Chapter 11

Already drained from back-to-back meetings and work pressure, she looked around the chaos in disbelief.

"Ye mera ghar hai ya wrestling ground?!"

she snapped, glaring at both of them.

("Is this my house or a wrestling ground?!")

"Meri koi galti nhi hai, ye sab is kutte ki wajah se hua hai!" Vaani shouted, still sitting on Ritvik's back.

("It's not my fault! All this happened because of this dog!")

"Shut up Vaani! Kitni baar bola hai, vo bada hai tumse!" her mami shouted, her voice now even louder.

("Shut up, Vaani! How many times have I told you, he's older than you!")

She continued with rising frustration, "Hazar dafa kaha hai, fir bhi tumhari masti kam nahi hoti!"

("I've told you a thousand times, yet your mischief never stops!")

"Par Mumma maine-" Vaani tried to explain, her voice trembling.

("But Mami, I-")

"Bas hogya! Room mai jao apne." Her mom cut her off sternly.

("Enough! Go to your room!")

Vaani stood up slowly, brushing her sleeves, and walked away silently. But the tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't turn back. She didn't speak. She just left.

Ritvik sat up, watching his little sister disappear behind the door. Guilt twisted in his chest.

He turned to his mom, his voice slightly louder than usual, "Mummy ,aapne usse kyu daanta? Galti uski nhi thi."

("Mumma, why did you scold her? It wasn't her fault.")

Then, more softly, almost apologetically, he added, "Sorry Mummy, mujhe aise baat nahi karni chahiye thi... but uski galti nahi thi. Sachi."

("Sorry Mami, I shouldn't have spoken like that... but it really wasn't her fault.")

Ishika's shoulders slumped. Her expression softened as she placed the file she came to collect on the table.

"Sorry beta... pata nahi kya hua. Vo back-to-back meetings thi, isiliye dimaag kharab ho gaya tha."

("Sorry, dear... I don't know what happened. The back-to-back meetings just messed up my head.")

She sighed and added, "Aur usko aane ke baad mana lungi."

("I'll make it up to her later.")

Ritvik asked gently, "Waise Mumma, aap itni jaldi?"

("By the way, Mami, so early?")

"Haan, vo meri file reh gayi thi."

("Yeah, I had forgotten my file.")

After taking her file, she left again. Ritvik stood in silence for a moment, then sighed deeply.

Guilt lingered in his chest.

So, he walked to the kitchen and started boiling water deciding to make a fresh bowl of maggi for his sister.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Wiping his hands quickly, Ritvik went to open the door and found Ekansh standing there, looking a little puzzled.

"Tu yaha kya kar raha hai?"

("What are you doing here?") Ritvik asked.

"Haan?... Vooo... hai vo tere ghar gaya tha pen lene to socha stationary se apne notes le lu."

("Uhh... so... I went to your house to get a pen, and thought I'd grab my notes from the stationery shop too.")

Ritvik blinked in confusion. "Kya?"

("What?")

"Nahi mera matlab hai ki main stationery gaya tha apne liye pen lene, to yaad aaya mere notes tere pass hai. Vahi lene aaya tha."

("No, I meant I went to the stationery to get a pen, then remembered you have my notes. So I came for them.")

Ritvik sighed. "Achha, aaja."

("Alright, come in.")

"Ghar par koi nahi hai?" Ekansh asked casually.

"Mummy office mein hai, aur Vaani room mai hai."

("Mami's at the office, and Vaani's in her room.")

"Achha hai... matlab vo ghar par hi hai."

("Nice... so she's home.") Ekansh thought to himself, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Ek kaam kar, tu hi le le. Mere room mein rakha hai, desk par. Mujhe abhi maggi banani hai."

("Do one thing go get it from my room. It's on the desk. I have to make maggi.") Ritvik told him.

Ekansh nodded and walked toward Ritvik's room. He was about to leave with the notebook when something unexpected caught his attention.

Music.

Loud. Bassy. Dramatic.

