Vihaan's POV

Finally, I was satisfied that my plan had worked out perfectly. Ishani's performance had been a huge success, and she was thrilled. To celebrate, I brought her out along with Rohan. The joy on her face was infectious.

"Wow, what a day it has been!" she exclaimed, her happiness radiating through her words.

Rohan chuckled, but then he asked, "Jia didn't come with you?"

I glanced at Ishani, curious about her response.

"No, she didn't. She's not the kind of person to open up like that," Ishani replied. Then, her voice softened. "But you know, something incredible happened today."

"What happened?" I asked, my interest piqued.

"Well, today she hugged me. For the first time in two years," Ishani said, her eyes glistening with emotion.

I froze for a moment, processing her words. Jia? The same Jia who always seemed cold and distant? It didn't seem real.

"She wasn't always like this," Ishani said, sensing my confusion. "Something changed in her last year. And ever since then, she's been different."

Curious, I leaned closer as she unlocked her phone and began showing us old photos of Jia.

I was stunned. The girl in those pictures was unrecognizable compared to the stoic Jia I knew. In one photo, she was laughing with abandon, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. Another showed her enjoying an ice cream, her face smeared with a bit of chocolate, looking utterly carefree.

"She always loved candid photos," Ishani murmured, swiping through the images.

"What happened to her?" I asked, trying to piece together the mystery behind her transformation.

Ishani's cheerful demeanor faded, replaced by a sadness that was hard to miss. "I think it's because of her ex-boyfriend," she said, her voice heavy with emotion.

Rohan and I exchanged surprised glances.

"Let me explain," she continued, taking a deep breath. "Two years ago, Jia di had just started college. She was full of life, always smiling, and she'd talk about her boyfriend with so much excitement. She said she'd introduce me to him someday, but that day never came."

"What happened?" Rohan asked, as intrigued as I was.

"One day, I found her in her room. She had just returned from a trip. She wasn't just crying—she looked... empty. Like a shell of herself. Her eyes were red, her face was blank, and she didn't even react when I called her name. It was like something inside her had died."

Ishani's voice wavered as she spoke, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "She never told me what happened, but after that, she changed completely. She stopped smiling, stopped joining us for meals, and became distant. Our parents tried everything to help her, but nothing worked. She even started smoking, and when I confronted her about it, she threatened to slap me. That's when I realized how far she'd fallen."

I listened in silence, my chest tightening with a mix of emotions—anger at whoever had hurt her and sorrow for the vibrant girl she used to be.

"I can only assume her boyfriend broke up with her," Ishani continued, "but how can a breakup change someone so drastically?"

Her question hung in the air, unanswered.

A deep silence settled over us, but I couldn't shake the thought of Jia's pain. I didn't know why, but I felt an overwhelming urge to help her.

"You'll get your sister back," I said firmly, breaking the silence.

Ishani looked at me, her expression a mix of hope and doubt. "Do you really think so?"

"I know so," I replied with conviction.

"But why do you care so much?" she asked, genuinely curious.

I paused, unsure of how to explain. "I don't know," I admitted. "But I do."

"If you need my help, just say the word," she said, determination replacing her earlier sadness.

We stepped outside, only to see Jia standing there.

"Jia di, what are you doing here?" Ishani asked, clearly surprised.

"I came to pick you up," she replied curtly.

Ishani smiled slyly and said, "Thank goodness! Vihaan's car broke down. Maybe you can give us a lift?"

"No," Jia said flatly, without missing a beat.

"It's okay. We'll manage," Rohan chimed in quickly.

But Ishani wasn't giving up. "Come on, Di! You can't say no after all they've done for me. Please, Di! Please!"

Jia hesitated, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she sighed. "Fine," she said, her tone reluctant.

We all piled into the car. I sat in the back seat, watching Jia through the rearview mirror. She drove in silence as Ishani chattered about the performance, showering me with praise for my help.

"All thanks to Vihaan! He's so thoughtful," Ishani said.

Jia's eyes flicked to the mirror, meeting mine for a split second. I smiled faintly, but she quickly looked away, focusing on the road.

When we reached home, I couldn't stop thinking about her. That night, lying in bed, my mind kept replaying the story Ishani had shared.

She had loved that guy so much that his betrayal had shattered her. He had broken her spirit, changed her into someone she was never meant to be. The thought of it filled me with rage. I punched the wall, the pain grounding me momentarily.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. "What's happening to you, Vihaan?" I whispered to myself.

Somewhere in the midst of my anger and confusion, I heard a faint thud coming from my balcony.

Curious, I walked over and opened the door.

"Jia?"

She stood there, her face illuminated by the moonlight. She looked at me, her expression unreadable.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She didn't answer, but her eyes seemed to search mine for something—understanding, maybe, or solace.

And in that moment, I realized just how broken she was.

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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