Tangled: Hearts And Truths 𝟒𝟎: 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬

Target: 600+ votes.

He literally rejected my call.

First he disappears then does not have to pick up the calls either.

I tried to look all around for him before I decided to check for him one last time at the terrace too.

I pushed open the door to the open sky and looked all over only to not find him here either.

I was about to turn and walk back before my head jerked back again and caught someone.

Someone sitting near the edge with her head down. I tilted my head ever so slightly to the left wondering if it’s the same person whom I assume it to be.

I took large steps towards her and stood behind her thinking if I should either interrupt or not, in case it’s someone else.

I leaned my head slightly down before a curse slipped through my throat.

“Why the fuck are you sitting here and crying?” I blurted squatting down beside Aaliya as she swung her head to another side.

“If you’re trying to hide your tears then you’ve missed it because I already saw your tear falling over your hands.” She slowly tilted her palm and looked where the tear was.

She let out a heavy sob and I didn’t even think before holding her head by my both hands and turning her to me.

Her face glowed as always just her cheeks and nose were extra red than I liked, her dark brown eyes being all teary.

“What happened?” I asked trying to be calm. She shook her head slowly before removing my hands from my grasp and looking forward again.

“You’re telling me or not?” I asked in a louder tone this time. “You’re going away or not?!” She shouted back at me but her voice didn’t had enough energy.

But if she’s asking me to go back then I should absolutely go back! There’s no reason to be here.

I stood up again and took slow steps towards the door to downstairs. I was about to push open the door, only for a soft and light sob to have enough power to pull me back again.

“You’re telling me whatever the fuck happened, right now!” I exclaimed again walking to her. She turned to me with her bottom lips pulled inside. “Do you have to curse in each and every line necessarily?” She asked with shaky voice.

I let out a heavy breath. “Either Tell me what happened or stop crying.” I said as calmly as possible. “None of them is your business, so go back.” She said and I gritted my teeth angrily because I came back again.

“It’s last chance, either tell me or I’m goin—” she cut me. “Go.”

That’s enough.

I tried enough a person should and now I should go back.

I stood there unaware by the fact that why I was still standing and waiting.

“Okay, is it because of Someone? You can at least tell me if it’s something or someone.” I slowly lowered my voice as I realised she was completely ignoring my presence.

I remained standing forcing myself to back but still didn’t even put a single step backward.

“Or…if you want then…you can seat here too.” Her voice was too low, but still enough for me to hear.

I sighed sitting beside her on the edge glancing down at the traffic.

It’s past 7 and I wonder what she is doing here in this hospital alone but hesitated to ask her right now.

She had stopped crying now but her face was still dull and had her head downward.

“I cry a lot. So this isn’t a new thing that you’re staring at me so curiously.” She blurted after a long silence and I still didn’t moved my gaze away from her.

She keeps running into me whenever I’m here, it had been almost 2 weeks since I went back home.

I wondered the number of blind dates her father could have sent her in these 2 weeks or worse if she accepted one of them.

Why the hell I called it worse?

“Then I’m ready to hear each and every reason for all the times you cry and will solve them too. You just tell me.” I said and she slightly looked up before moving her eyes to me.

“You mean it?” She asked looking at me doubtfully, and for a moment, I also wondered why I’m willing to do so. I wasn’t going to be around her always either, but still. “I meant each and every word.” I said looking in her eyes that I couldn’t read today.

“It was my father.” She said with a heavy voice before letting out a deep breath. I’ve always thought of Arhaan’s father whenever it came to worst father.

“I had already offered you my father.” She let out a soft chuckle looking at me with the same big doe eyes of hers and I felt a sudden rush of scare, from the amount of relaxing it sounded. “I will consider your offer.” She blurted.

She again got back to her sad face, clutching her hands. “You didn’t told me yet why you were crying.” I asked and she again bit her lips and I tried my best to keep my eyes away from them.

“That’s something silly. I’m good now, maybe.” She added the last word too lightly but bad, I still heard it.

“You’re still telling me.” I said firmly. She took a long breath before saying, “Papa and I came to pick up Sidharth.” The moment she said her brother’s name, a fowl appeared over my face.

He had a part in this all, but still got saved.

“I just got into a little argument with my father because he was still not able to accept his son’s mistakes..” Her voice lowered slowly.

“And then my voice suddenly got louder than I was supposed to, or allowed to…” She said and my brows furrowed.

