Arushi's lips parted slightly, her fingers curling around the fabric of her dress, as though holding onto something invisible.
"Without you, I am a sky full of nothing, a canvas longing for color. But with you, I become a masterpiece, a living, breathing sky full of stars, and I shine because you do.You give me everything. You are the moonlight in my sky,the glow that makes me feel alive.And without you... I wouldn't exist."
Reyansh, as if realizing the weight of his own words, blinked. He exhaled a slow breath, his fingers rubbing the back of his neck in an almost boyish nervousness.
And then, just as quickly as the intensity had settled, he smirked, tilting his head.
"Bas itna hi likha tha... ab claps bajane ka time ho gaya hai." He said, effortlessly slipping back into his usual playful demeanor.
But Arushi's eyes still held the depth of emotions that words could never capture.
As soon as Reyansh's words faded into silence, the room erupted into a round of applause. Claps, whistles, and hoots.
"Chalo, bahot late ho gaya hai... ham jaa rahe hain, tum sab aa jana." Harsh finally broke the moment, stretching his arms as he got up from the couch.
Some of the elders nodded in agreement.
"Nahi, we are also coming... tum sabka ho jaye toh jaldi aana." He said, before walking out.
The elders left the room, their presence fading down the hallway as the sound of their footsteps and murmured conversations slowly disappeared.
Laughter filled the room as everyone had their turn with the pillow, but as it landed on Akash, a sudden quiet settled over the group.
"Tujhe kya den! Tu toh sare dare pehle hi kar chuka hai." Reyansh said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Akash raised an eyebrow, smirking at Reyansh's playful jab.
"Accha tu bhi toh poems likhta tha... tu bhi wahi suna de." Ritika chimed in, eager to keep the fun going.
"Wo toh pehle," Akash replied, his voice laced with nervousness.
"Haan toh pehle vala ji sunao na bhaiya. Koi aapko favourite." Darsh added, encouraging him further.
Akash turned his gaze towards Shashwat, his heart shifting slightly as the memories flooded back. The poem he had written all those years ago-the one for Shashwat, the same words that had healed their fractured bond. He swallowed hard before speaking, his voice quiet but steady as he began to recite the familiar lines.
"Kyun hai tu itnaa udaas aaj,
Aaja Teri Hansi chhupa rakhi hai
Maine apne pass.
Ek bar kuch bol toh sahi,
Ek bar hatheli khol to sahi."
Shashwat, sitting across the room, had lowered his gaze to his lap, the familiar weight of the words crashing down on him. His hands trembled, and his eyes threatened to betray him, welling with unshed tears.
He took a slow step toward Shashwat, his gaze fixed on him, his feet almost as if they were dragging under the weight of the emotions.
"Mutthi mein band rakhi hai teri Hansi,
Ek bar inhe Apne hothon per saja na,
Ek bar Hans de aur hamen phir se hansna sikha na."
Akash's voice cracked in the middle of the verse, and the sharpness of the emotion could be heard as he spoke each line with more effort.
"Bus fir se mud kar mujhse baat kar,
Vahi purani shaitani fir se Mere Sath kar,
Tere Bina main Aur Mere Bina Tu adhura."
Akash stopped. He couldn't continue. The emotion was too much. His breath hitched as his chest constricted with the weight of years lost. The silence that followed felt deafening, and then, just when he thought he couldn't bear it any longer, he heard Shashwat's voice.
"Wapas aaja yaar kar de fir se yeh Sath pura."
In that instant, everything paused. Akash looked up, his face a mirror of raw emotion, as Shashwat stood before him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like time had frozen-the years apart, the pain, the misunderstandings-they all disappeared in the space between their gazes.
Without a word, without hesitation, Akash threw his arms around Shashwat. The embrace was fierce, desperate, full of the years of yearning, of apologies that had never been said, of regret and love that had never faded.
Shashwat, in return, wrapped his arms around Akash, pulling him close. Akash's hands gripped Shashwat tightly, almost as if he feared he might lose him again.
"I am sorry... I am so sorry, Shashwat... please talk to me... please... please let's be like before."
His voice cracked with emotion, each word an apology that had been held back for far too long. Akash's grip tightened, his body shaking as he tried to find the right words-words that he had failed to say at the right time.
Shashwat, for a moment, remained still. His gaze softened, but he wasn't ready to let go of the tension that had built between them. With a gentle sigh, he finally spoke. "When we have changed?"
