𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏

𝟏𝟑

Life isn't the same anymore. These days, I feel like I’m losing my mind losing it for her. I used to be the man who lived only for his family and work. Everything was simple, routine, and predictable. But now… now I find myself sitting alone, holding her jhumka, imagining her near me, feeling her presence in the silence like she's still here.

I wasn’t like this. I need to get a grip on myself. I know that. But no matter how much I try to shut my thoughts off, she creeps in her smile, her voice, the way she brushed her hair behind her ear.

As I’m sinking deeper into the storm of my thoughts, I hear Rahil and Sanvi bickering about something in the background. Their voices pull me back to reality. Quickly, I close my fist around the jhumka, trying to hide it tight enough so they won’t see, but not tight enough to break it.

Even now, holding just this one piece of her, it feels like she’s here everywhere, and yet nowhere.

“What happened to you guys?” I ask, pretending to be busy with the files in front of me, trying not to get caught in their chaos.

“Bhai, this Sanvi is possessed by some shopping wali chudail,” Rahil complains, slumping dramatically into the chair.

“Rahil, can you please talk like a normal human being for once?” I say, making a face. “And what is this chudail nonsense? Is that how you talk about your princess?” I add firmly, glancing at Sanvi.

Sanvi walks over to my side, making a dramatic puppy face that almost makes me laugh.

“Wow, Bhai! She’s the princess now? And what about me?” Rahil jumps up theatrically. “I knew it! I knew you never loved me. I’m going straight to Mami ji, she’s the only one who cares about me!” he declares, clutching his chest in mock heartbreak before storming out of the room like he’s in a full-blown daily soap drama.

I can’t help but shake my head, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips just for a moment, forgetting the jhumka in my pocket and the girl who refuses to leave my thoughts.

I watch Rahil’s dramatic exit and then turn to Sanvi with a questioning look.

“I don’t have anything to wear! I want to go shopping, and he’s refusing to take me,” she explains, then immediately turns to me with big puppy eyes. “Bhai, will you please come with me? Please, bhai?”

Before I can respond, we hear Rahil’s voice shouting from outside the room, “Oh please! She’s literally wearing brand-new clothes right now, and every two days she claims she has nothing to wear!”

I burst out laughing at his never-ending antics while Sanvi huffs in frustration, stomping her foot and pouting like a child about to cry.

“Okay, okay,” I say, trying to calm the situation. “I’ll ask Parth to go with you, alright?”

Her face instantly lights up. “Thank you! Love you, bhai!” she says, giving me a tight hug before running out of the room, excitement written all over her face.