Aadhya's POV
When we reached Avi's house…
I froze for a second.
Wow.
Big wasn't even the right word. It was… huge. The kind of house you only see in movies. Clean marble floors shining like mirrors, expensive furniture placed so perfectly it felt illegal to even touch anything, soft lighting, glass decor—everything screamed luxury.
And me?
Standing there with messy hair, tired eyes, and emotional damage. Perfect contrast.
I glanced at Avi.
He walked in like it was normal.
Of course it was normal for him.
…
Suddenly, heels clicked against the floor.
A woman walked down the stairs, talking on her phone—fast, professional, serious. She didn't even notice us at first.
Then she hung up, turned—and her face softened instantly.
"Avi bacha, how did you return early today?"
She walked up to him and kissed his cheek.
Avi smiled.
Just a little.
Not his usual wide grin. Just… a small one.
"Ma, that—"
Before he could even complete his sentence—
Her phone rang again.
Of course.
She picked it up immediately, her expression shifting back to serious.
"Avi, I have an emergency operation. I have to go. Take care of yourself, beta."
And just like that—
She left.
…
I stood there.
Blinking.
Wow.
Do I… not exist?
Not even a who is she?
Nothing.
I looked at Avi.
He looked normal.
Too normal.
"Sorry, Adi. I didn't even introduce you," he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
I shook my head. "It's okay… what does your mom do? She looked… busy."
"Doctor," he said simply. "Same as dad. And my siblings."
No excitement.
No pride.
Just… a statement.
I nodded slowly.
Something felt off.
But before I could think more—
A car horn echoed from outside.
The door opened with force.
And then—
Someone walked in.
I blinked.
What the—
It was like looking at a taller, more serious version of Avi. Same features. Same face structure. But sharper. Colder. He had glasses on, giving him that strict, no-nonsense look.
Ah.
This must be the brother.
He didn't even glance at me.
His entire focus was on Avi.
"What the hell did you do?"
His voice was harsh. Controlled anger.
Before Avi could react—
He grabbed him by the collar.
Hard.
"Manik called me."
My eyes widened.
Avi flinched slightly, his hands instinctively holding onto his brother's wrist.
"Bhai… I'm hurt…"
His voice trembled.
That tiny crack—
I felt it.
But his brother didn't.
"Of course you're hurt," he snapped. "I'm going to hurt you more."
My anger spiked instantly.
What the hell is wrong with him?!
I stepped forward without thinking and tried to pull his hand away from Avi's collar.
"Leave him—"
He finally looked at me.
From head to toe.
Slow. Judging.
Cold.
For a second, I felt like I was being scanned.
Then his gaze shifted back to Avi.
"She is my friend. Aadhya," Avi said quickly.
His brother didn't respond.
Didn't greet. Didn't acknowledge.
Just… let go.
And walked away.
"We'll talk later."
That tone—
It wasn't a suggestion.
It was a warning.
The door shut behind him.
Silence.
I stood there, still processing everything.
"…Is your brother always like that?" I finally asked.
Avi let out a small, tired breath.
"You didn't meet my di," he said quietly. "She's even scarier when she scolds."
I stared at him.
Then around the house again.
Big house.
Busy parents.
Strict siblings.
And him—
Standing here, trying to smile like everything is fine.
Something inside me tightened.
No wonder…
No wonder he asks me for food.
No wonder he sticks around us.
No wonder he laughs so much.
Because here—
There's no space for him to just be… him.
I swallowed the feeling and forced a small smile.
"Let's go to my room," he said.
I nodded.
And followed him.
Next day.
I don't know why—but I tied my hair into a ponytail today.
Maybe I wanted to feel… put together. Or maybe I just didn't want my hair getting in my face while dealing with all the chaos that seems to follow me everywhere.
I walked into the classroom.
Same noise. Same nonsense. Same people doing absolutely nothing useful.
Normal.
But then—
My eyes landed on him.
Avi.
Sitting there… staring out the window like the world outside had all the answers and we didn't.
No smile.
No stupid expressions.
No childish energy.
Just… silence.
I smiled instinctively and walked up to him, copying his usual dramatic entry style.
"Good morning," I said brightly, popping up right in front of him.
He looked at me.
For a second… just a second…
And then forced a smile.
A fake one.
Before turning back to stare into nothing again.
…
My smile dropped immediately.
No.
I don't like this version of him.
This quiet, broken, distant version.
It doesn't suit him.
He's supposed to be annoying. Loud. Childish.
This?
This feels wrong.
"Hey, let's make pancakes. I brought ingredients," I said, quickly opening my bag like it was some grand solution to everything.
He didn't even look.
Just shook his head.
That's it.
Something inside me sank.
Before I could say anything else—
Tap.
I turned.
Vivaan.
Of course.
He didn't say anything. Just motioned with his head for me to come outside.
I dropped my bag and followed him.
"What do you need?" I asked, crossing my arms slightly.
"Let Avi be for now," he said calmly, hands in his pockets like this was just another normal conversation. "He'll come back to normal. I just don't know when."
I frowned.
"How can you say that so easily?"
He glanced at me for a second.
"Because he was like this when he first came to our section."
…
That shut me up for a moment.
So this isn't new.
This isn't just today.
This is something deeper.
I didn't like that answer.
But I needed help.
And as much as I hated admitting it—
This idiot was the only one thinking clearly right now.
