Hey everyone! Here, I'm back with a new update! Hope you read the new description! Happy reading! ✨
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The Encounter, (Author's POV)

The gunshot reverberated through the room, freezing everyone in place. Mita's body hit the floor with a thud, her revolver clattering beside her. Aashika stood still, her breath shallow, her hands trembling. The defiance in Mita's eyes had turned into an eerie stillness.

The door burst open, and Rohit rushed in, his family close behind. His eyes locked onto Aashika instantly.
"Aashika!" he shouted, his voice laced with panic as he ran to her side. "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

Aashika blinked, still struggling to process what had happened. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. Her silence made Rohit grip her arms tighter.
"Say something! Are you hurt?"

"I-I'm fine," Aashika managed, her voice barely a whisper. Her slight nod seemed to calm Rohit, but the room remained charged with tension.

Ruhan crouched beside Mita's lifeless body.
"She's gone," he announced grimly after checking her pulse. He looked back at the family. "Mita shot herself."

"What?" Aparna gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Why would she do that?"

Aashika said, her voice trembling. "Maybe she wanted to take her secrets to the grave."

Rohit's brows furrowed. "Secrets? What did she say to you, Aashika?"

"Not now," Rose interrupted, stepping forward. Her tone was firm yet protective. "Ma'am needs to leave this place. She needs rest. She's been through enough already."

"I need answers," Rohit said, his voice sharp as his gaze darted between Aashika and Rose.

Rose shot him a deadpanned look, "And she needs space. Let her breathe first." She placed a hand on Aashika's arm. "Let's go, ma'am."

"Wait," Rohit said, stepping closer to Aashika. His voice softened. "Aashika, please... just tell me if you're okay. That's all I need to know right now."

Aashika turned her head slowly, her eyes filled with exhaustion and pain.
"I'm fine, Rohit," she said quietly, her words heavy with defeat.

Rohit's family exchanged glances, the unspoken truth becoming clear, Rohit's concern for Aashika ran deeper than he had ever admitted.

As Rose guided Aashika out of the room, Ruhan stood and turned to the rest of the family.
"We should leave too. This isn't our place anymore."

"But what about..." Rivan began, gesturing to Mita's body.

"The police will handle it," Ruhan replied. "There's nothing more we can do here."

Rohit watched Aashika leave, his heart torn. His mother placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Rohit, let her go," she said softly.

Rohit didn't reply, his gaze fixed on the door. Somewhere deep inside, he knew this was far from over.

Outside, Rose started the car's engine, driving Aashika back to her villa.
Aashika began with tears brimming down her cheeks, "I don't know what's real anymore Rose. It's sucking me now. These two years, everything was in vain?"

Rose looked at her in disbelief. She still didn't know about what Mita told her. "Ma'am what are you talking about? Why the hell she killed herself?"

"Sh-she didn't kill my baby intentionally, she just wanted Rohit. She said Raghav, that fucking psychopath killed my baby." Her voice trembled as she spoke further, "Look at me Rose. I'm far away from Raghav. He is a multi-billionaire, a powerful personality, maybe I have all that but what I don't have are that fucking connections with those corrupt people over the government chairs. And he-he has it all. How will I fight with him? It seems so distant, so faraway." Her voice broke as she finished speaking.

Rose focused on the road as she spoke, "Just don't think about it now. You need rest."

Did it end? My brothers won't even lemme think in peace (Rohit's POV)

I was sitting in the garden, my thoughts a messy blur. Mita dead, Aashika... well, she looked cute and bold as always. For real, I couldn't help checking her out when she entered the court.
(Rohit Bhardwaj for a reason😏)

Aashika had flipped everything upside down. I thought I was done, thought I was committed to my fate. But then she came back into my life. And now, Mita... why did she kill herself? And the secrets Aashika said-honestly, I couldn't understand that.

Suddenly, my internal monologue was interrupted. The voices started creeping in.

"Oh no," I muttered under my breath. "Here we go..."

I didn't even need to look up. I knew exactly who was behind me. My brothers, their wives, and the entire circus.

"Rohit!" Ajay shouted, marching toward me with a cake that looked like it was made by a toddler who got bored halfway through. "I made this for you. Sorry, yaar."

