"The shattering of a heart when being broken is the loudest quiet ever."

— Carroll Bryant

***

"Viransh." Avni breathed as she observed him swiftly exiting her room, barring the door with a thud. Her delicate eyebrows dipped into a frown, her mind mulling over his various rationales for withdrawing away so abruptly. She recounted the blaze of several emotions swarming in his steely bronze gaze when he offered one last stare. Bewilderment, shock, and recognition glimmered in his amber irises, whereas an agitated, thoughtful expression lingered on his mellow countenance. But why so suddenly?

She glanced back at the door as she sought to decipher the tycoon's despair. He was fine just a few minutes ago. Her hands grazed the unusual spot on her ankle, a little patch of burnished brown, almost like a scar. Though it was asymmetrical, if one looked intently, it appeared like a lopsided leaf. Her lips lifted in a faint smile. Her mother, Ridhima, had the same birthmark, and little Ira would purposely paint her ankle with a similar tint, trying to impose the same ancestral gene as her elder sister and mother.

Her smile slowly faded. Viransh's demeanor appeared to shift after peering at the fleck. His eyes grew gentle, but there was a pain in his gaze as he looked at her. A crease kneaded between the small gap of her raven brows. How can she miss the flicker of realization gleaming underneath the depth of his amber pools? The question tormented her senses, sending her prudence into turmoil.

Rushing a hand on her face, she fell back on the bed with a soft thump. Her dark gaze glided up to the white up surface of her room, a recessed golden hue of lights glinting the milieu from the tray ceiling blending with the muted colors of the chamber. Sleep seemed to evade her grasp as her mind holed up back to the events connived this evening. She sighed, twirling a lock of her wet, silken hair around her finger. No matter how much she fortified herself to stir clear of Viransh Malik, somehow, fate had an ulterior motive of bringing them together time and time again.

A knock rapped against her door, rattling her thoughts and propelling her to turn her gaze toward the doorframe. Her lips instantly lifted in a soft smile as her younger brother's head afterward popped inside once he had opened the door a few inches.

"Hey." He muttered, cautiously walking toward his sister.

"Hey, kiddo." Avni retorted, repositioning herself back in a sitting position. "It was one hell of a night."

Kabir hummed a yes as Avni's hand curled around his fragile wrist, nudging him to sit down beside her. The teenage half smiled, yet remained silent, trying to steady his rapidly beating heart against his rib cage, his tawny gaze wandering around his sister's room.

Avni's room was grey, warmed up by accents of gold and creamy white. Grey marble swirled with rich mural imposed arrear of the neatly made, enormous four-poster bed. The silvery silken curtains hung on the goldenrod were slightly unsealed, effectively giving a peek of pitch black night outside the large window that overlooked like a labyrinth. Two matching pairs of drab nightstands stood on each side of the bed, holding up sleek lamps and a few photo frames. A full-length mirror planted opposite of the window hailed as an antique because of its hand-carved frame. Facing the bed was a slate grey wall featuring a modern fireplace and an abstract painting by Avni while a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf was sparsely filled with books and a few art pieces.

With minimalist furnishings, her room was exquisite, bearing a definite feminine touch. It was neither too bright nor too dim. Just consistent. Shrouds of grey lent tranquility and a moody ambiance to the bedroom.

Avni had a peculiar rationale for casting grey. She believed grey is abiding. The leaden hue was emotionless, with underlying profound depth, suppressing so many mysteries, yet it was translucent. While white and black may be abstract, grey was the nuanced turf that she delved into. The monochromatic hues were alluring, but for her grey was tantalizing, being an enchanting blend of mysteries and revelation, a consolidation of bleakness and happiness, a fusion of falsity and verity. And in between, this whimsical brew swirled her deep and puzzling truth, prudently concealing the tornado with tranquillity.

Kabir didn't realize he was frowning at the photo frame placed on the bedside table until he felt a dainty hand brush a few strands of his dark locks away from his forehead.

"You look like you are solving some extremely tricky mathematical equation," Avni amused, a small laugh rumbling her chest.

The teenager beside her snapped out of his frozen state and Avni could hear his ragged breathing as he took a long moment before speaking. "I was terribly frightened today," He finally conceded his fear in a soft, forlorn tone, his lower lip wobbling, and his face blanching in a disquieting shade as his irises wavered back to his sister.

