In aankhon se ye bataa kitna main dekhoon tuje
Reh jaati hai kuch kami jitna bhi dekhun tujhe
Rozaana main sochoon yahi ki jee loongee main besaans bhi

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Present:

mumbai

“At what time will you be back?”
“I just sat in the car, Ruhanika.” My voice barely a whisper as I end the call. All my energy went into the show—how am I supposed to be cheerful now?

I sink into the plush seat of the car, my body aching from the day's madness. The runway show blurs in my mind—lights, flashing cameras, constant movement, followed by endless interviews. The same questions, the same forced smiles. "What's next?" "How do you balance it all?"

I catch my reflection in the tinted glass—perfect on the outside, but tired and worn beneath. Just a little longer, I remind myself. Just a little longer.

After gathering the last of my strength, I start the car.

It isn’t long before I reach a circle, and I see the bright headlights of a paparazzi car in the rearview mirror, following me.

Annoyance stirs within me. They never leave me alone.

I increase the speed of my car trying my best to escape from them, but the paparazzi car stays right behind.

Now they are clearly trying to get on my nerves and i don't like this even a bit. Wasn't the whole evening enough for photos??? “If you want a show, I’ll give you one.” I mutter.

Without thinking, I yank the wheel, making the car slide. I glance in the mirror. The paparazzi car is too close, struggling to keep up. Finally, it loses control and slams into a tree.

I don't stop. My heart raced, but I kept driving.

After all the chaos, I finally reach home.
"Ruhiiiiii!!" I call out, slipping off my heels and placing the car keys on the counter.

I turn around and nearly jump out of my skin when I see Seema Aunty, my cook, standing right behind me with a glass of water.

"Seema Aunty, you're going to give me a heart attack day!" I say, taking the glass from her hand as she smiles.

"Has Ruhanika not come home yet?" I ask.

"She did, but something came up suddenly, so she stepped out for a bit." she replies.

"Oh, okay. You can go home now—has the food been made?" I ask.

"No." she says, her tone casual.

"What?" I ask, almost choking on my water.

"No, it hasn't been made." she repeats, still calm.

"Seema Aunty, I heard you! Why didn't you make it?" I say, narrowing my eyes at her.

"Ruhanika beti ne mana kiya hai aaj khana banane ke liye." she explains.

"Has your Ruhanika daughter lost her mind?" I ask, barely believing it.

"Wo to tum dono ka hi hai." she replied with a grin.

["That's true for both of you."]

"Aunty, you're on my team, don't forget that." A smile tugged at my tired face.

"Guess I’m not getting food tonight. It’s late, you can go home, tell the driver to drop you off. I’m heading to bed. If Ruhanika calls, just let her know." A tired sigh slips out, knowing my phone’s always on silent and she won’t see the messages for days anyway.

After Seema Aunty leaves, I quickly change into something more comfortable. I call Ruhanika again, hoping to hear her voice, just to make sure she’s okay or at least safe.

It’s not unusual. As the hospital’s owner, Ruhanika often works late, especially when there are important meetings, decisions to make, or emergencies to handle. But even though I know she’s more than capable of managing it all, I can’t seem to sleep until I know she’s okay.

She still isn’t picking up, so I text her: "Zinda hai kya??" as I settle onto the couch in the living room.

What now? Sleep is nowhere in sight. My mind floods with thoughts.

Should I read a magazine? Clean my room? Watch a movie? Stalk his account? Wait, what? Aahanaaa! Get him out of your head, my mind mocks. But isn’t it too late? the other side teases back.

Whatever, it’s not like I’m committing a crime. Checking out his profile every day isn’t illegal, I tell myself.

It’s not like I’m stalking him. Totally normal, right? Just a casual hobby... nothing weird about checking his stories for the 10th time today.

I sink deeper into the couch, phone in hand, tapping the screen like it’s an automatic reflex.

