THE IInd DECISION

48. being your comfort

DEAR READERS , 

please take a moment to vote and comment . 

  Ashi Pov:-

After dinner, I found myself sitting on the garden swing, cradling my phone while ranting to ruhi about everything—the chaos at the office, the constant dramas, and most importantly, Adviti Maa. The way she held grudges against me, her strange behavior, and her sharp comments were all too much to handle.

"Why is she like this?" I complained, swinging back and forth. "What did I even do to deserve this weird treatment?"

Riya, on the other end, burst out laughing. "She's just old and bitter now, Ashi. Maybe her patience expired along with her youthful days!"

I couldn't help but laugh along with her. Her witty remarks made even my most annoying moments feel lighter.

We were still laughing when the sound of a car engine caught my attention. Ayan's car entered through the main gate. My laughter faded, and I cut the call abruptly, not wanting him to overhear anything.

He stepped out of the car, his face devoid of expression. Something about his silence unnerved me, but as I walked towards him, I pushed my worries aside. Just seeing him was enough to bring a sense of calm over me.

"How was your day?" I asked with a soft smile, hoping to lighten his mood.

"Good," he replied curtly, not meeting my eyes.

He walked past me, heading towards the house without even a trace of the smile he usually reserved just for me. My heart sank. That warm, comforting smile—gone.

I followed him into the room, my worry growing with each step. When I entered, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, his shoulders tense, his head bowed.

"We need to talk, Ashi," he said, his voice serious and heavy.

I immediately sat beside him, searching his face for clues. "You got information about her?" I asked, my voice filled with both hope and nervous energy. "You found her?"

He nodded.

Relief washed over me like a wave, and I couldn't contain my excitement. "I knew it! I freaking knew it. You're amazing—you got her details in just a day!"

But my excitement faded as quickly as it had come. His expression was somber, his eyes clouded with something I couldn't quite decipher.

"Ayan," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Everything's okay, right? Please tell me."

He took my hands gently, holding them between his own. He stared down, avoiding my gaze, as if searching for the right words.

"Ashi... do you remember Navya?" he asked quietly.

I nodded, confused by the sudden shift in conversation. "Yes, I remember. You told me about her before. Why are you bringing her up now?"

Ignoring my question, he continued. "Navya was an adopted child, Ashi."

I froze. My heart dropped into my stomach.

"She was adopted at the age of one from a small orphanage," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "That orphanage has since shut down."

I stared at him, tears welling up in my eyes for reasons I couldn't even articulate yet. "Ayan..." my voice cracked. "Please, let's talk about her later. I need to know about—"

"Ashi," he interrupted, his voice breaking. "Navya... Navya was your sister."

The world seemed to tilt. My vision blurred with tears, and a lump formed in my throat so large I could barely breathe.