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Vihaan ~

The next day, as I sat in my office, reviewing the details of the triple murder case, Amaya interrupted with a knock on the door.

I met her gaze with a nod, giving the go-ahead. "Yes. Let Shivanya know she can come in."

Shivanya entered, holding my coat from the previous night. "Good morning, Mr. Raichand," she said, her voice steady but with a slight edge of embarrassment. "I wanted to return your coat. Thank you for lending it to me."

She hung it in the most proper manner on the chair right opposite mine, her fingers brushing against the fabric, smoothing out a nonexistent wrinkle.

Now that you're here, we need to discuss the Khanna case," I stated, gesturing for her to take a seat.

Shivanya nodded, her posture still rigid. "Yes, sir."

I've been reviewing the cross-examination from yesterday," she began, her eyes lighting up with the intensity. "Rakesh Kumar's testimony was full of inconsistencies, and your cross-examination exposed them perfectly."She started, beginning to ease into the conversation, while scribbling pointers on her notepad.

Unbidden, I found myself studying her. The way her brow furrowed in concentration, the faint dusting of freckles across her nose, the way she chewed on her bottom lip when lost in thought. It was a stark contrast to the composed facade she usually maintained.

"There's a discrepancy in the..." I started, about to point out a detail in the witness statements, but she cut me off.

"The security guard's alibi. You're right, sir. I was just getting to that," she said, her voice firm now, the earlier nervousness replaced by a quiet confidence.

She proceeded to lay out her findings, sketching a detailed timeline of the events on the notepad.

"Intriguing," I murmured, leaning back in my chair as Shivanya finished detailing the smudged fingerprints on the antique vase. "So, we have a security guard with a questionable alibi, a missing exit record, and a crime scene devoid of fingerprints except for a single, smudged mark."

"The security guard's patrol logs only show an entry swipe, not an exit," she stated, her voice firm with conviction. "This is a major anomaly, sir. We need to investigate further."

A slow smile tugged at the corner of my lips, not at the complexity of the case, but at the way her brow furrowed in concentration, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of the chase. This wasn't just a job for her it was a puzzle waiting to be solved.

"The guard, sir. Are you planning to shift the suspicion on him instead of Prakash?" she echoed, her voice tight with disbelief. "But the evidence..."

"Is circumstantial, at best." I finished, my voice neutral. "Our job isn't to judge, Shivanya. It's to defend. To ensure a fair trial and present a credible case, even for the most unlikely suspects."

"Right," she said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of defiance. "In that case, let's see how strong the prosecution's case really is. Starting with the missing exit record – a technical malfunction or a deliberate manipulation on the night of the event?"

"Pull up the security footage for me, Miss Chopra. There is something we are overlooking." I asked her.

"Mr. Raichand I don't have the access to that data yet. You are yet to assign the Evidence room biometric card to me." She replied, looking up from her written notes.

"That's right. You will receive it by the end of the day. Amaya will get us the drive for now." I said, calling up assistant up and she was here with the evidence box.

We started analysing, dissecting the security footage frame by frame. The grainy images offered little in terms of identifying the lone figure entering the Khanna penthouse, but Shivanya's keen eye caught a detail I'd missed. A faint flicker of movement by a service entrance that remained just outside the camera's view.

"This could be our point of entry," she declared, her voice laced with excitement. "The perpetrator might have used the service entrance, a blind spot in the security system."

As she leaned closer to the screen, her hair cascaded down her shoulder, framing her face in a way that sent a jolt through me.

"Intriguing," I murmured, my voice lower than usual.

She straightened, a hint of self-consciousness flickering in her eyes before she steeled herself again. "We need to obtain the access logs for the service entrance," she said, her voice back to its professional tone.

Agreed," I replied, tearing my gaze away from her for a moment to focus on the task at hand. "We will need to subpoena the building management for those records."

Shivanya nodded, her determination unwavering. "I'll take care of that right away, sir."

Shivanya," I called out as she reached for the door, causing her to pause and turn back to me.

"Yes, Mr. Raichand?" she asked, her gaze meeting mine with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"You've done excellent work on this case so far," I said, my voice sincere. "Your insights have been extremely invaluable. Keep it up."

A soft smile graced her lips, a glimmer of pride shining in her eyes. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."

With that, she left my office, leaving me alone with my thoughts which were all about her.

Shivanya ~

Work keeps me sane and at the moment, my only escape.

Vihaan Raichand's mind should be studied, I think. Pinning the blame on the security guard is always such a common angle to explore and yet the way he spun the web of his thoughts to create a defence for Prakash, I was amazed.

I had just gathered all the required documents of this case when my phone went off. It was Naina aunty, Taran's mom.

"Namaste Aunty." I took the call, leaning back on my cubicle's chair.

"Namaste beta. Shivanya, since Taran and Radhika have decided to get married next month, there are a lot of things to be done and since it is their special day, I want both of them to make the decisions about everything so that they get their dream wedding and we need to start with location, outfit and a thousand other huntings so if you are free this evening, maybe you could come over with Radhika so that we could discuss things?" She asked, very sweetly.