His latest story pops up—a gym photo. Of course. He’s flexing, looking effortlessly perfect, and I catch myself staring a little too long.

Wasn’t being the richest enough to attract girls that you’re now posting thirst traps too? I roll my eyes at myself, but I replay it once... twice.

Why does he always post when I’m least prepared to handle it? I mutter under my breath, still watching—can’t stop, won’t stop.

Okay, one more story, I think, but my thumb keeps scrolling like I’ve lost all control. “I need help.” I mutter, but not enough to actually close the app.

I bring the phone closer, nearly pressing it to my eyes, as if that’ll help me analyze every little detail.

The curve of his bicep, the veins popping out—Why does that look so... perfect? I zoom in a little more, and then I catch the background. No girls. Good.

I’m just about to zoom in even further to inspect his expression when I hear a voice from behind the couch.

"Happy birthday!"

I jump, the phone slipping from my hands and smacking straight into my face. "Ow!" I yelp, clutching my nose.

I rush to sit up, my heart pounding and my face flushed with embarrassment.

Ruhanika’s standing there, grinning like she’s caught me red-handed. My brain stumbles over its own thoughts as I try to hide the phone, still on his profile, as if she can’t see it. I clear my throat, trying to play it cool, but I’m sure I look like a deer caught in the headlights.

"W...wha..what are you doing here?" I stammer. What the hell are you saying, Aahana? my mind mocks.

"I mean... w...when did you come? I didn’t hear you?" I try to recover, but it’s like my brain’s gone into panic mode.

"Why would you? You were too busy analyzing the latest fashion trend, I suppose?" Ruhanika says with a teasing smile.

"Yeaahh!! Yeah, I saw, uh, saw a beautiful dress at the event today, so I was just..." I scramble for an excuse, glancing around like I’m searching for some miracle.

"Weird, though, that you’re into men’s fashion now, especially bare-chested??" she smirks.

"Whatt?! Eww, nooo!" I do my best acting, probably failing miserably to save myself from the inevitable teasing.

"Ohhh Aahanaa, what magic has Reyansh done on you that you’re still not over him after eight years?" she sighs, and my heart flutters at the sound of his name. My eyes meet hers, the mention of his name stirring something inside me I’d rather not acknowledge.

"Don't take his name!" I exclaim, my cheeks warming. "And what magic? I just... his post randomly popped up in my feed and I—"

"Yeahh, you just clicked the story button by mistake." Ruhanika teases, raising an eyebrow.

"Absolutely correct." I say, nodding vigorously, trying to hide the nervousness creeping up my neck.

"You!! You’re so invested in teasing me that you forgot you brought a cake, Ms. Ruhanika Khanna. Won’t you ask me to cut it?" I quickly change the topic. Hah, I’m way too smart, Ruhi. You can’t beat my acting skills, they’re top-tier.

"The cake can wait." she says, smirking. "But I don’t know when I’ll catch you like this again, a blushing mess. I can't even remember the last time I saw you laugh, let alone blush."

She laughs, and I can feel my cheeks burning even hotter.

I roll my eyes, trying to act cool, but my face betrays me. "It’s not funny." I mutter, though the smile tugging at my lips gives me away.

Ruhanika raises an eyebrow and laughs, catching her breath. "Oh, it’s definitely funny. Never thought I’d see the day I’ll see you simping openly over a 'beautiful dress'."

I cross my arms, pretending to be offended, but the heat in my cheeks is undeniable. "Shut up, Ruhi."

"Fineeee!! HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUU!!" she says, finally stopping her laugh and placing the cake on the table while I close the app as fast as possible in the meantime.

"Blow off the candles, Aahana, I'll get you your 'beautiful dress' if you want." she says, still smirking.

My eyes dart towards her, and I realize— I.am.doomed. She's definitely going to tease me about this forever.

I move towards the table and crouch down to the cake. Closing my eyes I make a wish, and blow out the candles, while Ruhanika just stands there in silence, probably wondering what I wished for, like she always does.

