Author's pov

Diya's car stopped in front of Verma mansion, turning off the engine. She turned to look at Arya who was fighting with her fingers as her anxiety kicked in. Making her palm wet with the sweat.

" I think I should go back. Please handle Anirudh for me." Arya exclaimed rubbing her sweaty hands with the napkin,while Diya gave her a dissatisfied look and said

" Itna dur aa gayi ho,toh Darna kyu hai. Let's face it.together " Arya signed, hearing her and nodded her head in positive.

They both came out of the car. Seeing the big ass mansion in front of her Arya closed her eyes as the nostalgia hit her hard making the memories flash in front of her eyes. It's been 4 years since she stepped into this mansion.

Diya looked at Arya, her gaze immediately softened as she looked at her . Diya knows how much her best friend has endured. But there is nothing she can do, she can't go against her family nor can fight with them. The only thing Diya can do is to stay by her side in everything, no matter what happens.

Diya held Arya's hand, making her open her eyes and look at her, she intertwined their fingers and lightly squeezed her hand, silently assuring her that she was here with her and she is not alone.

Diya's Little gesture makes Arya smile.

A smile which comes from the heart.

They both started to walk inside and Diya took her from the backside, so no one could see them.when they were about to reach the garden, Arya's phone rang making her stop in her tracks. She pulled out her phone from her kruti pants and saw her mother's name flashing on the screen. She excused herself and went outside of the mansion.

Reaching the parking lot, Arya answered the call " Hello maa??"

" Why were you not answering my call? I called you several times?" Her mother snapped at her, her voice sharp and demanding.

Arya immediately checked her call logs and saw 10 missed calls from her mother,2 from her father and 5 from her sister. Arya clicked her tongue as she forgot to turn off the silent mode.

"Nothing maa, I am attending my friend's birthday and I kept phone in silent mode" she said making her mother humm.

" Hmm okay. I called you to say something important?." Her mother said

“Important?” Arya asked, being clueless and curious at the same time.

“ Hmm, don't get shocked. Your favorite shiney Akka is getting married !!” Her mother exclaimed excitedly

" What???? Akka is getting married?? And She didn't tell me ? Why?" Arya Asked in shock , not believing that her akka is getting married.

( Akka- sister)

" Yes, baby and she want you here ASAP, and no excuses haa, she knows that you are graduated now and you are free" her mother said, Arya can imagine her mother's smirk behind her words, obviously it's been 2 years since she traveled back to her home.

Why?

Because she wants to avoid some people.

They are from her family?

Of Course yes .

" Maa, I just have recently joined the hospital, and i don't think so they will grant me holiday in just mere 5 months of working,but don't worry I will talk to the HR and will tell my answer soon." Arya said to her mother.

" See Golu, no excuses. you know na, what happens if you don't come? .if you don't come in a few days then you are in big trouble, no one is going to save you from her wrath." Arya gulped hearing her mother's words.

Obviously. She knows her akka very well . After all they are close,if she didn't attend the important day of Akka's life. Her akka will definitely kill her.

There is no doubt in it.

" Ok, I am coming but it will take time, as I need to talk to the management"

" Ok, go home safely and don't eat unhealthy food. Take care love you" her mother happily said

" Love you maa bye" saying that Arya ended the call.

A smile appeared on Arya's face as she thought about her akka wedding.it is the first wedding in her family after years, although they are not sisters by blood, however they are sister by heart .

People say that “blood is thicker than water” Right?

but in Arya's case it's the reverse. For her “blood is no longer thicker than water.”

Because Strangers helped her a lot in her tough times and her own people betrayed her.

It's been 2 years since she visited her hometown Ongole. She misses everyone, her family, sister's, brother and her childhood friends.

But, the place still terrifies her.

Why?

Because her demons are living in the same place where her loved ones are living.

Thinking about Akka's marriage, Arya started to walk back inside the mansion and suddenly her phone buzzed with a message. She looked at the message and a smile formed on her face, seeing the person who texted her, it was her little brother , who messaged her . It says

“come back akka,i am missing you”

but suddenly she bumped into something making her phone fall down and Arya closed her eyes at the sudden moment.

