𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗲

𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣

Subhra's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you even talking about?" she asked, her voice laced with incredulity. Vidharth's words had caught her off guard.

"You're saying we were in the same school... and knew each other...?" she trailed off, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Vidharth's face broke into a gentle smile. "And were friends too!" he finished, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia.

"But wouldn't you have been my senior?" she questioned, her head tilted slightly.

Vidharth's gaze intensified, his eyes searching for something deep within hers. Hesitation clouded his expression, and his face betrayed the turmoil brewing inside. His eyes, once bright, now seemed to hold a thousand unspoken secrets.

She looked into his eyes, which had wandered momentarily, and spoke in a grave voice.

"Don't tell me any fake stories. I'm worn out by them. The reason I believed you initially was that you're not related to me and have no business with me. Even when you said you knew my parents, I thought it was just a coincidence... but"

"Stop! Stop your nonsense," Vidharth interrupted, his voice firm but gentle.

He looked at her with understanding eyes, his tone soft and considerate.

He recognized where her skepticism came from; she wouldn't believe him if he simply told her. The carefree child who once followed him everywhere was gone, replaced by a guarded, wounded woman bathed in the scars of betrayal.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, ducking his head low. "But don't worry, I'll make you believe my words."

Vidharth lifted his eyes again, staring into hers with newfound intensity.

Shubhra was confused by his antics. Whatever was going through his mind wasn't what she had expected.

"Can you stop being so hard to read? Your words aren't making any sense. Also, I'd like to hear your side of the story," she said.

As she finished speaking, Vidharth's face transformed from a frown to a warm smile.

"I thought you wouldn't even hear me out!" He sighed.

"Now, tell me, why do you think You've reached this conclusion - that we know each other?"She narrowed her eyes at him, her furrowed brows signaling him to continue.

"It's that we were in the same school, and I was friends with your brother," He paused, checking for her reaction. All he found was a frown.

He sighed and was about to continue when she spoke up."But isn't Rudra much younger than you?"

"I wasn't talking about Rudra!" He looked into her eyes and continued. "Rudra isn't your biological brother, but your father's adopted child."

Shubhra just stared at him, her eyes focused intently. A calmness spread across her brown orbs, and her lips formed a thin line.