Happy reading....

Ruhaan sat by the window in Pratham's house, staring at the garden. The morning sun streamed through the glass, but its warmth did little to thaw the chill in his heart. He leaned his head against the windowpane, his mind clouded with the memories of betrayal and pain. Pratham's words echoed in his ears:

'Sameer came to see you so many times. He wants to explain himself. Don’t you think he deserves a chance?'

Ruhaan clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

How could he forgive Sameer?

The pain he’d endured wasn’t something that could be wiped away by a few apologies. Sameer had shattered the trust he’d built over years.

But then again, Pratham’s insistence weighed on him. He trusted Pratham with his life, and if Pratham believed there was more to the story, shouldn’t he listen? His thoughts spiraled in conflict—his hurt battling his loyalty to Pratham.

-----

Tanya unlocked the door to her dimly lit, cramped rented room. The peeling paint and flickering bulb reflected her current state of mind—fragile and barely holding on. She placed her bag on the wobbly table and sighed. The room was far from ideal, but with her limited money, it was all she could afford.

She couldn’t share her struggles with her friends, especially Ruhaan or Daksh. They’d offer help, but that wasn’t what she wanted. She needed to prove she could stand on her own, even if it meant enduring the constant fear of the dangerous alleys she now called home.

As she sat on her rickety bed, Tanya’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Daksh:

"Tanya, let’s meet tomorrow for coffee. You’ve been avoiding me. Don’t say no this time."

Her lips twitched into a faint smile. Daksh’s persistence warmed her heart, but she couldn’t let him see the cracks in her life.

------

Daksh wasn’t one to sit idle when something felt wrong. Tanya’s unusual behavior had been gnawing at him for weeks. Determined to uncover the truth, he decided to visit her family home.

When he arrived, the house was locked, a clear sign that no one had been there in a while. He frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. Something was definitely off. “Where are you hiding, Tanya?” he muttered under his breath as he walked back to his car.

He decided he’d confront her soon. She couldn’t keep pushing him away.

------

Anu and Aditya had started dating a month ago, their connection undeniable. But for now, they kept it a secret. They weren’t ready to deal with their friends’ teasing or the added pressure of making their relationship public.

Late at night, they’d sneak out for long drives, sharing laughs and stolen kisses. Aditya often joked, “When are we telling them, Anu? I’m tired of pretending you’re just a friend.”

Anu smirked, playfully nudging him. “Not yet. Let’s enjoy this peace while it lasts. They’ll be unbearable once they know.”

--------

Bela woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. She stirred, but Mahir was already awake, reaching over to grab the phone from the nightstand. He rubbed his eyes, squinting at the flashing screen.

“Bela, it’s your dad,” he mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.

But Bela was in deep sleep, curled up against him like a koala, her arms wrapped tightly around his torso. Mahir couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. She looked so peaceful, her dark hair tousled and falling over her face. Gently, he brushed the strands away, his fingertips grazing her soft skin.

The phone rang again, pulling him out of the moment. Mahir sighed, this time tapping her on the shoulder to wake her up. She moaned softly in her sleep, the sound both cute and unintentionally sensuous. He chuckled and pinched her cheek lightly.

“Bela, your father’s calling,” he said.

She mumbled something incoherent, trying to pull the covers over her head.

“Let me sleep,” she whined, her voice muffled.

Mahir shook his head, smiling to himself.

“Bela, it’s your dad,” he repeated, more insistently this time.

That seemed to do the trick. Bela’s eyes shot open, her sleepy haze vanishing in an instant.

“What?!” she gasped, suddenly wide awake. She grabbed her phone, lifting it to her ear just in time.

“Papa!” she greeted, her voice a mixture of surprise and concern.

Mahir leaned back against the headboard, watching her with quiet amusement as she fumbled with the phone. His fingers absentmindedly combed through her messy hair, enjoying the soft texture against his skin.

“Good morning, Papa,” Bela said, her tone warm. “How are you? Are you taking your diabetes medicine on time?” Her voice held the familiar mix of love and concern she always had for her father.

On the other end, Mr. Sharma’s voice came through with a smile. “Yes, my lovely daughter, I’m taking my medicine. Don’t worry about me.”

Bela smiled, relieved. “Good,” she replied, glancing up at Mahir who was now playfully twirling a strand of her hair around his finger.

Mr. Sharma continued, “I wanted to tell you to visit us next week. It’s important.”

Bela’s brows furrowed in curiosity. “Why, Papa? What’s happening?”

Though, deep down, she had a hunch it had something to do with her sister Vishakha’s marriage. But she decided to play it innocent for now, just to hear him say it.

Her father chuckled, catching onto her act. “There’s a marriage proposal for Vishakha. The family is coming to meet her next week. It would be nice if you could be here to support your sister.”

Bela’s smile widened, her heart swelling with happiness. “Oh my god, Papa! Of course, I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

Mr. Sharma’s tone softened. “That’s good to hear. You’re her little sister, and it’ll mean the world to her to have you there.”

Bela nodded, though her father couldn’t see her. “I’ll be there, don’t worry. I’ll call Vishakha once I’m free.”

Her father sounded pleased. “Good. I’ll leave you to it. Make sure to call her.”

“I will, Papa. Love you,” Bela said, before hanging up the call. She looked up at Mahir, her smile still glowing.

“What’s going on?” Mahir asked, curious but already smiling at her enthusiasm.

Bela’s grin widened even more as she threw herself into his arms, practically bouncing with excitement. "Your family is coming to see her!”