I turned slowly, my eyes narrowing as I took in the "cake" in his hands. "Is that... is that a cake or a car crash?" I asked, squinting at the sorry-looking disaster in his hands.

Ajay looked hurt, but I wasn't letting it slide that easily. "It's the thought that counts," he said, his puppy eyes wide with hope. "Please, bro. Don't be like this."

Rivan, who was standing behind him, couldn't hold it in anymore. "Bro, you're being dramatic. It's just a cake," he said, but then quickly added, "Okay, maybe it's more like a cake that's been... bullied."

"Bullied?!" I burst out laughing sarcastically. "If it's bullied, then it's definitely not something I'd eat. What is this? A cake or a... a science experiment gone wrong?"

Siya, who was standing with Rishika, rolled her eyes. "Rohit, you're such a diva today. We've already spent hours apologising. Just take the cake and stop sulking like you lost a puppy."

"Lost a puppy?" I raised my eyebrow. "You guys know what? If I lost a puppy, at least I'd get a nice sympathy card. This?" I pointed at the disaster in Ajay's hands.

"It's like a bad joke wrapped in... Oh wow! It doesn't even have a frosting, how many times did you end up dropping down this mess from the kitchen counter, though?" I looked at them thinking they would give me at least one sensible answer....But that's impossible, they have the Bhardwaj genes overloaded in them.

"Not much, just 2 times, we dropped it. Oh shit! I mean no actually, I swear, you're impossible!" Ajay groaned, dramatically holding the cake higher like it was some priceless treasure. "We baked it with love!"

"Yeah, well, it looks like it was baked with revenge," I muttered, crossing my arms and giving them all a cold stare.

Ruhan, trying to ease the tension, grinned like he was the knight in shining armor. "Listen, bro, we were all wrong. We shouldn't have judged you for marrying Mita. The truth came out today, and we are asking for a cute apology."

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost gave myself whiplash. "Oh really?" I said in my most sarcastic tone. "Now you all get it? After all the drama, the accusations, the evil villain speeches? Now you guys get it? Bravo, Ruhan, bravo. Standing ovation for the geniuses."

Rivan snickered. "You know, I think we need to give you a medal. 'Best Overdramatic Brother of the Year.'"

"Is that a real award?" I asked, trying to hold back a smile. "Because if it is, I definitely deserve it."

"You're impossible!" Rishika finally chimed in. "Why do you always have to make it so hard to apologize?"

"Because that's how I roll, okay? You guys mess up, you bake a half-hearted cake, and I make you work for my forgiveness," I said, pointing at the cake like it was an evil artifact. "This? This is barely a step. You need to do way more to make up for this."

Siya shot a look at Ajay. "I think he's secretly loving the attention, you know. He's the king of drama."

"Excuse me, queen of drama," I corrected, flipping my hair dramatically like I was auditioning for a Bollywood film. "I've been practicing this for years."

"Alright, alright!" Ruhan put his hands up, giving me an exaggerated pleading look. "What do you want, then? Another cake? A helicopter? A private island?"

"I mean, a helicopter wouldn't hurt," I said thoughtfully. "Or maybe a lifetime supply of cake... the good kind, obviously. Not this sad... whatever this is."

"You are impossible," Ajay groaned, stepping back with the cake, "but seriously, I'm sorry, bro. We were wrong. We misjudged you."

"Yeah, sure," I said, finally cracking a smile but not fully letting go of my grumpy act. "You know, I was really starting to feel like the 'World's biggest Villain'."

"You are the World's biggest Villain," Rivan said, raising an eyebrow. "But it's cool. You're still our brother."

"And I'm still your favorite villain," I said with a dramatic bow. "Alright, alright, I'll forgive you. One of you. Choose wisely."

"This is how we're going to do it?" Rishika asked, clearly losing patience.

"I'm the king of forgiveness. It's my kingdom," I said, grinning. "So, one of you gets my forgiveness. The others? Keep fighting for it."

Ajay sighed. "You really are a big baby."

"Excuse me?" I shot him a cold look. "I'm not a baby. I'm a toddler with big standards. You guys gotta do better."

They all chuckled, but suddenly, my mind snapped back to the one thing I couldn't get off my mind: Aashika.

