Twin Flames

chapter 2

Ilan's POV :

I had never experienced anything resembling love or attraction in this relentless race called life. My focus had always been on survival, on protecting my little sister, Iyal, and ensuring we could navigate this world alone. But the day I met her—Nila—something shifted.

It wasn't a grand moment, nor was it something I even recognized at first. She had smiled at us, a smile so radiant it seemed to light up the room. For a split second, I felt something unfamiliar—a flutter in my stomach, a soft tremor that unsettled my otherwise steady resolve.

"I will take care of your porcelain doll, Anna. You can leave without any worries," she said, her voice light yet filled with an unspoken confidence.

She called me Anna, and surprisingly, it didn't bother me. I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the way she said it, casual yet comforting. I gave her a small smile, my guard still up but not as rigid as usual.

"Okay. Both of you take care. Call me if you need anything," I said, leaving with a mix of relief and hesitation. For the first time, I was entrusting my sister's well-being to someone else, and that wasn't easy.

From that day on, visiting them became a routine. Once a month, I would take a day off from work and head back to Bangalore to spend time with Iyal and Nila. At first, it was just about ensuring my sister was safe and adjusting well. But with each visit, I found myself looking forward to those moments with Nila as well.

It didn't take long to realize that the dynamic between Iyal and Nila wasn't what I had assumed. These two weren't the close friends they had pretended to be when I left them alone. They were more like frenemies, constantly bickering over the smallest things.

The realization left me both amused and confused.

"Why are you both always fighting?" I asked Nila during one of my visits, genuinely curious.

She looked at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and shrugged. "You wouldn't understand. It's a girl thing," she said, flashing me that wide, captivating smile of hers.

I noticed something then. She hadn't called me Anna. Maybe it was a slip, or maybe it wasn't. I couldn't tell, but I also couldn't deny that it made my heart skip a beat.

Before I could process it, she added, "Maybe I'll let you know one day, when you'll actually understand something."

Her words were cryptic, and the way she said them left me momentarily speechless. With that, she turned and walked to her room, leaving me standing there, puzzled but undeniably intrigued.

That night, her words replayed in my mind. What did she mean by "when I'll understand something"? And why did it feel like there was a deeper meaning hidden in her playful tone?

I've always shared a room with my sister, Iyal, whenever I visited her. It was our routine—she'd take the bed, and I'd sleep on the floor. It was a small thing, but it reminded us of the bond we'd built through all the challenges we'd faced. That night, as I was lying down on the floor, just about to drift off, I heard her voice.

"Anna, I need to talk to you about something," she said hesitantly.

Her tone made me sit up immediately. "What happened?" I asked, sensing the seriousness in her voice.

"There's this guy named Sam... and I like him," she blurted out.

For a moment, I was stunned. I wasn't sure how to respond. Of course, I knew this day would come eventually—she's young, independent, and it's only natural. But no matter how much you prepare yourself, hearing it for the first time still hits you hard. It felt like it was happening too soon.

She continued, "But I haven't told him that I like him... even though he's already told me he likes me. I want to know what you think first, Anna. If you approve of him, I'll say yes. If not, I'll tell him no."

Her words hit me differently. It wasn't just the fact that she liked someone—it was the trust she placed in me, the respect she had for my opinion. That meant everything to me, but it also came with a huge weight of responsibility.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "Are you and Nila fighting because of this?" I asked, suddenly wondering if their constant bickering was somehow tied to this revelation.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Mostly yes... but also a little no."

Her answer didn't clarify much, but it did give me an inkling of what might be going on. I thought back to the cryptic things Nila had said during my visits, the way she always seemed to have an edge of playfulness when talking about Iyal. It was beginning to make sense.

"Okay," I said, keeping my voice calm. "Send me this guy's picture and whatever details you have. Let me take a look and decide."

As I lay back down, I couldn't stop thinking about it. So this was the reason behind their fights—at least part of it. Suddenly, Nila's words echoed in my mind: "Maybe I'll let you know one day when you'll actually understand something."

Now I understood. This wasn't just about Iyal liking someone. It was about the complex, messy emotions tied to it—her loyalty to me, her rivalry with Nila, and maybe even Nila's involvement in ways I hadn't realized yet.

I knew that approving or disapproving of Sam wasn't just about him—it was about protecting Iyal's happiness while also navigating the fragile dynamics between her and Nila. This wasn't going to be simple, but for my sister, I'd figure it out. I always have.

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Just thought of giving an update ... enjoy..