Akash froze. The question was simple, yet so profound. Had they really changed? Had time truly altered them, or was it just the circumstances that had pushed them apart?
Akash's response came in a flood of emotion, tears running down his face as he held on to Shashwat even more desperately.
"No... I mean, we haven't. I don't want to change... I just... I just want us back, Shashwat. Please..."
The sincerity in Akash's voice was palpable, and Shashwat could feel it, the bond that had always existed between them never truly severed. He could see the pain in Akash's eyes, and it mirrored his own. The years of misunderstanding, the confusion, the silent suffering, it had all been part of their journey, but it didn't define them. Their friendship, their connection, nothing could change that.
Around them, everyone watched, eyes misty with joy. Siya, standing at the side, was wiping her tears with a tender smile, watching the two of them break down the walls that had separated them. As Shashwat's eyes met hers, she gave a small nod, signaling her support, her own heart swelling with happiness at seeing them reconcile.
Shashwat gently wiped away Akash's tears, his movements soft and caring.
Akash, still shaking with emotion, turned to Siya next. He reached for her hand, his voice thick with gratitude.
"I swear, I love you both together... I don't know what happened back then, what went wrong. I... I am so sorry."
Siya's eyes filled with love and warmth as she gently hugged Akash. The three of them stood there, enveloped in a circle of warmth and understanding, as the weight of their past slowly lifted. From the other side, Shashwat wrapped his arms around Akash once more.
Just as they stood there, wrapped in the comfort of their shared moment, Arav's voice broke the silence.
"Accha, ab late ho gaya hai... chalen?"
The soft chuckles that followed eased the lingering tension in the room. Everyone knew that the heavy part was over-that the tears and regrets had been released. What remained was the joy of being reunited, of moving forward together, stronger than before.
Darsh walked cautiously through the rooms, his footsteps echoed in the silence, his flashlight casting long, wavering shadows on the walls.
Just as Darsh was about to pass by a dark, empty room, he froze at the sound of footsteps behind him. His heart skipped a beat, and his instincts screamed at him to run. But before he could turn and flee, a familiar voice called out from the shadows, sending a shockwave through his already frayed nerves.
"Darsh?"
The voice, soft yet unmistakable, made him hesitate. He turned quickly, his flashlight swinging wildly in his hand, illuminating the dimly lit room. And there she was, Divya, standing just a few feet away, her expression one of mild amusement, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes.
"Dara diya bhai tune toh! Mai Himachal Pradesh chhod kar bhagne wala tha!" Darsh exclaimed, his breath still unsteady, his hand resting on his chest as if to calm his racing heart. He let out a relieved laugh, trying to mask his earlier panic. Divya rolled her eyes, clearly entertained by his reaction.
"Manjulika toh tu hai ye mujhe pata tha... par yahan kya kar rahi hai?" Darsh asked, his voice light but curious, now more aware of the strange situation. He looked around the dark room, his flashlight dancing over the corners, but nothing seemed out of place.
"Meri ek gold ki earring kho gayi yaar," she began, her voice slightly embarrassed as she explained the situation. "It was a little loose, toh mai yahin pe utaar ke usko thoda acche se pehen rahi thi. But woh hath se gir ke yahan aa gayi. Mummy maar dalengi mujhe... waise bhi ek payal kho di thi ab ye..."
She trailed off, her voice almost a whisper at the last part, and Darsh immediately caught on to the subtle panic in her words. She was genuinely worried, but his attention was piqued by something more.
"Payal?" Darsh asked, his tone both surprised and inquisitive.
Divya shifted uncomfortably, clearly caught off guard. Her gaze dropped to the ground for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was more hesitant.
"W... wo...haan, woh mummy jo keh rahi thi na... meri dono payal maine Aashi didi ke shadi ke time kho di thi... abhi tak bataya nahi kisiko." Her words seemed rushed, almost like she was trying to cover up something more than what she had just said. She quickly looked up at Darsh, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Darsh paused, his mind working quickly. He had a vague memory of Siya mentioning something about the payals that she saw the payals three years ago, which now felt like a strange coincidence.
"Ruk, mai help karta hun," Darsh said, a determined glint in his eyes. He reached out to her, his voice softer now. "Let's see if we can find it."
