Rekindled Hearts: The Journey Of Transformation[ONC2024]

#4. Unveiling Secrets

"Hey! Do I know you? And how do you know my sister?"

The message reads, and Vineet is astonished to learn that the girl, Aanya, is Ruhana's sister. He doesn't know how to reply, for he hasn't met her and has been unaware of her existence. He decides to learn more about Ruhana from her.

"Hey, I am Ruhana's childhood friend, Vineet. I didn't know she had a sister until I came across your profile. I am sorry if I disturbed you."

"Oh! So, it is you about whom Di talks often. I have heard your name from her. Yes, I was born later; she is seven years older than me. I am glad to connect with you, buddy. I hope you won't mind me calling you that."

"Not at all, Aanya. It seems like I have lost my friend somewhere."

"Yeah, you might feel so, because she's not the one she was in the past. And I am sorry, Buddy. I can't help you with it."

Vineet sighs as Aanya denies telling him anything. Well, there's more to the story than he knows. He thanks Aanya and ends the conversation. He's absorbed in his thoughts when his phone rings. He looks at his phone, and Ruhana's name is flashing on the screen. He answers the call, and Ruhana's cheerful voice falls into his ears.

"Mr. Kaushik approved my pointers, and I've got the deal! I am so happy!!" Her voice sounds jubilant.

"That's great, Ruhana. Congratulations!" he says, though he's unsure of the ways she used.

"Just greetings? You won't ask me how I did it?" she asks.

"If you think it's right, then it's fine with me, Ruhana. I won't interfere," he replies.

"Why do you sound upset, Vineet? I am sorry, I overreacted," she apologizes, remembering how she talked to him earlier in the day.

She had been rude to him as her team didn't work accurately, and when he tried to explain something to her, she dismissed him. She didn't talk to him properly; in fact, she scolded him for no reason, and here he is, still being kind to her. She feels sorry for him in the depth of her heart.

"It's alright, Ruhana. Anyway, I wanted to talk about something. When can we meet?" he asks, determined to know all the secrets she's been keeping from him.

"You can come home tonight. There's someone I want you to meet," she replies.

Assuring himself that she's okay with the plan, he decides to visit her house for dinner. When she mentioned that she wants him to meet someone, he suspects it's Aanya, and he only wishes that Aanya doesn't reveal that they've already chatted and that the subject has been Ruhana.

*****

Vineet reaches Ruhana's home and is astonished to find it elegantly illuminated. The house looks beautiful with the pristine lights already fixed in the garden. He'd been here earlier too, but he didn't notice the beauty of the house. Maybe he was too engrossed in contemplating his feelings for her.

He enters the house, and Ruhana greets him with a hug. He's astonished, for it's the first time that she has greeted him in her old style. Surely, something has happened to her liking. Yet, he can't forget her ways of working; he feels she's going the wrong way. Before talking to her about it, he needs to know everything that transformed her.

"I am so happy, Vineet. I got that deal. Now, I will be collaborating with the biggest fashion hub in the country."

"Congrats, Ruu, but I hope..."

"Ah! Please, Vineet, do not say that I am going the wrong way. Everyone has their own styles and processes for doing certain work. What I am doing might be wrong for you, but it's the right thing for me. I can't back off now. I have my sister to look after; I can't let her go through the pain and suffering I have been through," Ruhana replies, her tone cold.

"Ruhana, you—you're not getting it," he says, but she interrupts him again.

"You are not getting it, Vineet. Some things are better when they are done the wrong way. And yes, my pointers and offers were attractive enough to lure Mr. Kaushik, and the deal is in my hands," she says, glancing at him while he sighs.

"Anyway, I want you to meet someone."

As Ruhana says this, a young girl walks out of her room and hugs her, telling her that she's hungry. As she looks up, Vineet is surprised to find that it's Aanya, the girl with whom he talked on social media.

"You're Vineet. You messaged me, right?" Aanya says this while looking at him.

"You know him? How?" Ruhana is surprised.

"Actually, I was looking at your Facebook profile, Ruhana. I found Aanya's presence all over, and so I messaged her. But she was not here until morning," Vineet says, gazing at Ruhana, amused.

"She is studying Fashion in Pune. She came in the afternoon. I've been wanting to tell you about her, but I never got enough time," Ruhana replies.

"It's alright, Ruhana. Sometimes, things happen in a way that we can't do what we actually want to do," he replies, trying to comfort her.

"Yeah, anyway, let's not waste any time. You know, we can talk a lot over food," she chuckles.

"Haha! Di says so because she has time to talk to me only when we eat our meals," Aanya chuckles as she clings to her sister.

"At least she talks to you, Aanya," Vineet says, indirectly conveying his message to Ruhana that they need to converse, but she never gives him a chance.

Ruhana glances at Vineet; she knows his words were directed at her, but the reality is that she doesn't want to open up to him.

Truly, there is more to the story than she has told him. She doesn't want to be vulnerable in front of anyone, even if it is her childhood friend. She feels that if you show your weakness to people, be it your friends or relatives, they always take advantage of it. She has been through a tough time and doesn't want it to happen again.

She knows that Vineet will understand her and will help her heal from it. But she doesn't want to open up to him; right now, she feels that he might leave her without knowing the reality.

She waves off her thoughts, and the three of them sit down to have dinner. Vineet stares at the two sisters, who are talking and laughing, and he's in awe of Ruhana's laughter. She's a completely different being right now.

He's still wondering about the reality behind Ruhana's changing demeanor, and now, he's determined to know the truth.