The Veiled Hearts

🌹Barbie Kingdom 🔪

Avni kept pulling me by the hand, her excitement almost contagious as she babbled something about Barbie Land. I couldn't quite make out what she meant, but one thing was clear: she was a Singhania. Part of this glammed-up, high-society world I barely understood. Yet, here she was-by my side, offering warmth and comfort in ways I didn't expect. After Yash and Anita aunty, I had met another kind Singhania.

We reached an empty corridor, the noise of the party fading behind us. I glanced around, feeling uneasy. "Why are we going to Barbie Land?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

Avni giggled softly, her eyes sparkling. "To play dress-up, of course."

I blinked at her, my voice unintentionally louder than I intended. "Whaaaaaaat?!"

She turned quickly, pressing a finger to my lips, silencing me. "Ssshh! This corridor is close to the main party hall. Only family members use it, no outsiders allowed. Keep your voice down."

I hummed in agreement, nodding. She smiled, the kind of smile that made you trust her, even if everything seemed a little off. "Let's get somewhere safe, then I'll explain everything."

Another nod, this time out of genuine curiosity. We walked further down the corridor, the silence amplifying the sound of our footsteps. As we reached a staircase, Avni pointed to a large vase. "Hide behind it," she whispered.

Without hesitation, I crouched down, tucking myself behind the vase. Avni stepped out, scanning the area, her eyes sharp despite her playful demeanor. After a moment, she slipped off her heels and came back to me.

"Can you run?" she whispered, her eyes glinting with excitement. "We need to move fast and avoid the CCTV cameras."

I nodded, though I still had no idea what we were doing or why. Avni leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear. "On three, we run to the third door on the left, okay?"

"Okay," I whispered back, trusting her despite the uncertainty.

"One... two... three!"

We bolted, my heart racing as we dashed down the corridor left. Avni reached the door first, quickly unlocking it and pulling me inside. She closed the door behind us, and for a moment, we stood there, catching our breath in the darkened room.

Avni clapped her hands in the air, and suddenly, the room was illuminated. My breath caught in my throat as I took it all in. This wasn't just any room-this was a fantasy.

The soft, blush-pink hues bathed everything in a warm glow, from the plush, oversized couches to the rounded, tufted ottoman in the center of the room. Every inch of the floor was covered in what felt like the softest, fluffiest carpet I'd ever seen-so luxurious, I wondered if walking barefoot here would feel like stepping on clouds.

My eyes trailed up the grand, winding staircase, glowing softly from the tiny lights embedded in each step. It spiraled elegantly, leading up to an upper floor that seemed almost too perfect to be real. The ceiling above was like a work of art, adorned with circular designs and lights that felt more like stars in the sky than typical room lighting. And those windows-floor-to-ceiling glass-looked out onto the night, the glittering city below a sharp contrast to the soft, cozy cocoon we were in.

I couldn't believe this was a room in a house. To me, it was more like a dreamland, a place that only existed in stories or fairy tales. My family had always lived simply, never with anything close to this kind of extravagance. The sheer opulence of it all-the fur blankets, the delicate crystal decorations, and the serene ambiance-was overwhelming.

I found myself frozen in place, unsure if I should even be here. How could I belong in a room like this? Avni, though, acted as if it were nothing, walking through the space like it was as ordinary as a kitchen or living room. But to me, it was a glimpse into another world-one I was never meant to enter.

She looked back at me and giggled. "Welcome to Barbie Land," she said, as if that explained everything.

And maybe, in her world, it did.

I stared at her in disbelief. "This... this is what you call a room?"

Avni giggled, shrugging as she threw herself onto the plush pink sofa. "I know, right? Way too much pink. I hate pink!" She rolled her eyes dramatically. "It's Aarav bhaiya's revenge because I pissed him off. And to top it off, no one will give me the money to change the décor." She flopped onto the couch, her body collapsing in a way that seemed so unladylike for someone wearing such an extravagant dress.

It was then that I noticed the checkered pajamas peeking out from under her red gown. I stood there, frozen, my mind trying to make sense of it. Here was a girl from one of the wealthiest families in the country, lounging in expensive designer clothing with cheap pajama pants underneath. The contrast left me dumbfounded. Avni noticed my expression and grinned, propping her foot up on the glass table like a carefree teenager.

"Oh, this?" She gestured to her pajamas, nonchalantly. "It was way too windy when I put the dress on, so I slipped these on. They're my favorite. And guess what? Only 250 rupees!"

I blinked, trying to absorb her words. For someone who could afford anything, Avni had this casual, carefree air about her. She wasn't obsessed with flaunting her wealth, instead, she found joy in the little, inexpensive things. It was... refreshing. In that moment, I realized how much she reminded me of her brother. Or maybe, she was even better than him-finding comfort and happiness in simplicity, even when she could have had the world.

"Come on," she said, waving her hand at me lazily. "Ditch the beard and turban. These cushions are so soft, you'll forget the room looks like a pink nightmare."

I hesitated but eventually began unwrapping my turban and pulling off the fake beard. I placed them on the table beside me, feeling the weight of Avni's gaze as I revealed myself for the first time in my real form. Her eyes widened, and she shot up from the sofa, her expression one of pure shock.

She walked closer, her eyes locked on mine as if she was seeing me-truly seeing me-for the first time. "You're... you're so beautiful," she murmured, her voice soft and almost awestruck. Then she added with a mischievous smile, "No wonder my brother loves you."

My heart skipped a beat. "He... he loves me?" I stammered, the words barely making it out of my mouth as my eyes widened in disbelief.

I could feel my pulse quicken, my mind spinning. Did Yash... love me? The thought sent my heart racing and, for a brief moment, I couldn't tell if I was more terrified or exhilarated.

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