The moon was glowing beautifully, and the pair of eyes gazing at it looked just as enchanting. Perhaps they were too shy to look into each other’s eyes, so instead, they admired the moon in silence.

  Aditya softly gathered the courage to speak, “I know that condition sounds unreasonable, but... if you see it from my perspective, you’ll understand why it’s actually important for you.”

  “How?” Anamika’s question was one Aditya had already expected.

  Turning his gaze to her, he said, “In the future… when you become a famous mangaka, will you still keep avoiding people like this? Someone like me would definitely invest in your story, but if the girl writing it turns out to be this weak, then maybe even I would start to doubt her decisions. I don’t want your dream to collapse because of your fears, Anamika. That’s why I want to help you overcome them.”

  Anamika’s eyes remained downcast. Watching her, Aditya turned his gaze away and continued, “If you don’t want to, I’ll remove that condition from the contract. But if you truly want to live like an ordinary person and connect with the world—then you’ll have to do this. And believe me... if you really want this, I will never leave your side. I’ll teach you how to make this world yours—how to befriend the darkness, and how to outsmart those who try to bring you down. I agree… this world isn’t as beautiful as the one in your dreams, but it is real. And you can’t keep running from it.”

  Aditya then extended his hand toward her, offering a gentle and reassuring smile, “If you want to stay hidden in the shadows and show your imagination from there, I’ll give you that darkness to hide in. But if you want to step into the light and show the world the face behind those beautiful stories, then I’ll give you the light too—so the world sees you for who you are. It’s all up to you now. So tell me… what do you want?”

  Anamika looked at his extended hand, then at his smile. Her hand was just about to reach his when a loud voice snapped their attention away.

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  Saaniya was yelling—while being carried in Aniket’s arms. She was kicking and hitting him as he teased her.

  “If you don’t shut up, I’ll drop you right here!” Aniket threatened playfully.

  “Then drop me!” she shot back, “It’s not like I asked you to carry me, idiot!”

  From a distance, Aditya glanced at Anamika and said, “These two have started again.”

  Anamika smiled and nodded in agreement.

  As Aniket approached them, still carrying Saaniya, he asked Anamika, “Where’s your car?”

  She pointed at it a little distance away.

  “Great, go open it. I need to throw this witch in there!”

  “Throw me in?!” Saaniya yelled, “I’ve been telling you from the start—put me down!”

  With a smirk, Aniket replied, “My trash, my responsibility. Can’t just toss you anywhere.”

  He walked to the car. Anamika opened the back door, and Aniket actually tossed Saaniya inside like a sack of goods. Her face turned bright red with anger.

  Just as she was about to scream, he slammed the door in her face. Fuming, she turned away.

  Aditya asked Aniket, “What was that?! Why were you carrying her like that?”

  Aniket shrugged. “It’s not like I want to hold this banshee. But if she keeps tripping in front of me, what choice do I have?!”

  Anamika gave him a questioning look, clearly waiting for an explanation. Aditya chuckled and asked on her behalf, “Okay, but… in simple words, please?”

  Aniket sighed. “Fine. First, she tripped while entering the place, and now her foot’s swollen a bit. Then again, while leaving, she fell—and broke her heels too! Tried to help, but she wouldn’t take it. So yeah, I got pissed and carried her.”

  Aditya laughed. “This whole scene feels straight out of a rom-com. Right, Anamika?”

  Anamika smiled, “Yeah. And in the end, those two always fall in love.”

  From the back seat, Saaniya rolled down the window and shouted, “That’s never happening! I’d rather die than fall for him!”

  Aniket snapped back, “As if I want to fall for you either!”

  Aniket and Saaniya dramatically turned their faces away from each other—both fuming like teenagers in a K-drama.

  Aditya then turned to Anamika. “So… do you know how to drive?”

  “No,” she replied.

  “Well, Saaniya can’t with her swollen foot. So… shall I drop you two home?”

  “You?” Anamika asked, surprised.

  He smiled. “Yeah… just for today, I’ll be your driver. Aniket can follow in my car. Once I drop you off, I’ll head home with him.”

  Anamika agreed. Everything went just as Aditya said. He drove the girls home, and Aniket followed in the second car.

  The squabbles between Aniket and Saaniya probably won’t end anytime soon… but just maybe, could love find a way between them like Anamika hinted?

  And the bigger question—will Anamika accept Aditya’s offer? Or will she refuse?

  Two stories. One destination.

  Which way will they turn?