9:45 AM
Aditya was walking toward the meeting room, looking through his files.
But one thought kept running through his mind,
“Hmm… Ruhi has never been late till today!! Well, since Anamika is with her, I’m not worried… she’ll keep Saaniya calm. And anyway… Ruhi isn’t the type to fight easily. But still!! I was the one who took her with me yesterday… so it was my responsibility to drop her home properly. But… ugh… Aniket’s chit!! Such a strange wish he wrote! After reading it, I forgot everything else!!”
Aditya recalled what was written on that chit:
Aditya let out a deep breath and muttered to himself, “I don’t want to see those people again…”
Just then a voice came from behind, “Sir… are you feeling alright?!”
Aditya turned around — and saw two people standing there!
Anamika and Ruhi!
Both had juice bottles in their hands and were sipping through straws…!!
At that moment, they both looked like kids.
And their clothes… oh god… their outfits were almost the same!!
Baggy grey T-shirts… and pants… the only difference was in the prints.
Anamika’s T-shirt had Goku on it, while Ruhi’s had just one thing written: “I changed.”
Both looked cute — but Aditya’s eyes first went to Anamika, and along with that, his mind paused completely.
All the stress from before — vanished in an instant.
Seeing this, Ruhi smiled — because now she had understood this feeling and accepted it too.
Ruhi took the file from Aditya’s hand and said, “Sir… I’ll go through the details once again!! Meanwhile, you can talk.”
Hearing this, Aditya’s face turned red. He looked at Ruhi in a panic —
but she gave him a sly smile and softly said, “All the best!”
Aditya understood very well what she meant by “talk.”
After Ruhi left, there was a strange silence between Aditya and Anamika.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Anamika’s eyes were lowered, and Aditya’s eyes were on her —
but that didn’t mean Anamika was the only one nervous!!
Even after all this time, both still hesitated to talk openly to each other.
Aditya nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
A little hesitantly, he said, “Umm… sorry for the trouble Ruhi caused while staying at your place! I should’ve come to take her back.”
Anamika turned her gaze slightly and softly said, “No… I mean… I liked that Ruhi stayed with us! It gave me a chance to get to know her.
She’s quite a lot like Saaniya — very dedicated to work… punctual… and confident while talking!
But… there are some differences too… like she panics easily… and she likes cartoons too!!”
While saying this, there was a very sweet expression on Anamika’s face.
Her expression showed how happy she was to become friends with Ruhi.
If you think about it, Ruhi was her first friend whom Anamika had approached first!
Her friendship with Saaniya happened because of Anamika’s mother — which was somewhat forced.
Aditya and Aniket had befriended her first, and then Anamika became friends with them.
But with Ruhi… Anamika was the one who made the first move.
Aditya understood that feeling in her.
Without realizing it, his hand reached toward her cheek and gently touched it.
And out of his mouth came, “Your smile is beautiful.”
The moment Aditya said that, Anamika instantly looked up — her eyes filled with questions.
Along with that, Aditya snapped back to reality and panicked.
And then… Aditya realized what he just did.
His eyes darted everywhere. He panicked. Words tumbled out of him like a toddler on roller skates.
“I— I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything wrong!! I swear!!
I just— I’ve never seen you smiling like this while talking to me…
and it felt… new! That’s it!! I-I-I’m sorry!!”
(he even joined his hands in panic.)
And then… her juice bottle slipped from her hand.
Aditya looked up, startled again — and saw something he never expected.
Anamika… was laughing. Loudly. Uncontrollably.
Like a kid who just saw something ridiculously cute.
For the first time, Aditya saw her laugh freely — and the reason… was him.
She tried catching her breath while giggling, “That… that… (mimicking him) ‘I just… I didn’t mean it… I’m sorry!!’
That was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen!!
But seriously… (soft smile) you looked like one of those storybook heroes… trying so hard to hide how nervous they are and ending up doing something totally awkward.”
Aditya blinked. He wasn’t sure if that was an insult, a roast, or a really cute compliment.
So he did what he does best — smiled and said honestly, “I don’t know what storybook heroes are like… but this is just how I am.”
After saying this, they both looked at each other — when a voice came from behind, “Sir… please come quickly!”
Hearing that, Aditya took a deep breath and said, “I’ll see you after the meeting!”
Saying that, he left.
Anamika kept watching him — as if thinking about something…
then picked up her fallen bottle and walked away.
Meanwhile, at the hospital…
Saaniya was sitting restlessly in her cabin.
She was burning a small chit of paper — and there was no emotion in her eyes.
The fire came very close to her fingers, but she didn’t pull back — and the chit, while burning completely, left a small burn on her hand.
That chit was nothing else but Aniket’s wish — a wish that Saaniya had promised to fulfill.
Sitting back in her chair, Saaniya said to herself, “What should I do with you, Aniket!!
After all… how many times have I told you and Aditya that this thing will never happen?!
Then why… why do you still keep dreaming about it?! You guys think the universe listens to you?!
You think if you want something deeply enough, you’ll get it?!
That this universe will make you meet your people?! I wish… I wish it were true.
But it’s not!! My past and Anamika’s past are connected, and no matter how much we want — we can’t change that past.
The shadows of that past are still with us.
That’s why we can never fulfill this wish of yours — no matter how badly we want to.”
After saying that, she closed her eyes —
and she remembered something Anamika had once said:
“Saaniya… promise me, whatever wish is written in the chit… you’ll try your best to fulfill it!
This should be Aniket’s best birthday ever — because this is the first time I’m organizing someone else’s birthday apart from yours!”
And at that time… Saaniya had promised her.
Remembering her promise, Saaniya said, “A promise is a promise… I have to fulfill it!!
I can’t break the promise I made to Anu!
And anyway… after everything we’ve already endured, what’s a little more!
After all… if things fall apart in the end… I’ll be the only one guilty!!”
At that moment, there was no emotion in Saaniya’s eyes — but her hands were trembling.
She had gripped both her hands tightly together.
But what exactly was written in that chit?
What kind of wish could shake the lives of both Anamika and Saaniya?
And what is it that makes Saaniya call herself the guilty one?
