10 Days Later

Author
Adwait's mom and dad are sitting with Devisha's parents and Vansh in the living room of Devisha's house.

"Bache ek dusre ko pasand karte hai aur aapki family bhi badi achi hai, par humara ek sawal tha." Adwait's father says, concern evident in his voice.
("The kids like each other, and your family is also very nice, but we have a question.")

"Ji ji, kahiye, kya sawal hai? Bachon ke bhavishya ki baat hai, man mein koi bhi sawal na chodiye." Devisha's father replies.
("Yes, yes, please ask. It's a matter of the children's future, so don't hesitate to ask any questions.")

"Main keh raha tha, Devisha toh aapki choti beti hai aur Vansh usse 4 saal bada hai. Fir bhi Vansh ki shaadi kyun nahi ki aap logon ne?" Adwait's father asks.
("I was saying, Devisha is your younger daughter, and Vansh is four years older than her. Why haven't you gotten Vansh married yet?")

"Woh, uncle, mujhe shaadi nahi karni. Main akela hi theek hoon. Kaam bhi itna saara hai company mein toh kahaan shaadi ke liye time nikaalu. Aur mujhe kaam se hi khushi milti hai," Vansh replies with a practiced ease as he has become used to answering this question.
("Well, uncle, I don't want to get married. I'm fine being alone. There's so much work in the company, where would I find time for marriage? Plus, work is what makes me happy.")

Though Vansh has practiced answering this question with ease, he still feels the same ache, longing as memories replay in his mind—memories he wants to forget but can't.

"Oh beta, par zindagi mein settle hona bhi toh zaroori hai na," Adwait's father adds.
("Oh son, but it's important to settle down in life, right?")

"Haan, uncle, dekhta hoon, par abhi Devi aur Adwait ki engagement zaroori hai, mera baad mein dekh lenge," Vansh shifts the topic from himself back to Adwait and Devisha.
("Yes, uncle, I'll see, but for now, Devi and Adwait's engagement is important. We'll think about me later.")

"Haan, maine inki kundaliya milwayi thi. 31 gun mil rahe hain aur pandit ji ne 3 mahine baad ki taarikh di hai sagai ke liye," Devisha's father says.
("Yes, I matched their horoscopes. They have 31 points matched, and the priest has given a date three months later for the engagement.")

"Haan, 3 mahine mein sab tayariya bhi ache se ho jayegi," Adwait's mom adds.
("Yes, in three months, all the preparations can be done well.")

"Bacho, tumhe theek hai na? 3 mahine baad sagai ho rahi hai toh?" Devisha's mom asks the kids.
("Kids, is it alright with you? The engagement is happening in three months, right?")

"Haan haan aunty, of-course" Adwait says.
("Yes, yes, aunty, of-course")

"Excuse me, aapka bubble tod raha hoon par agar meri behen ko tumne zara sa bhi dukh diya toh main tumhe itna dukh dunga ki zindagi bhar ke liye tumhe yaad rahega," Vansh warns Adwait, his voice serious and tense.
("Excuse me, breaking your bubble, but if you hurt my sister even a bit, I will make you suffer in a way you'll remember for the rest of your life.")

"Arre, tum ise kuch karoge usse pehle main hi isko seedha kar dunga agar isne Devi ko halka bhi dukh pahunchaya, toh meri guarantee hai tumhari behen ki khushi ki," Adwait's father replies, easing some tension from Vansh's shoulders.
("Hey, before you do anything to him, I'll straighten him out myself if he brings any harm to Devi. I guarantee your sister's happiness.")

---

In the Evening That Day

Vansh calls Adwait, who picks up the call on the third ring.

Adwait: Hello.

Vansh: You better treat Devisha properly, or else—

Adwait: Or else what? What will you do? Oh, sorry, Vansh, to break your bubble now, but don't forget that you being single here isn't because you like work. You and I both know the reason very clearly.

Vansh: Adwait, taking someone lightly is your mistake. You know what? I can do so many things to make you regret what you did that day, but Devisha... she loves you. Damn it, she loves you so much that she would be devastated seeing you hurt, and I can't let my baby sister cry. But do anything wrong to her, and I will make you regret it till the end.

Adwait: Aww, I think the coward Vansh has gotten some courage to speak up to me. Oh, it's nice. And I won't hurt Devisha, so don't worry about her. She's my lifeline; I can't imagine seeing a tear in her eye.

