𝟻. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒌𝒆

The Shekhawat house looked peaceful at night.

Soft yellow lights glowed through the long corridors, curtains swayed gently with the cool Udaipur breeze, and somewhere far away, the sound of temple bells melted into silence.

But peace was only an illusion.

Inside the walls of the palace, emotions were awake.
Very awake.

Late Night Chaos - Aarini's Instinct

Aarini lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Something felt... off.

She had known Mehek her entire life knew her silences, her controlled expressions, her habit of smiling even when something was clearly breaking inside her.
And today?

Today Mehek's silence had screamed.

Aarini suddenly sat up.

"Nope," she muttered. "Not sleeping like this."

She jumped off the bed and marched straight to Rudri's room.

"RUDRIIII!"

A pillow flew in her direction.

"Are you insane?" Rudri groaned. "kya hain di."
Aarini - pagal ladki apni badi behen ke sath koi aise krta Hain.
And threw the pillow back to her.
Dii uth gayi ab mein.

Aarini ignored her and walked straight into Devika's room next.

"DEVIKAAA!"

Devika peeked out from her blanket. "If someone's dying, say it properly."

Aarini folded her hands dramatically.
"Mere chutkiyon, aaj thoda janaa nahi chahoge ke kya hua?"
(My little sparks, won't you come with me tonight?)

Rudri squinted. "Why do I feel danger?"

Devika sat up. "What happened now?"

Aarini smiled. Slowly. Suspiciously.

"Kuch nahi," she said sweetly.
"Bas... Mehek se milna tha."

Rudri frowned. "At this hour?"

Devika tilted her head. "Why?"

Aarini shrugged.
"Woh toh ab Mehek hi bataegi ke aaj kya hua."
(That, only Mehek will tell.)

That single line was enough.

Curiosity beat sleep.

Within minutes, all three girls stood outside Mehek's room blankets in their arms like they were about to attend a secret midnight ritual.

Aarini knocked once.

Then opened the door without waiting.

Mehek,Mehek, sunn na

Mehek's Room -
Mehek lay curled on her bed, blanket wrapped tightly around her body like a shield.

Her eyes looked tired.

Not sleepy.

Tired in a way that came from holding emotions in all day.

She looked up when the door opened and froze.

"What are you all doing here?" she asked.
( Ab kya hain jaan loge kya ab meri ab to mujhe baksh do)

Before she could react, Aarini jumped onto the bed, followed by Rudri and Devika.

All four of them were now sitting in a circle, blankets wrapped around them in the same ridiculous way.

It looked childish.

And strangely intimate.

Mehek blinked.
"Tum log pagal ho gaye ho kya?"
(Have you all gone mad?)

Aarini grinned. "Yes. Next question."

Rudri leaned forward. "Okay, start talking."

Devika nodded eagerly. "We're listening."

Mehek sighed deeply. "Yaar, ab kya?"
(What now?)

Aarini didn't answer directly.

Instead, she started narrating.

Everything.

The office tension.
The Rathores.
Veeransh's cold presence.
Aryavardhan's sudden arrival.
The way Mehek's entire body had stiffened.
The looks that lasted too long.
The silence that carried history.

Rudri's eyes widened with every sentence.
Devika gasped like she was watching a live drama.

Mehek stayed quiet.

Her hands clenched the blanket tighter.

When Aarini finally stopped, Mehek slowly lifted her gaze and looked straight at her.

It wasn't anger.

It wasn't embarrassment.

It was that look someone gives when they've been exposed-and secretly relieved.

A look that said: You noticed.

A look that said: I needed this.

Aarini's playful expression softened instantly.

She clapped her hands. "Alright!"

Rudri blinked. "That's it?"

Aarini nodded. "Yup. Tum dono jao."

Devika frowned. "What?"

"Kal college bhi to jaana hai na, aur jldi bhi to uthna hai?" Aarini said casually.
(You have college tomorrow, and have to wake up early)

Rudri protested, "But-"

Aarini pointed toward the door. "Good night."

Devika groaned but stood up. Rudri followed, still curious but understanding.

Before leaving, Devika glanced at Mehek one last time.

Mehek managed a faint smile.

The door closed.

Just the Two of Them

The room fell silent.

Aarini turned toward Mehek and sat beside her.

She pulled the blanket around both of them, just like when they were kids-when nightmares were chased away by shared warmth.

"Kya hua meri Beera?" Aarini asked softly.
(What happened, my little sister?)

Mehek didn't answer immediately.

Aarini continued gently,
"Kis baat se itni pareshan hai?"
(Why are you so troubled?)

"Dekh, main yahin hoon."
(Look, I'm right here.)

Mehek swallowed.

"Aarini di..." she whispered.

"Haan?"

"Maine aapse ek baat chhupayi hai."
(I hid something from you.)

Aarini didn't react dramatically.

She just nodded. "Theek hai. Bata."

Mehek hesitated. "Aur... main yeh Aarav bhaiya ko nahi bata sakti."
(And I can't tell Aarav bhai sa.)

Aarini's brows knit together. "Itni badi baat ke to bhai sa ko bhi nahi bta skti?"

Mehek nodded, eyes glistening.
"Mujhe darr lagta hai."
(I'm scared.)

Aarini exhaled slowly. "Aisa kya hua hai, Mehek?"