The room around them was dimly lit, scattered with old furniture and half-assembled construction materials. It felt abandoned, like a place forgotten by time.
As Darsh moved aside a large piece of timber, the floor suddenly groaned beneath them, and a heavy shelf above them shifted slightly. Divya, too focused on the floor, didn't notice the precarious state of the room. The shelf, unstable and towering over her, crept forward ominously, threatening to fall at any moment.
"Divya, look out!" Darsh shouted just as the shelf began to topple.
In a split second, his instincts kicked in. He didn't think, he just acted.
Before she could even react, Darsh was at her side, his arm wrapping around her waist with a force that took her breath away. The sudden movement pulled her away from the falling shelf, just in time for her to avoid getting hit. But as he pulled her toward him, the momentum caused both of them to crash against the cold, hard wall behind them.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The weight of the situation hung in the air like a thick fog. Divya's heart was racing, and she could feel the heat of his chest against hers, his breath quick and shallow. She looked up at him, startled, but her words died on her lips as she met his gaze.
Their faces were mere inches apart, the space between them narrowing with each passing second. Darsh's hand was firmly gripping her wrist, pinning it against the wall. His other hand was still wrapped around her waist, holding her so close that she could feel every beat of his heart.
It was then that a flood of memories surged through his mind, the warmth of Divya in his arms suddenly feeling too familiar, like deja vu. His eyes darted briefly, and for a moment, he could see his Anamika.
His mind screamed, "How could it be her?" Divya wasn't Anamika. But his heart, his traitorous heart, couldn't ignore the undeniable connection, the electric pull that coursed between them. He could feel her, Divya's warmth, her closeness, her heartbeat against his.
He slowly lowered his flashlight, the beam falling over Divya's eyes only. The same eyes, the same expression-but it couldn't be her, could it?
He could feel the rush of emotions threatening to spill over, but he couldn't allow himself to let go. How could she be in love with me? He questioned himself, as if the mere thought was an absurdity. His mind was at war, battling against his heart, which told him something entirely different. His heart, though, had a different story. It was telling him to stop fighting the connection, to stop denying what was simmering just beneath the surface.
His hand remained at her wrist, his thumb gently brushing the soft skin of her hand. His thumb traced the line of her jaw, almost as if he were memorizing her face, committing it to memory. His eyes searched hers, and for the first time, he let himself feel the connection that was so undeniable.
Divya's heart skipped a beat as his touch sent a shiver down her spine.
"Darsh!!" Divya's voice rang out in the silence, sharp and clear. Darsh stepped back hastily, as if the very proximity to Divya had startled him.
"I... I am sorry... I..." He stammered, his words failing him as he tried to form an explanation, but nothing seemed to make sense. The intensity of the moment had left him shaken, and he couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes, afraid of what he might find there. But just then, his eyes caught something-something glimmering faintly in the dark corner of the room. His flashlight illuminated the small object, and his pulse quickened in relief.
"Here it is." He said, his voice a little more steady now as he held up the earring, the tiny golden piece of jewelry that had caused them both so much unease.
Divya blinked in surprise, looking at the earring in his hand. For a moment, it seemed like the air between them had shifted, as if they were both letting out a collective sigh of relief.
"T... thank you," Divya murmured, her voice quieter now.
Trying to break the tension that still hung heavily between them, Darsh cleared his throat and forced a casual smile.
"Chal ab chalein? Ya abhi ami je tomar pe dance kar ke sabko darana hai?" he teased, attempting to lighten the mood with his usual playful sarcasm.
Divya shot him a mock glare before smacking his head lightly, her laughter filling the room. She turned away, walking toward the door, but Darsh's mind was still tangled with thoughts of her-thoughts he couldn't seem to escape.
As she started walking out of the room, Darsh couldn't resist. His curiosity, his confusion, his overwhelming feelings got the better of him. He took a few quick strides to catch up with her, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.
"Divya, you were afraid of darkness na? Toh yahan akele kya kar rahi thi?" he asked, his voice slightly teasing.
"Teen saal pehle lagta tha ab toh aadat hai." She said, the words soft, yet they carried a weight, a heaviness that Darsh could feel in his chest. She kept walking, her steps steady, as if the conversation were over, but Darsh couldn't help but freeze in place, the weight of her words sinking in.
He rubbed his hands over his face in frustration, trying to clear his mind, but it only made him more aware of the storm brewing inside him.