"Of course Aunty. Radhika and I will be there once I am free from work." I said, taking a deep breath.

"We look forward to it beta. See you." She said but before we could hang up, I stopped her.

"Aunty, I actually wanted to talk to you alone and I don't think we are going to get the time for that anytime soon, so phone is my only option." I voiced, sitting up straight.

"What is it Shivanya beta? You have nothing to hesitate about." She replied.

"Aunty, Radhika is just twenty-two at the moment and despite being mature for her age but after our parents passed away, I have kept her shielded as much as I could from every sorrow and everything that could possibly hurt her. She is mature but inexperienced and I think what I am trying to say is, she might make some mistakes, might not understand somethings initially. I know it is the parents who say all this to the in-laws but I am all she has and she is all I have so...." I didn't realise that my voice was choking and eyes had unshed tears.

Naina aunty's voice softened on the other end of the line. "Shivanya beta, you don't need to worry about Radhika. I understand your concerns, and I promise you, we will always be here for her. Taran loves her deeply, and we will make sure that their life together is filled with love, understanding, and support. You have raised her well, and we will do everything in our power to ensure her happiness."

Her words brought a sense of relief, and I let out a shaky breath. "Thank you, aunty. I trust you both, and I know Radhika will be in good hands."

"Always, beta. We're family now, and family takes care of each other," Naina aunty reassured me, her warmth evident even through the phone.

With a weight lifted off my shoulders, I managed a small smile. "Thank you, aunty. I'll see you this evening."

"Take care, Shivanya. And don't worry too much. Everything will be fine," she said before we bid each other goodbye.

As I hung up the phone, a sense of gratitude washed over me. I should be grateful that she is marrying a guy who I know will never break her trust, or mine.

The rest of the day passed with me working on this case while following on the others ongoing. Thankfully, I had no hearing in the Court, which allowed me to leave for home sooner than usual where I found Radhika looking completely confused upon my arrival.

"What happened, doll?" I asked, throwing myself on the couch, looking at her walking in and out of her room.

"I have nothing to wear!" She shrieked, dropping dead next to me and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Radhika I don't think you have checked out closet properly." I laughed, standing up to help her. She followed me.

"Here, wear this." I said, taking out a simple pink kurti set from her wardrobe after scanning through it for a minute.

"Where did you find this?" She asked, shocked.

"Silly." I hit her head lightly before leaving her alone to get dressed while I did too. It wasn't very polite to keep the hosts waiting.

Shivanya's Look ~

As Radhika and I made our way to Taran's house, the anticipation of the evening ahead filled the air. Naina aunty greeted us warmly at the door, her smile infectious as she ushered us inside.

"Namaste, beta. So glad you could make it," she said, embracing us both in a tight hug.

"Namaste, Aunty. Thank you for having us," I replied, returning her hug with equal warmth.

Taran greeted us with a smile, his eyes shining with excitement as he pulled Radhika into a tight hug.

"Hey, you," he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Glad you could make it."

Radhika blushed, her smile radiant as she returned his embrace. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness deep within me. My own smile wavered, a facade I desperately clung to as I fought to contain the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Seeing his affection towards Radhika, knowing that I could never be the recipient of such an emotion from him, filled me with a sense of longing and emptiness.

"Stop getting jealous of your own sister Shivanya, just stop." I chided myself for feeling what I was towards those two.

I wish humans too had an emotional on and off switch, like the vampires did in TVD.

Aunty had called some wedding planners who were currently detailing everything about the wedding, starting from the starters which would be served in the sangeet to the outfit of the bride and groom.

"Di, I want to wear pastel pink." Radhika said in a small voice.

"Of course. Whatever you like." I gave her a smile and her face beamed.

"Pastel pink would go best if you decide to have a day wedding." One of the girls from the team said and Naina aunty and I agreed with her.

"If Radhika want's a day wedding, we are going to have a day wedding." Taran announced, looking at her and I turned my gaze away from him immediately, focusing on the venue and decoration catalogue in my hands. It wasn't just about the wedding arrangements anymore; it was a stark reminder of the growing distance between us, the distance I was going to put up myself, voluntarily.

"Shivanya, what do you think?" Naina aunty's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

I looked up, forcing a smile. "I think a day wedding sounds lovely. It'll be bright and cheerful."

Naina aunty smiled warmly, seemingly unaware of the turmoil brewing inside me. "I'm glad you agree, beta. We want Radhika's special day to be perfect."

Radhika's eyes sparkled with excitement as she flipped through the pages of bridal attire, her enthusiasm infectious. "Di, look at this lehenga! It's so beautiful!"

I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, pushing aside the ache in my heart. "It's gorgeous, Radhika. You'll look stunning in it."

