72.1| The need of him. #4
And without another glance at either brother, Aashika picks up Moksh's laptop and walks out.
Here, Moksh's fists clench at his sides. His gaze shifts to Malang who's sipping his coffee like nothing happened.
"What. Was. That?"
"What?" Malang repeats like the most innocent soul alive.
Moksh shuts his eyes for a moment, trying to hold himself back. This time, when he looks back at Malang, his eyes are dead serious.
"Why are you always coming between me and her?"
Malang's coffee mug stills in the air, his eyes lifts to Moksh, all the mischief disappearing from his demeanor.
"You and her?" he asks quietly. "What does that mean?"
Moksh simply looks at him for a moment, his jaw clenched, his eyes sharp, yet his composure intact. And without a word, he turns and walks out.
Two days.
Two. Damn. Days since I last saw him. Last felt him. And I can't pretend anymore. I'm burning from the inside out.
I thought he'd call. I thought he'd miss me enough to hear my voice, enough to tell me he'd be here soon. But nothing!
No call. No message. Nothing.
That airstrip was the last place I saw him.
When I was walking toward my brother and his arms suddenly caged my waist from behind. The way he whispered those words against my skin. That kiss. That twisted smirk when I looked back at him for the last time before leaving.
It was scary.
Yet, everything is still painfully clear in my head.
Is he hurt that I didn't tell him I was coming back here?
Or... he simply doesn't care about me anymore?
I know I should've talked to him before just showing up at the airstrip. But he already knew I was coming... so it wasn't really a big deal.
And beyond all that, that day when I entered my room and saw those reflections of our picture everywhere. Even last night, the exact same thing happened. I know it wasn't some hallucination. Something is seriously twisted here.
But How Is It Even Possible?
Well-with Aayansh Oberoi-nothing is ever truly impossible.
Ugh, I'll lose my mind!
[Play- Tere Layi by Babbal Rai]
The car rolls forward, tiny icy gusts fanning against my face as I gaze outside at the city and its snow-covered streets.
New York's weather feels strangely different today, like the air itself has caught the fire burning silently inside me.
The people move along beneath their umbrellas... some with their partners, smiling and talking, others alone, lost in their own worlds.
That's when my eyes land on an elderly couple sitting together on a bench. The woman is talking endlessly, while the man says nothing, his gaze resting on her face as though, even after all these years, he still finds her captivating enough to never take his eyes off her.
This is what love is... beyond age, beyond attraction. Just two souls connected so beautifully that, with time, everything else fades away.
Someday, Aayansh and I will grow old together like them. And I know that even when I'm no longer as beautiful as I am now, and he's probably gone bald, he'll still be tempted by me just the same.
The corners of my lips curve into a smile. I look down at my diary, usually where I write random lyrics, now open in my lap, a pen steady in my hands.
I bring the tip closer to the blank page. "Hey, future babies, this is your mom," I write whatever comes to my mind.
"Your daddy has been so annoying for the last few days. I thought he wouldn't be able to survive without me. But look at him... he hasn't contacted me even once in almost three days. I know he must be burning too, but he's making your mom burn right alongside him."
"You know, we've never stayed apart this long. In every situation-every moment-every place, no matter how bad or complicated things got... he's always been there. Always."
Taking a deep breath, I glance outside the window, another tiny burst of icy air brushing against my cheek.
Then, I write again, "It's our first anniversary in two days. And tomorrow... my birthday. Your daddy ruined my last birthday by kidnapping me from my own home. Though, now, I kinda love that he did it. But still... he's supposed to make this birthday unforgettable.
And look what he's doing to your mom..."
The last words I scribble make my heart feel heavier. "Has something changed between us...?"
But it's enough... I need him.
I need my Aayansh.
It's my birthday eve.
?????????????
Moments later, I step into Jindal Mansion. Rose and Ameline immediately take my purse, while I make my way into the drawing room.
I barely cross the threshold when I find Dad seated amidst a gathering of impeccably dressed foreign guests, men and women who look every bit like the kind of people flown in from across the world to oversee an event of this scale.
I think they're the ones handling the arrangements for tomorrow's party.
Before any of them can even notice me, I slip away and head straight to my floor, definitely in no mood to sit around making conversation and wearing a smile I don't feel.
Moments later, I step out in nothing but a bathrobe, my damp hair twisted into a messy bun, my skin flushed with a fresh, dewy glow.
After entering my room, I went straight to the shower without even looking around, needing to unwind.
Well, I loosen the tie of my bathrobe, letting it fall from my shoulders to my feet, and shut my eyes for a moment. "I just hate him," I murmur to myself.
Then, huffing, I turn toward my boudoir when I realise something and look up at the sofa, and with that-
My. Entire. Body. Freezes and Mouth falls open in pure dread.
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