9:00 PM — At Aniket’s House
Ira was sitting on the couch. The TV was on, but she was in a terrible mood.
Her eyes were fixed on the screen, lost in her thoughts.
Muttering under her breath, she said, “Idiot…! Fool…! Jerk! He doesn’t even love me!”
Just then, the sound of the door opening made her jump. She ran to the door— but seeing Aniket standing there, her face fell immediately.
Noticing her expression, Aniket took off his shoes and said teasingly, “What’s with that face?! You look like someone just came to collect their loan!”
Ira pouted. “Where were you yesterday?!”
Aniket smiled. “I went to your house!”
Ira frowned in confusion. “Which house?! I was right here, and you didn’t come! What house are you even talking about?!”
Walking inside, Aniket said, “Oh, silly girl—your other house!”
Ira still looked puzzled, so Aniket sighed deeply.
“Ira… stop pretending. I know you know which house I’m talking about.”
Ira turned away with a sulky face. “Oh… you mean brother’s house! Well, that used to be my home years ago. But it burned down with the fire, remember? The one he rebuilt later—it’s just an empty house now.”
She sat back on the couch and began flipping channels. The TV volume went up.
Aniket sat beside her, took the remote from her hand, and muted it.
“So…” he said playfully, “from your face and tone, it seems like my father’s little mischievous doll is upset today! What happened?”
Ira turned her face away.
“This world is selfish. And brothers… are the most selfish of them all!”
Aniket chuckled softly. “I hope you didn’t include me in that list, right?”
Ira looked at him, extended her hand, and waited.
Aniket smiled knowingly and unzipped a small pocket from his laptop bag. He pulled out two chocolates and placed them in her palm.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
With a teasing tilt of her head, Ira said, “Not yet… but who knows about the future? The day you fall in love or you find someone more cute and funny than me, you’ll forget me too!”
Aniket grinned. “Oh, I see! So you’re mad at our dear Aditya! What did he do this time?”
Taking a bite of the chocolate, Eira huffed.
“He didn’t come to meet me yesterday! Didn’t even call me!”
Aniket laughed.
“You’re angry over that? When you were in the US, you didn’t call him for two whole years! He used to send you emails and messages again and again— and only after dozens of those, you’d bother replying!”
Ira frowned. “So now you’re taking his side?”
Aniket smiled gently. “Since childhood I have been by his side.”
Ira narrowed her eyes. “Traitor!”
Aniket chuckled and lightly ruffled her hair.
“Ira… if you try to understand your brother a little, you’ll realize you have the best brother in the world. He cares about you a lot, but… it’s true he can’t give you the time he wishes to.”
Ira lowered her eyes and murmured, “But he has time for Rivan… So why not for me?”
Aniket blinked in confusion. “Rivan?! Where did that name come from suddenly?”
Ira stood up and walked toward her room.
“Nothing! Just go rest, okay? I have some work to do.”
Aniket sat there puzzled, “ Why did she suddenly bring up Rivan?”
Meanwhile
She had gone to Aditya’s office to have lunch with him, but he wasn’t there.
When she went to Ruhi’s cabin, Ruhi told her that Rivan wasn’t feeling well that day. Mr. Shah had called Aditya because Rivan was refusing to go to the hospital.
That explanation didn’t sit well with Ira.
Until now, she had always been the only special one in her brother’s life.
But now there was someone else—someone Aditya cared about too.
And that, she couldn’t accept.
Sitting on her bed, Ira began looking at her childhood photos— moments with her parents, vacation days when Aditya and Aniket came home from the hostel, how they used to treat her like a princess, fulfilling every wish she ever made.
Lost in those happy memories, she whispered to herself, “Brother… I want those days back. It’s my wish… no—my stubborn wish.
And like always, you’ll have to fulfill it.”
At Rivan’s House
Mr. Shah walked into Rivan’s room carrying a bowl of soup.
Rivan was scrolling through his phone when Mr. Shah said gently, “Boss, you should be resting.”
Rivan smiled. “I’m feeling better now! Oh, you made soup for me? Thank you!”
He took the bowl from Mr. Shah’s hands.
Mr. Shah stood respectfully nearby.
As Rivan drank, a thought struck him.
“Mr. Shah… wouldn’t it be nice if I had a fever every day?”
Mr. Shah frowned.
“No, Boss! Getting a fever every day isn’t good for the body. It could be a sign of a serious illness.”
Rivan sighed sadly. “Oh… then what if I did get a serious illness?”
Mr. Shah’s tone grew firm.
“You shouldn’t say things like that, Boss.”
Rivan gave a faint, bittersweet smile.
“Big Bro came to see me today… It felt so good. When he’s around, it feels like… I actually have someone of my own in this world. I wish he were my real brother.”
Mr. Shah said softly, “Boss… isn’t my company enough?”
Rivan looked at him and replied, “You’re like a mentor to me. I’ve learned a lot from you… but I need more people. A real family.
Families aren’t this small, you know? They have a big brother, a sister, a father, and a mother.”
He paused and added with a wry smile, “I had a mother and a father.
My mother… gave me all the love she could in the time she had. And my father—”
He smirked sarcastically. “My father made sure I’d never feel the need for one. He made sure that I never ever wish for father!”
Then, more softly, “But when I see Big Bro, I imagine… if I had a brother, he’d be just like him— the best. Someone who’d care for me, someone who could control my stubbornness.”
Mr. Shah thought to himself, "Well, that’s true… the only person who can handle Boss’s stubbornness is Aditya Sir."
Rivan smiled playfully.
“So, Mr. Shah… do you think I’m stubborn?”
Mr. Shah quickly averted his eyes. “Not at all, Boss! No one’s as calm as you!”
Rivan made a face.
“Come on, I’m not going to be happy with that kind of lie! Compliment me properly!”
Mr. Shah sighed. “You are—”
“Hopeless! I know that already! ” Rivan interrupted, laughing mischievously.
Their light-hearted banter filled the room with warmth.
Meanwhile, outside
She sat in her car, started the engine— but the car wasn’t heading home.
It sped through the darkness, slicing through the night air.
Her hair fluttered in the wind as she opened the window, yet her face remained calm— unusually calm.