Arya looked up only to frose at her spot. She did not bump into something but into —someone's chest .

Just like that day.

The person was looking down at her with his ice blue eyes which softened a little bit seeing her . Arya's heart started beating fast as she looked at the person standing in front of her. Why not, She bumped into the person whom she loved with all her heart.It's been 4 years since she saw his handsome face and those blue eyes which always makes her heart skip a beat.

He was none other than Avyansh.

Avyansh was looking at her with a mixture of longing and something which she couldn't understand at the moment, but as something passed in front of his eyes his expression changed.

Maybe the past they shared.

His shoulders tensed at their closeness , he clenched his jaw making the vein in his forehead popped out, he fisted his hand stopping himself.

Avyansh instantly broke eye contact and Moved back. Which made her feel bad. Arya's eyes Started to get moist at seeing him but she controlled herself and muttered a small apology, which is audible only to him.she went inside not caring to look at the other person standing beside him.

Avyansh looked at her disappearing figure and also went inside with the person beside him, who was holding his hand firmly.

Entering inside the garden Arya looked around to see the garden's beauty. The garden's theme is white and blue. Anirudh's favorite colors.And it is decorated beautifully, the golden lights complementing the blue and white color making the garden look more beautiful at night. Then she saw many people talking to each other.

“Ye birthday party Kam aur business party lag rahi hai” Arya exclaimed looking at the people who were busy in talking about business.

Then Arya saw Diya standing near a pillar with her boyfriend Karan and other Verma siblings. She walked near them with a smile which is a fake one.

Certainly,she is not happy coming here, however she came just to see her bestfriend smiling or to see someone else.

" Look Arya came...." Anirudh sang while wiggling his eyebrows as he saw her coming in his direction.

All the siblings turned to look at her and their eyes softened and sparkled seeing her after a long time. Aayush, Rahul and Arush were the first ones to hug her.

" God, it's been years Aaru" Rahul said while embracing her in his protective hug,which made her smile.

" Yes, years since you came here. " Aayush said with a hint of sadness while hugging her,Arya just smiled at them as they kissed her forehead one by one.

Then Ankush, karan and Harika hugged her one by one saying how much they missed her. Although they know the reason behind her absence but still they never stop loving her, for them she is very important and special.

" How are you feeling now?" Arya asked Harika with concern after she broke the hug, Harika smiled at her and said " oh come,di. It's been 4 years since I came out of coma and I am perfectly fit and fine, so don't ask that question again. Look, I can fight too." She said making some poses which made Arya smile but still there was a hint of sadness in her heart looking at the little girl who suffered because of her. Arya embraced Harika as her sisterly instincts kicked in.

Sometimes looking at Harika it reminds Arya about herself.

It reminds her about how she suffered in her past.

It reminds her about all those things which broke her beyond repair.

The situation, circumstances are different but the pain is the same.

Because in the both situations the innocent ones got wounded without doing anything wrong

But the difference is that Harika is moved on from her demons but she is still there in her past.

——☘️

Aayush looked at the entrance and noticed Avyansh glancing at them with a smile which is almost invisible. He knows his twin too well And knows how much he loves them especially Arya

Avyansh saw Aayush looking at him and he instantly looked away. Aayush felt a pang in his chest looking at his twin's behavior.

It's been 4 years since Avyansh talked to his siblings. The only time He talked to them is when they ask him anything and he will just reply to them in the mono syllabus, that's it. Then Aayush's gaze fell on the girl who was holding his twin's arm. He glared at her.

If looks can kill, she would be under 10ft down by now.

Ishika Chowdhury,

Just one glimpse of her makes his blood boil.

Hell, she is the reason for all their misery.

She is the reason they are suffering.

She is the reason Avyansh is not talking to his brother's and best friends.

Aayush then looked at Arya from his shoulder to see her talking to karan. His eyes instantly softened as he looked at her, long gone that anger which is now replaced by worry.He knows If she sees Avyansh with Ishika.

She will be heartbroken again.