Vansh: You better don't, because if you hurt me, I can let you go. But if anything happens to my family—

Adwait: Saale, shab itna gussa na kare ab toh hum rishtedar ban chuke hai. Aaj toh mera roka bhi ho gaya. Ab phone katiye, mujhe Devi se baat karni hai. Tumse baat karne ke liye main free nahi baitha hoon.
("Don't get so angry now that we're practically family. Today, my roka (pre-engagement) happened too. Now hang up; I want to talk to Devi. I'm not sitting around with free time to talk to you.")

With that, Adwait cuts the call.

In Devisha's Room

Devisha's phone lights up with an incoming call from Adwait. She picks it up immediately.

Devisha: Adwait, can you believe it? Humari sagai hone wali hai!
("Adwait, can you believe it? We're getting engaged!")

Adwait: Devisha ji, thodi khushi sambhal lijiye. Abhi bas sagai ho rahi hai, shaadi ko abhi bhi time hai aur first night ko usse bhi zyada.
("Devisha, control your excitement a little. It's just the engagement for now; there's still time for the wedding, and even more for the first night.")

Devisha: Kabhi toh sharam kar liya kar tu.
("Sometimes, at least, be a little shy.")

Adwait: Ab apni hone wali biwi se baat karte hue kaisi sharam karni?
("Why be shy when talking to my future wife?")

Devisha: Tera kuch nahi ho sakta.
("You're impossible.")

Adwait: Ho sakta hai, kyun nahi ho sakta? Tum koshish toh karo.
("I can change, why can't I? Just try a little.")

Devisha: Tum na chup hi raha karo; bolte ho toh hi gussa dila dete ho.
("You should just keep quiet; every time you speak, you annoy me.")

Adwait: Haww, I'm sorry. Abhi se main kuch nahi bolunga. Tum gussa mat ho.
("Oh, I'm sorry. I won't say anything from now on. Don't be angry.")

Devisha: Haan, mat hi bolo. Meri zindagi mein shanti rahegi. Tumhe pata hai, meri shaadi ho rahi hai; mujhe uski toh bahut khushi hai par bhaiya... woh sabke saamne toh keh dete hain ki mujhe kaam pasand hai aur akele rehne mein mujhe acha lagta hai par baat kuch aur hi hai. Kitni bhi koshish karu main, woh mujhe batate hi nahi ki kya baat.
("Yes, don't say anything. My life will be peaceful. You know, I'm very happy about my wedding, but bhaiya... he tells everyone he likes work and prefers being alone, but it's something else. No matter how much I try, he just doesn't tell me what it is.")

Adwait clenches his jaw hearing about Vansh.

Adwait: Arre, unki marzi. Unhe agar lagega ki unhe shaadi karni hai toh kar lenge. Tum humari shaadi par dhyan do; filhaal humari ho jaye fir hum unki shaadi ka bhi soch lenge.
("Hey, it's his choice. If he feels like getting married, he will. You focus on our marriage; let ours happen first, then we can think)

Devisha: Maine raat mein unke room se rone ki awaaz suni hai aur kai baar unko ek photo frame ko dekh kar rote hue bhi dekha hai. I don't know, par pichle 5 saalon se woh aise hi shaant aur ghum sum rehte hain.
("At night, I've heard him crying in his room, and I've even seen him looking at a photo frame, crying. I don't know, but for the last five years, he has been quiet and withdrawn like this.")

Adwait: Hmm... koi reason hai shayad, jo hume bhi nahi pata. Jab unhe batana hoga, woh hume saamne se bata denge. Hume unhe space deni chahiye tab tak.
("Hmm... maybe there's a reason we don't know. When he's ready to share, he'll tell us himself. Until then, we should give him space.")

Devisha: Hmm... shayad.
("Hmm... maybe.")

Adwait and Devisha spend the rest of the night talking about random things and whispering sweet nothings to each other.

Three Months Later

It's the engagement day of Devisha and Adwait.

The venue is vibrantly decorated, and everyone is busy with the upcoming engagement ceremony.

Adwait's family has also arrived at the venue, and guests have started coming in slowly.

In the Bridal Room

Devisha is sitting in front of the mirror, admiring herself. She looks no less than a goddess in human form, her beauty radiating from the inside out.