Picking up the knife, I cut a small piece and feed it to her, when suddenly my phone rings, interrupting the moment.

"Happy birthday, Aahana!!" Avni and Siya's voices ring out so loud, my ears practically hurt from the shouting.

Ruhanika suddenly appears, grabs my phone, and puts it on speaker. "You guys won’t believe what you missed! Aahana was blushing, and wanna know why?!"

"Is it because of something on her phone?" a voice asks from the other end.

"Don't you dare Siya!!!" I rush to stop them, reaching for the phone, but Ruhanika runs off.

"Don’t tell me you’ve seen it too?" Ruhanika teases as I chase after her.

"Don’t even get me started, Ruhanika. She looks ridiculously funny when she does that." Siya laughs, barely catching her breath.

"Is mass bullying on a birthday normal, or am I just getting special treatment from you guys?" I huff, catching my breath as Ruhanika runs into my room.

"It's 11:55, Aahana! Your fans have arranged a drone show. Have you forgotten?" Siya says.

"If you guys let her breathe for a moment, then maybe she’ll remember." I hear Avni speaking up.

"Thank God someone’s on my side." I say, playfully glaring at Ruhanika and extending my hand, signaling her to give me my phone.

"Let's go." I say, already moving toward the main door, Ruhanika following closely behind.

We make our way to the park, just a 5-minute walk from our home.

As soon as we arrive, the sky lights up.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY AAHANA!!”
“WE LOVE YOU!”
“KEEP SHINING LIKE THE STAR YOU ARE!”

The drones form my face in the sky, lighting up the darkness, pulling me into the moment. Ruhanika’s capturing it all—every single reaction, every flicker of awe, on both our phones.

Just when I think the show is over, the drones pause for a beat. Then, they shift, forming one last message:

“Always by your side… even from afar.”

I blink, staring at the words in the sky. Always? But always isn't forever, is it?

Shut up, Aahana. Just focus on the positive part.

I glance over at Ruhanika, her eyes fixed on the sky, a heart in her gaze as she watches the drones.

"Give me my phone, Ruhanika." I say, reaching for it. She hands it over, and I open my camera.

Ruhanika looks at me, confusion creeping across her face. "I've taken too many photos from all angles, what’s left now?"

"You." I reply with a grin.

"You just look beautiful. Now shut up and pose for me." I tease, convincing her with a smile.

"It's your birthday!" she says, like she’s trying to convince me to back off.

"Just do what I say!" I match her tone, and she reluctantly obeys. Huh, am I scary?

If Ruhanika had entered the modeling field, she would've outshone even me—and I’m not even joking. I’ve told her this a hundred times, but she never believes me.

I want her to be more successful than I ever will be. For Siya, Avni is there. Her family is there, supporting her, surrounding her with love. And for Avni, it's also the same.

But for us? It's just the two of us. Only each other.

Even when I'm gone, I'll leave everything I have to her. Because the truth is, I'm only surviving in this world because of her, siya, avni and a hope of him forgiving me.

"Stop it, Aahana, you've almost clicked 100 pictures by now! We need to eat dinner too, it's almost midnight. I brought your favorite food from a restaurant." Ruhanika says, folding her arms.

I was about to respond when suddenly, her bodyguard appears behind me.

"Ma'am, the head of Aahana Ma'am's fan club dropped off this package at the penthouse gate. I’ve checked it—it’s all just gifts."

Ruhanika looks at me for approval before speaking, "Fine, then keep them outside the main door. We'll take them when we go back." I nod in response.

The bodyguard glances at us with concern before saying, "I've checked all of them, but there is an issue with one gift, ma'am."

***************************

This time, I only had a slight headache 😔. I think this version of the story is much better, don't you? I realized the previous version was missing a lot and felt too depressing.

Aside from a few bickering moments here and there, I really prefer this one. What do you all think?