(❁'◡'❁)

It was 3.30 PM, Aayush's younger sister Vartika entered the home, and Vidhi came back in hall, as she saw Aayush studying there.

Sitting on the couch, next to him she comfortably takes the remote.

"Bhai main to keh raha hu, tu humare ghar hi reh le" Aayush remarked when Vidhi rolled her eyes, switching the channels of his television.

(I'm telling you, you better stay at my home)

"Aur mere papa kahenge jaa beta jaa, hume koi dikkat nahin hai, dekh mujhe pata hai ki mere khandan mein mere marne ya jeene se kisiko koi farq nahin parta, par iss cheez ka matlab ye bhi nahi hai ki agar main kudne jaa rahi hu to vo mujhe aisa karne denge, abhi thoda sa concern to hoga hi na unhe" Vidhi said, her voice laced with sarcasm and a hint of sadness.

(but that doesn't mean if I'm going to get hurt, they'll let me do it, at least they should be concerned)

Aayush rolled his eyes, oh to make up things like Vidhi Malhotra, this girl loves to curl up things like this girl does.

He looked at her letting a frustrated sigh, "Vidhi, your parents need some therapy, actually your whole family needs a therapy" Aayush said, when Vidhi looked at other side with a soft chuckle.

"Even I need that" Vidhi said,

"I know that, tabhi tere jokes bhi thik ho jaenge" Aayush said, when Vidhi picks a pillow and throws it at Aayush, who ducks just in time, laughing. "Aur tere sense of humor ka kya hoga?" Vidhi asked, smiling. (And what about your sense of humor?)

Aayush grinned. "Mera sense of humor toh already thik hai, teri tarah thoda sa pagal hai," Aayush said, teasingly. (My sense of humor is already fine, it's a bit crazy like you)

Vidhi playfully rolled her eyes and threw another pillow at Aayush, who laughed and dodged it. Vartika, Aayush's younger sister, came in the hall after changing her clothes.

"Vidhi didi, aap bhi kis pagal pe apni energy waste kar rahe ho? Aap rest karlo thodi der" she suggested, when Vidhi nods.

(Vidhi di, why're you wasting your energy on this idiot, you may rest for sometime)

As Vidhi sat on the couch, she couldn't shrug off the feeling of home at Aayush's place. The feeling which she could never have with her own family.

She sighed as she saw a car outside his home. "Aa gaye, pakka usi ko bheja hoga" Vidhi mumbled standing up, as she rolled her eyes.

(They came, I'm sure they must have sent him)

She looked for a minute or so, when her stepbrother Keshav, came inside.

"Tere itne bade ghar mein ek tera bhai hi sensible lagta hai mujhe" Aayush spoke, when Vidhi chuckled and pats his back.

(I think that your brother is only sensible at your home)

"Tujhe aisa lagta hai? Tujhe to aisa lagta hai na ki main kisi jail mein rehti hu aur vo log mujhe marte hai, tu na thoda kam Anupama dekha hai, asar dikh raha hai tere chehre pe" Vidhi said, as she smacked at his forehead.

(You feel like it? You feel that I'm beaten at my house, you should stop watching Anupama, it's effect is visible on your face)

"Meri mummy ke saath dekhta hu, aur kya burai hai Anupma dekhne mein?" He asked making a pout.

(I watch it with my mom, and what's wrong in watching it?)

"Arree meri babygirl aise hi tujhe iss nickname se nahi bulati" Vidhi chuckles as she went to the car, waving him a bye.

(I don't call you Babygirl for no re reason)

"Haha" He acted cool, when Vartika came near him.

"Bhaiya" Vartika said, when Aayush looked at her

"Hmm?" He asked with his furrows raised as he turned at his sister.

"Aap kal game mein haar gaye the, mera pizza" Vartika said with a grin when Aayush rolled his eyes.

(You lost the game yesterday, my pizza?)

"Order it, I'm too lazy to go out" he said as he sat on the sofa and switches on the television.

"Alsi, jab Vidhi didi ke saath jaana hota hai tab to mana nahi karte, mere liye time nahi hai apke paas?" Vartika argued with her harsh voice, making a cute pout as she sat near her brother.

(Lazy, whenever you've to go with Vidhi di, you never cancel it, and you don't have time for me)

"Bhai, mangwa le na?" He said as he tiredly stretches his shoulder.

(Order it)

****

As Vidhi sat in the car, her brother widened his eyes looking at her pale face and swollen hand.

"Didi, apne drip lagaye thi? Itna suj kaise gaya?" He asked, his voice filled with concern.

(Sister, how's your hand so swollen?)

Vidhi smiled at her brother, the only one who actually cared about her, whenever she didn't had Aayush by her side, he was only one backbone who stood by her side.

"Main aaj nani ghar se aaya hu, aur piche se apki tabiyat itni kharab ho gayi?" He asked innocently.

(I came back from my maternal home today and your condition worsened)

Vidhi laughed at him, hiding her stomach pain. She was just acting to be fine, her stomach was badly paining, and her head was bursting with sounds due to her fever, but she sounded so normal. "Kuch nahi hua hai mujhe, I'm okay" she said when she takes her phone and starts scrolling through reels.

Keshav nods, when Vidhi looked at him and sighed.

As both of them came back home, Keshav's mom came to the door to take the kids. She barely ever cared about Vidhi, but today her maternal grandparents were going to come for a visit and as usual the entire home was filled with chaos and preparation.

She sighed at the chaos and went to her room. Quickly she sat with her books, to study for some time. She went through her notes and opened her laptop for her DPP from Google.