Avni's gaze softened, something tangible squeezing her fragile heart at the sight of her brother's afflicted countenance. The torment on his face almost killed her. Grasping his hand, she drew it closer to her mouth, pressing her lips slightly on the back of his palm. "I'm alright, Kabir."

Kabir shook his head, tears quickly gathering in his eyes before they tumble down his cheeks, carving a narrow pathway across his visage. "You weren't opening your eyes. You're lying almost lifeless on the ground. I don't want to remember that." His dark eyes flared, and his chest rattled with a shuddering breath. "It was so similar. You know, Mom didn't open her eyes too. For a minute, I thought that you'll leave me like mom. It all came back, I couldn't do anything—"

She bit her lower lip, feeling the fear and panic coursing through him, reverberating down to the very core of her soul. The pain slowly pierced into her rib cage like a sharp knife, slicing her heart into chunks at the image of her mother's cold, limp body lying on the bed. The numbness of their mother's loss had passed, but the grief and agony still clenched her chest.

"It's all coming back, Di. All coming back. Everything." His grip on the bedsheet loosened as his fingertips started prickling before the tingles shot up to his arms, eventually going numb. It was like he got stripped of all security and stranded barren, with nothing but a primal fear and hopelessness. The anguish had him doubling over, his body racking with wretched sobs. "Ever-thing."

Avni immediately embraced him tightly, pressing his face on her shoulder, allowing him to weep in her arms as she felt the panic break through the surface of his core. With each ear-splitting sound of his sobs, her soul wailed in agony and helplessness at not being able to quench her brother's fear.

"Shh," she murmured softly against his hair, stroking circles on his back. His sob became shorter, the intake of breath turning harsher and shallow as if his lungs seethed, demanding oxygen. Tenderly, she pulled back, cupping his face before sweeping his tears away with the pad of her thumbs. "Look at me. Breathe, Kabir, please breathe. Just breathe."

Kabir's heart hammered in his chest and his body felt out of sorts, odd and detached. His emotions were in turmoil, but his brain didn't seem to register them. The pressure on his chest grew heavier, more intense, as if it constricted with a heavy, oppressive weight and his lungs burned, fighting for air. Avni's voice sounded unfamiliar to his ear until his eyes collided with her fear-stricken gaze. His blurry vision lazed on his sister's face as she kept urging him to breathe. He meekly nodded a yes, his fuzzy brain still trying to think rationally. Summoning strength, he slowly sucked in a long breath.

Avni didn't realize she was holding her breath until it rushed out of her in one sharp, shaky exhalation. "Yes, sweetie, you're doing very good. I am so proud of you, Kabir. Now look at me, see I am here, and breath with me."

A strained smile ghosted across Avni's lips as Kabir followed her words, inhaling as if a small part of his brain heard her plea. "Yeah, just like that. I am so proud of you. You're fine, Kabir. You're fine."

Once Kabir's breathing was normal, Avni held him in his arms for a while. When she pulled back gently, she ruffled his hair, pressing her lips slightly on his forehead. Relief and lament both washed over her as she held his hand, staring at his weary face.

"Di, I'm sorry, but it all came back." His eyes turned moist again.

"No! Stop going there." she reprimanded him, the hold on his hand tightening as she rested her cheek against the back of his hand. "You were just a baby then." Her voice cracked slightly. "Now my baby brother saved me! See? Now I am all fine! You know I'm tougher than I look." She reassured him, putting a bit more energy into the grip she had on his hand.

"I saved you? When?" Kabir gasped in disbelief, dragging the back of his hand across his wet cheek. "Di I- oh my god, did you smash your head while falling into the pool? I didn't save you! Mr. Malik did—"

Avni threw her head back, laughing at her adorable brother's bewildered expression. "I know Mr. Malik pulled me out of the pool, but who called him? You did, didn't you?"

A surprise registered on the teenage boy's face before it split into a sly grin. "That I did." He nodded, long forgotten, was his fear as his sister cradled his head, tenderness in her gaze, almost motherly.

The siblings' gaze sailed toward the door when they heard loud voices arguing—more like shouting—outside Avni's room. One familiar voice sounded distinctly like her grandmother and by the time she could've figured out the other voice, the person itself penetrated her room swiftly, slamming the door shut in at Shobha Desai's face.

