Shreyansh sat in the darkness, his mind a battlefield of emotions. The dinner conversation replayed in his head like a haunting melody, each word a piercing arrow to his heart. Arya's silent agreement to the divorce echoed loudest, a painful reminder that she may have never truly loved him. The thought sent a stinging sensation through his heart, as if it was being pierced by a thousand needles.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the door creak open, but the soft rustle of footsteps broke the silence. He turned to see Arya standing in the doorway, her face illuminated by the faint light from the hallway. Her eyes locked onto his, filled with a mix of sadness and hesitation.

Shreyansh's gaze narrowed, his mind racing with questions. What did she want now? Had she come to rub salt in his wounds or to pretend that everything was fine? He couldn't bear the thought of another conversation, another lie, another pretence.

Arya took a step forward, her voice barely audible. "Shreyansh, can we talk?" The softness in her tone was a stark contrast to the harsh words they had exchanged earlier.

Shreyansh's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity as he took deliberate steps closer to Arya, his voice low and menacing.

"You think you can just walk away from me, from our marriage, after everything you 've done with me ? You think I'll let you go that easily?" He sneered, his words dripping with anger and hurt.

"I'm the one who's always made the decisions, He took another step closer, his eyes burning with a fierce passion.

"You're not going anywhere, Arya. Not until I've had my revenge. Not until I've made you understand what you've done to me." Arya backed away from him, her eyes wide with fear, as Shreyansh's words hung in the air like a dark promise.

Shreyansh's arms wrapped around Arya like a vice, his grasp tight and unyielding. His eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, a mix of pain and anger that seemed to burn hotter with every passing moment. He pulled her close, his face inches from hers, his breath hot against her skin.

"You think you can just leave me?" he whispered, his voice low and menacing. "You think you can just walk away from me, from us, from everything we've been through?" His eyes searched hers, as if seeking answers to questions he couldn't quite formulate. Despite his anger, despite his pain, his heart still yearned for her, still loved her with a fierce and all-consuming passion. And that, perhaps, was the most galling truth of all.

Arya's heart raced as Shreyansh's warm breath caressed her skin, their bodies inches apart. She couldn't deny the flutter in her chest, the thrill that ran through her veins whenever he was near. In just five days, she had grown accustomed to his presence, her body responding to his proximity as if it had a mind of its own. The thought of divorce, of leaving him, brought a pang of pain to her heart. Yet, she wanted Shreyansh to be happy, even if it meant sacrificing her own desires. She didn't want to be the reason for his suffocation, for the constraints that came with their marriage.

but her fear of trapping him in a loveless marriage was greater. As she looked into his eyes, she knew she had to find a way to make him understand, to make him see that her leaving was not a rejection of him, but a liberation for both their souls.

Shreyansh's gaze bore into hers, as if searching for answers to the turmoil that ravaged his heart. Arya's eyes locked onto his, her own emotions raw and exposed. She could feel the tension between them, a palpable force that seemed to vibrate with every beat of their hearts.

"You want to leave me, Arya?" Shreyansh's voice was low, husky, and laced with a quiet desperation. "You want to walk away from us, from everything we've shared?" His words dripped with pain, with a sense of loss that seemed to echo through the silence. Arya's heart ached, her soul torn between the love she felt for him and the fear that had driven her to seek escape. She knew she had to be strong, to find the courage to let him go, no matter how much it hurt.

"Yes, Shreyansh," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I have to leave. I can't stay with you, not like this." The words hung in the air, a stark declaration that seemed to hang like a challenge between them.

Arya's voice was devoid of emotion, her words stark and detached. "And don't forget, you hate me," she said, her gaze steady, unflinching. "What will you gain by keeping me here, except more pain, more heartache?" She stepped back, her body language distant, unyielding.

"Let me go, Shreyansh. You may want to punish me for what I've done, but don't keep me here, trapped in this toxic cycle of marriage and hate." Her eyes seemed to bore into his soul, her words a cold, hard slap in the face. "Who knows, you may only end up hurting yourself again." With that, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing through the silence, leaving Shreyansh standing alone, his arms still outstretched, his heart shattered into a million pieces.

The silence between them was palpable, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Both Shreyansh and Arya stood with their backs to each other, tears streaming down their faces like rivers of pain. The air was thick with tension, their hearts burdened by the weight of their unresolved issues. Shreyansh's voice finally broke the silence, his words barely above a whisper, as if he feared the truth. "Have you ever loved me, Arya? Did you ever have even the slightest feelings for me in your heart, other than revenge?" The words hung in the air like a challenge, a desperate plea for answers.