“Then?” I asked calmly yet strongly. She tried to avoid by looking down at the view and I was about to ask her again but my phone started ringing and I checked the number to see Neil.

“Don’t tell me you’re still at the hospital.” He said as I picked up.

“I am.” I said with gritted teeth as I knew he was surely enjoying leaving me here to find him.

“I….that doctor ran into me while you were talking on the phone. She walked back and I kept looking at her as all the 90s songs continued playing in my head, causing my head to suddenly started paining. So I had to go to the doctor for the..cure you know?” He said the last word mockingly.

She was the doctor who assisted Arhaan’s doctor in his health check ups and Neil had his eyes on her from the moment he saw her.

I didn’t even know her name after all Neil had only showed her to me as my future bhabhi.

But there’s one thing that he’s not slow at anything, except his mind at required times. He’d fall for someone today and would be dating her tomorrow.

“And…I asked her if she wanted to have a coffee with me.” He said before his tone saddened. “And she refused.” My brows lifted in surprise.

“I told you! Not everyone is an idiot to get impressed by yo—” he cut me in the middle.

“She said she’ll be free by 7:30, so we decided to go for a dinner instead. Tell me a good restaurant nearby.” My confident smile faded.

“The fuck you want me to suggest you a restaurant to go on a date while I’ll be roaming around without a roof-” I stopped as Aaliya, who was so silent I even forgot her presence, pulled the phone from my hand and in front of me, with my own phone, suggested him a restaurant saying that’s too romantic and whoever he is taking will be impressed.

She smiled as her tears had dried by now and said, “You’re welc—Bhabhi?” I put my lips together as she pulled away the phone from her ear with a confused face but I had understood.

That punk probably said ‘Thankyou bhabhi. I’ve told him multiple times, he will understand once I meet him now.

“I think he’s gotten too used to thanking Akshara bhabhi.” I said taking my phone back from her and she nodded absently.

“It’s getting too late. Get up and go back home.” I said glancing at the time. Her phone buzzed right then and she checked it before I noticed her face getting tensed again.

“You’ve came with your father, right? If you don’t want to go with him then I can drop you home als—” she cut me again.

“They’ve already went back.” She said causing my brows to raise in disbelief. “They left you alone here?” I asked and she suddenly got up.

“I’m also going bye.” She said turning around and walking back before I called her name, stopping her.

“Aaliya, how will you go back?” I asked holding her by her wrist.

“Sidharth has sent a car for me.” She said before running downstairs and I also slowly got down.

As soon as I walked to the parking lot, a heavy storm lashed out with tiny water droplets descending from the sky.

I furrowed my brows as soon as I didn’t find my car where I had parked it. I looked around also thinking if I was checking wrong place.

Then I realised, neither did I had the key, nor was the car here.

I and Neil came together in my car and he surely took mine to go to the fantastic romantic and best restaurant according to Aaliya.

“What are you doing standing in that rain?” I jerked my head where the shout came from before my eyes went onto Aaliya leaning her head out the car window.

I walked to her. “For how many times have I gave you a lift?” I asked leaning to the window .

She thought before showing me 3 fingers. “Don’t you think you should pay back for that?”  I looked up in surprise, the raindrops that had been pelting me suddenly ceased, only to discover a hand over my head shielding me from the droplets.

“I-I… I figured you were indirectly asking for a ride, so I tried this to avoid you from wetting my car.” she explained, retracting her hand just as the droplets resumed their descent upon my head.

She opened the back seat for me from inside and I looked at her with surprise. I didn’t said anything as I walked to the passenger seat and opened the door.

“Wait! Seat at the backseat.” She said earning a scoff from me. “I’ll be seating here.” I said before seating beside her.

“Reyansh please!” I shook of my thoughts of hearing the same from her but in a louder tone and different circumstances.

“Potato please.” I said looking at her from the corner of my eyes. “That’s not my name.” She said surprising me as if I didn’t know.

“That doesn’t matter.” I muttered and eyed her to start the drive. “Where?” She asked starting the car almost rudely and I didn’t quite liked it.

I thought where to go as I had planned to meet Arhaan and Neil both here for 1 day and go back again the day after tomorrow.

I tried my best not to think about the third person because that’s one of the moments when I feel sad and anger together. We all lived in a fake friendship for over 5 years, or maybe it was never real.

