"Never, ever, feel that you cannot confide in me just because I am Vivaan's brother, Vrinda. You can tell me anything and if you want, I can even rough him up for you," offered Daksh, holding her hesitant hands and letting the sincerity swirling in his eyes convince her that he had her best interests in mind.
"I know, Bhai. Honestly, I am tired of being second to something on everyone's priority list. I came after my father's respect to him, after my father in my mother's eyes or else, why would she abandon me and commit suicide? Vivaan chose Sucheta Aunty over me that fateful day, and Vijay tells me that he chose his family over me, and that's the reason he did not check up on me. Yet, I am led to believe that they loved me, loved me the most. Strange, isn't it?" she questioned, chuckling mirthlessly as tears streamed down her eyes.
Daksh's heart bled at her honest and heartrending confession. It was, indeed, unfortunate that everyone she had earnestly loved since her childhood had abandoned her side when she required them the most, including his own brother. He cursed himself for not having her back when everyone else let her down.
He clutched her trembling shoulders with his own shivering hands and forced her to look into his despaired eyes, hoping that she could see the flame of guilt burning through his conscience.
"I am sorry, Vrinda. I am really sorry that you feel that way. I cannot say that it is not true and I won't speak for any of them. I know I have let you down as well, but, you were the sister that I always wanted and you are, and will forever, be my priority," assured Daksh in a quivering voice as he wiped the potent brew of anguish, angst and ardor spilling through her eyes.
Vrinda wordlessly stared at her honorary brother. The laughs that shared in the past, the constant bickering, and the undying loyalty towards each other, which was blatantly evident in the memories she had learned, resurfaced in her fuzzy canvas of mind.
"So, will you get crème brûlée for me? I will still eat your portions and the portions that I have missed in these years, understood?" she demanded with a pout, making him chuckle affectionately at her.
"I haven't had crème brûlée in these years, Vrinda. We could not eat without being choked by your memories, and looks like, we can finally satisfy our cravings," he replied with a sad smile playing on his lips before he replaced the misery dancing on his features with mischief.
"By the way, you used to threaten to reveal my relationship with Tara to eat even my share in the past, so I guess, blackmail won't work anymore," teased Daksh, ruffling her hair and rising from his knelt position to fulfill their long forsaken cravings.
"Bhai..."
"Okay, okay, you will get to eat my share, don't worry!" assured Daksh, walking out to grab his phone and make the order for their favorite dish.
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Despite Vrinda's assurance that she did not hold either of Vivaan's parents responsible for her fate, they had been distant and remorseful when their paths crossed. The remnants of complaints from Sucheta washed away when Vrinda reminisced the way Sucheta had taken care of her when she could not get up from the bed at all, and treated her with servitude and affection like towards one's own child.
Her chain of thoughts were interrupted by a man and a woman walking into her room, closely following by Vivaan, whose courteous and formal smile screamed of helplessness and despair. Their eyes briefly met in a frenzy embrace of love, set ablaze by the conditions restricting it by the very people harboring it.
They could feel themselves gravitating towards one another and yet, they seemed more distant than ever. Even in the oblivious state of Vrinda, his unbridled concern and her all-consuming curiosity had only drawn them closer. It was the relentless punishment that pained Vivaan, but, the fact that he had ignited the insecurity in her of being second most important thing in the life of everyone she loved, as shared by Daksh.
"I don't know if you have seen our pictures, so, allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Rupa, your close friend, and this is Rohit, our classmate and my fiance," said Rupa, enveloping Vrinda in a warm embrace, trying to mask the pain of not being recognized by her friend.
"Rupa..." Vrinda whispered, wrapping her arms around her friend, with her eyes continuing to be locked with the one they had both loved.
Rupa stepped aside and Rohit took the chance to embrace his friend, who had helped him greatly to win Rupa's heart, and yet remembered nothing about it.
"How are you?" he asked gently, to which she gently smiled and nodded in affirmative.
"I heard that you wanted to see your dance videos, so I got them as well. I miss the times we used to dance together and I hope that you would be able to pursue your passion once again," said Rupa, placing the CDs from her handbag on the side table. She had not fathomed that filling the emotional void of one's beloved friend could be so damning.
"There are so many things that have lost their value since I lost my memory, I hope dancing is not one of them," replied Vrinda bitterly, gazing at Vivaan pensively and accusingly.
Rupa and Rohit exchanged glances after they alternated their vision between the forlorn couple, and decided to change the topic.
"So, it is our wedding after two weeks and because of the pandemic, none of our relatives would be able to make it so we thought that we will invite all the members of our gang at our college. If you can make it, we can relive the good old times and tell the tales of those bygone times. Also, many of our friends will be glad to finally meet you again," announced Rupa with a hopeful smile curving her lips.
"Rupa might be asking your consent but let me tell you, I am not taking 'no' for an answer. You played a major role in uniting us, and I want you to be there to witness the wedding. Please, don't deny," requested Rohit earnestly. His revelation explained his desperation to have his friend on his fateful day, and Vrinda did not have the heart to refuse, especially to the wedding of two of her former close friends.
"I won't. I will surely attend the wedding."
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Forever Yours, Vrinda
Romance"I don't love her in the way she does," said Vivaan, causing Vrinda's hopeful smile to fade into a heartbroken frown. She stood amidst two warring families, hoping for support from childhood best friend who had won her heart, only to be spurned awa...