It was coming from the adjacent room Vaani's room.

The walls were thin. And the beat was unmistakable.

"Kacchi karaari jawaani kunwari hoon

Meethi supaari main, hai tauba

Naina qaatil jo lage to chhilaaye

Jiya baawra baawra main, hai tauba..."

Ekansh froze in his tracks, confused and stunned. He blinked rapidly, unsure if he heard that right. The beats thumped harder.

> "Hai mauka aaj kar sauda

Dil tera de de to badle

Main de doon main..."

"Jaadu ki jhappi la ja tu abhi

Milegi phir na dobaara..."

Ekansh's eyebrows shot up. His jaw slightly dropped. His hand still hung mid-air over the notebook.

He stepped back. "Ye kya ho raha hai bhai?" he mumbled, and instinctively leaned a little toward the wall.

From the muffled space behind it, a loud voice rang-

"Hothon se pappi la ja tu abhi

Milegi main na dobaara..."

Ritvik, on the other hand, was just coming to check why he hadn't came till now and saw him.

He noticed Ekansh's puzzled face.

Ritvik raised an eyebrow and walked in. "Bhai, book lene aaya tha, yahi ruk gaya?"

("Bro, you came for a book and got stuck here?")

"Nahi vo... mai bas... aa raha tha."

("No, I was just... standing here.") Ekansh stammered.

"Ye jab gussa hoti hai to aise gaane par dance karti hai."

("When she's angry, she dances to songs like this.") Ritvik said, amused at Ekansh's confused expression.

"Vaani chal niche, Mummy ne maggi banai hai."

("Vaani, come down, Mami made maggi.")

"Tu chal, mai ye gaane ke baad aaungi..."

("You go, I'll come after this song...") Vaani called out from upstairs.

"Chal, hum niche chalte hain."

("Come on, let's go downstairs.") Ritvik said, shaking his head with a grin.



It's been a few days, but that moment still played over in my mind more times than I'd like to admit.

"Bas yrr... unhone paper mein kuch likha hi nahi tha. Naam, roll number... aur 2-3 answer the, vo bhi galat.Mujhse dekha nahi gaya. Fail hoti toh tujhe kaisa lagta? Teri behn hai. Isliye bata diya. Bas. Aur koi reason nahi hai."

She hadn't looked at me since.

Not during exams. Not even once in the hallway. No smile. No glance. Just... absence. And I wasn't used to people noticing me much anyway, but now, somehow, that absence felt heavier.

I sat by the edge of my bed, clutching my phone like I was about to do something important though, as usual, I wasn't sure what. The ceiling fan hummed faintly above me. My thoughts were messier than the open notebooks scattered across my desk.

"Bas... Ritvik ke ghar se physics ki notes leni hai." I told myself out loud, mostly to convince... myself. "Aur... bus. Sirf yahi."

("I just need to get the physics notes from Ritvik's house.")

I grabbed my hoodie, slipped it on, wallet in my back pocket, and phone in the front. Standing at the door, I looked around once, unsure if I was forgetting something. Then shook my head and stepped out.

As I locked the main door, I muttered under my breath, "Kya soch rha hoon main... bas ek book ke liye jaa raha hoon."

("What am I even thinking... I'm just going for a book.")

But even I didn't fully believe that.

I kept walking, hands stuffed in my hoodie pocket, when I passed by the local stationery shop the one I'd been visiting since sixth grade. The glass panes were smudged with fingerprints and dust, but I could still see inside. Pens, registers, pencil boxes lined up neatly on racks. Something made me stop.

Maybe I needed a new pen. Mine had started leaking again.

I pushed open the door, the bell above it giving a soft 'ting'.

It was quiet inside. The faint smell of paper and cardboard always made me feel calm. I walked slowly, eyes scanning the shelves. A blue ball pen caught my eye. Perfect. Reliable.

As I turned to head to the counter, my steps froze.

There, near the billing desk a shelf full of Cadbury chocolates. Different sizes, shapes. Silk, Crackle, Fruit & Nut... and the regular Dairy Milk.

