THE RAJHANS SISTERS

HEARTBEATS

She was standing in front of the car in a red blouse and black formal skirt, her hair tied in a neat high ponytail. She was giving some instructions to someone on the phone. Aniket had just stepped outside and he could see her from a distance.

Gorgeous, delicious, and innocent—three words that struck his mind. His eyes lingered from her toes to her head. Those beautiful, bare legs stirred something inside him. He could see a fine strand of hair kissing her cheek. Mesmerized, he took steps towards her, her face turned to the other side.

She startled at his touch on her cheek. She could see it in his eyes. For a moment, she couldn't say anything. With every step he took forward, she stepped backward, until she touched the car.

"What happened, Aniket?" she asked innocently. Her innocent voice broke his attention and he brought his face closer to hers, leaving a small peck on her lips.

"All the best," he whispered and tucked her hair behind her cheek.

SATKAAR HOTEL

Nishi had just emerged from the conference hall and decided she needed a break. She moved toward the restaurant, hoping a cup of coffee would clear her mind. Upon entering, she noticed Rajat and Tanisha seated alone in a corner. The sight of them together made her heart tighten, but she took a seat anyway, her eyes fixated on the pair.

Rajat was so engrossed in his conversation with Tanisha that he didn't even notice Nishi. As she finished her coffee, his obliviousness stung. She ordered another cup, determined to see if he would ever look her way. Another half-hour passed, and she was on her fourth coffee when Rajat and Tanisha finally stood up. They walked to the counter, Rajat paid the bill, and they headed toward the exit.

Fueled by a mix of caffeine and frustration, Nishi sprang up and intercepted Rajat, pulling him back inside just as he was about to leave.

"What is this indecency..." Rajat began to yell, but his anger faltered when he saw her.

"What kind of indecency is this, Nishi? What kind of behavior is this? What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice laced with confusion and frustration.

"What am I doing? What are you doing, Rajat? You're avoiding me as if my presence or absence doesn't matter to you," Nishi accused, her voice trembling.

"It doesn't matter to me? How much does it matter to you, Nishi? And I'm not avoiding you; you've been avoiding me for days, and that doesn't count?" he shot back, his own hurt evident.

"Oh, so now you're going to take revenge? Rajat, just because I wasn't talking to you doesn't mean I was avoiding you. I had my reasons, and you know them very well. But what you're doing now... I don't even know what to call it... But Rajat, it affects me, it does. I don't know how you so easily replaced me with someone else, and it doesn't seem to matter to you. Why, Rajat?" Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"It doesn't matter to me? Fine... it doesn't matter to me. Go, do whatever you want, just forget about me," he snapped, turning to leave. But Nishi grabbed his hand, her desperation palpable.

"Forget you? I'll go far away from you, just give me back every moment I spent with you. Return every breath I took with you, every laugh we shared," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. Her grip on his hand weakened as she walked away, leaving him standing there, momentarily stunned by her words.

Realizing the depth of her pain, Rajat's resolve crumbled. He quickly followed her, but by the time he reached the exit, she had vanished by then.

The doorbell rang, and Aarushi stirred, hearing it again. She quickly got up and rushed to open the door.