CHAPTER 13: Mohabbat Ke Purane Aks

Bahut kathin hai dagar panghat ki

Ab kaise main ghar jaun

Meri laadki, laa…aadki”

Mujhe raat din bas tera hi khayal hai

Meri laadki, laa…aadki

Tu hai to main hoon

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One day had passed since Aaranya had encountered her grandfather's venomous comments and had her big breakdown.

She was struggling amidst her own chain of self-blame. Her brain would say that none of it is her fault, but her heart, being a softie, would ache for everyone's pain, even those who betrayed her.

Her mother, her sister, her twin, and the people she forgot.

Her mind was screaming that she was acting like a selfless saint. But her heart echoed its melodies ever so softly that it was the only thing audible to her.

She was lost in her thoughts, replaying all the conversations, trying to connect all the little glimpses of her forgotten past and the bittersweet transition of her life.

She messaged Aaliya, her fire brigade in every situation for the last ten years.

Her

"Hii... Aaliya"

~Aaliya

"Helloo babygirliee"

Her

"Yaar, I am stuck, I can't think straight. What should I do? Should I come back?"

~Aaliya

"Nahi, darling, you need to learn to accept it and make yourself stronger. Forget what happened yesterday and start a new beginning, starting by standing up for yourself. Ok?"

Her

"Hmm"

Aaliya's meaningful words wrapped in a flirtatious tone always helped her, whether it was an assignment, an internship issue, a new task, or a life lesson. Every time, for every year, she could clearly remember was only Aaliya was standing beside her, helping her through thick and thin.

~Aaliya

"Darlo, you forgot our daily ritual, come on, send me a picture of your ootd and I'll share you mine, ok?"

Ootd: Outfit of the day

Her

"OK then, first you share."

~Aaliya

Her

"Oye hoye meri Juliet, Romeo ki khoj mai Nikli ho kya. Itni sundar, aaye Haye... Mai toh mar hi jaavan darling."

(Gosh, My Juliet, are you going out to search for your Romeo. So beautiful, I might just die for this, darling.)

~Aaliya

"Oh come on, Aarya, I am blushing. Now you also share."

Aaranya quickly fixes the white floral saree she was wearing and her hair a bit before she snapped a mirror selfie and sent it to Aaliya.

Her

~Aaliya

"Oh ho....

Banke tusi butterfly

Kithe Nu Challe Aa

Haiga Koyi Boyfriend Ja

Tussi Vi Kalle Aa

Indian Ya Pakistani

Kithe Di Tu Ae Rani"

Her

"Come on, Aalu, when will you stop acting this dramatically. Huh?!"

~Aaliya

"The day you become someone's butterfly."

Her

"Oh just shut up."

~Aaliya

"Hehehe! Ok, on a serious note, Tera aur tere real prince charming ka kya chakkar hai."

(Hehehe! Ok, on a serious note, what's going on between you and your real-life prince charming?)

Her

"Sach - Sach bataun"

(Shall I tell you the truth?)

~Aaliya

"Expecting nothing less, darling"

Her

"Yaar, I do feel a connection with him, like I know I am his and he is mine. But I can't remember anything, so I need some time."

~Aaliya

"Hmm... Nice, at least you realised. Good progress."

After talking to each other for a few more minutes, they both stopped chatting as Aaliya's mother called her to help her with some medicines.

Meanwhile, Aaranya, who was already struggling amidst so many thoughts, got one more added to the list.

Yuvraj.

She was totally lost in her thoughts again. It was as if the little princess had returned to the palace garden to every tree and plant, but she had lost her smile.

Veer sat beside her and took her hand in his, reassuringly as if he understood all her unspoken words clearly.

She looked in his direction when Lakshay broke the silence. He intended to divert Aaranya's mind from the ongoing stress. "Accha batao kya Khaogi."

(Aaru, tell us what you will eat.)

"I don't have any specific choice. I hardly used to get two meals a day. Anything would work for me." She said in a low voice, still thinking but not unkind.

She stood up and walked towards the garden exit, leaving behind her brothers, alone with their hearts aching.

"We failed miserably." Veer looked down at his lap while still sitting on the bench. The rest three also nodded, completely agreeing with him.

They longed for the little Aaranya, who was a picky person in clothes, food and everything, but now she just accepts everything quietly. She doesn't argue about her choices anymore.

"We have to make it up to her. Even if it takes our entire lives." Devansh said, his eyes sparkling with a new goal cooking in his mind. As he dove back to his thoughts, immersed in what all he can do for his little sister.

"Hmm... Let's start with small things, then." Aditya chirped with a small smile while everyone else nodded in agreement.

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I was in my room, scrolling through my phone.

I found a diary earlier in my room which had 'Cupid' written on its cover page. I went through the pages, and it confirmed all my earlier confusions about me and Yuvraj.

Let me read an entry from it.

'Dear cupid,

Today, my cutie and I went to another town for a ride. Long ride. But do you know what the fun twist was? We went on a horse ride.

After spending an entire day with him, we sat down on a rock surrounded by a peaceful view. The sky was filled with orange and blue hues.

It was like the statement came true, 'Love is in the air'.

We both talked to each other about almost everything and watched the mesmerising view of the sunset. As we were walking back to the horse. He stopped and pecked my forehead and nose. But what I did shocked me to my core. I held him from his collar and kissed him hard.

The day today was entirely unforgettable. We kissed for the very first time, and a plus point to this is that Baba Sa announced our engagement today, and it's after a month. Yaeyy!

My day was nice, and I hope yours was too

His Anya.'

I was smiling to myself, trying to recall all these memories, and hopefully I was able to at least recall similar silhouettes.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on my door and went to open it.

Veer Bhai sa, Dev Bhai sa, Aditya Bhai sa and Lakshay Bhai sa were all standing in aprons and chef caps. Their hands and faces were a bit messy from the flour and spices. They were holding plates and bowls covered.

I looked at them curiously, and I moved aside and let them enter the room.

They all placed all the dishes at my bedside and opened the lids one by one. My face was clouded with curiosity and confusion.

The first lid revealed a chocolate brownie, the second one had pasta, garlic bread and little nuggets in the rest two.

"We prepared this for you, Aaru... You used to love all these dishes so much back then," Lakshay bhai sa said with a proud smile and a hint of nostalgia glinting in his eyes.

A smile made its way to my face, too, as I took in the efforts my brother made just for me.

We all had the food in my room, only while talking and laughing.

And honestly, the food was really good. No wonder these people are so famous.

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