Arya's breath caught in her throat as she hesitated, her eyes welling up with tears. She wiped them away with a trembling hand, her voice flat and emotionless, like a knife cutting through the silence. "No, never." The word was a cold, harsh slap, a stark rejection that left Shreyansh reeling. "Neither did I have any feelings for you before nor do I have any feelings for you now." The words were a brutal truth, a crushing blow that left Shreyansh gasping for air. "Apart from regret, whatever I did to you was wrong. That's the only thing I regret."

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, a stark contrast to the numbness that had settled in Shreyansh's heart. Arya moved away, her feet heavy with the weight of her confession, leaving Shreyansh standing alone, broken and defeated. The bathroom door closed behind her with a soft click, and the sound of her muffled sobs echoed through the  bathroom

______________

Saumya and Abhinash sat in their room, their faces etched with concern and worry. They were deeply troubled by the turmoil in their children's lives and the seemingly irreparable rift between Yuvan, Ashvi, Shreyansh, and Arya. "What's going on?" Saumya murmured, her voice laced with sadness. "Why is happiness eluding them? Why did Shreyansh and Arya agree to divorce so readily? Don't they want to be together anymore?" She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "They claim they don't love each other, but their eyes tell a different story. They're blinded by hatred and anger, destroying their own lives in the process."

Abhinash's brow furrowed in worry. "We thought that discussing divorce would prompt them to open up and apologize for their mistakes. Arya made a mistake, but it was unintentional, driven by her family's influence. She's remorseful, willing to do anything to make amends, but Shreyansh's anger and unspoken feelings are driving them further apart. If they don't reconcile, their anger may consume them, leading to a irreparable separation."

Abhinash's voice was laced with concern. "We need to do something, Saumya. We can't just sit back and watch them destroy their lives. They need guidance, support, and love. We have to help them see reason, to understand that their love is worth fighting for." Saumya nodded, determination etched on her face. "...

______________

Next day

Vihaan's hands gripped the steering wheel with a intensity that turned his knuckles white, his eyes fixed on the road ahead with a gaze that seemed to bore a hole into the asphalt. Shreyansh sat beside him, noticing the tension in his friend's body, the way his jaw was clenched and his shoulders were stiff, like a coiled spring ready to snap.

"Pull over, Vihaan," Shreyansh said gently, his voice laced with concern.

Vihaan obeyed, stopping the car with a screech, the tires protesting in anguish. Shreyansh's eyes locked onto Vihaan's, searching for the truth behind the mask of calmness.

"What's wrong, Vihaan? You've been distant all morning, lost in a world of your own," Shreyansh asked, his voice soft and gentle, like a summer breeze.

Vihaan hesitated, his eyes darting away like a scared rabbit, before returning to Shreyansh's concerned gaze. "Nothing," he whispered, his voice barely audible, a mere whisper that seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight.

Shreyansh's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through Vihaan's facade. "Don't lie, Vihaan. I know you're hurting. Let it out," he said, his voice firm but gentle, like a father's embrace.

Vihaan's facade crumbled, tears streaming down his face like a river, his body shuddering as he fought to contain the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "I'm a curse, Shreyansh... everyone I love leaves me... I lost my first love, my mother... why does this happen to me?" he sobbed, his voice cracking like a broken glass, his eyes pleading for help, for a respite from the pain that seemed to haunt him.

Shreyansh's eyes moistened, his heart aching for his friend, his soul torn apart by the pain that seemed to consume Vihaan. He reached out, his hand grasping Vihaan's arm with a gentle firmness, his touch seeming to convey a sense of comfort, of security.

"You're not alone, Vihaan," Shreyansh whispered, his voice a soft melody that seemed to soothe the savage beast that threatened to consume his friend. "I'm here for you, always.

________________<__

Ashvi sat by the window, her slender fingers grasping the sill as if it was her only lifeline. Her eyes stared blankly into the distance, her mind a million miles away. She had dismissed everyone from her room, seeking solitude in her darkest hour. But Yuvaan refused to budge, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that seemed to bore into her soul. He stood outside the glass door, his heart aching with worry, his mind consumed by the thought of losing her.

Kunal's words only added to Yuvaan's distress. "We can't leave her alone in this condition. We should probably take her to our home. That would be better for her. She is not mentally stable right now. She can do anything to herself." Yuvaan's heart raced with fear, his eyes never leaving Ashvi's face. He knew she was fragile, and the thought of losing her was unbearable.

Aarya's suggestion to take her to Rajput Mansion only made Yuvaan more anxious. "She will not agree," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. A long tear escaped from his eye, rolling down his cheek as he struggled to contain his emotions.

Aarya's confidence and smile were a balm to his soul. "Stop crying, Yuvaan. She will be fine, and she will come to Rajput Mansion." She wiped away his tears with a gentle touch, her eyes filled with a deep understanding of his love for Ashvi.

