Midnight — 12:00 AM
The bell rang softly through Anamika’s quiet house.
Saaniya, who had been pacing the hall with a glass of water in hand, went to open the door.
Standing there were Aditya and Rahul.
She didn’t say a word — just gave them her usual cold, unreadable look — and turned away.
Aditya and Rahul quietly stepped in, closing the door behind them.
The air inside was calm but heavy, like the house itself was holding its breath.
On the sofa, Aniket was still sprawled out, sleeping soundly, one arm hanging off the side.
Aditya’s brows furrowed the moment he saw him.
“He’s still here?!”
“Yeah,” Saaniya replied, walking back toward the hall with a glare that could slice through glass.
“Your friend is shameless. I can understand Rudra — he thinks like he’s the hero of this house, the savior of all of us. He stayed here out of his overconfidence that if he leaves, everything will fall apart. But this one—”
She jabbed her finger toward the peacefully sleeping Aniket.
“This idiot fought like a child just to stay over. And now? Look at him — he swore he’d ‘protect us’ all night, but he’s sleeping like a baby!”
Aditya almost smiled, but quickly straightened his face to defend his best friend.
“Come on, forgive him. He’s not that bad.”
“Rubbish!” Saaniya shot back, her voice sharp as a whip. She turned to leave, her hair swaying behind her like an angry wave.
But Rahul’s soft voice stopped her.
“Um… I actually came to take Ruhi home. Where is she?”
Saaniya froze mid-step. Slowly, she turned her head and said in a tone that was quiet but firm — too firm.
“She’s not going anywhere. Not until the mark on her neck is gone.”
“What?!” Rahul’s voice rose, alarmed. He turned to Aditya for some kind of explanation.
Aditya, caught between both of them, gave an awkward, almost apologetic smile.
Inside, though, his thoughts ran fast: Why is Saaniya being this protective over Ruhi? What happened tonight that made her so serious?
Saaniya’s voice broke through his thoughts — calm now, but colder.
“I already talked to her. She’s not coming to the office for a week. She’ll stay here and rest. And as long as she’s here, Anamika will work from home too.”
Rahul took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly.
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“She’s my sister. I have to take her home.”
Saaniya’s reply was a knife.
“To that house? The house full of memories of the man who never truly cared about her? The man who almost killed her?”
Rahul froze. His jaw clenched. His fists curled tight at his sides.
He wanted to shout back, argue, defend — but words wouldn’t come.
Instead, his silence screamed of frustration, of helplessness, of pain.
At that moment, Rudra appeared, stepping softly out of Anamika’s room.
“Don’t be upset, Rahul ji,” he said gently. “Our doctor sahiba might speak harshly, but she has one of the most beautiful hearts in the world. You can stay here too, if you want, at least until your sister is ready to go home.”
Rahul and Aditya exchanged a look before glancing at Saaniya.
But Saaniya only crossed her arms, looked away, and muttered, “Do whatever you want. I don’t care. But Ruhi is not leaving this house.”
And with that, she walked away to her room, her steps decisive, leaving an unshakable silence behind her.
Aditya turned to Rudra the moment she was gone.
“What happened with Ruhi? How did she agree to all this?”
Rudra chuckled to himself as he remembered.
A while ago,
But when Saaniya told her she wouldn’t let her go — that she had to rest, had to stay, had to skip work — Ruhi had refused straight away.
It wasn’t in Ruhi’s nature to run away from her responsibilities. She knew her brother must be worried, she knew her workplace would need her — she simply couldn’t imagine taking time off.
And then Saaniya had said it.
“My list of friends is very small,” she had told Ruhi, her face serious enough to make anyone shiver. “And now you’re in it. So you can’t say no to me. If you want to refuse, then say it clearly — tell me you want to end this friendship.”
It was so blunt, so dramatic, that Ruhi hadn’t known whether to laugh or cry.
But she had given in.
Now“I’ve never heard such a cheesy line spoken with such a terrifyingly straight face in my life… and from Saaniya, of all people!”
Aditya raised an eyebrow.
“What are you muttering about?”
“Nothing,” Rudra said quickly, hiding a grin.
“It’s just that Anamika and Saaniya have grown close to Ruhi — and Ruhi trusts them now. That’s why she agreed.
Anyway — there aren’t many rooms here, so Anamika went to the terrace to prepare bedding for us. I should go help her.”
“Wait,” Rahul said quietly, his voice suddenly softer.
“Can I see Ruhi first? Just for a moment?”
Rudra’s expression softened.
“She’s fine. Don’t worry. Come with me — I’ll take you to her. Aditya, why don’t you go help Anamika?”
Aditya nodded without hesitation.
As Rudra led Rahul toward Anamika’s room, Aditya climbed the stairs to the terrace.
Rahul entered the room quietly. The sight of Ruhi asleep on Anamika’s bed made his heart loosen in relief. He sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, silently promising himself that he’d never let anyone hurt her again.
Meanwhile
The bedding was already neatly spread out, glowing under the moonlight.
Anamika sat in the middle of it, hugging her knees, her face turned toward the sky.
The moonlight made her look like a painting — still, quiet, beautiful.
The breeze played with her short hair, carrying with it the faint scent of night-blooming flowers.
For a moment, Aditya simply stood there, taking it all in.
Then he walked over quietly and sat down beside her — close enough to be near, far enough not to intrude.
He tilted his head toward the stars and said softly, “When your heart is tangled, talking to stars might feel comforting…
But talking to someone who really listens might actually give you an answer.”
Anamika blinked and turned to him, surprised.
“Aditya? You— I didn’t notice you coming.”
He lay back on the bedding, looking up at the sky.
“Anamika… do you think someone can be a good businessman if he can’t catch a lie?”
She frowned slightly, confused by the sudden question.
Aditya smiled, turning his head toward her.
“A businessman’s eyes have to be sharp. That’s why I can see so clearly — there’s something bothering you. Tell me. Maybe I can help.”
Anamika hesitated. Then, slowly, she whispered, “There’s just one question in my mind.”
Her gaze returned to the stars as she continued, “Whose right is it to decide our lives? Our parents, because they gave us life? Our teachers, because they taught us how to live? The society we live in? Or our friends, because they want what’s best for us?
Who is actually right? Whose words should we follow?”
Aditya sat up, his eyes steady on hers.
“That’s what you’re worried about?”
Then, gently, he took her hand and placed it over her chest.
“This is your answer. Your life belongs to you.
Yes — parents, teachers, friends, even society — they all play a part in shaping you. But your life isn’t theirs.
Think of it like starting a business. Someone might give you a loan to start it — but that doesn’t mean they own your company.
In the same way, people may help you at different stages of life — but they don’t own you.
If anyone tries to control your life, you must tell them, ‘This is my life.’
But you must also show them you are capable enough to handle it on your own.”
His words were calm, yet powerful — and his smile was warm enough to melt through her confusion.
Anamika’s eyes lit up.
It was as if someone had lit a candle inside her heart.
She took Aditya’s hand in both of hers, holding it tightly, and smiled.
“Yes… that’s exactly what I needed to hear!”
Aditya tilted his head, confused — but her smile was so radiant that it silenced all his questions.
Somewhere deep inside her, a decision had been made.
A decision that would change everything.