Without warning, I stood up, brushing past them all like a drama queen. "I'm done with this. I need to see Aashika. NOW."

"Wait, what?" Ruhan said, eyes wide. "You're leaving right now? For real?"

"Yep," I said, not turning back. "I'm not dealing with this anymore. Cake or no cake, I'm going to get some answers. I need to talk to Aashika. You guys can keep making up for your mistakes. I'm out."

"But... but we're not done with our apology!" Ajay said, looking genuinely distraught.

"Sorry, bro, for now I apologise....hmmm....Rishika bhabhi and Siya bhabhi, others can make more efforts" I said, waving them off. "See you losers later."

And just like that, I walked off, leaving my brothers standing there with their pitiful apologies and their sorry cake, ready to get some answers from the one person who could stop this madness.

"Sorry humne bola, Cake humne banaya, bhaagta ye apni Aashika ji ke paas hai..." I could hear someone sulking.
(Sorry, we said, we made the cake, and yet he's running off to his Aashika ji...)

I looked back and shouted, "Priorities Bhai Jaan, Priorities!"
(Priorities, lovely brother, Priorities!)

All of them looked at me with their jaws dropped. But something was seeming wrong as if tonight is going to be a disaster, a hurricane of past... something which is going to turn everything upside down!

Shattered Hearts, (Author's POV)

Rohit arrived at Aashika's villa, his heart pounding, his mind clouded with worry. Every step felt heavier than the last as he approached the door. His hand trembled slightly as he rang the bell, but when the door opened, it wasn't the warm embrace of Aashika that awaited him. Instead, Rose stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable.

"Rohit, not now. Aashika doesn't want to see anyone," Rose said, her voice firm, as if it was final.

Rohit's heart tightened. "Rose, please... just tell her I'm here. She needs me. I know she does."

Rose's eyes flickered, a flash of uncertainty crossing her face. After a long pause, she sighed. "She might need you. She's sent me out, everyone out, including me. But..."

She hesitated again, as though she were battling herself. "You'll regret it, Rohit."

Rohit didn't need to hear anything more. Without another word, he stepped past Rose, his pulse quickening as he moved through the familiar halls, his mind racing with a thousand questions. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

He finally found her.

Aashika was sitting on the couch, her back hunched, her hands wringing together as she stared down at the floor. The sight of her, so fragile and broken, stopped him in his tracks. She was a shadow of the woman he had once known- confident, powerful, full of life. But now, she was nothing but a shell of sorrow.

"Aashika..." he whispered her name, his voice hoarse with emotion.

She didn't look up, didn't even acknowledge his presence at first. Her shoulders trembled with quiet sobs, and his heart shattered at the sight.

"Please, don't come any closer," Aashika's voice broke through the silence, sharp and ragged. "I don't deserve it."

Rohit stepped forward, his hand reaching out for her, desperate to touch her, to hold her. "Aashika, what happened? You're scaring me." His voice cracked as he neared her, instinctively moving closer. But she recoiled, pushing his hand away weakly.

"I've ruined everything, Rohit," she whispered, her words barely audible. "Everything... my life, your life... our
lives."

Her words struck him like a blow. He knew something was wrong, but this... this was something beyond what he had expected. He sat beside her, his hand trembling as he gently placed it on her shoulder.

"Aashika, no, you haven't ruined anything. We can get through this." His voice was steady, but the panic in his chest was growing with every passing second.

But she shook her head, her lips quivering as the tears fell freely from her eyes. She seemed so small now, so utterly fragile. "I can't, Rohit. I can't hold on anymore. I'm not strong enough. I..."
She hiccupped, choking on her sobs. "I... I lost everything. I lost our baby, and it's my fault. It's all my fault."

Yes, it needs to come out now. He has to know this.

Rohit's heart slammed into his ribs, and he recoiled in shock. "What... what do you mean? Aashika, what are you saying? Our baby?"

The words hit him like a freight train, leaving him breathless, confused. He'd been in the dark about everything about her, about them. But the mention of their child? His heart clenched painfully in his chest. He couldn't breathe for a moment.