With a newfound determination, Aarya opened the door and moved towards Ashvi, who sat motionless, her eyes empty of any emotion. Yuvaan's eyes never left her face, his gaze burning with a intensity that seemed to plead with her to let him in. The silence was oppressive, the only sound the soft sob that escaped Yuvaan's lips as he struggled to contain his emotions.

Ashvi's eyes flickered with a hint of emotion as Aarya approached her, but she quickly suppressed it, her face returning to its mask-like state. Yuvaan's heart ached with pain, his mind consumed by the thought of losing her. He felt helpless,.

Aarya's heart sank as she approached Ashvi, her feet feeling heavy with guilt. She had always considered Ashvi a close friend, but now she felt like a failure, unable to protect her from her own brother's harm. The thought of facing Ashvi, of apologizing for her brother's actions, made her stomach turn with disgust and shame.

She took a deep breath and sat beside Ashvi, her eyes cast down in sorrow. Ashvi's gaze met hers, empty and devoid of emotion, and Aarya felt a lump form in her throat. She reached out and took Ashvi's hand, her own hand trembling with emotion.

"I'm sorry," Aarya whispered, her voice cracking with pain. Tears streamed down her face as she gazed at Ashvi, her heart heavy with regret.

Ashvi's voice was weak, her words barely audible. "Why are you saying sorry, Aarya? Everything that happened to me is not your fault."

Aarya's tears flowed freely now, her body shaking with sobs. She pulled Ashvi into a tight embrace, holding her close as if she would never let her go. "It is my fault," Aarya whispered, her voice muffled by Ashvi's hair. "I couldn't save my friend. I didn't even realize what was happening right in front of me. I'm disgusted with myself, Ashvi. I'm guilty, too."

The silence that followed was heavy with emotion, the only sound the soft sobs that escaped Aarya's lips as she held Ashvi close. Ashvi's arms remained limp at her sides, her body relaxed in Aarya's embrace, .

Ashvi's arms wrapped around Aarya, holding her close as a single tear escaped her eye. "It's not your fault, Aarya," she whispered, her voice laced with pain. "I'm not angry with you. The fault lies with my fate, which led me to that monster who ruined my life."

Aarya's sobs intensified, her body shaking with grief. "No, Ashvi, it's my fault. I should have been more careful. I should have protected you better."

Ashvi's grip on Aarya tightened, her voice firm but gentle. "No, Aarya. You've been a true friend to me. You asked me a thousand times if I was fine, if something was bothering me. You always checked on me, but I remained quiet, afraid of what he might do to my parents. You've fulfilled your duty as my friend, Aarya. Don't blame yourself."

Aarya's words poured out in a torrent of anguish. "No, Ashvi, it's still my fault. I should have been more vigilant. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I know I don't deserve it, but please forgive me."

Ashvi's hands cradled Aarya's face, her eyes filled with compassion. "No, Aarya, it's not your fault. You're not responsible for my fate. Don't torture yourself like this."

Aarya's pain and guilt boiled over, her words laced with anguish. "I feel disgusted with myself, Ashvi. He's my brother, and I hate him. I wish he would rot in hell and die a painful death." The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of Aarya's sorrow and regret.

Ashvi's words hung in the air like a challenge, her gaze piercing through Aarya's tears. "He is not your brother, Aarya."

The room fell silent, as if the very breath had been sucked out of everyone's lungs. Aarya's face lost all color, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. The words felt like a slap to her face, leaving her reeling and gasping for air.

Vivek, the man she had grown up calling brother, the man she had trusted and loved, was not her brother at all? The thought sent her mind reeling, her world crashing down around her.

Everything that was happening in front of her eyes from childhood till now was a lie

The shockwave spread through the room, as other family members gasped in unison. Eyes widened, mouths agape, they stared at Ashvi in disbelief. The air was heavy with tension, as if the very fabric of their family was unraveling before their eyes.

Aarya's voice was barely audible, her words a mere whisper. "What...what do you mean, Ashvi?"

Ashvi's gaze never wavered, her eyes locked on Aarya's face. "Vivek is not your brother, Aarya. He's a monster who manipulated and used you.  He just used you for his business and revange ".........

Ashvi's eyes welled up with tears as she spoke, her voice cracking with emotion. "I knew everything from the beginning, Aarya. I tried to tell you many times, but I couldn't find the courage. I was so scared of what he might do anything to my parents, like he did with my brother ...... he killed my brother." Her voice broke, and she sobbed uncontrollably.

"And as he said he did he killed my whole family " she sobbed digging her nail in her plam

To be continued..m