Then, trying to lighten the moment, she added,
"Kahin main maasi toh nahi banne wali?"
(I'm not becoming an aunt, right?)

Mehek froze.

Her eyes widened.

Then tears spilled over suddenly.

"Kya diii!" she cried, voice breaking.

Aarini panicked instantly.
"Arre! Mazak kar rahi thi!"
(I was joking!)
"Sorry, sorry- bata na."

Mehek wiped her face but couldn't stop crying.

"Di..." she sobbed.
"Paanch saal pehle..."
( 5 Years Ago )

The Story Mehek Never Told

Her voice shook as the words finally escaped.

"Jab main college ke pehle din gayi thi..."
(When I went to college on the first day...)

Aarini listened silently.

"Ek senior se baat hui. Normal si."
(I spoke to a senior. Just normal.)
"Phir baatein badhne lagi."

She smiled faintly through tears.
"Woh bohot achha tha di. Respectful. Patient."

Aarini's heart clenched.

"Mujhe pata hi nahi chala kab pyaar ho gaya."

She took a shaky breath.

"Ek din usne propose kiya."
"Main khush thi."
(I was happy.)
Aur mene usse ha bol diya
(I said him yes)

Her voice cracked.

Everything changed on the day of farewell
(Pr di "Farewell ke din... sab badal gaya.")

Aarini whispered, "Kya hua?"

"Mujhe pata chala... ke woh Jaipur ke Rathores ka beta hai."
She laughed bitterly.
"Woh ARYAVARDHAN SINGH RATHORE tha."

Aarini felt the weight of the name.

"Mujhe surname pata tha di mein itani bhi andhi nahi thi ke aise he pyaar mein pdh jau," Mehek continued.
"Par kabhi nahi socha tha ke woh usi khandaan se hoga."
I never gave attention to his surname

Tears streamed freely now.

"Aaj jab woh saamne aaya... dil ne purani yaadein jaga di."

Aarini asked quietly, "Breakup kab hua aur kaise ?"

Mehek closed her eyes.
"Farewell ke baad. Agle din."

POV - Five Years Ago

The End of Innocence

⚫ Mehek - "I am a Shekhawat, Aryavardhan."
(Main Shekhawat hoon.)

Her voice had been firm, but her hands trembled.

"Our families are enemies."
"There is no future for us."They would never except both of us together.

Meanwhile,
⚫ Aryavardhan - He had tried to smile.
"Relax, meri jaan. I knew."
Mujhe ab pta hain ke tum Shekhawat ho. Voh Shekhawat jinse humari dushmani hain.

Her eyes had filled with disbelief.

⚫ Mehek - What ? You knew everything "Then why did you let me fall in love with you?"Why Aaryavardhan Singh Rathore Why?

⚫ Aaryavardhan - Chup ho jao Mehek.See
"When you're ready to marry," he said,
"We'll get married. You'll leave the Shekhawat's."You can cuttoff your ties with them. You have the back of Rathores

She laughed, broken.
⚫ Mehek - Oh really, toh fir tum mujhse shaadi krne ke baad mere ghar mein ghar jamai bnke kya nahi reh skte. You can cuttoff your ties with Rathore's. Even you would be having the back off Shekhawat's.
Mr. Rathore

("Why don't you come live with my family instead?")

His tone hardened.
⚫ Aaryavardhan - "Stay in your limits, Mehek Shekhawat."

⚫ Mehek - "You too, Mr. Rathore."

Her voice shook.
"My family comes first."
"I don't want a love that breaks all my tie's or make me away from them."

⚫ Aaryavardhan - "So you're breaking up with me?" he asked softly.

⚫ Mehek - "Yes."

She walked away.

He followed.

Stopped her.

A desperate moment.

He catches her by her waist and forcefully kisses her, Mehek tries hard to stop it but can't dominate Aryavardhan's strength

Aryavardhan didn't stop until it became difficult for both of them to breath.

A kiss filled with pain, confusion, and goodbye.

Mehek slaps him,
Her slap echoed louder than her heart.

Aryavardhan tries to control his anger.

Aryavardhan curls his finger to Mehek's Neck with his one arm on her waist touching his forehead with her's

Itna asaan hain kya ye tumhare liye, humare pyaar ka kya Mehek, Aur voh ehsaas jo hum dono ne ek dusre ke liye mehsoos kiye

Tears filled in Mehek eye's

She left.
Without saying a single word.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

Aarini Holds Her Together

"Uske baad kabhi nahi mile di kabhi nahi ," Mehek whispered.
(We never met again.)
"Aaj... paanch saal baad mein usse pehli baar mili."

She broke completely.

Aarini pulled her into her arms instantly.

Held her tightly.

"Bas Meri Beera," she murmured.
"Rone de."
(Let it out.)

Mehek cried like she hadn't in years.

Aarini stroked her hair slowly.

"Tu kamzor nahi hai," she said firmly.
(You're not weak.)

"Tumne apna pyaar nahi chhoda tumne apni values chuni."
(You didn't abandon love-you chose your values.)

Mehek sobbed harder.

"Kuch rishte... khatam nahi hote," Aarini whispered.
"Bas chup ho jaate hain."

(Some relationships don't end. They just go silent.)

Outside, the palace slept.

Inside, the past had awakened.

And the storm

Had only begun.

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