My gaze lingered.

I didn't come here for this. But still... I don't know why, I just kept staring. Something about it reminded me of her. Not in a big, dramatic way. Just... she seemed like the kind of person who loves food a actually a lots of food. Who smiled at small things. And I hadn't seen her smile since that day atleast not at me.

I took one slow step forward.

Then another.

My hand hovered near the chocolates, unsure which to pick. Silk... too much? Fruit & Nut? Nahi yaar... Achha nhi laga toh?

I bit my lip. Thought about asking someone. Thought about asking... Vihaan.

He knows her from childhood. He must know what she likes.

I unlocked my phone, thumb hovering over his name.

Then without thinking too much I pressed Call.

One ring.

Two rings.

And then panic hit me like a wave. Kya soch raha hoga wo? Ki main Vaani ke liye chocolate pooch raha hoon? What am I even doing?

("What must he be thinking? That I'm asking for chocolate for Vaani?")

I quickly cut the call.

"Pagal hoon main..." I whispered to myself, cheeks burning even though no one was watching.

(I am crazy)

Just as I turned back toward the pen rack, my phone vibrated in my hand.

Vihaan.

I blinked.

I hesitated. Then picked it up.

"Abe o bhaai." Vihaan's voice came through, full of fake drama. "Tu kab se itna kanjoos ho gaya? 2 baar miss call de ke chhod diya, recharge khatam ho gaya kya?"

("Hey brother." )

("Since when did you become so stingy? You gave two missed calls and stopped did your phone balance run out or what?")

I chuckled a small.

"Nahi yaar, aisa kuch nahi." I said, scratching the back of my neck instinctively. "Mai pen lene aaya tha stationary pe... toh yaad aaya ki physics ke notes tere paas the. Isliye call kiya."

("No yarr , it's not like that")

("I had come to buy a pen at the stationery shop... then I remembered you had the physics notes. That's why I called.")

A pause.

"Par phir yaad aaya ki woh toh Ritvik ke paas hi hain, toh uske ghar jaa raha hoon lene."

("But then I remembered that Ritvik has them, so I'm going to his house to get them.")

"Acha acha, toh bas confirm karne ke liye call kiya tha ki kahaan notes hain?" Vihaan teased.

("Oh okay, so you just called to confirm where the notes are?" )

I laughed again, softer this time. "Haan bhai, bas yahi kaam reh gaya hai life mein."

("Yeah bro, this is the only thing left to do in life now.")

"Theek hai, jaa tu. Notes mil jayein."

He trailed off on purpose.

(Alright ,you should go. You may get the notes)

"Bye" i said, and hung up.

I let out a slow breath and slid the phone back into my pocket.

My eyes drifted back toward the shelf.

After a moment of hesitation, I reached forward not for the big Silk, not the Fruit & Nut. Just a classic KitKat. Simple. Quiet. Familiar.

Theek hai, yeh main bhi khata hoon. Shayad unko bhi pasand ho... aur agar nahi bhi, toh koi baat nahi.

Then, near the counter, I saw a small stack of yellow sticky notes. I picked one up on impulse, then uncapped the pen I just bought.

I don't know what made me smile while writing maybe it was the absurdity of all this. Maybe the thought of trying, even if it made no difference.

I folded the note once and slipped it between the KitKat wrapper.

No one had to know.

No one would know.

With a quiet breath, I paid for everything and stepped out of the shop, bag in hand.

My pace slowed as I neared Ritvik's house. My thoughts weren't loud, just... present. Like a hum that stayed with you, quietly pulling you forward.

It wasn't about fixing anything.

It was just about showing up.



A few seconds later, footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Ritvik looked up from his bowl of maggi just as Vaani appeared at the top calm, composed, as if she hadn't just been performing her very own item number a minute ago. Her hair was slightly messy, her cheeks flushed, but she walked like nothing had happened. Like a queen. A very tired queen.

