Dear Destiny

21- Dear Stranger

*ARIV*

We had finished with the cake, and as I picked up the dishes, I stood in front of the sink, listening to the faint giggles of Reet and Atharv from the living room. I sighed softly. She looked genuinely happy - maybe the happiest I'd seen her in a while. Atharv, too. To be honest, I was glad his birthday had turned out to be something good, something he'd probably hoped for. But then, a realization hit me like a cold wave. The things I had heard about him today.

"Hey, Ariv," Atharv's voice pulled me from my thoughts as he entered the kitchen. He handed me the knives. "Take these too."

I took them silently.

"Anyway," he continued, "Reet and I are going to finish that web series. You wanna join us?"

"What am I supposed to do, watching something you two are already halfway through? I'll pass. I think I'll just head to bed."

He sighed, but there was a playful smile on his face. "Well, before you go... I wanted to tell you something."

I kept my attention on the dishes, lazily licking the remnants of cake from a spoon. "Go on," I muttered.

"I really think that Reet and I-"

"Don't try to play games with me," I cut him off, my tone indifferent. Atharv froze mid-sentence, a confused expression crossing his face.

"What?" he asked, frowning. "What do you mean?"

I could feel the tension building. "Oh, come on," I said, straightening up. "Don't tell me you've got feelings for Reet now."

"I-I didn't mean that, but..." He trailed off, clearly uneasy now. "Isn't it strange, though? You used to-"

"Ship you two?" I finished for him. "Yeah, I did. Back when I thought you actually had something for her." My voice hardened. "But I know now that's not true."

His eyes widened, disbelief written across his face. "You don't know anything about me."

"Of course I don't!" I snapped, the words sharper than I intended. "But I know where you went today." I slammed the spoon into the sink and turned to face him, my eyes cold. "And also with whom. So don't bother playing innocent with me."

I was about to leave the kitchen, but his voice stopped me.

"You're not going to tell her, are you?"

I turned back, a scoff escaping me. "Of course not. You're my brother before anyone else, even Reet. I remember the bro code - no girl can ever come between us." I mimed zipping my lips shut. "I won't say a word."

With that, I spun around, walking out with a bitter smirk plastered on my face. A smirk that, I hoped, could hide the deeper feelings I was fighting to keep buried.

I lay down on my bed staring at the ceiling. My room was fully silenced. I wonder what kind of silence it must be down there in the hall. Maybe a silence full of giggles and hopes. Yes hopes but of course fake hopes as I made myself recall today's antics.

*FLASHBACK*

I marched toward the neighbour's door, my head filled with thoughts of those drama queen sisters. Ugh, I hated them, but thanks to Reet's chaos, that now I'll have to endure them. I rang the doorbell, and after a few moments, it finally opened.

"Yessss... Ew, you?!" The girl, Zoya-12 years old and full of attitude-opened the door with an excited grin that instantly soured the moment she saw me.

"Yes, me," I said, flashing a firm, sarcastic smile.

"Yuck, go away." She tried to slam the door shut, but I stopped it with my foot. "What's your problem? What do you want?"