~आज कई अरसों बाद जीने की ख्वाईश जगी थी
मगर आज तो दरवाज़े पे बाहें फैलाए मौत खड़ी थीं~

The lights came in, making the villa come alive. The house was no less than artistry,every inch of this mansion evoked intricacies as if it belonged to some amazing designer or artist. Perfect high ceilings to floor window doors, a very modern yet vintage sleek-looking chandelier hung just in the center of the living room, and that huge portrait hung on the side wall in a large acrylic frame, making the house echo with the same emotion as the photo.

"Both the girls look almost identical. Only if looked closely could I see that the girl with green hazel eyes was a little bit older, almost approximately 21-22 at the time the photo was clicked, whereas the other girl with blue eyes was around 17-18. The blue-eyed girl was definitely my Warrior. That photo must have been taken around the same time I first saw her and fell in love with. Both the girls look like serene beauty, no less than a goddess but even if genes had worked so perfectly , those blue eyes are something different they keep pulling me like I am under some spell of an enchantress. The portrait reflects absolute happiness, their eyes reflecting peace and innocences with all their might," Maan thought to himself, registering every detail carefully.

"Maan bhai, where did you get this idiot from?" Anjali asked, frowning in the direction of Agastya.

"Pehle birthday me Taufe me mila tha," Maan chuckled.

"Whatttt?" Agastya asked, looking at both Anjali and Maan, who were throwing daggers at him through their eyes

"You all get yourselves changed. You can use the rooms straight through the gallery. You will find some men's clothes in them as well. Do anything, just do not enter the two main rooms on the first floor," Deep averted her gaze from the portrait and excused herself to go change.

Maan, Agastya, and Anjali also moved to their rooms along the gallery on the ground floor and came back after changing

Deep was in the kitchen making food for them to eat. Anjali also went in to help her, so did both the boys, but they were sent back by them, saying they already did too much today.

Almost after an hour, everyone settled everything on the dining table and started eating.

"Woo... Yaar, what a taste! I haven't eaten anything like this. What is it?" Agastya asked in excitement, feeling ecstatic.

Deep smiled and nodded while Anjali explained, "This is basically a form of authentic Bihari dish, Dal Peethi. Mostly made of toor dal and some wheat flour. We didn't have much here; there weren't any green vegetables or any other things, so we thought of making this only. I mean, it will be fulfilling at least."

"No... this is really amazing. I didn't know something made with such basic things could taste so good," Maan assured them, showing his true pleasure

"I didn't know you belonged from Bihar," Maan asked, looking directly at Deep.

"Hmm, we are from Bihar. Specifically speaking, we come from the Patna side," she explained.

"That means you... If you're Roy and you seem rich, If I am not wrong Roy Enterprises must belong to your family, right? And Anjali, what was your full name again?"

Deep just nodded to his question, her smile slowly fading. While Anjali answered, "Anjali Rajput."

"So the Rajput Industries belong to your family?"

Anjali nodded to him, her smile fading away too.

Agastya sensed the tense environment, so he jumped in and said, "I didn't get to introduce myself to you... So I'll do it now. I am Agastya."

"Hello, Mr. Agastya. I am Deep ," Deep spoke smilingly.

"Ahm... No Mr., only Agastya," Agastya corrected her.
"Okay, but how can I-"

"No ifs and buts, only Agastya."

"Okay... Hello, Agastya."

He approved by showing her a thumbs up.

"And also... I wanted to apologize for whatever happened. I know you must have had so many questions, I can't tell you everything, but... That girl was Kritika Sahay. We used to be classmates."

"I said it once, and I am repeating it. You don't apologize for anything you do... and you don't need to justify yourselves as well. No one's gonna ask you questions that you don't want to answer," Maan spoke in a clear, reassuring voice.

They finished their dinner in silence after that. Suddenly she remembered something.

"Achha... did I do anything stupid while I was drunk? Also, I remember someone kept calling me bhabhi back then." Agastya choked on water and Anjali and Maan burst into laughter, doing high-fives, leaving Deep baffled, she was confused by seeing her best friend being friendly with someone else besides her. It was unusual as Anjali didn't socialized much either.

"And when did you two get so close?"

"When you were busy being tipsy, my love," Anjali answered, still laughing.

"What did I do? Tell me na!" Deep insisted.

"No, I won't, and neither will Maan bhai. And you, Agastya, you especially do not open your mouth. If you do, I'll definitely kill you this time," Anjali threatened while getting up from her seat.

"Maan BHAI? Bhai kab banaya? Ek raat me kya kya ho gya yaar?" Deep spoke, scratching her head.

( Brother, when did you make him your brother,how much did happen in a night.)

Almost half an hour passed by. Agastya was in the room, busy on a phone call with his PA regarding an important case. Maan sat on the living room sofa, adoring Deep and thinking about the photo, then Kritika, then her family. Anjali and Deep together helped to clean the mess.

After finishing, Deep settled onto a chair kept near the windows around the corner. It was pouring outside heavily with a heavy storm. Anjali moved towards her room. Maan went near Deep and sat beside her on the next chair.

"So... you're okay?" he asked softly.

"Hmm... I am."

"Miss Roy..."

"Haan..." (Yes) Still looking outside the window.

