Chapter 14 : confession

We were sitting in the living room, the atmosphere strangely calm despite the storm of emotions I felt inside. The breakfast was laid out in front of us, but I couldn’t focus on the food. I could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze on me, as if they were waiting for me to speak, to ask something. But I didn’t.

Vikrant, ever the composed figure, was sitting beside me, his presence far too close, his body almost touching mine. I could feel the heat radiating off him, and the way he leaned in, subtly spreading himself across the space between us, made me feel like he was marking his territory. His gaze, intense and unwavering, never left me, and I couldn’t help but notice the possessiveness in his eyes. He was angry, I could feel it, but it was so subtle, it was almost like it was a part of him now.

My thoughts were interrupted when Vikrant’s phone rang. He answered it quickly, his expression tightening when he heard the name on the other end. “Daksh is here,” he muttered, and I saw the way his jaw clenched. “Get him inside .” His voice was firm, and I could sense the authority in it, as though he was giving orders to his subordinates, even though the words were directed at his friends.

The door opened shortly after, and I heard Daksh’s voice. “Anshi,” he called out . I had never heard him say my nick name like that before. He always called me by my full name  but hearing him say “Anshi” felt different. It was soft .

I stood up to greet him, but before I could take another step, Daksh surprised me by pulling me into a tight hug. It was warm, comforting . But then I heard it. The collective gasp of everyone in the room. I knew they were all watching us, waiting for something to happen, but what struck me the most was the way Daksh whispered in my ear, “I don’t want to lose another sister.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I smiled, despite the strange foreignness of it all. It was a brotherly hug. It made me wonder—why hadn’t Aaradhya 's father ever called ? Wasn’t he supposed to care about me, to worry about me? It had always been Tanu who was there for me, always. She was the one who understood me the most.

I pulled back from Daksh’s embrace and asked, “Why didn’t you call, Daksh? If you care about Aaradhya so much, why didn’t you call her these days ?”

Before Daksh could respond, I heard a loud crash behind me. I turned around in shock, my heart racing when I saw Vikrant’s hand bleeding, the glass he had been holding shattered on the floor. His expression was one of pure anger, and before I could say anything, he stormed off, leaving me standing there, frozen in place.

Confused and worried, I quickly rushed after him, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know why, but the sight of him like that made me feel… anxious. It was like I had said something wrong, something that had triggered him, and now I had to fix it.

I found him in his room, pacing back and forth, his anger palpable in the air. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say, but then I took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Vikrant…” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.

He turned to face me, his eyes dark with frustration. “What do you want, Aaradhya?” His voice was cold, but I could see the fire burning in his gaze. He was angry, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

I took another step closer, my heart racing. “I didn’t mean it like that,” I said softly. “I was just… I was just trying to make him understand the pain I went through when he didn't Even call once or neither father did .... You understand right ? ”

He let out a frustrated sigh and ran his hand through his hair. “Understand what? That I care about you?” His voice cracked slightly, and for a moment, I saw the vulnerability in his eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by something darker. “Do you really not get it, Aaradhya? Do you not see how much I care about you?and you were saying things to him like he was your boyfriend or something.”

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. The intensity in his voice sent shivers down my spine. I didn’t know what to say. I had never heard him speak like this before, so raw, so… desperate.

He took a step toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. “You think I’m jealous of Daksh, don’t you?” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Well, you’re right. I am. Because I don’t want to lose you. Not to him, not to anyone. Do you understand that?”

I stood there, completely stunned, my mind spinning. This was it. This was the confession I had been avoiding, the truth I had been too scared to face. Vikrant… he cared about me. He didn’t just care, he was possessive of me, angry at the thought of losing me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He took another step closer, his body almost touching mine now. “Sorry? No, Aaradhya. You don’t get to apologize. Not when you’ve made me feel like this. Not when I’ve been holding back for so long.” His hand reached out, cupping my face gently. “I’ve been holding back, Aaradhya. I’ve been trying to protect you, to keep you safe. But now I can’t anymore. I can’t pretend that I don’t want you. I can’t pretend that I don’t need you.”

I felt the weight of them, the truth of them, and I couldn’t breathe. But then, something inside me clicked. I knew. I knew I felt the same way. I had been running from it, but I couldn’t anymore. I didn't know but I also didn't want to lose this man either no matter the denial I was feeling .

I reached up, placing my hand over his. “I don’t want to lose you either, Vikrant,” I said, my voice steady now, despite the emotions swirling inside me. “I don’t want to lose you.”

His eyes softened, and he pulled me into him, his arms wrapping around me tightly. I closed my eyes, letting myself feel the warmth of his embrace, the safety of his presence. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

“I’m not letting you go, Aaradhya,” he whispered into my ear, his voice rough. “I’ll never let you go.”

And in that moment, I knew he meant it.