Author's pov:
As the day came to an end, students began streaming out of the campus gates, their chatter filling the air. The recent incident with Ms. Shalini had shaken things up, and the principal was now visibly more cautious, making sure nothing of the sort would happen again. Neil, Akshat, and Priya walked side by side toward the exit.
"I'm so done with today," Neil muttered, running a hand through his hair. "That statistics lecture drained the life out of me."
Akshat chuckled. "You're telling me? I was two seconds away from snoring."
Priya smiled but her eyes lingered on the faculty building. “At least things are calmer now. After what happened with Ms. Shalini... I’m glad the principal is taking it seriously.”
“Yeah,” Neil nodded, his voice a bit softer. “I just want to focus on studying in peace.”
"Same here," Priya agreed. “Come on, let’s go. I need a nap.”
Laughing, the trio waved goodbye to a few classmates before heading their separate ways home, the setting sun casting long shadows behind them.
As Priya reached home, she kicked off her shoes and stepped inside, only to pause at the sound of laughter echoing from the hall. It wasn’t just her mom’s usual cheerful chuckle—there was something extra in the air. Curious, she walked toward the living room. First, she saw her mom, then her dad… and then her eyes landed on someone else sitting right between them.
She blinked, unsure for a second. But when she stepped closer and saw his face clearly, her breath caught. Her heart skipped a beat. It was him. She couldn’t believe it. He was sitting there like a statue—still, calm, almost surreal. Her mind raced, her body froze, and her heart thudded so loudly she could barely hear the rest of the room. She wanted to speak, to react, but no words came out. She was utterly speechless.
She stood there, rooted to the spot, a whirlwind of emotions crashing through her. Her eyes welled up before she even realized it—tears blurring her vision as her heart wrestled between shock, confusion, and something deeper she couldn't name. She wanted to move, to say something, anything, but her voice was trapped in her throat. Her parents were still laughing, unaware of the storm building inside her. All she could do was stare at him.
As if sensing her presence, the person slowly turned to look at her. The moment his eyes met hers, the laughter in the room seemed to fade into silence. His expression softened, and a gentle smile tugged at his lips. Once he saw her, everything shifted. For a second, time stood still. Priya’s breath hitched—her tears finally spilled over. It was him. After all these years. The same eyes, the same smile…
He looked at her with eyes full of emotion—so much packed into that one gaze. There was surprise, longing, and above all, a deep, quiet possessiveness, like he had finally found something he wasn’t ready to lose again. His heart pounded as he tried to make sense of what to say, what to do. All he really wanted was to run to her, pull her into a tight hug, and never let go.
But before he could even move, Priya turned and ran. Her footsteps echoed down the hallway, and a second later, the sound of her door shutting hit him like a slap. He stood frozen, his arms slightly raised, heart aching. He didn’t blame her—he just wished she had stayed.
Inside her room, Priya leaned against the door, breath uneven, heart thudding loud enough to drown out her thoughts. So many emotions had flooded in at once—but now, only one remained. Rage. A deep, burning fury that pushed everything else aside. Her hands clenched into fists as her mind screamed with questions. Why did he do that to me? Why did he leave? Why wasn’t he there when I needed him the most?
Her eyes burned, he had vanished like she meant nothing, and now he was back, just sitting there like nothing ever happened. She gritted her teeth, the decision forming sharp and clear—no matter what, she wouldn’t talk to him. Not now, not ever.
Needing to calm down, she pushed herself off the door and went to the washroom. The splash of cold water did little to ease the fire inside her, but at least her face no longer showed how shaken she was. She came back to her room and sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard, her body still tense.
As she slowly closed her eyes, the image of him wouldn’t leave. His face, his eyes, that soft smile—it all kept coming back. Why now? she wondered, her jaw tightening. Why after all this time?
Without another thought, she called Neil. He was the only person who could calm her down—her emotions were spiraling, completely out of control.
The phone barely rang twice before he picked it up.
“Hello bandariya! Kya kar rahi hai ab? Ye mat bol ke tujhe meri yaad aa gayi, aur tu mujhse raha nahi gaya toh call kar liya!” he said playfully, his voice light and teasing, completely unaware of the storm brewing on the other end.
