Aadhya's POV
Sunday afternoon.
Bad weekend.
And here I was… standing in the middle of the living room like a criminal on trial.
Bhaiyya in front of me.
Masi to the side.
Reyansh sitting like some silent judge.
And me?
Standing there… not even knowing what to say.
"Answer me, damn it!"
Bhaiyya's voice cracked through the room so loudly that I flinched before I could stop myself. My fingers curled slightly at my sides. My throat felt dry.
What do I even say?
That I didn't steal?
That I lied?
That I did it on purpose?
He might actually punch me.
"Stop it, Amar. Let her eat first, she didn't even have breakfast," Masi said, stepping in, her voice softer but firm.
I almost sighed in relief.
Masi, I love you. You're the only one on my side in this entire universe.
But Bhaiyya wasn't having it.
"No, Maa. Her head is getting hot again. You tell me—what is that video? Did you really steal it?"
His eyes locked on mine.
Sharp.
Demanding.
I lowered my gaze.
Silence.
Because anything I say will just make it worse.
Reyansh shifted slightly on the sofa, watching me quietly. Judging, probably.
Go ahead.
Like I care.
"Madam, your mom has arrived—"
The maid's voice cut through the tension.
Nani.
My heart skipped.
Nani is back?
I turned slightly, my eyes instantly searching the door.
And there she was.
Walking in slowly, supported slightly, but still… her presence filled the room.
I missed her.
I really did.
Everyone rushed to her—touching her feet, greeting her.
I stayed where I was.
I wanted to go.
So badly.
But… after all this?
Will she even be happy seeing me?
"Where is my Adi?" she asked.
My heart stopped.
My Adi.
Did she really just say that?
"Yes, where is that brat?" Reema masi's voice followed, sharp and annoying as always.
Of course.
And just like that, reality hit again.
"I heard she steals. Golu-molu showed me a video of her admitting theft," she continued, looking around like she was hunting me.
I instinctively stepped back.
Hid behind the wall.
Not now.
I can't face her right now.
"That child must have a reason," Nani said calmly.
My chest tightened.
She… defended me?
"Don't do that, Maa. You're spoiling her. Why don't we just send her to her mother? Let her suffer with her troublesome daughter," Reema masi snapped.
That hurt.
More than Bhaiyya shouting.
More than the video.
Because this… this was personal.
"Calm down, Reema. Besides, our Adi has changed," Masi spoke again.
I swallowed hard.
I couldn't stay there anymore.
—
I went upstairs.
Closed the door.
Stood there for a second.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Feeling everything all at once.
Then I made a decision.
I'm going out.
I changed quickly—knee-length shorts, a loose t-shirt. Hair open, messy but manageable. Phone, wallet.
Done.
I walked downstairs again.
Nani noticed me immediately.
Of course she did.
I went straight to her and bent down, touching her feet.
She placed her hand on my head and smiled.
That smile…
God, I missed that.
"I'm going out," I said softly.
"Take care, beta," she replied.
I nodded.
I turned to Reema masi and bent slightly out of respect.
She stepped back.
Good.
I didn't react.
Did my part.
That's enough.
I walked out.
—
The moment I stepped outside, it felt like I could finally breathe.
I took my cycle and started pedaling away.
Fast.
Like I was escaping something.
Music on.
Earphones in.
"Kuch toh bata zindagi, apna pata zindagi…" I sang softly along, my voice blending with the wind.
Where am I going?
No idea.
Just… away.
—
Then I saw it.
A new café.
Hmm.
Perfect.
I parked my cycle and walked in.
The place was nice.
Calm.
Aesthetic.
Expensive-looking.
I chose the last table near the window.
Best seat.
Best view.
I sat there for a moment, just staring outside.
Peace.
Finally.
The waiter came and handed me the menu.
I opened it.
And—
"Damnit…"
Everything was expensive.
Very expensive.
I mentally calculated my wallet balance like my life depended on it.
"One café latte," I said finally, trying to sound confident.
₹250.
Okay.
Manageable.
Barely.
He nodded and left.
I leaned back, looking around casually.
And then I noticed them.
A group of students.
Looking at me.
Whispering.
Glancing again.
Ah.
So it starts.
The video.
Of course.
The waiter came back with their order. They leaned in, whispered something to him.
My stomach tightened slightly.
And then—
He came to me.
"I'm sorry, ma'am… but you'll have to leave. Other customers are uncomfortable with you being here."
There it is.
I just nodded slowly.
So this is how it's going to be now.
Everywhere.
Every time.
I picked up my wallet.
And was about to pay for my order
He stopped me.
"I'll give it for free… as an apology."
I looked at him.
And smiled.
Not forced.
Just… thankful.
Because even in all this, someone chose kindness.
I started packing my things.
Took my phone.
Wallet.
I reached for the cup—
And suddenly—
Someone grabbed my arm.
I froze.
Turned.
Nikansh.
"What—"
"Stay here," he said calmly, looking straight at me.
Then he turned to the waiter.
"I'll pay your entire day's salary. I want everyone out. Now."
Silence.
The kind that hits like a slap.
The waiter panicked.
The group looked offended.
Within minutes—
The café was empty.
Completely.
I just… stared.
At him.
At his hand still holding my arm.
I pulled it back.
"What are you doing?" I asked, confused, slightly annoyed.
He didn't answer.
Just walked over and sat on the chair across from me like nothing happened.
Like he didn't just throw money around to clear a place.
The waiter came back, trembling slightly, handing him the menu.
Nikansh glanced at it.
"This… this… and this."
Muffins.
Cold coffee.
Casual.
Normal.
Like this is everyday behavior.
The waiter left.