"Radhika, hold on for the outfit for just another ten minutes. We have a neighbour who is am amazing fashion designer and is a good friend. I have asked her if she could help up out and she has gladly agreed.

Radhika nodded in understanding and we were just checking out some more venue options when I heard that same, sweet voice for the second time.

"Naina, sorry to have kept you waiting. My husband was just throwing some tantrums about his son not wanting to spend time with him without his mother. I swear, having two lawyers at home is......" She chuckled but stopped as we looked at each other.

"Shivanya, right?" She asked, and I stood up.

"Yes ma'am." I greeted her with a smile.

"So nice to see you again." She pulled me in for a hug, shocking me, but I eventually hugged her back.

She pulled away, her warm smile reassuring. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?"

I shook my head, trying to mask the lingering unease from earlier. "No, not at all. We were just discussing some wedding arrangements for Radhika and Taran."

"Ahh, Radhika?" She asked, looking at her and then back at me, a little confused.

"She is my sister," I offered to clear her confusion and her eyes lit up in understanding.

"Congratulations, beta." She addressed Radhika this time with a smile.

"Thank you so much aunty." She replied with a small smile herself.

As for me, I still couldn't believe the unfolding situation. It felt like my life kept getting intertwined with my boss's, and my world was currently tilted on its axis.

As the evening wore on, I excused myself from the group under the pretext of needing some fresh air. Stepping out into the cool night, I took a moment to collect my thoughts, leaning against the railing of the porch.

"Hey."

The unexpected voice made me jump slightly, and I turned to see Taran standing a few feet away, a concerned expression on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked, stepping closer and moved a little further away but looked at him.

I forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil churning inside me. "Yeah, just needed a breather."

Taran leaned against the railing next to me, his gaze searching. "You seem... distant. Is everything alright Shivi? I hope you know that my wedding with Radhika changes no aspect of our friendship, right?"

I hesitated, unsure of what to tell him. "Just... a lot on my mind, I guess." There was no way and no world in which I was going to tell him that this changes everything.

He nodded, his expression softening. "You know, you can talk to me, right? Whatever it is, I'm here for you."

"I appreciate that, Taran," I replied, mustering a small smile. "But really, it's nothing I can't handle."

He studied me for a moment, as if sensing there was more beneath the surface, but eventually relented with a nod. "Alright. Just know that I'm here if you ever need to talk."

"Thanks," I murmured, grateful for his understanding.

We stood in silence for a while, the night enveloping us in its tranquility. Eventually, Taran broke the quietude.

"I should probably get back inside," he said, casting a glance towards the open door.

I nodded, offering him a reassuring smile. "Yeah, go ahead. I'll join you in a bit."

As he disappeared back into the house, I let out a heavy sigh, the weight of my emotions pressing down on me once more. Despite the facade I maintained, the ache in my heart refused to subside.

"Shivanya."

This was the second time I jumped out of my place in the span of five minutes. This time, it was Mr. Birdbrain's voice that rang into my ears and my eyes followed, only to find him standing on the porch next house. I could barely look at the features of his face in the dark but could see him clear enough to make out that it was him.

"Mr. Raichand?" I stood confused for a split second before realising that this is where he most probably lives.

He advanced with measured steps, his features obscured by the veil of night. "You're getting married to him?" His question dripped with a bitterness that caught me off guard, sending a shiver down my spine.

"What? No! Taran is getting married to my sister, not me," I replied, the last two words coming out sharper than intended. I could feel his gaze scrutinising me, making me squirm under his intense gaze.

"You're in love with him, aren't you?" The accusation hung heavy in the air, sending a chill down my spine and leaving me speechless, my heart pounding in my chest.

I opened my mouth to protest, to deny his true accusation, but his unwavering gaze held me captive. Slowly, the truth began to dawn on me, seeping into the cracks of my denial like water through dry earth and I turned my back towards him, suppressing a threatening sob and a lone tear which had already escaped my left eye.

"There is no world in which I could love him. He is my sister's love." I found myself saying, still not looking at him.

"That's not what I saw when you were speaking to him." He said, admitting to have witnessed Taran and me talking.

""You think you know all about my feelings based on my one conversation with Taran, my best friend since ages? I thought you were a better lawyer than that." I spoke for him to hear.

"I am. That is how is know." His voice softened but I still couldn't bring myself to face him.

"I wish I had said something to him in all these years. It was all my fault. I wish I had told him instead of keeping everything to myself for so long that I lost him. I wish I had said something to him, told him." I whispered, deciding that this was the last time I was ever talking about my feelings for my sister's fiance.

I needed to speak up these words for the first and last time because had I not, I would have cheated myself and if I ever say them again, I would cheat my sister and my best friend, which I would never.

But the surprising calmness of our surroundings told me that my boss had heard my words and ironically, the man with whom I hadn't even exchanged a word with before these past four days was the one who knew my deepest secret.

Hey guys! This is the next chapter. I hope you all like it. Do tell me what you feel about it through the comments section. I love you all. Until next time. Byee!!