A Web of Love and Deceit

How it all started

Woww! This is so nice. I feel like I'm in heaven! We should definitely make this a regular thing, at least twice a week," Ram groaned, blissfully sinking deeper into the chair as I applied a face mask to his skin. Before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify—this is Ram, my cousin, my best friend, and my eternal partner in crime. His exaggerated moaning was his way of appreciating the simple luxury of our impromptu spa day.

Ram is that cousin—the one. You know, the one who's always the golden child in the family, effortlessly brilliant, endlessly charming, the yardstick to which you're always unfairly compared. Smart, funny, loved by everyone. Standing at 5 feet, 8 inches, with the darkest, most intense eyes you've ever seen, he possesses a magnetism that draws people in. I sometimes wonder if God deliberately stopped at 5'8" because if Ram were any taller, he'd be truly unstoppable.

We've been inseparable since our diaper days, our bond not just forged by blood, but by the shared insanity of being the same age and equally prone to chaos. There's no one else I'd rather take on the world with—or, at least, the next adventure.

He casually tossed his feet onto my favorite plushie with zero grace and started scrolling through his phone. "What do you think? Does my face look like those Korean idols'? If I keep using this stuff, am I going to have glass skin and razor-sharp features? And... is Priya going to notice me tomorrow?" His barrage of questions hit me like an assault. The audacity of this guy—ugh.

"Hey, Ram," I replied, rolling my eyes, "even with a thousand face sheets and plastic surgery, you'd still look like a chihuahua preparing to blow its poop." I shot him the same deadpan look he was giving me, one eyebrow raised for maximum effect.

Unfazed, he grinned. "Jealous, Sivada. Let's not forget—I had my first love at ten years old, and I've had two breakups already, all before eighteen. I mean, with the way girls line up for me, it's only a matter of time. And you?" He paused for dramatic effect, smirking. "Have you even managed to confess your undying love to your crush? I mean, I'm a majestic peacock—stunning, graceful—and you, my dear cousin, are that awkward shoebill bird who will bury their head just to avoid your crush."

I tried to cut in, but he wasn't done. "Forget confessing love to Shiva, can you even say hi to him without looking like you're about to faint?" He leaned back with a smug smile, clearly pleased with his little monologue.

I was stunned, and I have to admit—it hurt. Mostly because everything he said was true. Standing at 5 feet with a curvy body which will litrelly get fat even if I have extra glass of water, there's not much about me that screams hot or pretty. Sure, I have long hair, but so do most of my friends. The only thing that sets mine apart is that it's straight at the roots and waves out toward the ends. Nope, I don't have big, dramatic eyes, but I do have big lips and skin blessed with a caramel hue. Still, none of that matters when your crush looks like he belongs in another universe.

"Hey, stop daydreaming about stripping my best friend!" Ram suddenly shouted, throwing my plushie at me with zero mercy. Stripping? Seriously? I could feel my face heat up, but I couldn't even look at him. And yes, the worst part—Ram is best friends with both Shiva and Aadhi.

Oh, wait, I haven't properly introduced myself or my messed-up world, have I? Here goes:

I'm Shivada, eighteen years old. My parents, Maya and Jayaram, are both lawyers, and I'm their one and only child. Then there's Ram, my annoying cousin, who is the same age as me. He's the son of my mother's elder brother. He has an older sister who's happily married and living it up in Dubai.

Now, my crush. His name is Shiva, and he's 23. He's the son of my mom's best friend, Padma, and currently runs the businesses his mom built. Shiva stands at about 5 feet 10 inches, with a lean yet muscular build. He's the kind of guy who could make you forget how to breathe with his smile—trust me, I know. He's got big eyes with double eyelids. Like, seriously, could he get any more perfect? And more than his looks, he's gentle, kind, and everything you'd expect from a dream guy.

Shiva has a younger brother, Aadhi, who is 21. Now, Aadhi is a whole different story. If Shiva is a ray of sunshine, Aadhi is the ray during an eclipse. He's introverted, serious, and always manages to get under my skin, just like Ram. He's also handsome—taller than Shiva, muscular, and recently started working for their family company after finishing his engineering degree. But unlike Shiva, Aadhi is the storm you don't see coming—definitely not safe and definitely dangerous.

Shiva, the master of strategy and people, and Aadhi, the sharpest mind in manufacturing and innovation. Together, they are an unstoppable force in the family business. But there's more to their dynamic than just skill. Shiva's charm is his negotiation skills. He is a people person and can talk his way to their heart, while Aadhi's intense gaze is like a spotlight that sees through every facade. No one can lie to those eyes.

I've never seen either of them with women. Shiva always says he's too focused on his career for distractions, and Aadhi? He scoffs at the very idea, calling it a waste of time. But here's the twist—Aadhi does have a weakness: a girl. He's been secretly in love for as long as I can remember. Ram let that slip once, claiming Aadhi would only marry her and no one else. Lucky girl, right? Or unlucky, on how you see it. I've pressed Aadhi a thousand times to spill the details, but all I ever get is a smug "none of your business." He swears I'll be the first to know when the time is right, though. Honestly? It feels like an honor.

But enough about Aadhi's mystery romance—let's talk about me. It's been years now. Years of stolen glances, unspoken words, and the flutter in my chest every time I see Shiva. But I'm done being afraid, hiding behind this stupid crush. I've decided—I'm going to tell him. Next week is his birthday, and fate couldn't have gifted me a better opportunity. Padma Aunty and Aadhi are heading to the temple, leaving Shiva all alone at home in the evening. It's the perfect moment.

And I won't be going in blind. I'll rope Ram into this—my partner in crime. He'll help me. I know it. This hide-and-seek game with my feelings? It's over. Next week, I'm telling Shiva everything.

Sooo this is my first story I ever written in my life. Please  read and let me know if there are any corrections.