Harish Pov

"Harish, I want answers now!" Shweta demanded.

I nodded my head.

I can't hide it from her anymore. She's the one getting hurt all the time, more than me.

I thought that if I ignore her, she'll eventually get used to it and will leave me and our memories will soon fade away. But I was totally wrong.

I got to know how much she missed me, how much she got hurt because of me. I'm responsible for all of this message. I must clear if before she does anything stupid.

Regreting things after committing mistake is utter rubbish. So why not take preventive measures?

I'm gonna explain everything to her properly and she will herself get aside from it. If she doesn't, then I'll make her do so.

I was in my thoughts when I felt her holding my hand. She pulled me to the bed and made me sit beside her.

"One minute" she excused herself.

She rose and went to the washroom and I heard water running sound. I guess she's washing her face.

She came back and took a towel lying on the table and washed her face with it.

I guess she's sober now.

She sighed big time and sat next to me.

I saw her hesitating to ask me.

"Shweta, ask me anything. I'm liable to answer to you. So don't hesitate. I'll answer all your questions honestly" I held her hand, patting it.

She nodded and spoke.

"How are you?"

Her question startled me. I thought she'll ask me why I avoided her or why I'm supporting Yash but this was really unexpected.

I was in my thoughts when I heard her saying.

"I'll ask them later. But first you tell me, how are you? Is your injury cured? How's your health? Are you eating properly?" Are you....."

She reads me like an open book!

I cut her off with a huge smile plastered on my face. Her worried eyes turned glistening looking at my smiling face.

Do I really affect her that much?

"I'm absolutely fine. Yes, my injury is cured. I'm eating properly and my health is very good" I said and a genuine smile played on her lips.

I'm lucky! But am I really that lucky to have her in my life?

"Thank god!" She sighed in relief.

"So how's your training going on? All good?" She posted her second question.

She's so caring!

"I'm all good Shweta. My training is going good" I said and she nodded.

"Now, coming to the crucial part. Why did you avoid me?" She asked in a high tone.

She's really angry.

"It's because I don't want people to label you too as dishonest" I spoke out finally.

"What?" She asked with her eyes narrowed.

She's really worried about me.

"Yes Shweta. I'm labelled as dishonest and being balmed for many things in here. If I stick with you, you'll also be named as one. And that's the last thing I want" I said it in a go.

"But why? I know you never do anything as such. I can bet my life on it. So how did all this happen? When did this happen? And why didn't you tell me anything about it? Do our friends know about it?" She bombarded me with questions.

But one line caught my attention.
She said that she can risk her life on my loyalty.

It felt so good to hear that. I'm so happy that my Shweta believes and trusts me so much.

I don't wanna ask for anything more that my Shweta.

But is she my Shweta?
Will I be lucky enough to hold her hand forever?

I brushed off my thoughts and and started answering her questions.

"It all started when Dhanush was suspecting Yash. You know Dhanush right?" I asked her and she nodded her head.

Suddenly I felt emotional as memories of Dhanush and me flowed in my mind. I felt her squeezing my hand, giving me comfort. She doesn't know how much that helps me.

I pulled her towards me, turning her around to meet her back with my chest.

I pulled her to me and her back crashed with my hard chest. I can smell her silky smooth hair. I inhaled the scent of her hair.

I pushed her hair to her right side and rested my chin on her left shoulder. I could see her turning tomato red, with red tint on her cheeks. She's so adorable!

I put my hands on her waist and pulled her more close if that's ever possible.

Though the position was romantic, I found peace in it, the peace only she, only her presence could give me.

"I'm here for you, always" she whispered to me and I smiled sadly.

I know you'll be there Shweta, but me?

I won't!..

"Dhanush. I met him on the first day of my Army training. We were on the same batch. We were also paired up in every training. Soon within few days, we became very close friends.

I got to know about his family and the tragedy they faced. I really felt bad for them. I got to know that her sister Kavya is the only person in his family, living for him. He shared all his sorrows with me and I promised myself to be his support shoulder everytime. I promised to be his family, his brother and he gladly accepted me in his family.

He introduced me to his sister and I felt Kavya as my real sister. She was really a kind, caring and loving soul. She was very pure soul and intelligent. She mingled with me very quickly and we bonded brother sister in very little time. Her antics brought smile on my face" I inhaled a deep breath remembering our sweet moments. I miss you Dhanush!

"Harish, we cannot do anything about Dhanush now. All we have with us is his memories. We have to cherish them and that'll give a feeling of them living with us" she said, holding my arms tightly around her.

I nodded and continued telling her.

"One day when we're in a camp in Sikkim, Kavya called us and told that she's in love someone. Dhanush, being an over protective brother, questioned her so much that she finally asked him to go there and meet Yash in person. He gladly agreed and went there to spend sometime with his sis. I couldn't get leave, so I had to stay back.