Also, The last time in hospital, Arhaan’s both father and mother were staring at me and Neil with suspicious eyes and even tried to avoid us. It was not even their fault. But I didn’t preferred going there when Arhaan wasn’t even there.

A nudge on my shoulder pulled me out of thoughts and I looked at Aaliya who was looking with suspicious eyes also. “If you are expecting me to offer you a night at my home or something then you’re wrong.” She cleared herself even before I could come to her.

“But why did it sounded more like you want me to.” I blurted cracking a bone in my shoulder

I looked at her again to see her gritted teeth as she kept driving towards her house. “Drive to my company’s branch.” I said as I didn’t wanted to go in a hotel and I’d have a little look over the work going here that way also. It was in the same direction as her home too.

I pulled out my phone to check out some messages. But my mind again diverted to the moment Aaliya told me that her father went back home leaving her there, He was not any less than his son.

My gaze slightly lifted up to her. I tried to not ask as it had nothing to do with me, but still couldn’t contain from finally asking it.

“How many more blind dates did you go on after that day?” I asked and she looked at me with surprised look before turning back to the road. “Why would I tell you?” I didn’t even know why I asked and she  expected me to answer this too.

“Because I was the one who gave you those flowers.” I blurted before I rested my arm above her seat to look at her carefully.

“I did not ask for it.” She said coldly again. “You did ask for it. Try to remember carefully.” I told her and she took a turn pretending to not pay attention to me.

“Y-you talked about giving those flowers to the girl you think of day and night.” She muttered slowly and I leaned my head back at the seat. “You added to add the one I see in my dreams too.”

I really saw her in my dreams always since the first ride, asking me to help her move on again and again. I did help her too. I tried my best to shake away all those dreams also for the sake of some friendship.

I waited for her to say something at this but she remained silent. We remained silent for the next 5 minutes before she broke the silence with a question causing my tired eyes to widen.

“Are you… still not over her?” Her voice was soft and low, but still felt a lot heavy. I turned my head to the window wondering what caused her to ask me this all of a sudden.

As soon as Shaurya admitted that he was the one responsible for her death, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Deep down, I think I always knew she was gone, but I just didn’t want to accept it.

Lately, there have been days when I don’t dwell on her memory as much as I used to. It’s like I’m torn between wanting to move on and not wanting to forget her, especially now that I know she was murdered.

When I went back home, my dad had been there for me, giving me his time and support whenever I started overthinking things. I know my parents want me to heal and move forward, and I’ve been trying my best to do that over the years also.

“No.” I said in a sharp tone turning forward again. She again remained silent for a minute before again breaking the silence.

“Why don’t you try the tricks that you roam around telling others.” I crooked a brow thinking if she’s trying to let me know that I’m not a expert in it as if I don’t know.

“L-like the one you told me.” She stammered glancing at me before turning back to the roadway.

“You mean me suggesting you to kiss someone and you using my own lips for your advantage?” I asked leaning closer to her with narrowed eyes and a hidden smirk as she suddenly slowed down.

Her eyes slowly came up to mine before widening and suddenly pulling off the brake. “Did it worked?” I whispered lightly. She suddenly turned her head aside and pushed me back with her both hands.

She panicked looking away and fixed her hair as if it didn’t looked perfect all the time.

“It wasn’t because of you, but because of my determination and hard work.” She muttered lightly and I smirked before asking her the next question as I knew she didn’t liked me mentioning it again and again.

“You mean you kissing me so deeply all over my lips and neck went in vain?” Her cheeks didn’t go crimson this time, her eyes only grew larger in attempt to glare at me.

“Yes.” I put a dramatic hand over my chest before leaning to her again and she instantly sticked her back to the car. “I think we did some mistake that time. Let’s try agai—” My eyes widened as soon as she put her palm over my lips to stop me and I instantly pulled back as soon as my eyes fell on her lips.

“I’ll throw you at your destination only to pay back for all the lifts you gave me in past.” She hissed angrily driving again and I doubted my mental state as my lips twitched at the corners at the fact she was angry at me.

The rain outside had became heavier till now as we still had to cover a long distance. I suddenly felt a rush of regression for asking her to drop me because it only got her more late and she had to drive back alone.

Alone?

“Didn’t you say your brother sent the car for you? There was no driver then?” I asked, turning to her. She didn’t reply.
She ignored me.

