Blood And Blossoms

Chapter XXI

17/07/23
They were sitting on the jhula that they had set together one day. Leisurely drinking their coffee, cuddling each other, laughing, . Ayaan was a chai person but shifted to coffee for her.

Ayaan said softly in her ears, "You are more comforting than my comforter mattress. I wish we could stay like this forever."
As a reaction to his words, Anaya's cheeks turned red. While trying not to blush, she said "EcoGreen bandh krdete hai fir. Bethe rehte hai puri zindagi yahi." (We should shut EcoGreen. Then we can sit here for lifetime.)
"Jo aapka hukum sartaaj. I don't even feel like leaving your side. The way you smell makes me feel guilty for exhaling. I love the way you smell. Oceanic perfume oil. "
"Uff" she said dramatically. (As you say my highness.)

Their eyes locked into each other's, Ayaan came nearer and their lips were a mere centimeter apart. He was waiting for a signal. He was giving her time to deny if she didn't want it. Anaya smiled and went ahead. Their lips touched each other so slightly. That feathery touch of lip. Can we call it a kiss? If yes, then it was their first kiss. Intimate yet pure.

It all seems like a dream. A hallucination. A lie. Unreal. Was it in another lifetime? The truth of this lifetime is standing if front of her. Ahaan was the truth and Ayaan was just a lie. A fake personality of a dead. Were all those moments fake? Was his love just an act? Memories from the past flashed in her eyes.

08/08/23

"Tell me this is not true. Please tell me that you are lying Ayaan. Pleaseee." She was sobbing hardly. "Please noo. No Ayaan pleasee." Her cries were echoing in the room. It could literally make any other person cry. But Ahaan was unhinged. "Ayaan nhi Ahaan! Me Ahaan hu." (I'm Ahaan, not Ayaan) He said in a stiff voice which made her cry further. "Or tum to Ayaan ka naam apni zubaan se bhi mat nikalo. Esa lagta hai gaali de rahi ho. Jab jab tumne mujhe Ayaan bulaya hai jo dard mere dil me hua hai utna hi dard ab me tumhe dunga." (And you don't bring his name on your tongue. Ot feels like you are cursing him and me. The pain that I felt whenever you called me Ayaan, I will return it all to you with interest.)
"Kyu Ayaan?" (Why Ayaan?)
"AHAAN."
"Kya wo sab jhut tha?" (Was everything a lie?)
"Haa" (yes)
"Sab?" (Everything?) She asked again with a little hope. He didn't reply and turned his eyes towards the wall.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"Kyunki tum kaatil ho mere dost ki. Mere bhai ko mara hai tumne. Or uska badla me tumse lunga. Uski saza tumhe milke rahegi." (Because you killed my friend. My brother. I'll take my revenge from you, and his too. I'll make you pay.)
"Mene kisiko nhi maara." I didn't kill anyone.)
"Phir jhoot. Remember what happened on 24th of April? Remember him?" He took that photo again. It was the photo of Ayaan. Anaya whined and slowly started loosing her consciousness. She fainted there.

Ahaan took her to hospital immediately. Doctor said that she fainted due to extreme stress and she need to rest. She is already suffering from hypertension and more stress can even be lethal. Ahaan's eyes turned darker. He feeled something in his chest twisting.

After the doctor left, he stood there watching her. His gaze never left her sight even for a while. After 2 hours, when she regained consciousness, his gaze softened. He felt relieved.

Anaya looked towards him. Flashbacks of the first half of the day started entering. Her BP was rising. Ahaan came near her and said, "Relax. We'll talk about this later. And for that you have to live. I won't let you die."

Before Anaya could say anything, he left the room and the door closed behind his back. He didn't even turned again to look at her.

Why is Ahaan blaming Anaya for Ayaan's death? Is she really the killer? Was all those little cute moments fake? He has a soft corner for her right? No. I don't think so. Otherwise he wouldn't had left.

Hey reader. I'm sorry for this longgggg delay. But due to my board exams, I wasn't writing. Be with me in this journey of Anaya and Ayaan/Ahaan. And thank you for your patience. The story is going to take an interesting turn in next two chapters so stay tuned!