As the time passed by, she was too tired to study anything else when she dozed off, her phone on silent as always.

(✿◡‿◡)

AAYUSH'S POV

It's been 5 hours since she left, I studied as much I could, my hands hovered on the phone constantly dialing her number. My head was dig in my phone when I felt a smack on my head. "Ouch, mumma"

"Kya kar raha hai Aayu? I've been calling you since long" Mumma said, when I looked at her.

(What are you doing Aayu?)

"Nothing mumma, I was just checking over her" I told her, keeping the phone down in frustration.

"Aayu, she must be resting, she'll call you whenever she gets free" mumma said.

"Can I help you with making dinner" I asked when she nods. I quickly kept my phone on table as I went with her. When I saw Vartika from the kitchen, she was watching Television, while papa just came back home.

I was trying to keep the calm, and waiting for her call since long, just wanting her to call back, I wanted to make sure if she was okay or not.

POV ends.

It was about 7 when Vidhi's door knocked. She barely had any energy left to stand up and walk, "door is open" she said,

Her maternal grandparents come, as they hugged her and she smiled at them. As they looked at the drip in her hand, they felt scared for a minute checking it.

"It's nothing, nani, don't worry, I just had fever and mummy papa took care of me" Vidhi said, when both of them exchanged looks and then look at her.

Vidhi hated this, if by any chance, and that was to escape by going so away from home, she'd have gone to grandparents home but she always felt herself as a burden on everyone, she didn't want to trouble anyone by her problems or troubles.

She hid her insecurities behind her everlasting smile.

Nani's eyes narrowed, her voice laced with concern. "Fever? Vidhi, beta, why didn't you tell us? We would have come earlier."

Vidhi shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "It's nothing, Nani. Just a minor fever. I'm fine now."

Her grandfather, Nana, looked at her with a critical eye. "We'll talk to your parents about this. This is not the first time you've been ill, Vidhi."

Vidhi's heart sank. She didn't want her grandparents to interfere. She knew her parents would just dismiss their concerns.

"Nanu, they'll be upset, they took care of me" Vidhi said,

"Aise? Shakal dekh apni, jaise jaan hi na rahi ho" Nani said, examining her face.

(This way, look at your face, you look lifeless)

"Nani, you're just overthinking, aur vaise bhi Simran aunty ne meri help ki thi" Vidhi said, giving assurance to her grandparents.

"Ek iski tai hai, jo iski hi maasi bhi hai, par usse kya hi umeed rakhe? Pichle 16 saalo mein ek Simran hi to hai, varna humare khud ki beti bhi apne bhen ke bachi ka dhyan nahi rakh payi, mera to us ladki se milna ka man hi nahi karta abb" Her nana said, who was standing behind.

(There's only one person who's her aunt as well as her mother figure, but what can we expect from her? In the past 16 years, there's only been one Simran who has taken care of her. Otherwise, our own daughter couldn't even take care of her sister's child. I don't even feel like meeting that girl now,)

Vidhi convinced her grandparents, and they left late at night after a party,

In hiding her drip and everything, she simply forgot to check the phone.

As she came back to her room, she silently sighed as she lay on her bed and picked her phone.

"Behenchod" she muttered as she saw the notifications of her best friend.

(F*ck)

Baby Girl 🎀 (9+)

Kaha hai Vidhiii?

Thik hai?

Soo rahi hai?

Medicine le li?

Jab bhi uthe to message kariyo!

Vidhi sighed looking at his concern, a smile automatically comes on her face,

As her messages get read, Aayush didn't even waited but called her.

"Vidhi!" He almost shouted at his best friend.

"So gayi thi main idiot" Vidhi said, when she chuckled.

(I slept, you idiot)

"So you were resting? Thank god, I was so worried ki to pakka pad rahi hogi, vaise hi koi energy nahi hai tere me" Aayush said, as he sat on his bed.

"Sorry Aayu"

"Ab sorry bhi bol rahi hai? Aur nickname le rahi hai? Tera dimaag sar mein to nahi chala gaya Vidhi?" Aayush asked, his voice looked serious, when Vidhi lays on her bed all tired.

(Now you're asking sorry? What have gotten into you?)

"Aayu, sone de good night" Vidhi said.

(Aayu, let me sleep)

"Vidhi, main kya soch raha hu" Aayush said, when Vidhi hummed.

(Vidhi I was thinking that)

"Ki hum na apne group mein ek aur ko add kar lete hai" Aayush said as Vidhi's eyes widened.

(I was thinking to add someone more)

"No" she said sternly as she sat on her bed "sochna bhi mat, main hu na teri best friend?"

(Don't you even think of, I'm your best friend)

"Haan but"

"Tujhe na belt se marungi agar socha bhi to, nahi matlab nahi" Vidhi said.

(I'll beat you with belt, even if you thought about adding someone in our group)

"Easy down, my insecure grandma, nahi banata kisi ko dost" Aayush said, as he layed on the bed, his slow chuckle change to laugh.

(I won't make anyone my friend)

"Tujhe yeh sab funny lag raha hai Aayu?" Vidhi asked.
(Do you think this is funny, Aayu)

"Tujhe yaad hai, ek baar to Holi pe yaha nahi tha, maine kisike saath Holi nahi kheli thii, apne upar khud colour lagaya tha, tu meri baat samajh le, mujhe koi aur dost nahi chahiye"

"As you say madam ji" Aayush said, when Vidhi keeps her call, tying her hair in a ponytail, lying on the bed.

✨

Tbc.

Agar bekar laga ho to already sorry 😭 cause I'm kind of depressed now a days 😭👺

Sorry ✨🙂