Mahir’s smile grew as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Wow! Things are moving quickly, I’m so happy.”

Bela hugged him tightly, her joy contagious. “I can’t wait to be there for her big day.”

Mahir pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. “Neither can I,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “It’s going to be beautiful.”

They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped up in each other, savoring the happiness of the moment. The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over them. Life, at that moment, felt perfectly right.

-----
THAT AFTERNOON

Mahir paced in his room, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke with his elder brother, Vansh.

“Bhai, there’s something I need to tell you,” Mahir began hesitantly.

“Go on,” Vansh replied, sensing the seriousness in Mahir’s tone.

“There’s a girl living with me,” Mahir confessed, his words tumbling out in a rush.

Vansh paused. “What? A girl? Living with you? Are you serious?”

Mahir chuckled nervously. “Yes, Bhai. It’s... different. We like each other, but we haven’t discussed anything serious yet.”

Vansh’s disbelief was evident. “Mahir, you’ve always been the responsible one, the one who followed every rule. And now you’re telling me you’re living with a girl?”

Mahir hesitated. “It’s about time I started living for myself. But there’s more.”

“What now?” Vansh asked, bracing himself.

Mahir took a deep breath. “The girl I’m serious about is Vishakha’s sister.”

The silence on the other end was deafening. Vansh finally spoke, his tone sharp. “How could you screw this up, Mahir? Vishakha is going to be your sister-in-law! How do you expect this to work?”

Mahir’s voice softened. “Bhai, I genuinely like her. We won’t cause any problems in your marriage. I promise.”

Vansh scoffed. “You think it’s that simple? How are you planning to explain this to our parents? Or hers? Or were you just planning to keep this a secret forever?”

Mahir sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll handle it, Bhai. I just wanted you to know.”

“You better figure it out soon, Mahir. This isn’t just about you anymore,” Vansh said before hanging up, leaving Mahir to ponder the complications ahead.

-----

The morning was a blur of packing, hasty phone calls, and final checks. Bela zipped up her suitcase, tugging on the stubborn zipper with a huff of frustration. Across the room, Mahir sat on the bed, scrolling through his phone as he booked a cab for their trip to the airport. 

“The taxi will be here in ten minutes,” Mahir said, glancing up at her. 

“Good,” Bela replied, slumping onto the edge of the bed. She seemed lost in thought, her fingers nervously fiddling with the strap of her bag. 

On the way to the airport, Bela turned to Mahir, a slight frown on her face. “Mahir, have you noticed Tanya’s been... distant lately?” 

Mahir raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” 

“She hasn’t been replying to my messages or calls. Even Daksh mentioned something about it. He said she’s acting strange, like she’s a completely different person. Talking less, always rushing home, and—” Bela paused for emphasis, “she even moved out of her house.” 

Mahir’s head snapped toward her, his eyes wide. “Moved out? When? Why?” 

Bela shook her head. “Daksh found out yesterday, but she didn’t tell anyone. Isn’t that odd? Tanya’s always been so outgoing. Something’s not right.” 

Mahir frowned, the gears in his mind turning. Tanya moving out? And without telling anyone? That wasn’t like her. “Don’t stress about it right now,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Focus on your sister’s engagement preparations. I’ll ask Pratham to look into it, okay?” 

Bela sighed, nodding. “Okay. It’s just... she’s my best friend, Mahir. I can’t help but worry.” 

Mahir smiled softly, watching the concern etched into her features. She always carried the weight of everyone else’s problems on her slender shoulders. It amazed him how selfless she was, her heart big enough to hold the whole world’s troubles. 

“You’re always worrying about everyone but yourself,” he said, his tone gentle. 

Bela glanced at him, startled by his sudden comment. “I... I guess that’s just who I am.” 

Mahir shook his head with a small laugh. So pure, so kind, he thought to himself. 

----

The flight was uneventful, but the moment they landed in Amritsar, Bela felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. The bustling airport, the distinct scent of fresh parathas wafting through the air, and the chatter of Punjabi voices made her heart swell with joy. 

As they stepped outside, they called for separate rides to their respective homes. Bela turned to Mahir, her eyes sparkling with excitement and a tinge of sadness. “You better not forget about me,” she teased, her voice playful. 

Mahir chuckled, crossing his arms. “How could I? You’ve called me twenty times in the past hour just to tell me you’re excited.” 

Bela pouted, stepping closer to him. “Still, I’ll miss you,” she said, her arms wrapping around him tightly in a hug. 

Mahir’s heart skipped a beat as he hugged her back, the warmth of her embrace sending a shiver through him. “You’ll see me tomorrow,” he reminded her, gently patting her head. 

Bela pulled back slightly, her lips forming a soft pout. “But that’s tomorrow. What about now?” 

Mahir chuckled again, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable, Bela.” 

Her playfulness faded, replaced by a sincerity that made his breath hitch. “You’ve been my supporter this past month, Mahir. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

He felt his chest tighten as her words sank in. In the short time they’d spent together, she had become an irreplaceable part of his life, her laughter, quirks, and kindness carving a permanent place in his heart. 

“Go,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “Your family’s waiting. I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Bela reluctantly let go, giving him one last lingering look before stepping into her cab. Mahir stood there, watching her leave, a faint smile playing on his lips. What are you doing to me, Bela? he thought. 

As the cab drove away, he felt an ache he couldn’t quite explain, a longing that left him questioning everything. In one month, she’d managed to break down the walls he’d spent years building. And the truth was, he didn’t mind one bit.

*****

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