Aashika broke down in front of him, her sobs echoing in the room. "I... I was coming to you with the news. The surprise that we were going to have a baby together, Rohit. I was so happy... we were supposed to start a family..." She buried her face in her hands, trembling uncontrollably. "But Mita... and some others... they caused the accident, Rohit. They killed our baby that day."

Rohit's world tilted on its axis as he tried to process her words. His mind was a blur, unable to comprehend what she was saying. The baby-the child he didn't know existed-was gone. Taken from them. He had never even known about it.

He reached out for her, his hands shaking as he pulled her into his arms again. She didn't resist this time, instead collapsing against him, her entire body shaking with grief.

"Aashika... I didn't know. I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me?" His voice was raw with pain and confusion.

"I couldn't, Rohit," she whispered between sobs, her voice barely a breath. "I couldn't tell you... not after everything that happened. And then... after the accident, Mita, she came in our life all of a sudden. I couldn't decide anything." Aashika's breath hitched. "Today she took her own life because she didn't want me to know the exact truth. She didn't want me to find out who was really behind it."

Rohit's heart twisted. Mita? He had always thought she was the only one who had caused the accident. But now... now it seemed like something else was at play. His thoughts spun wildly.

"What do you mean, Aashika? If it wasn't Mita, then who?" Rohit's voice cracked as he tried to make sense of it all.

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know. I can't figure it out. It should have been Raghav... if he really wanted me, he would have claimed me by now. But he didn't. And now, I'm left here, with all this pain, and no answers."

Her sobs grew louder, more frantic. "I can't take it anymore, Rohit. I just want to die. It's all too much. I can't live with this pain, knowing our baby is gone, knowing I've failed you... failed everyone."

Rohit's heart stopped. His sunshine -his Lily, the woman who had always been strong and full of life- was telling him she wanted to die. The words hit him like a physical blow. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All he could do was pull her tighter into his arms, holding her as if he could keep her from falling apart.

"No, Aashika... please, don't say that. You can't leave me. You can't leave
us. I need you. You are everything to me," he whispered, his voice breaking. "You still didn't lose. We can fight for this together."

Her tears were unrelenting as she shook her head. "No, I feel all useless, Rohit. It's better to die than to live like a grieving soul. I can't hold myself anymore. I've ruined everything-your life, my life, everything."

The words cut deep, and Rohit couldn't hold back his own tears anymore. His heart shattered as he cradled her in his arms, pressing her to him like she was the last thing left in his world.

"You need to live for me, Lily. Every moment in my every wish, my every prayer, I just yearn for you. Don't even imagine leaving me like that."

Aashika's breath hitched as she sobbed harder, clinging to him like a lifeline. Her tears soaked his shirt as she let go of the walls she had built around herself, finally allowing herself to crumble into his arms.
"I'm sorry, Rohit. I'm so sorry... for everything."

The words felt like a crushing weight on his chest. She was apologizing for something that wasn't even her fault, something he had no control over. Yet it felt like he had failed her. Failed them.

Suddenly, Aashika's body tensed again, her breathing becoming shallow. She gasped, unable to catch her breath, her face contorting in panic.

"No, no, no... Aashika!" Rohit
shouted, his heart racing as he tried to calm her. "Breathe, just breathe. I'm here, I'm here!"

But the panic attack hit her with full force. Her chest rose and fell erratically, her hands clutching at his shirt in desperation. Rohit felt as though the world was collapsing around him, and he could do nothing but hold her, trying to anchor her to reality.

"I can't breathe, Rohit... I can't breathe..." she whispered, her voice choked with fear.

"Shhh..." he soothed her, rubbing her back gently, trying to calm her down.

His own tears were falling now as he fought to keep his composure. "I've got you. I've got you, Aashika. Just breathe, please, breathe for me."

It felt like hours, though it was only moments before her breath began to slow. Her sobs quieted, though the trembling remained. She clung to him, her body curled into his like a broken child, her eyes wide with
fear.

Eventually, she fell into an exhausted sleep in his arms, her head resting on his chest. Rohit stared down at her, his heart aching with love and sorrow, guilt and frustration. He had no idea how to fix any of this.

As he sat there, watching over her, his mind couldn't stop racing. The truth she had finally shared-the truth about their baby, the accident, Mita, and the unspoken horrors-had unveiled.