After about a month, he returned and told me that Yash is perfect for Kavya. He dropped a bomb saying that Yash is the commander in chief of our new camp and batch. I was very happy seeing Dhanush smiling peacefully after so many years. But unfortunately, that didn't last long.

In our new camp, Yash was our commander. Dhanush introduced me to him and he did seem very friendly and out going. I felt he's perfect for Kavya. In set and training, we acted professionally. But in other times, we used to hang out a lot and our friendship grew stronger day by day.

But one day suddenly Dhanush said that he's a traitor. He said that he heard Yash talking to someone about leaking Indian Army secrets. He was very angry at him.

Of course, he was a true patriot and can't stand anything against his motherland. I calmed him down and tried to console him. I even bugged him to speak to Yash directly, but he said that he manipulate us.

Only if he listened to me that time!" I sighed in grief.

I felt Shweta tightening her hold on my hand, which was wrapped around her small body. She snuggled more close to me as I leaned on the bed post.

She's my pain reliever!

"He didn't listen to me and called up Kavya hurridely. He asked her to check for any doubtful documents at their place since Kavya and Yash were living together. She sent a document, but it was no where related to him portraying as a traitor.

Having no other option left, we took the audio clipping to the head office and complained against Yash was he was behind the bars. Though Kavya was broken, we managed to make her believe that he isn't the one for her.

We thought that the problem was over, but the actual problem began here when I received a call from my village saying my d..dad has had he...heart attack" I stammered on my words.

Suddenly Shweta turned around and caressed my cheeks. That's when I realised I was crying. She wiped my tears away and bent my head and planted a soft, smoothing kiss on my forehead. She hugged me tightly, with her had buried in my chest.

I too, unable to control myself, hugged her even more tight. It was like we were trying to merge completely into one body. But it somehow relaxed me, giving me a feeling that someone is there in this world or care for me and my feelings.

Yes, I'm an orphan now. My mom does during delivery. I faced many breaking words and even the blame for my mother's death. People used to say that I killed my mother for my living. She knew that her life is under risk by giving birth to me, but yet she gave me life and chose death for herself.

Since my birth, the only person I could rely on was my dad. He was a business man and worked hard day and night to forget my mom's death and saving money for my future. But he failed to show me love and care which I longed for.

I completed my school and entered high school and that's when my life became colourful for the first time. Shweta was a blessing in my cursed life. For the first time, I felt someone on whom I have rights on. Someone who could help me get through my past, who could hold my arms when I'm scared. And Shweta did all of those. I'm ever grateful for that. She knew that my mom was dead and she always made sure no one speaks anything related to it which might hurt me. She introduced all of us to her family and I felt like I got a new family who showed care and love. Those were the brightest days of my life.

"How?" Her words brought me back to reality.

"He suffered from heart attack" I said in a trembling voice remembering my dad taking his last breadth in my lap. Though I didn't spend much time my my dad as he was always busy with business, I loved him, loved him way too much.

"When I reached there, I got to know that he already had two heart attacks earlier and told his PA not to reveal it to me. He wanted to spend his last days in our village where he lived with my mom. That's the reason, he left all his work in the city and shifted to our village. But when I asked him, he said that he wanted to have some break since he's very tired.

He always wanted to keep me away from all his worries Shweta. He never showed his pain and hurt to me. Even when mom died, he never cried in front of me. He always showed himself as brave and courageous which inspired me to be the same, but deep down he was hurt, broken. Broken beyond repair" tears rolled down my cheeks.

Shweta was constantly wiping my tears away and was soothing me with sweet words. But more than her words, her hug and light kisses on my cheeks were doing magic.

"Are you fine? Are you fine with telling me...." She asked in worry. She has never seen me this weak. I'm generally strong, both physically as well as mentally. But in everyone's life there comes a time when a person has to break down.

"Yea, I'm fine" I said hugging her close to me.

"I was in the final ceremony of my dad's ritual when I found a lady mourning for my dad's death. I wasn't able to recall where I saw her earlier. But I was dead sure I saw her somewhere before.

After all the right rituals are done, I went up to her and asked her relationship with my dad. What she told, was a thunder to me.

She...she was my aunt" I heard Shweta gasping in shock. Even I was reacting the same way when she told me.

"But when I recalled where I saw her, got my head spin around.

Yash was showing his family photos and she was none other than Yash's mother" I broke the truth open.

Shweta's eyes were widened and a heavy and loud gasp escaped her lips.

Yes, Yash is my cousin!

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Hey readers!

How was the twist?
Hope you all liked it.

Any guesses what's next?

Stay tuned, cause more is on the way!

Have a great day!

Love,
Menaka❤