Her Only Saviour

41. the unexpected truth

𝕿𝖚 𝖍𝖎 𝖙𝖔 𝖏𝖆𝖓𝖓𝖆𝖙 𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖎
𝕿𝖚 𝖍𝖎 𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖆 𝖏𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖔𝖓

𝕿𝖚 𝖍𝖎 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖆𝖓𝖓𝖆𝖙 𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖎
𝕿𝖚 𝖍𝖎 𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖍 𝖐𝖆 𝖘𝖚𝖐𝖚𝖓

𝕿𝖚 𝖍𝖎 𝖆𝖓𝖐𝖍𝖎𝖞𝖔𝖓 𝖐𝖎 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖆𝖐
𝕿𝖚 𝖍𝖎 𝖉𝖎𝖑 𝖐𝖎 𝖍𝖆𝖎 𝖉𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖐

𝕬𝖚𝖗 𝖐𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖓𝖆 𝖏𝖆𝖓𝖚 𝖒𝖊𝖎𝖓
𝕭𝖆𝖘 𝖎𝖙𝖓𝖆 𝖍𝖎 𝖏𝖆𝖆𝖓𝖚

~~~~~~~

‌The morning had begun with laughter.

Nandini was teasing rudra about his poor choice in memes, Saisha had smeared haldi on Rudra's face in the kitchen, and Dadi was busy scolding Omkara for eating too many sweets before breakfast.

Anirudh had just walked into the living room, ruffling his wet hair with a towel, a rare, easy smile on his face as he stole Nandini’s toast.

And then the doorbell rang.

The air changed the moment it opened.

It was the crash of the main door bursting open, and a figure stumbling in— A girl—disheveled, soaked in sweat, eyes red from crying.
Her salwar was creased, bangles clinking out of rhythm as she clutched her dupatta.

Nandini stood frozen, heart catching in her throat. “𝘼𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞?”

Everyone turned.

The girl—her best friend—stood at the threshold, eyes bloodshot, face streaked with dried tears.
She looked nothing like the girl who once laughed beside Nandini, hiding secrets behind mischief.

This was a ghost—haunted, desperate.

Before anyone could react, Aashi dropped to her knees.
“Where is Parth? I know he came here! He came here for revenge!”

The air turned still.

Gasps filled the room.

“What did you say?” Shivaay asked sharply, stepping forward, his expression unreadable.

“I—I can’t find him. It’s been two days. He’s missing… he came here, I know he did” she sobbed.

“What do you mean by Parth is missing?” Gauri asked slowly, cautiously.

Aashi’s lips trembled. “He was supposed to come here… take revenge… and come back to me. But he hasn’t returned in two days. No calls. Nothing.”

“Wait.” Anirudh’s voice was low, deadly. “Revenge? What the hell are you talking about?”

Aashi lifted her gaze. “Because it was all a lie.”

Nandini cut everyone off, her voice cracking.
“What are you doing here, Aashi?”

Her best friend—her soul sister once upon a time—looked her dead in the eyes and said,
“I’m sorry. But I have to tell you everything now.”

The air thickened.

“We were in love. Parth and I… since college.”

Nandini’s knees nearly gave out.
She clutched the nearest chair, staring at the girl who was once her entire world.

“You were my best friend…” her voice cracked.

Aashi cried harder.
“I know. I know. I was in love, okay?  when your father fixed your marriage with him, Parth was furious. He hated that everything was slipping out of our hands. And then he saw an opportunity…”