"Ye kaise ho sakta hai!" he muttered to himself, his voice low, almost to the point of disbelief. "How can she be in love with ME?!" His thoughts collided violently with each other, his heart at war with his mind. The disbelief continued to gnaw at him, but that brief flash of vulnerability in her eyes wouldn't leave him. What was it about her?
Darsh's eyes darted to her retreating form, and for the first time, he really looked at her. He stopped, right in the middle of the hallway, his mind made up. He wasn't going to ignore this anymore. He wasn't going to run from the confusion.
What if...? he thought, his mind finally at peace with the question that had been plaguing him.
As Divya turned her head slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips, Darsh knew that he couldn't ignore this connection anymore. He had to find out.
The hotel corridor was silent, bathed in the golden glow of the early morning sun. The entire floor seemed to be at peace-except for one frustrated soul standing outside the boys' room.
Kirti knocked sharply on the wooden door, her patience wearing thin.
"Uth jao sab... Shashwat uth jaa, pooja ke liye der ho rahi hai!" she called out, her voice firm yet slightly exasperated.
There was a brief Silence. She pressed her ear against the door, hoping for some movement inside. Nothing.
Kirti sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Uthoo sab late ho raha hai shashwat uth Arav beta utho!" she muttered before knocking harder this time.
When that too failed, she placed both hands on her hips and yelled, "Utho mardooton! Kumbhkaran ke bhanjon!"
Just then, Tara walked up to her, adjusting her pallu. Her eyebrows lifted in amusement as she took in Kirti's frustrated stance.
"Uthe ye sab?" she asked knowingly, though the answer was quite obvious.
Kirti huffed, folding her arms. "Kahan! Kabse knock kar rahi hun. Phone bhi off karke soye pade hain sab! Do ghante me muhurat hai, agar nikal gaya to kya fayda hoga yahan aane ka? Aur photoshoot bhi to karwana hai Arav-Ritika ka!" she ranted, her voice laced with urgency.
Tara smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Abhi sab uth ke bhagenge, rukiye."
Kirti narrowed her eyes. "Matlab?"
Instead of answering, Tara pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number. Kirti watched curiously as the call connected.
Within moments, Harsh appeared in the hallway, adjusting his watch as he approached them with a mildly confused expression.
"Kya hua? Call kyun kiya? Yahi bagal me to tha." Harsh asked, looking between the two women.
Tara, now smug, explained swiftly, "In sabko uthaiye zara. Do ghante me muhurat nikal jayega pooja ka. Phir Arav-Ritika ka photoshoot bhi aaj hi hona hai. Late ho raha hai bahut, kal Jammu ke liye train bhi hai!"
Harsh raised an eyebrow but didn't waste time with questions. Instead, he turned towards the door andbBANG! BANG! pounded his fist against it with authority.
Then, in his deep, commanding voice, he bellowed, "Aye utho sab!"
Reyansh was peacefully asleep, his blanket pulled up over his face, shielding him from the morning light. The world was quiet, until a loud, authoritative voice from outside the room boomed through the air.
His eyes snapped open. For a moment, his sleep-addled brain couldn't process what was happening. Then, the realization hit him like a truck.
"Papa ki awaaz!" he gasped, his heart practically leaping out of his chest.
His mind screamed DANGER!, and instinctively, he turned to Akash, who was sleeping beside him, and kicked him hard.
"Utho gadhon! Papa aa gaye mere!" Reyansh hissed, his voice urgent.
Akash groaned, stirring slightly. "Haan? Kya? Kyun?" he mumbled, still half-dreaming.
But there was no time for explanations. The urgency in Reyansh's voice triggered a chain reaction as panic spread like wildfire.
Arav, Shashwat, Darsh, and Vihaan, all of whom had been sleeping like logs, suddenly sprang up from their beds as if electrocuted.
Darsh, in his rush, got tangled in his blanket and crashed onto the floor. "Bhai, sambhalne ka time nahi hai, jaldi karo aise pretend karo ki bilkul ankhon me need nahi hai." he yelped, kicking the fabric off.
Shashwat ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to fix it in record time. "Harsh uncle ki awaz sun kar vaise bhi udd gayi hai to acting ki jaroorat nahi hai!" he muttered, still groggy.
Vihaan, who was too disoriented to function properly, sat up and blinked, his hair standing up in odd directions. He
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