"Devisha didi, you are looking so awesome! Adwait jiju will have a serious problem after looking at you. I hope he doesn't stop breathing," one of Devisha's cousins jokes.

"Kuch bhi faltu ki baatein karwa lo tumse," Devisha replies, blushing.
("You'll say anything silly, won't you?")

"Arre di, ab hum sach bhi na bole?" another cousin adds.
("Oh come on, di, can't we even tell the truth?")

"Nahi, mat bolo. Infact, apne muh ko Fevi-quick se chipka lo. Ek hi saath mein saari problem hi khatam," Devisha replies.
("No, don't say anything. In fact, just seal your mouth with superglue! That will solve all my problems at once.")

Then all her cousins act like locking their mouths and give the imaginary key to Devisha.

"Better," Devisha says, controlling her laughter.

"Acha didi, hum jaate hain. Hume bhi tayar hona hai," a cousin says, and they all depart from Devisha's room.
("Alright, di, we'll go. We have to get ready too.")

---

On the Rooftop

Vansh is sitting alone, trying to gather his emotions because he knows he has to stay strong and happy throughout the engagement and wedding. He feels so much weight on his heart that words can't describe his pain.

Just when he's about to leave, Adwait enters the rooftop.

"Arre, tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?" Adwait questions, looking at Vansh.
("Hey, what are you doing here?")

"Kuch nahi, ja hi raha tha. Tum kya kar rahe ho yaha?" Vansh replies.
("Nothing, I was just leaving. What are you doing here?")

"Mujhe laga Devi yaha hogi," Adwait answers.
("I thought Devi would be here.")

"Acha, main jaata hoon. Tum Devi ka wait karo," Vansh says and is about to leave when Adwait's words make him halt in his tracks.
("Alright, I'll go. You wait for Devi.")

"Tumhe pata hai 5 saal pehle jo hua tha woh sach nahi tha," Adwait says.
("You know, what happened five years ago wasn't true.")

"Kyaaa keh rahe ho tum?" Vansh stammers, trying to form a sentence.
("W-What are you saying?")

"Sach keh raha hoon. Woh zinda hai par shayad—" Adwait continues and pauses.
("I'm telling the truth. She's alive, but maybe—")

"Shayad kya? Adwait, bolo, shayad kya?" Vansh demands an answer, almost on the verge of crying upon hearing that she was alive. He feels happiness, sadness, everything at the same time.
("Maybe what? Adwait, tell me, maybe what?")

"Woh pichle 5 saalon se coma mein hai. Bas mujhe itna hi pata hai. Main uss masoom ki jaan nahi le paya ."
("She's been in a coma for the past five years. That's all I know. I couldn't bring myself to take that innocent girl's life.")

"Kya keh rahe ho tum? Mujhe batao, Sakshi kahan hai?" Vansh asks, grabbing Adwait's collar.
("What are you saying? Tell me, where is Sakshi?")

They both start fighting intensely, almost like they've lost control. Just then, Adwait mistakenly pushes Vansh.

When he realizes what's happened, he turns around, but as soon as he turns his back towards the entrance, he sees Devisha standing there with tears in her eyes. As soon as their eyes meet, Devisha, without giving another glance at Adwait, runs downstairs.

---

Devisha

It's my engagement day. Today, I'll get engaged to the love of my life, Adwait.

It feels like a dream come true. I met Adwait when I started college. He was the only person I was able to open up to after everything that happened between me and my best friend.

Let's not talk about that. Today is my day—I'm getting engaged to the love of my life, whom I've been dating for 13 years now.

I was going to the rooftop—the place I go every time I'm sad or happy to gaze at the beauty of nature. It helps me calm down and reduce my anxiety, and right now, I need it because I'm feeling anxious about what will happen today.

As I enter the rooftop, the scene in front of me scares me to the core. My brother and Adwait are fighting with each other, and then Adwait... he pushes Bhaiya. I get scared. Scared to death. I run downstairs immediately without even glancing at Adwait once, and there I find my brother lying in a pool of blood, completely unconscious. I feel my soul leaving my body seeing him like this.

I scream at the top of my voice, seeing the person who taught me how to walk, read, and write, who protected me from everyone who tried to hurt me. And now he's hurt because of a guy he warned me about so many times, but I, being a completely love-struck fool...