I was still staring at him.
Trying to process.
He looked up at me.
"Are you going to stand there like an idiot?"
I blinked.
Then sat down slowly.
Same seat.
Same place.
But everything felt… different now.
Because to him—
This meant nothing.
Just another moment.
Another decision.
Another problem solved.
I leaned back slightly, still looking at him.
This is what it's like to be Nikansh Mittal huh…he is also abnormal like Vivaan.
Nikansh's POV
We both sat there in silence, but it wasn't the peaceful kind… it was heavy, like something unspoken was sitting between us, breathing quietly. I had been here even before her. I saw everything. The way those people looked at her… like they had the right to judge. It irritated me more than I expected. Still… somewhere in the back of my head, a voice kept saying—she brought this on herself. And I hated that voice.
"What's your trip here?" she asked suddenly, breaking the silence like it meant nothing.
"Huh… nothing," I replied casually.
She nodded.
My order arrived. Muffins. Cold coffee. I pushed the plate toward her.
"Eat," I said.
She looked surprised first… then at the muffins… then back at me… and then she smiled. Just like that. As if the world hadn't just treated her like trash a few minutes ago. And that smile… it stayed.
She started eating.
Soft music filled the café… and I caught a faint line playing—
🎶Yeh lamha jo thehra hai…🎶
My eyes didn't move from her.
She looked… too innocent for this kind of world. The way her eyes lit up over something as simple as muffins… like it actually mattered. No fake expressions. No drama for attention. Just… real.
🎶Mera hai yeh tera hai…🎶
I leaned back slightly, still watching her. She wasn't like the others. No layers. No filters. What she felt, she showed. What she believed, she did.
"Why did you do that?" I asked suddenly.
She looked up instantly, cheeks slightly puffed because she was still eating.
"Huh? Which one?" she asked, confused.
"Why did you do that for Avi?"
She smiled again. This time softer. Warmer.
"It's nothing… Avi is like my little brother," she said proudly, like it was obvious. "So of course, as his elder sister, I'll protect him."
I let out a small chuckle. That answer… it fit her perfectly.
Simple. Stupid. Pure.
"Don't you have siblings?" I asked.
She paused. Thought for a second.
"Masi said I had an elder brother… but mom gave him up for adoption," she said, trying to sound normal… but her smile didn't reach her eyes this time.
I noticed.
That kind of smile… I know it.
"Do you have siblings?" she asked back.
"I do. Younger sister. She's in Mumbai," I replied.
She nodded, and silence returned again… but this time it wasn't heavy. It just… existed.
🎶Yeh lamha me jee loon jara....
Tuhj mein khoya rahu mein...
Mujhe me khoyi rahe tu..khudo ko dhoondlenge phir kabhi .....🎶
The song shifted again, and she subtly started moving her head to the rhythm. Not fully dancing… just feeling it. I noticed it earlier too—when she sang for Avi. Music does something to her.
Her lips moved slightly, mouthing the lyrics she clearly knew by heart.
I shouldn't have been staring… but I was.
🎶Tujhe se milta rahu mein mujhse milti rahe tu....khud se hum milenge phir kabhi ...haha phir kabhi....🎶
Her features were small… sharp in a soft way. Hair falling on her face and she didn't even bother fixing it. Too busy eating. Idiot.
No… foodie.
Without thinking, I hummed along louder this time.
🎶Dil pe taras aa raha hai pagal kahi ho jaye...wo bhi mein sunne laga huun jo tum kabhi keh na paaye....🎶
She looked at me… then smiled.
And something in my chest shifted.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
Till now, I thought whatever I felt for Yuvika… that was it. Fixed. Done. But sitting here… looking at Aadhya… I felt something unfamiliar.
Confusion.
"Don't you have a boyfriend?" I asked suddenly.
What the hell did I just ask?
"Yeah, one," she said instantly.
"Really?" I asked before I could stop myself.
She raised an eyebrow. "Am I too ugly to have one?"
"No—I didn't mean it like that," I corrected quickly.
"Yeah… one," she repeated, calm.
"What happened to him?" I asked.
Her expression changed. Just a little. But I saw it.
"He's… in the hospital," she said after a pause.
"Why?"
"Coma."
She said it so quickly, like she didn't want the conversation to breathe.
I didn't ask further.
🎶Yeh subha phir ayegi ye shyamme phir ayegi...
Yeh nazdikiyaan phir kahan 🎶
"Your love life?" she shot back.
I exhaled slightly. "I fell in love once… she didn't choose me."
"Yuvika—" she said and immediately stopped.
I looked at her. She froze.
"S-sorry…"
I didn't respond. Just leaned back again.
So she knows.
Of course she does.
Walls have ears.
🎶Tujh mein khoya rahoon mein mujh me khoyi rahe tu khud ko dhoondlenge phir kabhi....
Tujhe se milta rahu mein mujhse milti rahe tu khud se hum milenge phir kabhi...🎶
We talked after that. Mostly about random things… mostly about me. She avoided talking about herself. I didn't push.
When we stepped out, she went to her cycle. I walked to my car.
She waved.
And for some reason… I stood there for a second longer than needed.
I went back in to pay.
₹1,00,000.
Great. Grandpa's definitely going to kill me.
My eyes drifted to the table again… and that's when I saw it.
Her phone.
"Seriously…" I muttered, picking it up.
I drove straight to her house. Don't ask how I know the address. Long story.
She was just parking her cycle when she saw me.
Confusion. Then surprise.
I got out and walked toward her, holding up the phone.
She checked her pockets instantly… panic… then relief.
"Thank you," she said.
And there it was again.
That same smile.
And this time… I didn't look away.