The Pricking Love

The Unraveling Threads

Anusha’s POV

Just as I began to feel a sense of calm, my phone buzzed again. My heart raced as I read the name on the screen.

Ansh: “Can we talk?”

I stared at the message, shock coursing through me. After twelve years of silence, he was reaching out. It felt surreal, almost like a scene from a movie I couldn’t quite believe was unfolding before me.

“Is it Ansh?” Ekant asked, his voice low and steady as he leaned closer, peering at my phone. I nodded, a mix of fear and excitement bubbling within me.

“What does he want?” Ekant pressed, his concern evident.

“He wants to talk,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper. “After all this time… I don’t know what to say.”

“Are you ready for that?” Ekant’s question hung in the air, heavy with implication. “You’ve been through so much, Anusha.”

“I don’t know, but I can’t ignore him,” I said, biting my lip as anxiety gripped me. “What if he shows up here? I can’t let him find out about us. Not yet.”

“Maybe it’s time to be honest with him,” Ekant suggested, his eyes searching mine for assurance. “You’re both adults now. He deserves to know that you’re okay, and that you’ve found someone who cares about you.”

I shook my head, my heart pounding. “But I don’t think he’ll understand. He’s protective of me—he always has been. If he knew about our marriage…”

“What if he gets the wrong idea?” Ekant interjected, concern etched on his face. “I won’t let him put you in a position where you have to choose between us.”

The thought sent a wave of fear coursing through me. “I just want to protect what we’ve built. I don’t want my past to ruin our future.”

“We can navigate this together,” Ekant assured me, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently. “But you need to decide what you want to share with him.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The prospect of facing Ansh after all these years was daunting. “I’ll reply,” I said finally, my resolve hardening. “But I’ll need your support.”

“Always,” Ekant said with a reassuring smile.

I composed a quick message to Ansh, my fingers trembling as I typed.

Me: “Can we meet? I want to explain everything.”

After hitting send, I felt a swell of anxiety and anticipation. It felt like stepping off a cliff without knowing where I would land.

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Ekant’s POV

As Anusha composed her message, I could sense the whirlwind of emotions churning inside her. She was grappling with the reality of her brother’s sudden reappearance and the fragility of the life we were trying to build together.

“I’m here for you,” I reminded her, watching as she sent the message.

“Thanks, Ekant,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I don’t want to mess this up.”

“You won’t. You’re stronger than you think,” I said, trying to instill some confidence in her. “Just be honest with him. That’s all you can do.”

Moments passed in silence as we waited for Ansh’s reply, the tension thick in the air. I knew that Ansh was her brother and a part of her life I didn’t fully understand. The stakes felt higher than ever, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this could change everything.