Author's POV :
Ahana Shrivastav woke up to the sound of her alarm clock ringing loudly. She groaned and rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the sleepiness that still lingered. She got out of bed and went down to the dining area, where her parents greeted her with warm smiles.
"Good morning, Ahana," her mother, Rohini Shrivastav said, handing her a plate of toast and eggs.
"Good morning, Mom," Ahana replied, taking a seat at the table.
Just then, her brother walked into the dining area, his face expressionless. Ahana tried to wish him good morning, but he ignored her and went straight to his seat.Their father, Ahaan Shrivastav noticed this and scolded him.
Born into a wealthy Indian family, Ahana's life was one of luxury and comfort. Her brother, her confidant and protector, was the apple of her eye. However, when he married Nisha, a woman driven by jealousy and greed, Ahana's world was turned upside down. Nisha, from a less affluent background, befriended Ahana only to manipulate her way into the family and eventually marry her brother. She managed to drive a wedge between the siblings, turning him against Ahana. Despite the betrayal, Ahana's parents remained silent, hoping the situation would resolve itself. Ahana, feeling isolated, found solace in her studies and her passion for dancing.
"Rohan, that's not how you treat your sister. Say good morning to her," her father said sternly.
Rohan mumbled a half-hearted greeting before sitting down at the table. Ahana's sister-in-law, who was also her ex-best friend, shot her a cold look from across the table. Ahana could see the jealousy in her eyes.
Feeling a wave of sadness wash over her, Ahana finished her breakfast quickly and left for college. As she walked through the gates, she was greeted by her best friend Preeti Sharma, who immediately sensed her mood.
"Hey, Ahana. What's wrong?" Preeti asked, concern evident in her voice.
Ahana sighed and told Preeti about the tension at home and how her sister-in-law had turned her brother against her. Preeti listened attentively, offering words of comfort and support.
"Don't worry, Ahana. You're stronger than this. Don't let their jealousy bring you down," Preeti said, giving her a reassuring hug.
Later, Ahana and Preeti were sitting in the college cafeteria during their lunch break, chatting and laughing as they always did. Ahana was very cautious at first but eventually Preeti made her way and became her best friend. As they were discussing their plans for the upcoming fest, their friends Rahul, Samay, and Riya entered the cafeteria and joined them at their table.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Rahul greeted them with a smile.
"We were just talking about the concert in the fest. Did you hear that Adhwik Rishi Sharma is going to be the chief guest this year?" Samay exclaimed excitedly.
Adhwik Rishi Sharma, the famous playback singer and an alumnus of their college, was a heartthrob among the students. His melodious voice had captured the hearts of millions, including Ahana's.
As soon as Preeti heard Adhwik's name, she started acting weirdly. Ahana noticed her friend's strange behavior but decided to stay silent for the time being.
"Are you okay, Preeti?" Riya asked, concerned.
Preeti forced a smile and replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired, I guess."
Ahana could sense that something was bothering Preeti, but she didn't want to pry in front of their friends. Instead, she decided to talk to her later when they were alone.
Meanwhile, Ahana's heart was racing with excitement at the thought of seeing Adhwik in person. He was her favorite singer, and she had been dreaming of meeting him for years.
"I can't believe Adhwik is coming to our college! I'm so excited!" Ahana exclaimed, unable to contain her joy.
The rest of the group laughed at Ahana's enthusiasm, but they were happy to see her so excited. They knew how much she admired Adhwik and how his music had helped her through tough times.
As they continued to chat about the fest and Adhwik's upcoming visit, Ahana couldn't help but steal glances at Preeti, who seemed lost in her thoughts. She made a mental note to talk to her friend as soon as they were alone.
The bell rang, signaling the end of their lunch break, and the group dispersed to their respective classes. Ahana walked with Preeti, waiting for the right moment to bring up the topic that was clearly weighing on her friend's mind.
As they reached their classroom, Ahana gently took Preeti's hand and said, "Hey, is everything okay? You seemed a little off back there in the cafeteria."
"Ahana, I have something important to tell you." Preeti said
"What is it, Preeti?" Ahana asked
"Adhwik Rishi Sharma is my brother" Preeti told and Ahana was taken aback by Preeti's revelation.
"What? Why didn't you tell me this before?" Ahana was hurt that her best friend hid such an important thing from her.
Ahana never really cared about people's background. She was comfortable with everyone until Nisha entered her life. After her ex best friend's betrayal Ahana had built a wall around her and only Preeti was able to enter her friend zone.
Adhwik Rishi Sharma was not just her idol but her motivation. He was her knight in the shining armour. She dances to his songs forgetting all her problems. His voice was her therapy. Unknowingly, he had become an integral part of her life, Preeti knew it all.
"I didn't want people to befriend me just because of my brother. In the past, I felt like everyone was only interested in me because of him. I wanted to make genuine friends, so I kept it a secret." Preeti cried. She was afraid that she would lose her only true friend.
"I feel betrayed, Preeti. You should have told me the truth from the beginning." Ahana said honestly
"You know how important he is to me and yet you hid it from me." She said
"I'm sorry, Ahana. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted to be seen for who I am, not for who my brother or my family is." Preeti pleaded
Preeti's words struck a chord with Ahana. She remembered the pain of being used for her wealth by her former best friend. It was a bitter memory that she had tried to bury deep within her heart.
After a moment of silence, Ahana looked at Preeti with understanding in her eyes. "I'm sorry for overreacting, Preeti. I had no idea about your past experiences. I can see now why you wanted to keep your brother's identity a secret."
Preeti nodded, grateful for Ahana's understanding. "Thank you for being so understanding, Ahana. I was afraid about your reaction for hiding the truth from you."
Ahana smiled softly. "We all have our reasons for keeping secrets, Preeti. I'm just glad that we were able to talk about it openly. And I want you to know that I value our friendship for who you are, not for who your brother is."
Preeti's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Thank you, Ahana. I'm lucky to have a friend like you." Saying this she hugged Ahana.
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