Until-

Her eyes met Ekansh's.

He was already seated at the table, quietly eating maggi. But when their eyes locked, something weird and electric passed between them unspoken, awkward...special

Because the next second-

"THAK!"

Vaani missed the next step. Her foot twisted. Her balance betrayed her. And she went tumbling halfway down the stairs like a tragic, melodramatic heroine from a daily soap.

"AAAAAAHHH!"

Ritvik's spoon dropped.

And then-

"HAHAHAHAHA! Arre kya tha yeh?!"

("What even was that?!")

He sprinted toward her, wheezing from laughter.

"Kaise gir gayi tu?!"

("How did you fall like that?!")

Vaani sat up in slow motion, wincing. Her hair looked like it had survived a mini tornado.

"Ughhh... meri kismat hi kharaab hai! Inke saamne hi kyun, Bhagwanji?!"

("Ughhh... my luck is so horrible! Why in front of him, God?!")

Still giggling, Ritvik held out a hand. Still laughing

She smacked his hand away and groaned, rubbing her ankle.

Just then, Ekansh stood up and walked over quickly, worry clear in his usually calm eyes.

"Aap thik ho?" he asked gently.

("Are you fine?")

She nodded at first, embarrassed. "Haan... main thik hoon."

("Yeah... I'm fine.")

But Ekansh didn't look convinced. He knelt beside her slightly, frowning at her ankle.

"Ritvik, zara dekh unka pair. Lag toh nahi gaya?"

("Ritvik, check her foot. I think she might've hurt it.")

Ritvik crouched down next to her with exaggerated drama.

"Lo ji, doctor bhi ban gaya main. Chal dikha ankle."

("Wow, I've become a doctor now. Show me your ankle.")

He gently tapped near her foot-

"AAHHH!" she yelped.

"Toh thoda laga hai. Aur madam aise nawaabi entry karne ki kya zarurat thi? Izzat se chal nahi sakti thi kya? Chal, uth! Tujhe kuch laga deta hoon."

("So it is hurt. And madam, what was the need for such a royal entry? Couldn't you just walk like a normal person? Come on, get up! I'll put something on it.")

Vaani narrowed her eyes at him.

"Main tere muh pe kuch laga doon pehle?"

("Should I put something on your face first?")

Still, she grabbed his hand to get up, but the moment she put weight on her foot-

"ahh ahh ahh! Nahi ho raha!"

("Ow ow ow! It's not working!")

She almost stumbled again.

Ekansh instinctively moved forward to hold her, but before he could, Ritvik huffed, picked her up clumsily like a sack of potatoes, and marched toward the dining table.

"Madam dancer se patient ban gayi hain. Aao, baitho."

("Madam has gone from item dancer to patient. Come on, sit.")

He carefully placed her down on a chair.

"Ab chup-chaap khana kha. Drama kaafi ho gaya."

("Now eat quietly. That's enough drama for today.")

Vaani glared at him but didn't say anything-partly because she was mortified, partly because her ankle really hurt.

Ekansh walked over silently and sat beside Ritvik, still stealing occasional glances at her.

The table went quiet for a moment. Only the soft clinking of forks against plates and a faint sniffle from Vaani trying to regain her composure.

Ritvik leaned in and whispered with a smirk, "Next time stairs pe performance mat dena. Neeche stage nahi hota."

("Next time don't perform on the stairs. That's not a stage.")

"Tu chup reh. Warna yeh maggi tere sar pe daal dungi."

("Shut up, Ritvik. Or I'll dump this maggi on your head.")

He grinned wider and took another bite.

Ekansh said nothing.

But quietly, without looking, he pushed a glass of water toward her.

She didn't look either.

But she took it.

And under the table, her foot still throbbed like hell.

They finished their Maggie in silence.

"Ekansh ...sunna" ritvik said and just then he got a call

"Umm mai aata hu 5 min mai tumlog continue karo." He said and went upstairs.

