At Anamika's house...
Aditya stood at the door while Aniket stayed back in the car—he was still upset with Saaniya for her rude behavior! Anamika led Saaniya to the hall and made her sit on the sofa, then walked back to the door to thank Aditya.
Aditya looked at Anamika expectantly, hoping for an answer to his question, but Anamika simply smiled and said, “Thank you so, so much! Saaniya doesn’t like to ask for help. If she had driven in that condition, her leg’s swelling would’ve gotten worse. And please… also thank your friend! He told me she was hurt, otherwise Saaniya would’ve never mentioned it herself.”
“There’s no need for that,” Aditya replied softly. “Anyone else would’ve done the same.” Then he kept looking at her.
Anamika couldn’t understand why he was looking at her like that. From the hall, Saaniya shouted, “Anu, answer his question… otherwise, poor guy won’t be able to sleep tonight! Tell him—will you work on your manga from home, or will you come to his office?”
Hearing that, Anamika turned to Aditya, her eyes full of questions. “Is that… why you’re standing here?”
Aditya, looking nervous, ran his hand along the back of his neck and said, “I mean… it’s not that important! If you need time to think, then… take your time. Even if your answer is no, I’ll… I’ll respect that. If you want, I’ll remove that condition…”
Interrupting him, Anamika said firmly, “No need!”
Aditya looked at her. Her eyes held a steely resolve; her smile was gone. For a moment, Aditya was afraid, but then, when he heard her words, his heart filled with joy—a joy he couldn’t even show her.
Smiling, he said goodnight and left. As soon as he got in the car, Aniket started the engine.
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Aditya was smiling to himself, and Aniket noticed through the rearview mirror. He let out a sigh and said, “So… now that you’re all smiles, care to tell me what she said? Your face says it all, but it’d be even better to hear it from you.”
Aditya’s mind echoed with the words Anamika had spoken:
“No! I’ll do it… I’ll do everything in that contract! I’m tired of running from the world. You were right—someday I’ll have to face it, and when I do, I won’t be able to back out. So I should start now! I’ll become that Anamika you see in your dreams… that fearless, courageous Anamika who listens to her heart! Tomorrow, we’ll bring all our stuff and come to your office!”
Hearing her words in his mind, Aditya’s lips curved into a smile as he said, “She agreed! She said… she’ll try her best to become the Anamika I see in my dreams!”
Aniket immediately shot back, “Wake up from your dreams, Romeo! She didn’t mean what you’re imagining.”
Aditya took a deep breath and said, “I know… I know everything. But who can explain that to this crazy heart of mine?! It keeps imagining a world where Anamika understands me and accepts my love.”
Hearing this, Aniket watched his friend’s face carefully, thinking,“Have I done the right thing? I was only trying to uncover the truth about Anamika and Saaniya’s past—why they’ve come back into our lives. But this fool’s heart… it’s already falling for her all over again. Before I can find the truth… will his heart break again? No… I have to do something.”
While Aniket worried about his friend’s heart, Saaniya was worried about sending her sweet friend Anamika alone into this dangerous world.
She said to Anamika, “Why did you have to say yes to him?! You could’ve refused!”
Anamika replied, “I needed to! I want to change myself. I want to break free from my past. I want to get as far away from its fear as I can—and this feels like the right way.”
Saaniya said, “What do you mean it’s the right way?! Anu… I’m just worried for you! How can you suddenly—”
But Anamika smiled and cut her off. “Don’t be afraid, because this time, I’m not afraid. I’m trying my best… so will you be with me?”
Saaniya had no argument left. Looking away, she said, “Fine! Do whatever you think is right. But if it ever feels wrong, come back… I’ll always be here for you, just like I’ve always been. I will do anything for you… even break the promise I made a year ago.”
Anamika immediately snapped, “Never! You’ll never break that promise. You’ll never play that role again—the one you were forced to play so many times. Never… I never want to see you covered in blood again!”
Saaniya looked away. “I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant… if needed, I’ll become your shadow again, like I was in our childhood.”
“Or like you were made to be…” Anamika said, remembering the moment she first met Saaniya.
She was only ten years old when she met her. Little Anamika was hiding behind her mother, while a small but fearless Saaniya stood with a police constable.
Saaniya’s eyes had lit up back then, seeing Anamika’s frightened ones. But today, that same Saaniya was terrified to see fear in Anamika’s eyes.
Why… how did Saaniya and Anamika meet in the first place?
How did their fates become so tightly woven that now neither can stand to see the other hurt?
And most importantly… will Aniket’s fear come true? Will Aditya’s heart break again before Aniket can uncover the truth?