How will I mend everything? When the scars are so deep...
That innocent child had nothing to do with this chaos, why did someone aim at it?
How will I do this? It's not easy, not easy when my own heart is shattering too...

Yes, now it's not only hers but theirs!

The next morning, (Rohit's POV)

I hadn't slept a wink, the turmoil inside me too much to rest. The weight of Aashika's words, the heartbreak in her eyes-everything she'd revealed last night-was spinning in my mind like a whirlwind. But as much as my heart ached, I knew I had to be there for her, even if I didn't have the answers.

So, I found myself in the kitchen, doing the one thing I knew could at least provide a sense of normalcy. I started preparing pancakes, a small gesture, something to ease her pain, even if just for a moment.

The kitchen was quiet, save for the soft sizzle of the batter on the pan. My hands moved automatically, but my mind kept wandering back to Aashika. I couldn't fix what was broken, but I could offer her something, something to take her mind off everything, even if only briefly.

Just as I plated the pancakes, I heard her footsteps approach, and without looking up, I knew it was her. There was a brief pause, and then I felt her presence behind me.

I turned around with a smile, the plate of pancakes in my hands. But before I could speak, Aashika's voice cut through the air, sharp and frustrated.

"Rohit, you've been awake all night, and instead of resting, you're here cooking breakfast?!" she exclaimed, her eyes stormy, frustration evident in her tone. "Can't you just stop for a minute?"

I couldn't help but smile, despite the intensity of the moment.

The very next moment she took away the plate from me with a sigh, a soft grumble escaping her lips as she sat down at the table. I knew better than to press her for words right now. But as she took a bite of the pancakes, despite her frustration, I noticed the faintest smile tug at the corner of her lips. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

She finished the bite and set the plate aside, looking at me, her expression softer now, but still weighed down by everything.

"Wait for me in the garden," she said, her voice quieter. "I need to shower first. We need to talk."

My heart dropped at her words. I wanted to stay, to be there with her, but I nodded. I would wait for her. I could do that. I could wait a lifetime if it meant she'd talk to me, open up even more. Because no matter how hard it was to face the truth of what had happened, I knew I couldn't walk away from her. Not now. Not ever.

As she walked off to shower, I stood there for a moment, looking at the empty plate. This wasn't over. I wasn't going anywhere. But what if she says me to go away?

I had to help her find a way back to herself. For both of us.

Internal Feud, (Aashika's POV)

The warm water cascaded over me, but it couldn't wash away the storm inside. I stood there, hands on the wall, struggling to steady my breath.

I knew the moment I walked into that kitchen, it was a mistake. Rohit. My mind reeled with his face, his eyes-how he'd been there for me despite everything, despite all the pain. How he'd tried to fix things that were so broken they couldn't be fixed.

But could I really let him stay? Could I ask him to keep carrying this burden-my burden-on his shoulders?

I let out a shaky breath, my hand gripping the soap as if it could erase everything. Maybe I was just being selfish, wanting him around because, deep down, I didn't want to face the reality of being without him. I needed him, but I didn't want to ruin his life, tie him to mine-my shattered world.

But the truth was, I couldn't make sense of it. I didn't know if I needed him to help me, or if I just wanted him by my side because he was my light-my only light in a world gone dark. But how could I ask him to live like this? To live in my world, where shadows lurked and everything was about pain and loss?

No. I had to let him go. I wasn't the woman he needed. I was broken. He deserved someone who could offer him a future, not someone who was stuck in the past, trapped in a cycle of memories and regrets.

But even as the thoughts echoed in my mind, I felt the ache in my chest grow-an emptiness that seemed to grow larger the more I tried to push him away. He had been my anchor, and letting him go felt like tearing away a part of myself. But I couldn't keep him, could I? It would ruin him. His bright future, his happiness-it all deserved to come without the weight of my mistakes.

I sank to the floor of the shower, my head in my hands, fighting against the suffocating guilt, the confusion. I couldn't hold him back. Not now. Not like this.

And yet, despite everything, I knew-I wanted him. I needed him more than I ever realized. But I couldn't keep clinging to him, could I? I needed to let him go.