"Do you have thirty thousand rupees?" I asked suddenly.
He looked at me.
Not surprised.
Not confused.
Just… knowing.
Like he already knew what I was planning.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked.
I nodded immediately.
Of course I was.
"For Avi," I added in my mind.
"Don't you want to know who was behind this?" he asked.
I blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"A setup," I said slowly, the realization hitting me mid-sentence.
He nodded slightly. "Obviously. That girl was too sure. Too confident."
…
He was right.
Now that I think about it—
She didn't hesitate even once.
Didn't doubt. Didn't check.
Just accused.
Like she already knew the outcome.
"So now what?" I asked, my voice more serious now.
"Do you have a plan?"
He looked at me.
Then asked, "If I do… are you willing to help?"
I didn't even think.
I nodded instantly.
"Obviously."
For Avi?
I'd do anything.
He held my gaze for a second longer—like he was trying to read something.
Then turned.
"Get your bag. We're going."
And just like that—
He walked off.
"What the hell—?!"
No explanation. No warning.
This guy is seriously abnormal.
I ran back inside, grabbed my bag, and glanced at Avi one more time.
Still the same.
Still staring.
My chest tightened.
I quickly called Dheeraj, Samar, and Bhavik—told them to try something… anything… to bring him back to normal.
Then ran out.
Parking area.
Empty.
"Where the hell is he…" I muttered—
HOOONK.
I turned instantly.
And froze.
A big.
Luxury.
Car.
Like… big big.
The window rolled down.
Vivaan.
"Get in."
The driver opened the passenger door.
…
Excuse me?
I blinked twice before getting in slowly, still looking around like I had entered another dimension.
The seats, the interior, the smell—
Wow.
"Is this your car?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"What do you think?" he replied dryly.
Of course. Attitude.
"Nothing, just confirming if you stole it or borrowed it," I said casually.
I mean—valid question.
He turned slightly, clearly annoyed. "Do I look like a carnapper?"
"Yeah, I mean… just to be sure," I shrugged.
I could literally feel his patience dying.
"The hell… why am I even explaining this to you…" he muttered.
I almost smiled.
This is so stupid.
And yet here we are.
"So what's your plan?" I asked, leaning back slightly.
"Nothing right now. You're asking for money, right?" he said, bored.
Wow.
So we bunked school…
For money.
Amazing.
"Who are your suspects?" I asked, more serious now.
"If it's about people who hate you," he said casually, "Riya and Manik.They could have used Avi to get back to you "
Makes sense.
But…
"They're not the only ones," I said quietly. "Reyansh… Yuvika too."
The moment I said her name—
He stiffened.
He cleared his throat.
"Yuvika can't do something like that," he said firmly.
Too firmly.
I frowned.
"But she's mad at me too. Because of Samar and Jiya—"
"She can't do it."
He cut me off.
End of discussion.
…
I stayed quiet after that.
Because I've seen this before.
The moment someone mentions Yuvika—
This idiot stops being normal.
He turns into something else entirely.
The car suddenly slowed down.
I looked up from counting invisible thoughts in my head and blinked.
A bank.
Wait—what?
Before I could even ask anything, Vivaan had already stepped out.
Just like that.
No explanation. No "wait here." No nothing.
Excuse me??
I sat there, looking around awkwardly like I had been dropped into some random mission without instructions.
What am I even doing here?
I leaned forward a little, trying to peek through the glass doors. People walking in, walking out, normal life happening… and here I am, sitting in a luxury car like I belong here.
Which—I don't.
Definitely don't.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
He got in.
Calm. Normal. Like he didn't just disappear on me.
And then—
He handed me a bundle.
A whole bundle.
Cash.
My eyes widened instantly.
"Wow…" I whispered unconsciously, staring at it like it was some sacred object. "Money… money…"
I took it and started counting without even thinking.
Priorities.
"Here," he said simply, already starting the car again.
"So what are you going to do with it?" he asked casually.
I blinked.
What kind of question is that?
"Obviously I'll return it to Manik," I said, still counting notes like a responsible citizen.
He went silent for a second.
Then looked at me.
Like I had just said the dumbest thing in human history.
"If you do that," he said slowly, "it's as if you're accepting that Avi stole it."
…
My fingers froze mid-count.
Oh.
OH.
My brain finally caught up.
"OH NO—" I looked at him, horrified. "Why didn't I think of that?!"
How did I miss something so obvious??
What the hell Aadhya.
He clicked his tongue. "Tch. Stupid."
And before I could react—
THAK!
He smacked my head lightly.
"HEY—!" I instantly glared at him, holding my head. "What was that for?!"
He ignored me. Of course.
Just focused on driving like he didn't just commit violence.
Rude.
Absolutely rude.
I was still rubbing my head when suddenly—
The car sped up.
Like—really sped up.
"Oi—slow down!" I said, gripping the seat a little.
He didn't.
Instead—
A sharp turn.
"AAHH—!"
My head hit the side of the car.
"Are you mad?!" I snapped, holding my head again. "It already hurts!"
This guy is trying to kill me. Confirmed.
"I know where we can use this money," he said, completely ignoring my suffering.
Like my pain is background noise.
I stared at him.
This man.
This absolute menace.
"Of course you do," I muttered under my breath, still holding the cash tightly.
Because apparently now—
We are on a mission.
With stolen-looking money.
In a luxury car.
Driven by a psychopath.