But when there was no reply, Neil’s smile faded. Silence wrapped around them like a thick fog. His heart skipped. Something felt off.
“Priyu?” he asked, his voice soft yet firm, a hint of concern creeping in. He knew her too well—this silence wasn’t her. This wasn’t the Priya he knew.
“Priyu, are you there? Are you okay?” he repeated, more urgently now.
And that’s when she broke. Her sobs spilled out, raw and loud, uncontrollable. She couldn’t hold back anymore.
Neil’s throat tightened hearing her like that. A restless panic rose inside him.
“Priyu! Hey—Priyu, talk to me. Please don’t cry. I’m coming, okay? Just hold on—I’ll be there soon,” he said, pleading, helpless.
But Priya couldn’t reply. Her tears did all the talking.
Neil cut the call, grabbed his phone and keys, and rushed downstairs. He spotted his mom and called out, “Maa! I’m going to Priya’s house!”
She tried saying something about his disheveled outfit, but he was already out the door.
His mom shook her head, murmuring with a fond sigh, “Pagal ladka hai…”
Then, she turned and went back to the kitchen.
After some time, Neil reached Priya’s home. As he stepped inside, his feet suddenly halted, and his breath hitched. His eyes landed on the one person he hadn’t seen in years—now he understood why Priya had been crying.
Standing there in the hall was someone from his past.
Priya’s parents noticed Neil and gave him a small, warm smile. Her father gestured gently, “Aao beta, andar aao.”
Neil walked in, composed himself, and respectfully touched their feet. Then he slowly turned toward the man standing before him. So many emotions rushed through him all at once.
His eyes welled up.
The man looked at Neil too—his expression was a mixture of nostalgia, guilt, and quiet happiness. He hadn’t seen Neil since he was a teenager. But now, Neil stood there—a well-built man, no longer the boy he once knew.
Neil’s throat tightened. He struggled to find the right words but managed to compose himself.
“Aap... yahan? Aur kab... mera matlab, aap kab aaye? Aapne bataya kyun nahi?” Neil asked, voice low and uncertain.
The man gave a soft smile and replied, “Haan, main subah hi aaya tha... socha surprise doonga... lekin...”
He trailed off, the weight of the situation making it hard to finish the sentence.
That person was feeling a storm of emotions—guilt, sadness, and longing all at once. Because standing there was none other than Priyank—Priya’s elder brother.
He had returned after three long years from the US, where he had moved for his business. In chasing his career, he hadn't realized how much distance he had created between himself and his little sister—the sister who once meant the world to him.
Now, seeing Neil at the door and knowing Priya had broken down just moments ago, the guilt hit harder.
He looked at Neil and then toward the hallway where Priya’s room was. His voice was heavy as he spoke again, “I thought I was doing the right thing... chasing success. But I didn’t realize I was losing her in the process.”
Neil didn’t say anything immediately. He understood the bond Priya had with her brother. He had seen it in her eyes every time she talked about him—heard it in her silence every time she didn’t.
Priyank looked at Neil, his voice now firm despite the softness in his eyes. “I know I made mistakes, Neil... but I’m going to fix this. I want my sister back. No matter what it takes.”
Neil gave him a small nod, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You still have time, Priyank bhaiya. She may be hurt… but she hasn’t stopped loving you. She never could.”
Priyank's eyes glistened. And for the first time in years, he felt something he hadn’t in a long while—hope.
After talking with Priyank, Neil quietly made his way to Priya’s room. He gently knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.
He called softly, “Priyu… it’s me. Neil.”
Within seconds, the door creaked open.
The sight that greeted him broke his heart.
Priya stood there, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her hair disheveled, tears still staining her cheeks. She looked so fragile, so lost.
Without a second thought, Neil pulled her into a tight hug. He held her close, one hand gently rubbing her back while the other cradled her head. His voice trembled with emotion.
“Baccha… I’m here. You don’t have to hide anymore. I’m right here, your Neil is here. Please don’t cry. We’ll wipe away every reason for your tears, I promise. Just calm down, my baby.”
He wiped the tears from her cheeks and gently guided her to sit on the bed. Then he walked to the washroom, fetching a bowl of cool water and a towel. Sitting beside her, he dipped the towel and carefully wiped her face, cleaning away the remnants of her pain.
