रिश्ता जो इतना गहरा है,
हर दुख-सुख का पहरा है।
टूटे ना कभी ये डोरी,
प्यार भरा ये सवेरा है।
◇
A
uthor POV
It was late evening, and the faint hum of work buzzed through Avyansh's office.
The door to his cabin swung open without a knock, and Devika walked in casually.
"Oops," she muttered, noticing someone else sitting there.
Her face turned slightly pink as she said, "Sorry, Bhai," and turned to leave.
"Wait," Avyansh's voice stopped her mid-step.
He glanced at the man seated across from him. "You may leave," he said calmly.
The man nodded, bowing politely to Devika before greeting her with a small smile and walking out.
As the door clicked shut, Avyansh tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Devika.
"Let's eat something outside," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Or should I order something here?"
"Yaha nahi," Devika said quickly, her face lighting up. "Japanese Restaurant."
Avyansh gave her a small nod, standing up and rolling his sleeves slightly.
It wasn't unusual for Devika to drop by his office. She often came by to share gossip or random updates, and these moments had always been a way for them to bond.
But since his marriage, she hadn't visited even once-not until today. It wasn't her usual carefree, spontaneous self this time. He had called her himself, knowing there was more to the story than she had let on.
"Let's go," he said, grabbing his car keys. As they walked out together, he couldn't help but notice the faint tension in her shoulders, hidden beneath her usual cheer.
Tonight, he decided, he'd finally get her to open up.
The restaurant was cozy, with dim lighting and a faint aroma of spices wafting through the air. It was a Japanese place-one of Avyansh's favorites, and coincidentally, Devika's too.
Both cousins shared a deep love for Japanese cuisine, which often led to playful arguments with Dev, who wasn't a fan. Their constant bickering on the topic was a family joke at this point.
After placing their orders, the two settled into a comfortable rhythm.
"And then Sruti ne plan kiya ki sabko aise darayenge," Devika said, her face lighting up as she recalled the haunted house prank. "Ruhaan bhai bhi uske support mein the."
She took a bite of her food, clearly enjoying it, while Avyansh nodded, his lips twitching slightly at the memory.
"Of course, Ruhaan would be involved," he said, shaking his head. "That man lives for chaos."
Devika chuckled, twirling her noodles on her fork. "You should've seen Vishal's face, though. He was ready to run back."
Avyansh smile but didn't say much, letting her chatter on. He watched her closely, noting the way she spoke with ease about lighthearted things but still seemed to avoid the real topic.
He decided to give her time. For now, he listened, his mind cataloging every detail of her behavior. If she wasn't ready to talk, he wouldn't push her-yet.