"You... look... ethereal in this dim light, You know those blue oceanic eyes make me wanna drown myself in them....Fuck I am loosing my sanity"

She didn't reply while the butterfly was blooming in her stomach, just kept looking at his face. Sensing the awkwardness, he averted his gaze.

"About... today, I know you have a lot of questions, but-" Deep spoke changing the topic.

"I told you, you don't have to explain yourself... By the way, I was serious about my question I asked this morning," he spoke.

"Dr. Khurana, you know... that-" she tried to speak but was cut mid-sentence by him.

"I am not asking you to give me an answer, nor am I asking you to reciprocate... I know it's too soon for you, but I am just asking you not to push me away. I'll wait for you till eternity.
I guess we should start with friends?" he said, extending his hand in her direction.

"Friends," she took his hand in a handshake.

"Just promise me one thing... if there's ever a day you fall in love with me, you will come to me and let me know."

She nodded in agreement.

"Also, I told you before, I am not gonna let anything happen to you. I'll save you by hook or by crook."

"Dr. Khurana, wouldn't it be being in denial?" she questioned.

He was speechless. She was not wrong. It was only a theory that he thought could save her, but what if he couldn't? Just the thought of anything happening to her made him feel helpless. His phone rang, making him come out of his senses. He excused himself to receive the call.

He was coming from the room when he ran into Anjali.

"Anjali... (Should I tell her about Deep's condition? But isn't that her decision to make?)"

"Maan bhai... I know you must have had a lot of questions...
The girl in that photo is Vaidahi Roy, or say Vaidahi Ranawat. She is the elder sister of Deep. She was five years older than her. This house used to be hers; she designed it herself, brick by brick."

"So if she is her sister, why did she become sad upon hearing the name...and Ranawat ?"

"As much as I want to tell you, I know this isn't my story to tell... It's hers..." Anjali's phone rang, taking her attention away.

"Yes... Aarti, itna late khuch hua hai kya?" she asked.
(Did anything happen, Aarti?)

(Aarti is Anjali's younger sister)

"No, I wanted to ask where is Deep Di. I wanted to ask her something. She isn't picking up her phone."

"Just a minute, I'll give the phone to her," she moved to find Deep.

She was nowhere to be found. She tried searching for her everywhere, but she was not there. She called Maan and Agastya too. They all panicked when they couldn't find her.

They rushed out to find her. It was raining heavily. They checked in the outhouse and the servant quarters. She was nowhere.

They started their cars and moved, dashing to find her when Anjali stopped them.

"Her car is here. She wouldn't have gone out like this... did we check the upper floors?"

They came back to the house, completely drenched, while Agastya looked on the second floor.

Maan went on the first floor. He halted before opening the main room on that floor as she had asked not to go inside.

As soon as he opened the door, he was taken aback by the scene in front of him. His eyes were wide open .That room was half burnt. There were photos of Deep and Vaidahi, half hung on a particular wall that must have been their wall of memories, most of them half burnt some even completely. The cupboard was burnt. The pastel green color of the room turned black because of the fire. The ashes didn't look fresh; rather, it was old, too old. Everything was reeking of gloominess amidst the photos showcasing true happiness , it felt someone had trapped this room in time all of this happened, This room and others parts of house didn't link while outside bloomed like sunshine this room felt like dark thunderstorm. In the immense darkness sudden thundering glistened something shiny making his stunned gaze fell upon the side table where a trophy, a flower bouquet now turned lifeless, and an unopened letter with an unusual cover were kept there.

"That letter... it reached," he whispered under his breath.

Suddenly, Anjali's screaming voice came from the terrace.

"Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppp"
-------------

Flashback: -An hour ago

When Maan left to receive his call, Deep stood to go to her room but suddenly stopped at the huge portrait. She kept staring at it with tears filled in her eyes.While her figure reflected on that frame contradicting the emotions.

She slowly went upstairs to the room she had herself prohibited to anyone to step.

"It's been a while, isn't it?....7 years approx... Didu... I...missed you...I should have come sooner" she sobbed in tears, her voice breaking as she proceeded to talk to her sister's photo frame, caressing her face.

She picked up a half-burnt photo frame of Vaidahi and her's in her hands from the wall of frames .

"I am sorry....I miss you....I... couldn't " she cried, chanting repeatedly. "I can't breathe... I feel suffocated... it's hurting my heart, it's ...."

Heart heavy from the emotions she rushed towards the terrace to have some fresh air.

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Hello my little cherries 🍒hope your doing good. So many of you were getting impatient and asked to update the chapter so here I am uploading it early on your request.
Dive in .🍒❤️

Thank you for 500+ views ❤️ Love you my cherries .

Do not forget to give me feedback , vote and comment too💞

ALSO I WAS THINKING OF STARTING WITH VAIDAHI AS OTHER BOOK LEAD ONLY IF YOU GUYS APPROVE ALTHOUGH I WLL STILL REVEAL THE THINGS NEEDED FOR THE STORY PROGRESSION.BOTH OF THEM WILL DIFFERENT STORIES THOUGH.

Also suggest some couple names of both couples.

What happened to Vaidahi Roy?

Why was that room burnt?

That letter who did it belong too?

That bouquet?

What happened to Deep?

Why did Anjali & Deep go sad after hearing their families name?

How does Maan know Roy & Rajput's?

Feel free to ask questions.

And sorry for the cliffhanger but I love teasing you all.😅

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