He found a scrunchie and tied her hair into a neat ponytail, then cupped her face gently in his hands.
“Yahan dekho, Priyu,” he whispered, their eyes meeting. “Mujhe pata hai tum kya feel kar rahi ho. Main yeh nahi bolunga ke tum Priyank bhaiya ko maaf kar do… ya sab kuch turant theek kar lo.”
He paused, taking a shaky breath. “Lekin… please, ab toh chup ho jao. Mujhse tumhara yeh haal dekha nahi jaata. Mera dil dukh raha hai, Priyu. Please…”
He leaned in and gently rested his forehead against hers. The moment was quiet, filled with raw emotion.
Priya’s heart skipped a beat. The way Neil was caring for her, with such sincerity and tenderness… it felt new. Different. There was something in his eyes tonight—something that made her feel safe and cherished.
After some time, her breathing calmed, and her tears faded. Slowly, she began to feel like herself again.
Just as Neil was about to say something more, he noticed a shift in Priya’s expression. Her teary eyes narrowed slightly, and then—suddenly—her lips twitched.
A mischievous glint sparkled in them.
Neil raised an eyebrow, confused, but hopeful. Was she smiling?
And then—she started trying to stifle a laugh.
Neil’s heart swelled with relief and happiness. Finally, he thought, my soothing words worked!
He folded his arms, full of pride.
“Dekha? Ise kehte hain mera jaadu. Bas maine do pyari baatein ki, aur tumhaare chehre pe muskaan agayi. Wah Neil! Kya baat hai! Tu toh samajhdaar hota jaa raha hai… itna effect? Impressive!”
But before he could finish his victory speech, Priya suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching her stomach as if he had just cracked the world’s best joke.
Neil paused mid-praise, narrowing his eyes.
“Haan, haan… pata hai maine tumhe hasaaya. Lekin itna bhi bada comedy nahi hua tha ke tum poora sitcom ban jao! Kya ho gaya, Priyu?”
Still laughing breathlessly, Priya tried to form a sentence between her giggles.
“Woh… tum… tum bohot ache lag rahe ho…” she managed to say, biting her lip to stop laughing. Then she added with a teasing smirk, “Especially tumhara outfit.”
Something clicked in Neil’s brain.
His eyes widened.
Slowly, like in a dramatic movie scene, he looked down at himself.
His mouth dropped open.
He was wearing a cartoon-printed T-shirt of Shinchan with “main ithna bhi kuch khaas nahi” written across it, and shinchan cartoon printed small shorts with mismatched flip-flops. His hair was still ruffled from rushing out.
His face turned the shade of a ripe beetroot.
“Oh no,” he muttered, palming his face in pure embarrassment.
Priya laughed even harder at his reaction, barely able to breathe.
Neil groaned, flopping on the bed. “Main itni emotional speech de raha tha… aur tu toh meri fashion disaster pe focus kar rahi thi!”
Still giggling, Priya leaned over and said, “Kya karein? Tum emotional aur hilarious dono lag rahe ho.”
Neil peeked at her through his fingers and smiled. Seeing her laugh like that, after everything… he didn’t care if he looked like a walking meme. It was all worth it.
Just as the room was echoing with Priya’s laughter, her expression suddenly changed. The smile faded. Her eyes dropped, and the familiar sadness crept back in.
Neil immediately noticed.
“Arey, phir se depression mode on?” he said dramatically, putting a finger on his chin in fake thought. “Ab kya karein tumhaare liye…”
Then, as if a light bulb lit up in his head, an evil grin slowly spread across his face. He turned to look at Priya, mischief dancing in his eyes.
Priya narrowed hers in suspicion. Her inner alarm went off immediately.
Danger. Danger.
She knew that look. When Neil smirked like that, trouble was guaranteed.
Before she could escape, he lunged at her and started tickling her without mercy.
“Neil!” she shrieked, laughing uncontrollably, squirming beneath his hold. Her eyes widened at first, then shut tight as laughter consumed her. “Neil! Stop! I—can’t—breathe!”
But Neil didn’t stop. Not yet. He was relentless.
