"I am done with you." she huffed.
Yet she whispered, "I can never get enough of you."
"It hurts to be with her." he groaned.
Yet he added, "But it hurts way more to be away from her."
Nil X Radhika
The sunshine guy's and the not so cheerful girl's d...
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The Singhania mansion glowed like a beacon, its myriad of twinkling lights casting a warm, golden hue that painted the night in celebration. Diwali-the festival of light, victory, and renewal. Yet, despite the grandeur around me, I felt as if I were teetering on the edge of a storm. I stood on the balcony, hands gripping the cool marble railing, feeling the tension in my shoulders that I couldn't shake off.
The city below was alive, bursts of color from firecrackers illuminating the sky in rhythmic intervals. I took in a deep breath, the fragrance of marigolds and the faint scent of sandalwood incense swirling in the air. But even this familiar comfort was drowned out by the noise inside me. My mind was a battlefield, thoughts of the joint venture, relentless board meetings, and, most frustratingly, Prisha Malhotra, battling for dominance.
A soft breeze brushed against my face, but it did little to cool the heat that simmered beneath my skin. Every time her name flitted through my mind, my jaw tightened. She was infuriating-like the fireworks above, dazzling and unpredictable, impossible to ignore.
"Lost in your own world, are we?" The voice cut through my musings, making me turn abruptly. Nil, my older brother, stood there, one eyebrow raised, a faint smirk on his face. He was always the one who looked like he carried the world with ease, even now, when the strain in his eyes betrayed his own share of burdens.
"Just enjoying the view," I replied, trying to sound unaffected, but the words tasted like a lie.
Nil walked over, his gaze shifting to the expanse of city lights. "Is that all it is?" He paused, glancing at me. "Or is it more about the view down there?" He tilted his head towards the garden where the laughter and chatter from the guests floated up to us.
My eyes instinctively found her. Prisha, dressed in an elegant saree that hugged her figure perfectly, moved like a queen among her court. She laughed at something Radhika said, the sound carrying up to where I stood. I hated how that laugh made something tighten in my chest, how my pulse quickened with something that was definitely not anger.
"Was it worth it?" I bit out, my voice colder than I intended. "All the sacrifices, the alliances, this joint venture? Was it worth feeling like we're dancing on strings held by others?"
Nil's face fell, the playful look replaced by something more serious. "Heyansh, you know why we did this. It's more than just business-it's about preserving what our family built. But I need you, fully. Not just a shadow nodding in agreement."
I scoffed. "It's easy for you to say, Nil. You aren't the one dealing with her."
Nil's eyes followed mine to Prisha, who now stood surrounded by Paridhi and a few of their friends. His expression softened, a rare show of brotherly concern. "I know it's complicated. But don't let it become a weakness. We can't afford that, Heyansh."
Before I could respond, Paridhi's voice rang out, louder and brighter than the fireworks. "Heyansh! Get down here, or you'll miss all the fun!"
I felt Nil's hand clap my shoulder. "Go. Let tonight be about something more than tension, just for a moment," he said, an order more than a suggestion.
