"It was Vyshali Vadina's marriage. I didn't want to attend the wedding, but Arjun Anna wanted me to come. And I could never deny him, so I accompanied him along with Anju Maa and Adi Dadda. That was the first time I met him for the first time in my life, Rajesh."

The name, which I'll loathe all my life.

"I didn't even know that Chytra and Vyshali Vadina had a brother. That day, I didn't know that he would add one more misery to my life in the name of love."

"I trusted him just because he was our cousin, and he seemed to be good. Sometimes I used to go along with Anna to meet Chytra. While Rajesh used to accompany his sister. I always maintained my distance from him. I used to chat with either Surya or Sravya at that time."

"After that, I went to Hyderabad for graduation. When I joined IIIT, I was really unhappy as I couldn't pursue the career that I had always dreamt of. I was the least interested in attending the class. When I entered the class, I heard someone calling my name. I was surprised to see Surya there."

"He has always wanted to become an aeronautical engineer. He wanted to fly in the sky. He always used to blabber about that, so I was surprised to see him there. After the entrance exam, he suddenly disappeared and didn't even contact me. When I went to his home, Aunty told me that he and Taara Akka went on a tour along with their grandparents. So, I was surprised to see him there. When I asked him what he was doing there, he said that he wanted to surprise me. A part of me felt happy, while a part of me felt guilty."

"Pranav (Dr. Anitha's son) also joined the same college, but he chose a different branch. We three used to hang out a lot. We used to sneak out of the hostel at night. If I had enjoyed my graduation, then the credits would go to both of them. I tried to make new friends, but somewhere I was afraid to accept new people into my life."

"Surya used to scold me for not coming out of my shell. He used to ask what if he didn't join there. I still wonder sometimes what would have happened if both of them were not there. I had made friends, but after some time, I felt they were using me. I heard them mocking me behind my back and creating some stupid stories. But Aashi was not like them. She was different; bubbly, sassy, and bold. She was from a Punjabi family who settled in Chennai. Her parents are doctors. She was hard from the outside, but from the inside she was still a kid who was awaiting her parents' love. Her parents loved her but were too busy in their lives to care for her. She used to stay with her grandparents. They were such a cool and sweet couple. Me, Surya, and Pranav used to spend our weekends at her home. We used to have a great time."

"She had clarity about her dreams and her life. She used to tease me whenever I used to write letters to you. She wanted to come to Arpita Akka's wedding but couldn't as her grandpa was ill. Whenever Arjun Anna used to come to visit me, she used to fight with him. Oh God! They used to fight like cats and rats. While we three used to enjoy the show, it was fun to see them like that. At first, she misinterpreted that me and Surya were a couple, just like the others. Then I told her about you. She told me that I was smitten and told me many times to propose to you, but I didn't have that courage, and I also tried my best to shut my feelings for you."

"When Adi Dadda died, it was just a big blow for me. And the worst part was that I couldn't see him for the last time. I couldn't digest the fact that he was no more. There would be no one who would pamper me, scold me and fulfil all my wishes. There would be no one to team up with me to tease Anju Maa. That morning I didn't know why, but I felt something was not right, and in the evening I got the news of his death. He told me that we would go on a trip after my exams. Surya had called Aashi, and she took me to her home and was with me all the time. It was she who consoled me. Anju Maa had warned me not to come because I had semester exams. I couldn't even sleep properly at night. I used to wake up in the middle of the night, but she was there holding me tight and giving me a shoulder to cry on. She used to feed me and make me sleep."

I love you, dadda. Thank you for always being there with me like a shadow. My eyes pooled with tears thinking about him. I felt a pang in my heart looking at a 7-year-old Vicky performing the rites. I never saw my father and my uncles crying, but that day I saw them crying hard looking at Anju Maa. I hugged Avi tightly remembering those incidents while he patted my back.

I love you, Dadda. Thank you for always being there with me like a shadow. My eyes pooled with tears thinking about him. Looking at a 7-year-old Vicky performing the rites, I felt a pang in my heart.I never saw my father and my uncles cry, but that day I saw them crying hard looking at Anju Maa. I hugged Avi tightly, remembering those incidents while he patted my back.

"He messaged me one day after a few months of Dadda's death. I didn't know how he got my number as I never gave it to him. Then he told me that he got it from his elder sister. He used to message me daily, asking about my day. But I always used to limit the conversation. One fine day, he messaged me that he liked me from the day he saw me for the first time at his sister's wedding. He told me that he saw his future in me. He also said that he wanted my emotional support, not physical one."

I looked at Avi's face. He made a stern face and gestured for me to continue. His grip on my waist tightened, and he pulled me closer to him.

"I straightaway denied his proposal. I told him that I was not interested in any relationship. Of course, I couldn't tell him that I had feelings for you. He told me that if I agreed to his proposal, he would make our parents agree to the marriage. Sometimes I used to wonder, did I give him a lead? I used to scold myself mentally many times. He kept on nudging me to accept his proposal. I told Aashi, Surya, and Pranav about him. One day, when Rajesh messaged me, Aashi scolded him in Hindi and blocked his number."

"When Arjun Anna's marriage was fixed with Chytra, to be frank, I was not happy. But I couldn't say it to him. And then when the mishap happened on his engagement day, I was shocked. I really couldn't believe that she put such a big blame on my brother. My hatred for him grew more when he supported her even when the truth came out. And after that, he started messaging me from different numbers. I didn't understand what to do. Already we were in misery with the loss of Adi Dadda and then about Anna's broken marriage. I was never that comfortable sharing my things with my parents. Aashi told me to tell you and Arjun Anna. But I said that I would know when things settled a little bit. She didn't pay any heed to my words and informed Anna. She even wrote a letter to you as she had your address. But I told her I would send the letter and snatch it from her. And I think that was the wrong step I took."

"Maya?" Avi called her.

I looked at him while he asked me, "Why did you reject his proposal?"

I looked at him as if he had grown two horns and said, "Because I have feelings for you."

"But according to you, you didn't deserve me, right. If you could have accepted him, then maybe I would have moved on from seeing you in love with someone", he said, sarcastically.

I looked at him in shock. But this time, he was not looking at me.

Heart: Now answer him. I always told you to accept your feelings and tell him the same, but you kept on denying them and listening to your stupid mind.

Mind: Oy! How dare you call me stupid? You are stupid and your family is stupid.

Heart: Now, who is that stupid family of mine?

Mind: Hehe, those four walls inside you.

Heart: Are you serious?

Me: Just stop your stupid conversation and let me think properly.

Heart & Mind: Do whatever you want.

With that, they disappeared for the time being.

To be continued....

Hey guys!

Hope you guys are enjoying the story.

Sorry for the short chapter. Actually I'd planned a long one but I couldn't due my hand pain.

Stay tuned to know more and I thank my every reader whole-heartedly for their support.

Anyways, keep smiling and take care