Vihaan's POV

It's been fifteen days since I last spoke to Jia. I neither tried nor wanted to talk to her, yet somehow, she still occupies my thoughts. A lot has happened in these past fifteen days—I cleared the audition and even shot for the commercial. It's going to air on TV today, and I can't help but feel excited about it.

I went downstairs and turned on the TV, eager to show my family my first-ever commercial.

"Oh wow, I'm excited!" Dad said, his enthusiasm infectious.

"I know! I'm just so thrilled to see you on the big screen for the first time," Mom added, her smile full of pride.

I smiled back at her, appreciating her unwavering support.

Knock knock

I opened the door to find Ishani and Rohan standing there.

"What perfect timing!" I said, grinning.

"What's happening?" Ishani asked curiously.

"Vihaan is about to show us his first-ever commercial!" Mom explained excitedly.

"Wait, what? That's huge!" Ishani exclaimed as she plopped down on the couch.

"Alright, is everyone ready?" I asked. Everyone nodded in unison.

I hit play. The commercial began, and it followed the script exactly. My character asked Nisha for a lunch date, a coffee date, snacks, and even dinner—all of which she declined.

"I don't want to go on a dinner date, Vihaan," Nisha said on-screen.

"Then what do you want, Jia?" I replied.

As the commercial played, I noticed Ishani and Rohan exchange subtle, surprised glances. Their reactions didn't go unnoticed, but I tried to ignore them.

Yes, during the shoot, I accidentally called Nisha "Jia" multiple times. The casting director decided to keep it in the script, saying it sounded natural. I had resisted the idea initially but had no choice but to agree—it was my mistake, after all. I still felt bad for Nisha, though.

Clapping sounds

The commercial ended, and the room filled with applause.

"That was great, Vihaan! You looked so refreshing on-screen," Mom said, her eyes shining with pride.

I smiled, but I could feel Ishani and Rohan itching to interrogate me.

Mom and Dad headed to their room, leaving the three of us alone.

"Okay, shoot," I said, bracing myself for their questions.

"Oh my God, Vihaan! What was that?" Ishani exclaimed.

"Yeah, tell us—was that girl's name actually Jia, or was it just a coincidence?" Rohan added.

I sighed. "No, it wasn't a coincidence. Her name is Nisha. I was supposed to call her Nisha, but I accidentally called her Jia—like, more than 10 times. The casting director suggested we keep it as 'Jia' since it sounded natural," I explained.

Ishani stared at me, wide-eyed. "Vihaan... are you in love with Jia?"

"No, I'm not," I replied firmly. "Actually, that day, Jia and I had a bit of a fight, so I was... a little distracted," I admitted reluctantly.

"Alright," Rohan said with a knowing smile, "but for the record, the commercial was amazing."

I thanked them and went to my room to change. Still, my thoughts kept circling back to Jia. If things between us had been normal, I would've shown her the commercial. I wanted to hear her thoughts, her opinions. But I guess that wasn't going to happen.

I glanced at the balcony, hoping she might appear, but she didn't. Maybe she never would.

"It's okay, Vihaan. You'll deal with it," I muttered to myself, trying to shake off the disappointment.

Jia's POV

For the past two years, I've been alone. Not by chance, but by choice. My choice. I've shut the door on the past, refusing to revisit it. I've worked hard to become someone new—new skills, new characteristics, a new persona. The only thing that hasn't changed is my name: Jia.

I don't know how my life is moving forward. I've distanced myself from my family, my friends, and society as a whole. And I'm okay with it. At least, that's what I tell myself.

I've picked up habits I never thought I would—like smoking. It started with one cigarette a day. Then two. Then three. Before I knew it, I was smoking 11 to 12 cigarettes a day, sometimes finishing an entire pack of 20.

Ishani caught me one day and created a scene. I almost slapped her—my baby sister, who's always looked out for me. She tried to help me, but she doesn't understand. No one can help me. This is my battle to fight, and I intend to keep it to myself. Forever.

When I distanced myself, I realized something—no one cared enough to ask what had happened to me. Not a single person tried to stay in my life. That's when I understood that I had no one except my family. But I don't want to burden them.

My dad is my rock, always full of life, a happy soul who loves to jam and live in the moment. My mom is hyperactive and loving. Ishani is just a kid. And Kunal... well, let's not talk about him, he is a baby.

Life was moving along in this dull, monotonous way until he came into my life. Vihaan Khanna.

No one ever paid me much attention. But Vihaan... since the day he moved in, he's always looked at me. I've caught him several times peeking into my window from his balcony.

At first, it annoyed me. It made me uncomfortable. I didn't like the sudden attention from an outsider. I already had my family—I didn't need anyone else.

But Vihaan... every time I went to class, he was there, looking for me. He tried talking to me, protected me, and even looked out for me in subtle ways.

Initially, it bothered me. But now... I don't think it does anymore.

I crave this attention, even though I know it's wrong. My mind tells me I'm doing something right, even when my heart—if I even have one—remains silent.

I keep trying to figure out what's drawn me toward Vihaan. I think it's the way he notices me when no one else does. When I distanced myself from everyone, no one came looking for me. No one asked about me. But Vihaan, who doesn't even know me, keeps trying to reach out.

I've been rude to him, I know. But it's for his own good.

I'm not the girl who turns heads. I've never been that girl. But Vihaan sees me, and it's unsettling. And yet, I can't deny that it's caught my attention.

As I was lost in these thoughts, I suddenly heard Ishani's voice echo through the house.

"Jia diiii!" she screamed, her excitement unmistakable.

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I'd like to let you know that the next chapter is already in the works, and I'm excited to continue this journey with you. However, due to my work commitments, there might be times when I can't update daily. Please know that I deeply value your patience and understanding during these moments.

I'll do my best to provide regular updates and maintain the rhythm of the story, ensuring each chapter is as engaging and heartfelt as possible. Your love and support motivate me to keep writing, and I'm truly grateful for the time and energy you invest in reading and connecting with these characters.

Thank you for sticking with me, for your kind words, and for being part of this creative adventure. Your encouragement means the world to me.

Happy reading, and stay tuned for more exciting developments in the story!

Warm regards,
Erica <3