The Battle Of Hearts A Choice Between Power And Love

chapter 23 The Song Of Hearts

Annika’s POV
After our time spent together in the library, I went to my room swiftly, not wanting to be caught in the eye of some messenger or servant in the palace, for words in this category - especially rumours - spread like wildfire - and you don’t want that, not now.

When I went back to my room, to my surprise, I found Amaia waiting for me in my room, pacing restlessly.

“What happened?” I asked her.

“Adhi-” her voice cracked as she started her sentence.

“What happened to bhaiyya?” I asked, concerned.

“Oh, nothing happened to him..” she dragged.

“Did he say something to you?” I asked. I needed to know if Adhi had confronted her. ‘Adhi’ and ‘confrontation’ were not a good match - I knew that all too well.

“I am so sorry! I just walked into your room and came to meet you, but you weren't there and-”

“It’s alright,” I said softly, “you can tell me what it’s about Amaia. It’s okay”.

“That’s the problem here! It’s not okay..” she sat down, and as she did, I felt her shattered state of mind. She held her face in her hands.

“He.. Adhi.. Aditya - he just cut things off. He – I can’t..” her breathing started to get irregular and panicked.

“Hey, look at me. I am sure Adhi didn’t mean a word he said..” she refused to listen to my words and desperately shook her head.

“No... No. The way he looked into my eyes, I knew.. he did mean it, Annika!” she sobbed, unable to keep her tears at bay anymore. I sat next to her on the bed and handed her a handkerchief. She took it and wiped her eyes, but a fresh stream of tears flowed down her cheek over the dried stain of tears on her face.  

“Don’t cry. Come here” I said, wrapping my arms around her in a half-hug in an attempt to soothe her and calm her down.

“I will try talking some sense into him, I promise, but only if you want me to. So do you want me to?” I offered.

“Can you really talk to him? Would he really change his decision? But what if he ends up getting angry at you instead?” she asked, concerned for me. I shrugged.

“I don’t have a problem. I have had him there before. It won’t be the first time, you know!” she let out a broken chuckle at my statement.

“I know it’s because of the recent things that happened. He feels betrayed” she said, clearly broken on the inside.

“I know why he is doing it. He wants it to hurt you as well. I know - he is an idiot. Well, he is my brother after all” I said, to which she ran her hands over her face.

“Well, he wins, cause it hurts like shit” she admitted, and I chuckled.

“Well, I know that” she shook her head.

“I don’t know what to do! I don’t know how to be without him, Annika! He was always there, and now he is not and - oh Lord how I hate it! It’s as if I had gotten so used to him, and now I can’t even function without him!” her voice cracked as she spoke. I rubbed her shoulders.

“It’s okay. He will come around in a while. I know he won’t be able to stay away from you for too long” I said.

“What if it’s different this time?” she asked, hope slipping from her grasp as she said those words.

“It’s not different. Believe me this time!” she nodded her head, even if she was sceptical.

“I can’t even call him by his name! He said he didn't want me to call him ‘Adhi’ anymore, and I can't even use his title! It’s just that I have been used to calling him that since the beginning, and now that he is upset, I don’t know what to do anymore!” A lone tear rolled down her cheek. I wiped it away and hugged her, then pulled back after a second.