But how could I, when every part of me screamed to hold on?

Hearts Finding Home! (Author's POV)

The garden was eerily quiet, save for the soft rustling of leaves as Aashika stood, heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't do this. She didn't want to, but she had to.
She had to say it.

But how? How could she even begin to say something so painful? She opened her mouth, but no words came.

Rohit stood a few steps away, his gaze fixed on the ground. He was waiting for her to speak, but Aashika hesitated, the turmoil inside her tightening around her chest. "Rohit," she finally said, her voice soft, almost too soft.

He turned to her, eyes narrowed in anticipation. "What is it, Aashika?" His voice was strained, as though he knew something was coming, something he wouldn't want to hear.

Her heart twisted, and she fought to keep her composure. "I know what we've lost... what we had. The child, the pain, it's all ours. But... but you need more than this, more than me. You deserve someone who can help you rebuild your life, someone who can bring light back into your world." She paused, taking a shaky breath. "I can't... I can't give that to you. I can't drag you down with me, with my past."

Rohit's face darkened immediately, his jaw tightening as he took a few steps forward. "Someone else?" The words slipped out in disbelief, his chest tightening. "Is that what you think? That I could just forget everything, forget you, and move on?"

Aashika's chest tightened, the tears threatening to spill. She couldn't look at him. "Rohit, please. You can't keep clinging to me. You need to live your life, to move on. You need to find someone who can-"

"No." His voice cut through the air like a whip, sharp with anger. She never heard his voice so loud, his anger.

"You think I need someone else?" He was glaring at her now, his eyes full of hurt. "How could you even say that, Aashika? How could you ask me to walk away from you? I don't want anyone else. I want you. I've wanted you since the day I met you, and I still do. I've lived for you every single day, praying, hoping, wishing you to be mine... and now you tell me to let go?" His words hit her like a slap, the weight of his anger impossible to ignore.

She looked up at him, tears spilling down her cheeks. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words stuck in her throat. "You deserve better," she whispered, but it barely reached his ears.

Rohit's expression twisted in fury, his frustration too much to contain. He turned away from her in anger, pacing for a moment before he spoke again. "Better?" His voice cracked, but he was still furious. "Aashika, how could you even think that I could want anyone else? You're the only one I want. If not you, I don't want anyone. I'd rather choose dying than imagining myself with someone else, even if I don't get you ever, I don't want anyone else!"

She couldn't stop the sob that escaped her throat. The storm inside her was only getting worse. And then, just as the first raindrops began to fall, Rohit turned on his heel and started to walk away, his back stiff with the weight of his emotions. He decided to leave.

Aashika stood there, frozen, as the rain turned into a downpour. She didn't move. She didn't even try to shield herself from the cold, the wetness mixing with her tears. She let it all fall, the rain, the pain, the frustration... everything.

But then, she felt it. A weight around her shoulders. She looked up, her heart catching in her throat as Rohit came back to her. Without saying a word, he draped his coat over her, a protective gesture that broke her even more. He knew, she couldn't handle much cold. The warmth of his touch contrasted with the cold, soaking rain.

Aashika's breath caught, and she stared at him, feeling something inside him break.

Rohit's voice was softer now, breaking through the rain with raw emotion.

"Jaana samjho na, dil kehta hai,
Teri baahon mein jeena hai, marna hai."

(Beloved, understand this—my heart says it wants to live in your arms and die in your love.)

The words shattered her heart, and her sobs became louder, more desperate. Rohit, too, was broken. His hand gently cupped her face, brushing away her rain-soaked hair, his voice cracking as he realized the weight of what he had just said to her. He yelled at her which he never wanted to. At least he never wanted to yell at her like the whole world did! He didn't want to make her realise the pain which others did!

She clutched the coat tighter around her, but her heart was still heavy, suffocating with the distance between them, the silence that neither of them could bridge.

Rohit stepped back, his face twisted with pain. He turned and began walking away, the finality in his movements almost too much for Aashika to bear. But she couldn't bring herself to follow him. She stayed in the rain, letting it wash over her, drowning in her own grief.

The next step, (Rohit's POV)

Rohit paced restlessly in his room, frustration boiling inside him. His hands were clenched in fists as he replayed the heated conversation with Aashika over and over again. The words he'd shouted at her still rang in his ears, and each repetition felt like a slap in the face.