She wriggled and tried to push him away, almost breaking free… until he suddenly caught both her wrists and pinned them gently above her head.
Priya froze.
They lay still, the air thick with something neither of them could name, yet both could feel.
Their eyes met—locked in a gaze that held more weight than any words ever could. Everything else faded: the room, the world, even the past. In that moment, it was just them—two hearts speaking in silence, trembling under the weight of unspoken feelings.
Neil’s breath hitched as he gazed at her—really looked at her. The softness in her eyes, the way her chest rose and fell as she tried to steady her breath, the faint tremble of her lips.
He leaned in—slowly, as if afraid the moment might shatter if he moved too fast.
His forehead rested gently against hers first, the warmth of the touch grounding them. Her eyes fluttered shut, her breath catching.
Then, with the softest, most reverent touch, Neil pressed a kiss to her forehead—lingering, as if pouring everything he felt into that one moment of stillness.
Priya’s heart pounded wildly.
And just as she opened her eyes, he moved again—closer, slower.
A featherlight kiss on her right cheek.
Her breath hitched, eyes wide now, stunned by the tenderness of it… the depth.
And when she looked into his eyes, she felt it—not just the gaze, but the way he saw her. As if she wasn’t just the girl who laughed at his jokes or cried on his shoulder—but someone his soul had always known.
Neil's voice came, barely a whisper, low and husky—achingly raw.
“What are you doing to me, Priya…”
The way he said her name—not playful, not teasing, but as if it meant something—made her chest tighten.
She didn’t move. Neither did he.
Time stood still between them. Hearts loud. Breaths soft. And something electric… hanging in the air, waiting to be named.
Priya’s breath caught.
Priya.
He had never called her that. It was always Priyu, bandariya, or some silly nickname. But hearing her name from him, in that voice… it sent shivers down her spine.
And just as the moment stretched, fragile and electric—
Knock knock.
A knock on the door snapped them both back to reality.
Startled, Neil moved away quickly. Priya sat up too, both of them still breathless—not from the tickling, but from the moment that had just passed between them.
They looked away, flustered, hearts pounding.
But something between them had changed.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Priya’s mother stepped inside, balancing a tray with juice and snacks for Neil, her usual warmth in place. She smiled gently.
“Neil beta, kuch toh le lo. You must be tired.”
But Neil, still carrying the weight of that intense moment with Priya, stood up quickly. His voice was soft but firm.
“Nahi aunty… it’s okay. I should leave.”
The words hung between them, brushing against the thick tension still lingering in the room. The closeness he and Priya had just shared—so raw, so unspoken—still echoed in his chest, making it harder to breathe. He cursed himself silently for getting lost in the moment.
Priya’s mom gave him a look—the kind only mothers can give—one that said she understood more than she let on.
“At least drink the juice, beta,” she said gently. “Please.”
Neil hesitated, then gave in with a small nod. He sat, slowly sipping the glass, the silence around them now comforting, heavy with emotions.
Once he was done, he stood up, stealing one last glance at Priya.
Their eyes met.
No words.
Just a long, lingering look that said everything they couldn’t.
Then, without a sound, Neil turned around and walked out of the room.
The moment the door closed, Priya’s mother walked over and sat beside her daughter on the bed. She gently tapped Priya’s head with her fingers—a gesture filled with motherly affection.
But her eyes, too, were sad.
She looked at her daughter, then at the closed door, and sighed softly. The growing distance between her children— Priya and Priyank—pricked her heart.
Just as she stood up to leave, another knock echoed from the door.
It creaked open slowly, and Priyank stepped inside.
Both mother and daughter looked up.
As soon as Priya saw him, her body stiffened. Her gaze shifted away, her jaw clenched. She didn’t want to see him. Not now.
Her mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder before getting up. She gave Priyank a small, understanding nod, and quietly left the room—closing the door behind her to give them space.
Priya sat at the far edge of the bed, silent, shoulders tight.
Priyank walked forward, his steps unsure.
And then, he dropped to his knees in front of her.
The sight was unexpected—this man who had once been her hero, her protector—now kneeling before her, eyes glistening with guilt and longing.
His voice cracked when he spoke.
“Princess…”
The word trembled on his lips—soft, broken, full of memories.