"Bowfin boggin bampot." Mishika cursed in her native language, propping her head against the door. Her emerald irises drifted to the sibling duo, who beamed at her in awe and astonishment. She chuckled as the duo's similar brown eyes twinkled with reverence. "Umm, I hate your grandmother." She stated lamely.

"The feeling is mutual." They said together, shaking their head in understanding and then bursting into a peal of laughter.

"But I thought we established that three years ago." Avni sobered up and chimed in. Her forehead wrinkled into a frown. "What was happening outside?"

Mishika rolled her eyes and strode toward them. "Nothing which needs our attention right now."

"I'll check outside." Kabir intervened, getting up from bed, only to stop short when Mishika's words drummed in his ears.

"Kabir, baby, a fire-breathing dragon is lurking outside the room." Mishika exaggerated, depositing her handbag on a nearby chair before entangling the leash of her heels and sprawling on the bed. She raised an amused brow, her lips tilting into a mischievous smirk. "I don't think you should go out right now—unless you want to be her feast." She looked up at the boy, her lips stretching in an ungainly smile.

Both the friends giggled at Kabir's appalled expression as he rushed back to the bed. A small crease appeared on his cherubic face for a split second, endeavoring to figure out why would his Mishika Di try to personify a supposedly evil witch to a fire-breathing dragon, but he didn't dwell on the thoughts any longer and sat beside them.

"I thought you had an important photo shoot today," Avni asked once her friend settled her head against a dark gray pillow, suppressing a yawn.

"I had." The titan haired nodded. "Kabir called to inform me you fell into the pool. I would've reached here sooner if my car hadn't broken down." Inclining her head, she leafed through her friend's injury. "How's your leg now?"

"Much better."

Mishika's heaved a sigh of relief before glancing at Kabir. "And how are you my little champ?"

"I'm fine." He tilted his head slightly and smiled.

Mishika ruffled his hair, earning a small whine from him. She recalled his frenzied voice when he called her. It didn't take her long to concede he was triggered by the event which was somewhat similar to an uncanny memory of the past. He had been shit scared for his eldest sister. Avni was the closest motherly figure he had now.

She wrinkled her nose, laying her head deeper against the velvety cushions. "Damn woman, you keep falling everywhere, don't you? Be it into a cliff, a pool, or in love with an arsehole?"

"No, Mishika Di, Mr. Malik is not an arsehole!" Kabir piped up and immediately snapped his mouth sealed when he realized he'd accidentally exclaimed a cuss word.

"Mr. Malik?" Mishika choked out, looking imploringly at Avni and Kabir.

Kabir nodded, scorning the warning of his elder sister. "Mr. Viransh Malik. He came in like a superhero and dove into the cold water to save her." His lips stretched into a big smile as he anointed Viransh as a knight. "He is anything but an arse or a coward." He muttered under his breath, and looked at the two ladies, the color draining from his face, and he realized the room had actually fallen silent.

The teenager's gaze hovered between his sister and the friend, who stared at him, her emerald eyes rounded with shock and bewilderment. His head swung towards Avni as she shook her head slightly before groaning. It was then that he understood he revealed something he was not supposed to.

Kabir let out a short laugh, but his expression turned serious once when he returned his attention to Mishika. "Should I go outside?"

"Yes, love. I need to have a serious conversation with your Di." Mishika's lips thinned in an ungainly smile as she turned toward her best friend.

Kabir nodded and quickly exited the room, slamming the door shut behind him. The soft thud of the door regained both women's attention to each other. Avni gasped as a pillow hit her face before it eventually fell on her lap. She glanced up and nearly regretted it when her friend glowered at her.

Mishika crossed her arms and glared daggers, the scowl on her face deepening. "You sneaky bitch. Tell me everything!"

***

Shobha's eyes rounded with shock and fury at the audacity of an outsider, slamming the door in her face. She barely heard the loud gasps of her two other granddaughters as she tried to ward off the chagrin for being disgraced by Avni's acquaintance in her own house. But again, she should've seen that coming from her ill-mannered granddaughter's allies. She wouldn't have stopped Mishika from meeting Avni, who prevailed in garnering everyone's attention toward her tonight. Shobha's nostrils flared and, with blood rushing to her temples, her hands itched to claw at the giant wooden door. Anger radiated off her body and her chest heaved, scaring both the young ladies.