“I asked you something,” I said again, wondering if she’s really and at me. Suddenly, she abruptly stopped the car and I glanced out the window, realizing we were still half a kilometer away.

“I shouldn’t have offered you a ride in the first place” she muttered angrily. My face softened as I realized that I really hurt her.

“Okay, I’m sorry if you really felt—” my words were cut short as she abruptly stepped out of the car. “What the hell are you doing, Aaliya?!” I shouted stepping out into the heavy rain that instantly soaked me from head to toe.

I walked around to the other side of the car to find her standing against it, her head tilted towards the sky, allowing each raindrop to cascade over her face.

I couldn’t help but notice how her drenched, yellow suit clung to her body, revealing her entire figure.

“Get inside the car now!” I said stepping in front of her but she didn’t minded opening her eyes but instead, she tightened her eyes more not to open it and I again noticed the heavy rain pouring over her.

“I’m sorry and I won’t be coming with you. You can go back alone!” I said holding her by her both arms and forcing her to look at me. “Aaliya! Fucking look at me!” I hissed angrily watching her all wet.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me letting out a light sigh. “Get inside the car. I won’t be coming with you.” I said and I doubted if I’ve ever talked to someone as calm as the words left my mouth.

She didn’t moved even a little and just stared at me without saying anything. “Aaliya please! What’s wrong? If you’re mad at me then I’m sorry. I’m really sorry! Now don’t stand in the rain and please sit inside.” I requested but she still stared at me without any word.

“Why do you care about wether I get wet in this rain or sit inside the car?!” She shouted at me jerking off my hands from her arms. My brows wrinkled as I listened to her. “What do you mean by why, you’ll get cold” I said and she again replied right away.

“Why do you have to show that fake care, send those flowers, worry if I have to walk back home alone if you can’t..” She breathed rapidly and I just stared at her confusingly. “Move forward.” My eyes suddenly stopped at her eyes tilting my head, hearing her words.

“I’m…I don’t know why..” Her face suddenly started curling up as she gulped. “I’m maybe too naive or what my father said was right maybe…” My thumb brushed down her cheek as I saw a tear rolling down her eyes but didn’t even wanted to stop her because I wanted her to let out everything.

I waited desperately to know what her father said to her unknown to what I was going to do seeing her so hurt.

“But it’s also not my fault…I don’t know where I went so bad to be not even worthy for any kind of lov—” I put my index finger over her lips, stopping her from saying something very wrong.

“Shh, don’t you dare even think that way.” I panicked seeing her face go more emotional as more tears made it’s way down her cheek.

She shook her head rapidly. “Then why do I always fall for ones who are not meant for me?” She asked and my heart tightened and I didn’t even know why.

It didn’t sounded like she was talking about some previous ones, but she was talking about now. She was in love with someone now, and it released a surge of  jealousy in my entire body without even having any idea about the reason.

It’s her heart.

Her life.

But still I fucking mind it if she falls for someone…else.

I looked back at her to find her already staring at me. “You’re all wet, go back home quickly.” I said coldly containing from asking her anything about the person she was talking about.

I tucked her all hair strands behind her ear gently, holding her by the chin and looking at her face. “I’ll go back by myself, it’s not even far anymore. You go back home.” I said and she nodded slightly not looking in my eyes.

She took a heavy breath and turned around before holding the door handle. I watched as she opened the door but wasn’t going inside. 

“What are yo—” I was cut by a sudden grip on my head. “Don’t come in front of me ever again.” she hissed as her eyes fell down to my lips. And the next thing I know was, her lips on mine.

Usually, I would have resisted, finding a reason to stop myself. But today, there was no reason, no hesitation.

I couldn’t help but cup her face and surrender to the kiss completely. It felt like there might not be another chance, and deep down, I feared that could be true.

Her hands roamed around my neck, pulling me closer. I leaned downer as she wanted, pressing her against the car, not giving a fuck about the passing vehicles on the road behind us.

As the kiss intensified, my hands moved from her cheeks to her hair, gripping it tightly, pulling her even closer, as if there was any space left between us.

I pulled my jacket off and wrapped it around her back because I knew it.

I wasn’t letting her go anytime soon.

__________________________________☁️_______

So this was another late update, but I had already informed in the previous chapter about the reasons.

I think the next chapter might be up in a week.

But….Complete the vote target please as this is the last time I updated without the target completed.

That’s a single click, all I’m asking for.