Priya’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes welled up instantly. But she blinked the tears away, hard, and turned her face to the other side, refusing to let him see her break.
She wouldn’t give in that easily.
Not after being left behind.
Not after being hurt.
And yet… somewhere deep within her, her heart ached for the brother she had once run to. The one whose arms once meant home.
Priyank remained on his knees in front of her, hands trembling slightly as they rested on his thighs. His voice was low, hesitant… laced with years of unsaid feelings.
“Mujhe pata hai… tum mujhse naraaz ho,” he began, his throat tightening. “Bohat naraaz ho. Itna ki… meri behen mujhse ab maar bhi sakti hai.”
A faint, bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but his eyes remained misty.
“Meri Priya… tum doosron ki tarah nahi ho. Tum aise dil behlaane waali baaton pe easily maan jaane waali nahi ho.” He looked up at her, voice cracking with quiet reverence.
“Meri Priya… sabse alag hai. Meri Princess… sabse khaas hai.”
Priya's heart skipped a beat.
She hadn't expected that.
Even after all these years… after silence, distance, and his absence during the moments she needed him the most—he still knew her. He still remembered who she was at her core. The stubborn, emotional, fiercely loyal girl who never forgave easily—but loved deeply when she did.
Her fingers clenched into the bedsheet beside her as her gaze flickered down to him. She had stayed silent all these years, refusing his calls, ignoring his messages, shutting down every attempt he made to reconnect.
Because he left.
Because he chose his dreams over her.
And yet… hearing him now—his voice thick with guilt, his words laced with love—made that protective wall around her heart crack just a little.
He was right.
She wasn’t someone who could be won over with sweet words.
But maybe… just maybe… she wanted to believe this wasn’t just words.
That he meant it.
Still, she didn’t speak. She couldn’t. Her emotions were a storm—swirling too hard, too fast.
So she sat there, unmoving, her face turned slightly away—but her eyes… they shimmered. And for the first time in years, Priyank saw it.
A glimmer of pain.
But also… the tiniest spark of hope.
Priyank slowly reached for her hands—hands that had once clung to his fingers as a little girl, trusting him more than anyone else in the world. Now they were distant, hesitant.
Still, he held them gently.
And then, without another word, he bowed his head and rested it on her hands. His tears soaked into her palms, warm and silent.
Priya’s chest tightened painfully.
This was her hero—the one who once tied her shoelaces, stood up to bullies, promised to never let anyone hurt her. And now, he sat there in front of her, broken, remorseful… weeping into her hands.
But she held herself together. She had to. She couldn’t let her emotions slip—not yet.
She stayed still, her body rigid, face turned slightly away. But her eyes… they were brimming. And he could feel it.
After a long silence, he finally lifted his face to look at her. His voice trembled.
“Agar itni naraaz ho mujhse…” he began, trying to smile through his guilt, “toh mujhe thappad bhi maar sakti ho. Jaise Neil ko maarte ho.”
That made her blink, startled. Her eyes narrowed instantly, her expression sharp.
He chuckled nervously, eyes widening, stuttering, “M-m-matlab… tum aisi waise ladki thodi ho! Tum toh special ho!”
He quickly tried to fix his blunder, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward grin. “Aur mujhe pata hai… mujhe tumhe manane ke liye bohot mehnat karni padegi.”
His sheepish smile was so sincere, so clumsy, so him… it tugged something inside her.
And before she could stop it, the corners of her lips twitched—just slightly.
A tiny smile.
But Priya, ever the stubborn one, caught herself just in time. She turned her face away again, composing herself into her signature poker face, as if nothing had happened.
But he saw it.
That little spark.
That little smile.
And his heart bloomed with hope.
After a long pause, Priyank stood up with a heavy heart. He looked at her once more, hoping for something—anything—but she remained still, her face unreadable.
With a soft sigh, he turned and slowly walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.
The moment she heard the click of the door… Priya shot up.
She rushed to the washroom, locked the door, and slid down to the floor—her back against the wood, her arms wrapped around her knees.
And then… she broke.
A sob escaped her lips, followed by another, and then the flood came.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, muffled cries echoing in the quiet bathroom. Her chest heaved with everything she’d kept buried—the longing, the betrayal, the love, the heartbreak.
