Star-Crossed Yet Not Aligned

The Web of Deceit

December's chill mirrored the frost in our relationship. Seventy to eighty days of depression had taken its toll. The pain was suffocating, and I knew I had to let go.

Aditi's text on Instagram came as a surprise: "If you love me, delete our chats. My sister checks my phone."

Fear gripped me, and I deleted our conversation.

In college, Aditi asked me to show her our photos and videos.

"Where are they?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"In a private folder and some on my laptop," I replied.

"Show me," she demanded, her tone playful.

I hesitated but handed over my phone.

She navigated to the private folder and deleted all the photos in an instant.

"Why did you do that?" I asked, feigning shock.

"Look, Subh, we can make more memories in the future. Just chill," she said, laughing.

Unbeknownst to her, I had copied the photos to my pendrive.

I pretended to be distraught, hiding my secret.

"What's the point of deleting our memories?" I asked, testing her.

Aditi's grin faltered for a moment.

"I just wanted to start fresh," she said, her voice laced with deceit.

I realized then that she was hiding something.

Her actions were calculated, manipulative.

I decided to play along, pretending to be oblivious.

"What's next?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Aditi's smile returned.

"We'll create new memories, better ones."

Little did she know, I had already begun unraveling her web of deceit.

Next morning, I called Aditi, but her sister Anika answered.

"Why are you calling after everything that's happened?" Anika asked, her tone laced with hostility.

"I need to talk to Aditi," I replied.

Anika cut the call.

That night, Anika texted via WhatsApp: "What did you want to talk about?"

I explained my confusion about Aditi's denial of our relationship.

Anika laughed, "Just because you're in a relationship doesn't mean you've slept with her."

I hesitated, then revealed the truth: "We did."

Anika's tone shifted from amusement to shock.

"When? Where? How?" Tum dono ne itna kuchh Karliya aur mujhe btaya bhi nahi? ( You both did those things didn't even told me) she bombarded me with questions.

I lied about the place but shared the truth about our intimacy.

Anika demanded proof, but I had deleted the evidence.

"I don't have anything," I said.

Anika's skepticism was palpable.

"Subh, I think you're lying." She laughed and said good night Subh and don't joke about the Aditi character.

I knew I had to end the conversation.
And I said okay, sent laughing emoji 🤣.

I walked into our room, finding Pankaj pacing, phone in hand.