Mending Hearts

-:prologue:-

Mumbai—the city of dreams, bustling with life, lights, and aspirations. For Siddharth Oberoi, it had once been his everything, his home. Now, it was just another city in the world, a mere stop in his hectic schedule. The streets outside buzzed with life, yet none of it stirred him. The sounds, the smells, the relentless energy-it should’ve felt familiar, comforting even. But Mumbai was no longer home. Home was a place he had left behind, along with the people he had once cherished more than his own life.

In the green room, Siddharth sat alone, lost in thought. He stared at an old photograph, edges worn from years of handling. It was a picture of his brothers, His bhaiya had his arm wrapped protectively around shrey and him, He is  leaning in with a  genuine smile. That smile-so carefree, so unguarded—felt like a relic from another lifetime. A lifetime where he was simply his bhaiya's sid,not "SSO," the rockstar the world worshipped.

He had built a world of illusions around himself, with smiles that never reached his eyes and songs that masked his silence. To the world, SSO was untouchable, a phenomenon, a star in his own right. But behind the stage lights and the adoring crowds was a man who had learned to wear masks as easily as breathing. Siddharth Oberoi could fake every emotion, every smile. He had perfected the art over the years, shielding his heart with walls that even he couldn’t break through. .

The door to the green room creaked open, and Amayra stepped inside, her eyes gentle yet knowing. She was his manager, his best friend, the only person who had stood by him through every high and low. She knew him better than anyone else in the world, better even than he knew himself. But she had never pried, never asked him about the secrets he kept so close to his heart. Instead, she had stayed by his side, offering him a steadying presence in the chaotic world of fame and fortune.

“Sid,” she said softly, her voice breaking the silence. “It’s time. Everything’s ready.”

He took a deep breath, slipping the photograph back into his pocket as if tucking away his heart along with it. The mask slipped effortlessly back onto his face, his expression settling into the cool, controlled look he had perfected. In the mirror, he could see the rockstar the world adored, not the man hiding behind the persona.

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice steady, betraying nothing of the turmoil simmering beneath the surface.

Amayra gave him a brief, understanding smile, her eyes filled with a compassion that touched him more than he would ever admit. As he walked past her, she fell in step beside him, her presence grounding him, reminding him that, even in this lonely life, he wasn’t entirely alone. He was grateful for that, even if he never said it aloud.

The crowd roared as he stepped onto the stage, the energy pulsating through the air. Thousands of fans screamed his name, their faces lighting up as he walked forward, radiating confidence. This was his world now—a world of flashing lights, screaming fans, and adulation. Every move he made was met with frenzied applause, every smile or wave drawing deafening cheers from the crowd. To them, SSO was a superstar, untouchable and enigmatic. They knew nothing of the man behind the facade, and that was exactly how he wanted it to be.

The music began, and he poured himself into the performance, letting the beat and rhythm take over. Every chord he played, every note he sang was flawless, a testament to his years of hard work and dedication. The fans sang along, their voices merging with his in a symphony that filled the vast arena. And yet, even as he lost himself in the music, a part of him remained detached, standing in the shadows, watching.

Then, something caught his eye. Amid the sea of faces, he noticed a boy standing near the front, his gaze fixed intently on him. There was something achingly familiar about the boy, a spark that pulled at his heart. The boy’s eyes, wide with admiration, were filled with a warmth that reminded him of someone he had lost long ago.