Only she knew how much she wanted to run into his arms, to hit him, to yell at him for leaving her, and then hug him tight and never let go. But she didn’t.
Because her pride… her pain… her broken trust wouldn't let her.
After some time, when the tears slowed, she got up slowly and splashed cold water on her face. Again. And again. As if trying to wash away the storm inside her.
She stepped into a warm shower, letting the water run over her, calming her trembling limbs. But even that couldn’t cleanse the ache in her heart.
Later, with a towel wrapped around her hair and wearing her night clothes, she walked to bed, her steps heavy.
Dinner remained untouched on the table.
She lay down and curled up, pulling the blanket tightly around her, trying to shield herself from everything she was feeling.
That night, Priya slept with a heavy heart, the weight of the day pressing down on her chest… and the echo of her brother’s tears still lingering in her palms.
Once Neil reached his mansion, he didn’t speak much.
He just handed his keys to the staff and muttered, “No dinner for me tonight. Just… tell mom I already ate outside.”
Before they could respond, he was already climbing the stairs.
As soon as he entered his room, he shut the door and sat heavily on the edge of his bed. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as he ran a hand through his hair, gripping it tightly, eyes shut.
“What the hell was that…” he muttered to himself, head hanging low.
“How could I do that…? We’re best friends. Priya’s my best friend. And I—” he stopped, groaning in self-disgust. “How could I cross that line? What was I even thinking?”
He cursed himself silently, guilt and confusion crashing over him like a tidal wave.
“What must she be thinking of me now? What kind of friend does something like that? How the hell am I going to face her?”
He sat like that for a long while, before dragging himself to the washroom. After a cold splash of water and his nightly routine, Neil came back to bed, dropped onto the mattress with a dull thud, and stared at the ceiling—his mind far from sleep.
The quiet of the night only made it worse.
The scene from Priya’s room kept replaying in his mind… her breath against his, the soft feel of her skin under his lips, the look in her eyes.
A part of him whispered how natural it felt.
Another part shouted in panic—What have you done?
He groaned again and rolled onto his side, burying his face in the pillow.
“Stop thinking, Neil… stop thinking…”
But when he finally closed his eyes, all he saw was her.
Her swollen eyes. Her soft smile. The way her breath hitched when he kissed her cheek.
His heart raced again.
And for a fleeting second, he remembered how soft her skin felt under his lips—and hated himself for remembering it that way.
He shook his head, cursing himself once more.
Fuck Fuck Fuck
Neil finally drifted into sleep… but it wasn’t peaceful.
Even in slumber, the guilt didn’t leave him—it stayed, clinging to his chest like a heavy weight.
His brows were furrowed, jaw clenched, as if he was still fighting his thoughts in his dreams. He tossed and turned, mumbling her name in between broken whispers.
"Priyu… I’m sorry…"
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her—those tear-streaked cheeks, her trembling lips, and the way her eyes widened when he leaned in too close.
He wanted to turn back time, to undo what he did—not because he didn’t mean it, but because it wasn’t supposed to happen like that. Not in a moment clouded by emotion and confusion. Not when she was vulnerable. Not even when he didn’t understand what his heart was doing.
He gripped the pillow tightly in his sleep, as if trying to hold on to some part of her… or maybe trying to keep the shame from swallowing him whole.
And through the stillness of the night, one emotion echoed the loudest within him—
Guilt.
He had hurt his best friend.
And worst of all… a part of him didn’t regret the kiss.
That was the real weight he couldn’t sleep off.
***********************************
Hi dear lovely readers,
This chapter has truly been an emotional rollercoaster—from the return of a long-lost family member to the shifting dynamics between Neil and Priya. As I mentioned earlier, you're starting to see glimpses of their growing feelings… but will this blossoming bond continue, or is a storm on its way to pull them apart?
Let’s find out together.
Thank you so much for giving this book a chance! Your reads, comments, and likes mean the world to me. If you’re enjoying the story, please don’t forget to recommend it to your friends—your support truly keeps me going.
Also, feel free to follow me on Instagram! I’ve shared my ID in the description of m
y Wattpad profile, so you can check it out there for updates, scene moments and spoilers....
With love,
Your author
Delululove03 💓
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