("Umm I will be back in 5 min till then you continue")

Vaani was sitting at the table, her ankle still slightly elevated, and her thoughts were wandering. She glanced at the clock. The evening felt like it was dragging on.

Ekansh, who had been mostly silent, stood up after a while. He hesitated near the counter, then grabbed something from his pocket a KitKat bar.

He cleared his throat and slowly made his way to her. Vaani didn't notice him right away, absorbed in her own thoughts.

When he reached her side, their eyes locked.

She was surprised, not expecting him to approach, let alone hold something out toward her.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Just the quiet tension between them. Vaani could feel her heartbeat quicken slightly, but she didn't break the eye contact. It felt like he was saying something with his gaze, something unsaid, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Finally, Ekansh cleared his throat again, breaking the stillness. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of sincerity in it.

"Yeh... aapke ke liye."

("This... is for you.")

He held out the KitKat with a soft smile, his gaze flickering between her eyes and the candy. She was taken aback, her fingers hovering over the chocolate, unsure of how to react.

Before she could respond, Ekansh added, almost as an afterthought,

"Aur... Ritvik ko bol dena ki main jaa raha hoon."

("And... tell Ritvik I'm leaving.")

Vaani's gaze softened for a moment as she took the KitKat from him, their fingers inches away from brushing .It wasn't a grand gesture, but it felt like an apology wrapped up in the simplicity of a chocolate bar and a quiet acknowledgment of what had happened between them.

Ekansh nodded once, his eyes still on her, then without another word, turned to leave.

Vaani watched him go, the silence hanging between them, and the weight of the unspoken words left lingering in the air.

Vaani stared at the door for a while even after Ekansh had gone, the KitKat still resting in her palm, slightly warm now. A part of her wanted to smile. Another part just wanted to scream into a pillow. This man first he makes her cry, now he gives chocolate like she's five?

Still, her fingers gently traced the wrapper. That note inside the wrapper hadn't gone unnoticed. She hadn't opened it yet, but she knew what it meant.

"Idiot." she whispered under her breath, the word aimed at both him... and maybe a little at herself.

She pushed back her chair, trying to stand.

Bad idea.

The sharp pain shot up her ankle again, and she winced, stumbling slightly back into the chair.

"ahh-ugh, seriously?!"

She held the edge of the table, exhaling through her teeth, trying again to put pressure on it but no luck. The pain was worse now.

Just then, Ritvik returned, a white box in his hand. The moment he saw her struggling, he let out an exhausted groan.

"Tu abhi tak yahaan hi hai? Chal uth, chal."

("You're still sitting here? Come on, get up.")

"Main try kar rahi hoon na!" she snapped, then her voice dipped into a dramatic whine. "Pain ho raha hai, okay?"

("I am trying na")

("It's paining okay?")

He rolled his eyes and placed the box on the table. "Kya pain ho raha hai, pata hai mujhe. Abb beth shaanti se"

(What's paining,ik that. Sit here now.)

Opening the box, he pulled out an ointment and a bandage, then knelt down beside her injured foot with surprising gentleness.

"Hila mat, warna aur dard hoga."

("Don't move, or it'll hurt more.")

Vaani grimaced as he applied the ointment, her toes curling from the sting. "ahh-zara pyaar se lagao bhaiya!"

("Ow-apply it gently, brother!")

"isse zyada pyaar se nhi laga skta ."

(I can't put more love into this.)

She smacked his shoulder lightly, and he chuckled, finishing the wrap and putting the cap back on the tube.

"Aur sun, ab chalna mat. Main tujhse jhooth nahi bol raha hoon, agar tu phir se giri na, toh is baar mai nhi uthaunga."

("And listen, don't walk around now. I'm not lying if you fall again, this time I won't lift you this time.")

He stood up, and pulled her chair gently. "Chal, tujhe room tak le jaata hoon. Rest kar."

("Let's go I will take you to your room, have some rest")

Before she could protest, Ritvik bent slightly and helped her up, carefully letting her lean on him, guiding her step by step.

