Hearts In Harmony

35 | Fight for her.

| RESHMI |

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, running the comb through my wet hair. It's been three days since Vikram's confession, and I still don't know how to feel-happy or confused. He cleared up the whole bet thing, but was he really telling the truth? He looked sincere, but I'm still stuck in this loop of doubt.

With a heavy sigh, I tossed the comb onto the table and closed my eyes. The truth is, I wanted to tell him that I feel the same. Hell, it's not just a crush anymore-I think I love him. But if I admit that, it feels like I'd be betraying my aunt's trust. I promised her I'd only stay friends with Vikram, nothing more.

I jumped when I felt a soft pat on my head, snapping me out of my thoughts. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up and saw Aathai standing there, a gentle smile on her face.

"What's going on, kanna?" she asked, her voice warm and curious.

I hesitated for a moment, biting my lip. How was I supposed to bring this up? I didn't want her to sense what I was really struggling with, so I carefully chose my words.

"Aathai... is it wrong to feel for someone?"

She raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the question. "Why do you ask?"

I shrugged, trying to play it off casually, though I could feel my heart racing. "I mean... is it bad? Loving someone, I mean. Especially if you're not supposed to."

Her smile softened further, and she sat down beside me, gently brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Love isn't wrong, Reshmi. But sometimes, it's complicated. The important thing is understanding what you're ready for and who you're hurting along the way."

Her words made my chest tighten. I knew exactly who I would hurt.

Aathai's eyes softened even more, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something in them-something distant, almost like she was lost in a memory.

"I once loved someone too, Reshmi," she said, her voice quieter now. "Things didn't exactly go as planned."

I stared at her, surprised. Aathai? Loved someone? This was the woman who always seemed so strong and untouchable. Hearing her talk like this was... different.

"What happened?" I asked cautiously, not sure if I was prying too much.

She gave a small, bittersweet smile. "We were young, just like you. I thought he was the one, and maybe he was... but sometimes, life has other plans. Our families, expectations... things got complicated. In the end, we went our separate ways. It hurt, but I knew it was for the best."

I felt a lump in my throat. It was weird, hearing her talk about her own heartbreak, and it made my feelings for Vikram feel even more tangled.

Aathai sighed softly and gave my hand a squeeze. "Love, kanna, can be beautiful, but it also comes with responsibility. Sometimes, the timing isn't right, or the people around us don't understand..."

I looked down at our hands, her words sinking in. "Is he the reason you're not married?"

Aathai shook her head slowly, a gentle smile still on her lips, but her eyes held a trace of sadness. "No, he's not the reason."

I blinked in confusion, waiting for her to continue.

"It was after Anni, your Amma, left us." Her voice softened, becoming more tender. "You and Mayu were so small, so lost. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone else raising you two. You needed someone to be there for you, like a mother. And I wanted to be that person, to make sure you grew up loved and cared for, just like your father wanted..."