you like..." she informed and I nodded. Great.

"I... I think I like Kaira."

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