Aashvika sank into the plush couch in her room, her exhausted body welcoming the softness. The cushions enveloped her like a warm hug, soothing her frazzled nerves. She had barely taken a few deep breaths when her gaze fell upon Ekansh.

He stood by the window, phone pressed to his ear, his expression twisted in frustration. His words were hushed, but Aashvika knew that tone. Furious. Ekansh's eyes blazed, his jaw clenched, and his shoulders tense. Aashvika recognized the signs; her husband was worried.

About Abhimanyu.

Aashvika's thoughts drifted to the complicated bond between Ekansh and Abhimanyu. Ekansh admired and respected his older brother, even when Abhimanyu didn't show it. Aashvika had witnessed their interactions, the way Ekansh looked up to Abhimanyu despite his reserved nature.

She sighed.

Today had been a dramatic day.

Many events had unfolded.

But this?

No one expected this.

The betrayal.

The shock.

The chaos.

Aashvika's eyelids drooped.

The day's toll was evident.

Her body ached.

Her mind reeled.

Ekansh's voice grew louder.

Aashvika's eyes fluttered open.

Concern etched on her face.

She rose from the couch.

And approached Ekansh.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Everything okay?"

Ekansh's gaze met hers.

For a fleeting moment.

Before returning to the phone call.

Aashvika's heart went out to him.

To Abhimanyu.

To their fractured family.

The night wore on.

Heavy with uncertainty.

And Aashvika stood.

By Ekansh's side.

Ready to face whatever came next.

Together.

As a team.

As a family.

Aashvika's gentle touch on Ekansh's arm was met with resistance. He shrugged off her hand, his eyes flashing with frustration. "Don't interfere in my family matters," he said gruffly, his voice low and warning.

Aashvika's eyes widened, hurt flashing across her face. She felt a sting from his words, like a slap to her soul. "You're an outsider, Aashvika," Ekansh continued. "You don't understand."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, cutting deep into Aashvika's heart. She felt a surge of emotions - anger, hurt, and betrayal. How could Ekansh say that? Didn't he know how much she cared?

Aashvika's face burned with humiliation. She rolled her eyes, trying to hide the pain. "Great, thanks for reminding me," she muttered, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Turning on her heel, Aashvika walked back to the couch, her steps heavy with emotion. She flopped onto the cushions, pulling the duvet over herself like a shield.

"I'm done trying to help," she whispered, her voice muffled by the blanket. The soft fabric enveloped her, a comforting embrace.

Aashvika closed her eyes, tears pricking at the corners. But she refused to let them fall, biting back the sorrow. Ekansh's words stung, echoing in her mind.

"Outsider." The label cut deep, making her question her place in Ekansh's life.

Aashvika's thoughts swirled, a vortex of confusion and pain. Why did she even try? Why did she care? Was she just a temporary fixture in Ekansh's life?

The room fell silent, the only sound Ekansh's muffled voice on the phone. Aashvika tuned him out, her heart heavy, her mind numb.

Sleep beckoned, a welcome escape. Aashvika surrendered, letting the darkness claim her.

As she drifted off, Aashvika wondered if she'd ever find her place in Ekansh's world. Or would she always be an outsider, looking in?

Aashvika's thoughts swirled as she lay under the duvet, her mind reeling with the evening's events. The humiliation and hurt from Ekansh's words still lingered.

She couldn't shake off the feeling of rejection. "How did I fall for someone who has never acknowledged me?" she wondered.

Memories flooded her mind, taking her back to their first meeting. Ekansh's indifference had been palpable. He had walked past her without a glance, without a nod, without a word.

Aashvika recalled how Ekansh would attend meetings, discussions, and gatherings, never once addressing her. His silence was deafening, a constant reminder that she was invisible to him.

Yet, Aashvika had been drawn to him. She saw beyond his aloofness, or so she thought. She had convinced herself that beneath his reserved exterior lay a kind and caring soul.

But now, Aashvika realized the harsh truth. Ekansh's disregard wasn't indifference; it was disdain, contempt.

She felt a wave of shame wash over her. How could she have misread the signs so badly? How could she have ignored the warning signs?

Aashvika's heart ached. She thought of all the times she had tried to catch his eye, all the times she had attempted to start a conversation.

Each rejection, each snub, each ignored gesture had left her feeling battered and bruised.

"Why did I love someone who never saw me?" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Didn't she deserve better? Didn't she deserve love?

Aashvika's thoughts tortured her. She felt lost, confused, and heartbroken.

The darkness closed in, and Aashvika's tears finally fell. Silent. Bitter.

A sorrowful acknowledgment echoed in her mind: She had fallen for someone who never wanted her.

As the tears streamed down her face, Aashvika knew she had to let go. Let go of the hope, the dreams, the love she had nurtured for so long.

Ekansh slumped onto the bed, exhaustion consuming him. His head throbbed, a relentless drumbeat that refused to subside. The events of the day swirled in his mind like a vortex, sucking away his energy.

Abhimanyu's crisis.

Parth's frustration.

The looming deadline.

Ekansh's thoughts tangled, each problem knotting into a larger, more complex issue. He rubbed his temples, trying to massage away the tension.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on Aashvika.

She lay on the couch, her body tense even in sleep. The blanket wrapped around her like a shield, protecting her from the world. Ekansh's eyes narrowed.

He hadn't realized she was still awake.

Or that she'd fallen asleep there.

His words came back to him.

"Outsider."

A pang of guilt struck Ekansh.

He hadn't meant to hurt her.

But the damage was done.

Aashvika's peaceful face belied the pain he'd caused. Her eyelids fluttered, her brow furrowed, even in slumber. Ekansh's heart twinged.

He rose from the bed.

Approached Aashvika.

Stood over her.

Watching.

Her chest rose and fell.

Slow.

Steady.

Ekansh's eyelids drooped.

Fatigue claimed him.

As he drifted off.

His gaze remained on Aashvika.

Her fragile form.

Her troubled sleep.

Ekansh's thoughts whispered.

"What have I done?"

Regret seeped into his consciousness.

Too late.

Sleep overpowered his conscience.

And Ekansh succumbed to darkness.

Unaware of the rift he'd created.

Unaware of Aashvika's quiet tears.

The room fell silent.

Two broken souls.

Lost in their turmoil.

Sleeping.

Apart.