Not My Little Sister

Chapter 17 - Confessions

"No, I told you I have feelings for you. I can't just make out with you and say goodbye when you leave next month." He explained. He sensed her evasion but couldn't let it slide. "What do you want from me?" His eyes bore into hers, the urgency evident in his voice.

Nithin felt himself tumbling headlong into emotions he hadn't anticipated. Can you really catch feelings this hard in just three weeks?

Yet, it wasn't just about the past three weeks, was it? Memories flickered in his mind, dating back to when he was a goofy 6-year-old. Summer vacations at Mohan's place formed the backdrop.

He reminisced about the nights spent under their roof, recalling a particular memory that tugged at his heart. One night, as he lay there, she had curled up against him, perhaps after a bad dream. Even then, when he was sixteen and she just ten years old, he had felt protective of her.

Those moments of connection weren't lost on him. Her occasional opening up and their conversations had been like a sanctuary, a refuge from the complexities of growing up. It wasn't exactly friendship, but there was an innocence and beauty to it.

With it came the the twinge of guilt. The little girl of ten, with whom he had shared innocent talks and comforting moments, seemed like a distant echo.

His current fantasies revolving around Vinaya felt like a betrayal to that pure connection. The innocence had evolved into something more complex, and he grappled with the contrast between then and now.

He barely saw the little girl in Vinaya's eyes anymore. But as he gazed at her now, the vulnerability in her grown-up eyes reflected the same innocence of that ten-year-old girl, bringing a wave of conflicting emotions.

"I don't know, Chetta," she murmured softly, her eyes conveying a depth of emotion that words struggled to capture. She realized she was falling for him. His protective nature, his unwavering respect even for her smallest troubles, and the courage he displayed in building his own company resonated deeply with her.

She admired his perceptiveness and found herself drawn to him in a way she had never experienced before. His touch held a potent mix of excitement, masculinity, and love. It hit her with a jolt – she loved him. No, she couldn't afford to love him; their future seemed too uncertain, too fraught with potential pain. "What do you want from me, Chetta?"

His gaze bore into hers with an intensity that reflected his feelings. "I want you, Yaya," he confessed, the distance between them suddenly feeling unbearable. As he reached out to hold her hand, she instinctively pulled away. Undeterred, he continued, "I want you to be mine. Forever."

Vinaya's heart raced, and her lips quivered with unspoken words. She wanted that too, but the weight of her dreams and the specter of his family loomed large. This could never be, she reasoned; he had made it clear that defying his parents wasn't an option.

"Yaya," Nithin pleaded, he felt more nervous now that he did during the high-stakes meetings with CEOs and investors. "I need to know what you're thinking. Please." His voice trembled with anticipation.

"Nithin chetta, I..." Her thoughts were a whirlwind of uncertainties. Could she admit her fears? That trust didn't come easy, especially when it involved matters of the heart. She lifted her chin defiantly, choosing her words carefully. "I don't want to be tied down right now. I like you, but it's too early to talk about forever. Why don't we just see where it goes?"