"Dadi, please calm down." Ira hesitantly spoke and placed her hands on her grandmother's shoulder, silently urging her to shove her rage down.

The older woman closed her eyes briefly at her soft, feather-like touch. Unfurling her eyelids, she stared at Ira, patting her cheeks softly. If Shobha Desai loved anyone more than her own children, then it has to be Ira and her eldest grandson. They had a special hold on her heart, her warm gaze and her grandmotherly affection only preserved for them. Her lips cracked in a small smile, forcing an air of snubbing sweetness that didn't camouflage the enraged glimmer in her eyes, but she looked composed. "Did you look at her unconfiscated behavior? Ira, sweetie, this is what I tell you to avoid. Never become like her."

The girl's brows furrowed together as she bit her lower lip in thought. "Yes, Dadi. I understand."

"You should go to sleep. I don't want my beautiful granddaughter to get black circles."

"Yes, Dadi. Good Night." Ira smiled tightly, picking up the undulating cloud of a new storm emerging in the Desai household. Tucking a strand of her silken ebony hair, she swept her eyes at her cousin one last time before retreating from the field.

"I don't want my beautiful granddaughter to get black circles." Sonam mimicked her grandmother, covetousness mingled in her tone. "You never behave like this with your other three grandchildren."

A condescending smile curled on the grandmother's scarlet lips before they twisted in a sneer, anger surging in her veins again as she turned toward Sonam, her eyes instantly narrowing in a glare. "They're not worthy of it."

Sonam's almond eyes widened a bit at her bitter words, though she was used to this behaviour, the incandescent look on the older woman was a petrifying sight to behold. "You only favour her over us because she's demure and too gullible for you to mould her into an impeccable lady for your own benefit."

"I would stop talking if I were you." Shobha seethed, slightly flushed at the lance of truth being poured forth. "At least the granddaughter I favour doesn't seduce their to-be brothers-in-law and marry them."

"They weren't even engaged!" A mortifying blush tinted Sonam's face before she snapped. "How can you accuse me of something filthy when you know this wasn't the truth?!"

"Has Yuvaan forgiven you for what you did?" Shobha nearly snarled, a smirk tugging at one corner of her mouth.

The younger woman fell quiet. Her grandmother's voice was loud and clear, and her blunt words pierced an unbearable ache in her heart.

"He didn't," Shobha asserted, gazing at her granddaughter's pale face. "Don't try to pick an argument with me from me. You know I always win." With that Shobha stormed away.

Sonam blew an inaudible sigh. Of course, Shobha Desai knew where to aim her arrow, the sharpness of her words knifing through the air.

"Sonam."

The woman stiffened as her husband's deep voice rang in the corridor. Opening her eyes, she tilted her head and smiled tightly, watching Yuvaan approaching her. She straightened immediately before speaking. "Yuvi."

A strange look flickered in his eyes as he stepped closer, looking down at her. "Let's go home."

"But I wanted to meet Mom." She chastised. "She will be here soon."

"I texted Naman. It would take them some more time. And I have surgery tomorrow morning. I'll bring you some another day to meet your mother and brother."

Sonam stared at the lines of exhaustion marring his features. Giving a nod, she clutched her purse. "Fine, let's go."

"Yuvi." She breathed his name as they reached the parking lot. "Um, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Did you forgive me...for what I did two years ago?"

They both stopped walking.

The only response Sonam got was a tightening of his jaw. She choked a gasp when he turned toward her, anger and revulsion contorting his face. She watched as he briefly closed his eyes and dragged a hand down his face. "Don't bring this topic again."

"You didn't answer my question." She stuttered, looking down as shame and regret coiled in the pit of her stomach.

"Stop asking a question whose answer you already know." Yuvaan let out a sardonic chuckle.

Sonam didn't glance at him. His mere words were sharper than her grandmother's and right now, they did nothing but twisted its sharp edge further into her heart. "Sorry." She said, her voice calm yet bitter as she unlocked the door and quietly sat on the passenger seat.

***

"Do you love him?"

Avni felt her heart drop all the way to her stomach at her friend's question. It was later that night. She had briefed Mishika from her first encounter with Viransh