As they headed toward the room, Vaani whispered dramatically,

"Ek hi din mein main drawing,, dance, aur ankle twist sab kar chuki hoon. Bas Oscar de do mujhe."

("In one day, I've done an drawing , dance, and twisted my ankle. Just give me an Oscar already.")

Ritvik laughed under his breath.

"Oscar nahi, ointment mila hai. Use hi award samajh le."

Ritvik laughed under his breath.

"Oscar nahi, ointment mila hai. Use hi award samajh le."

("You didn't get an Oscar, you got ointment. Accept that as your award.")

She rolled her eyes and leaned her head against his shoulder for just a second, quiet now, her thoughts flickering back to Ekansh, the KitKat... and the note she still hadn't read.

The room was quiet now.

Vaani lay on her bed, a soft pillow tucked under her arm, her leg carefully propped up with folded blankets just like Ritvik had arranged. The ointment still tingled faintly against her skin.

Her eyes drifted to her bedside table the drawing she had made earlier lay folded beside her diary, just where she had left it before that chaotic reel, before the dance, before the fall... before him.

She reached for the paper slowly, unfolding it. It was a rough sketch, lines soft and expressive the messy outline of someone standing beneath an umbrella, alone, while the rain fell hard all around. Something about it looked unfinished. Something about it... looked like her.

She took the drawing and slipped it between the pages of her diary. A small sigh escaped her lips.

Then her eyes landed on the KitKat.

Still untouched. Still sitting where she had left it after Ritvik helped her to bed.

And beside it... the note.

Folded with care. Edges neat. No name on the outside, no flourish. Just a plain, silent white paper quiet, like the boy who gave it.

Her fingers hovered over it.

"Should I...?"

She sat up slowly, picked up the note, and unfolded it.

The handwriting was familiar now. Clean, steady. A little slanted. Like him.

"I'm not good at words.

But I know I hurt you that day.

And I'm sorry for not being braver, or better, or simply honest.

If I could take it back, I would.

But since I can't... I'll try, from now on, not to walk away when I should stay."

"For your smile,

for your silence,

and for that words you never deserved to hear

I'm sorry."

Then, written gently below:

"Khaamoshiyon mein bhi tumse baat hoti rahi,

Door rehkar bhi tumse mulaqaat hoti rahi.

Jab keh nahi paaya main woh har baat,

Woh har baat likh kar maafi maangta hoon aaj..."

(Even in silence, I kept speaking to you,

Even from afar, I kept meeting you.

All the things I never said-

I write them now, seeking your forgiveness...)

Vaani didn't realize she was holding her breath.

Her fingers curled slightly around the paper as her throat tightened.

A small tear welled at the corner of her eye-but she blinked it away quickly.

Her fingers traced the lines once, then twice-almost like she was trying to memorize the way his words felt.

"Khaamoshiyon mein bhi tumse baat hoti rahi..."

She whispered the words softly, as if repeating them might somehow bring him back to say them himself. But he was already gone. Just like he always was after leaving pieces of himself behind.

With a small sigh, she carefully folded the note again this time more gently, more protectively-and reached over to open her diary.

She slipped it inside, right next to her sketch, letting them rest together in those quiet pages that only she knew. Her private little vault of chaos, creation, and now... confessions.

Then her eyes landed on the KitKat.

For a second, she just looked at it.

Then she grinned to herself, muttering under her breath-

"KitKat... KitKat hota hai."

("A KitKat... is a KitKat.")

She tore the wrapper open, her voice dropping into a dramatic whisper as if arguing with the universe:

"Itni der tak control kiya, na? Ab nahi hoga."

("I held back for so long, okay? Now I can't.")

And with that, she took the first bite soft crunch, sweet melt, instant mood lift.

"Mmm." A little smile curled on her lips. "Sorry toh theek hai... but chocolate se better koi sorry nahi hoti."

("The apology is fine... but no

sorry beats chocolate.")

As the taste lingered, she leaned back on her pillow again.