Alice came came to them and said in her American accent

" Ani, bacha come let's go and cut the cake"

Anirudh nodded his head at his mother and left from there with his siblings.

After cutting the cake everyone fed to Anirudh except Arya. He thought to call her on stage but stopped himself as his whole family was standing beside him. He felt bad for her. he just looked at her and mouthing a sorry in return Arya gave him her chubby smile and mouthed it's okay.

After everyone left the stage .Dev took the Mike from the host and grabbing everyone's attention on him

" Hello, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Thank you for attending the birthday party of my youngest son. I hope you all enjoyed the party well.and we have a big announcement for all of you. " He said with a big smile

Everyone present in the garden are Dev's business partners, avyansh's business partners and business friends. The Verma's have a smile on their face as they know about the ‘big announcement’ already. Except for Verma siblings, Avyansh grandparents, Diya, arush and karan who clenched their jaws in anger and fisted their hands.

On the other side Arya looked at them with a frown seeing then angry, just a minute ago they were happy and now now furious, her frown deepening as she glanced at them not getting anything.

" Bhai, what happened? Why does your face looks angry?" She asked Aayush innocently. He looked at her with pity and helpless as he tried to say" bacha i think you should lea—-"

Before he could complete his sentence, Dev started making Aayush closed his eyes in anger.

" As, you all know I and Pratap are best friends and business partners at the same time,so we wanted to convert our friendship into a life time relationship" and Pratap continue after him,

" My daughter Ishika and his son Avyansh are getting married soon. As they were already engaged 4 years ago, we want them to get married soon." He completed it and everyone clapped hearing it except some people.

Hearing it Arya went numb in her place, it felt like someone shoved a knife into her already wounded heart,her heart broke into a million pieces again. The little hope she had to get him back shattered into a million pieces.

She didn't know that he was engaged for 4 years.

That too to Ishika — she didn't expect it to be her.

She looked at her best friend asking them through her eyes if they knew about it but in return she only got silence. And There got her answer, "they know" Arya whispered as tears gathered in her eyes.

Once again she got betrayed by her trusted people.

Arya looked at Avyansh who was smiling and happy, then she looked at his hand which was holding Ishika's hand, their hands intertwined with each other. She immediately looked away as the scene made her heart break again. Arya wanted to cry her heart out but she can't do anything now. Everything is over now, he is engaged to someone now.

There is nothing she can do .

She knows he doesn't love her and now she is no one to him.

Arya turned back and started to walk outside without anyone knowing but got stopped by Riya,Ishika's best friend. Riya smiles looking at her condition which is like a salt to her wounds.

" Ohh! My look who is crying!!" she exclaimed with a mocking smile and then she pushed Arya with such force that her back of the head hit to the wall making her groan in pain, Arya hold her head and then she tried to walk away from there but her leg got hit by a nearby pot making her stumble on her steps and she fell on the ground . With a lot of difficulty Arya tried to stand up but fell again making her forehead hit the ground . she is unable to walk as her leg got sprained now. Due to hitting her forehead to the ground with such a force Arya loses her conscious.

Riya was just looking at Arya with a smile as she enjoyed the scene.

Riya immediately went from there grinning at Arya's condition. not finding Arya near her Diya turned and looked at the hall way only to widen her eyes as she saw her best friend lying on the ground lifeless a sequel left Diya's mouth as she run in Arya direction

“ ARYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Hearing Diya's scream everyone turned back and looked in her direction only to see a wounded Arya lying on the floor.

Verma's siblings ran to her and Avyansh became a statue on his place looking at her . His eyes turned moist looking at her lifeless body . Avyansh's heart clenched looking at the blood coming from Arya's back head and forehead.

He wants to go to her but he can't.

He wants to embrace her in his arms but he can't. nor he can show his concern for her.

Aayush looked at his brother and nodded his head assuring him that he would take care of her and then they took her to hospital

as the blood flow was not stopping from her forehead and back.

Everyone got the flashback of the incident that happened 4 years ago.

And Avyansh's heart was pounding in his chest thinking about the worst.