He couldn't believe he had let his anger get the best of him. What had come over him? Aashika didn't deserve that. She didn't deserve his yelling, especially when she was already carrying so much weight on her shoulders.

He stopped in his tracks, staring at the wall, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath. This time, he realized, he needed to make the first move. He couldn't just wait for her to come to him, not after everything that had happened. The last time, she had been the one to put herself out there, to speak her heart, to propose him!

This time, it had to be him. He had to make her feel secure, make her feel like she wasn't alone in this. Not for the sake of their relationship, not yet, but at least for her self-confidence, for her peace of mind.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door creak open.

"Rohit," Ruhan's voice broke the silence. Rohit looked up, startled, and saw his two older brothers, Ruhan and Ajay, standing in the doorway, watching him closely.

"You've been pacing like this for an hour," Ruhan said, arching an eyebrow. "What happened?"

Rohit's frustration surged again, and he snapped. "If Siya would've been angry at you, what would you give her?"

Ruhan blinked, surprised by the sudden aggression in his tone, but answered calmly, "Flowers?"

Rohit's eyes flared with irritation. "Flowers?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. "Aashika isn't that soft. She wouldn't just be happy with flowers."

Ruhan and Ajay exchanged a glance, the realization hitting them simultaneously. They knew this game. Rohit was at it again.

He was back in the same race, the one where he tried to fix everything with gestures and words, but this time, it felt different.

Ajay chuckled softly, stepping closer to his brother. "Rohit," he said, his tone light but knowing, "Even if the girl doesn't love flowers, it's always considered a sweet gesture. A sign of caring, of thoughtfulness."

Rohit's face lit up with determination. His lips twitched into a grin as he nodded slowly. "So... flowers, huh?"

Ruhan laughed, shaking his head. "Well, yeah. But not just any flowers. Make it special."

Suddenly, an idea sparked in Rohit's mind, and a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. He turned to his brothers, a devilish smile spreading across his face. "Not just flowers. A whole truck of flowers! Her whole house decorated with flowers, Her whole garden laced with flowers and her dinner- no I can't serve flowers there!"

Ruhan and Ajay burst into laughter, and Ruhan slapped Rohit's shoulder playfully. "Iss case mein to tujhe humara bada bhai ho na chahiye, yaar!" he said between chuckles. "You've been riding this train long before we even boarded it!"
(In this case, you should be our elder brother!)

Rohit rolled his eyes, but his smile didn't fade. Despite the tension, the lighthearted teasing from his brothers felt like a welcome relief.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Rohit straightened up and headed toward the door. "I'll show her. I'll make her understand," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "She'll know that she is the best! It's just that she needs to see herself from my eyes, my perspective!"

His brothers grinned, watching him leave, and Ajay called out as Rohit headed for the flower shop, "Good luck, man! Don't come back with just a bouquet! We want a whole bhabhi Jaan!"

Rohit shot them a wink, then stepped out into the streets, determined to find every flower Aashika would love-and maybe, just maybe, let her see that he wasn't going anywhere!

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Blurb of the next chapter:

"And will you do me a favour by saying why did you decorate my house as if it's a bride and gonna get married!" She shot me a deadpanned look.

"Let the house go in hell. I wanna see you as my bride." I mumbled.

"What?!" She looked at me in disbelief catching the exact words I said!

"Bhool Bhulaiyaa!" I diverted the topic with the first word that came in my mind. But what am I going to do with Bhool Bhulaiyaa?????
(Bhool Bhulaiyaa: Indian Bollywood movie, Literal meaning: Tangled in Confusion/Forgetfulness)

Wanna ride a roller coaster? Come along with me!
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(5.96k words)
The next Chapters are gonna be super duper Happy and Cringe too, as Mr. Sleepyhead, Mr. Foody, Dr. Bhardwaj and not to forget mentioning Aashika's "Hara Jungle" is going to try the best of his flirting techniques!✨👽

Share your views till the 1st phase of the story? How far do you love it? What amuses you the most?
Share the story and your love too. Hoping to meet soon!

With regards,
Wings_Of_Passion