episode 12

After some rest, Harshita began to feel much better. Her face regained its color, and the exhaustion from the wedding day was finally lifting. Harshita’s mother, relieved to see her daughter recovering, sent Aditi on a small errand to call Harshita's father for an important discussion regarding the next steps of the wedding.

"Aditi, can you please go get your uncle?" Harshita asked softly, still lying down on the bed with a blanket covering her.

"Sure, didi. I’ll be right back," Aditi replied, trying to sound reassuring.

Aditi left the room and made her way down the corridor, her mind still buzzing with the events of the day. As she walked towards the living room, where her uncle was likely to be, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. There, standing directly in front of her, was none other than Aryan.

His tall, commanding figure blocked the path, and his sharp eyes immediately found hers. Aditi’s heart skipped a beat. She had been trying to avoid him all day, unsure of what to make of his intense gaze and the unsettling way he seemed to watch her from a distance. But now, standing so close to him, she felt trapped by his presence.

Without saying a word, Aditi turned her gaze away from him, trying to ignore his presence and walk past. She wasn’t in the mood for conversation, especially with him. Aryan, however, did not move. He stood straight, his posture rigid, as if waiting for something.

Aditi could feel the weight of his gaze following her every move. It was as if he was studying her, observing her without saying a word. She tried to keep her composure, avoiding eye contact as much as she could.

As Aditi quickly walked away from Aryan, trying to keep her composure, she was startled when his voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.

"What is your name?" Aryan asked, his tone firm and unwavering, as if he had every right to demand an answer from her.

Aditi froze, her heart racing. The confidence in his voice was unlike anything she had ever heard before. It was as if he had the power to make her stop in her tracks, and she couldn't help but feel a wave of unease wash over her.

Her mind scrambled for an answer. She hadn’t expected this sudden confrontation, and the pressure of his direct question made her feel exposed. For some reason, she felt compelled to lie, to hide a part of herself from him. Maybe it was the way he looked at her or the way his commanding presence made her feel vulnerable.

"My name is... Priya," Aditi said quickly, her voice slightly shaky. It was a name she had heard before, a name that didn’t belong to her. It was a false identity, a shield against the intensity of the moment.

Aryan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. There was a moment of silence, his gaze never leaving her face. Aditi couldn’t meet his eyes. She looked down, her nerves growing with each passing second.

"Priya, huh?" Aryan said slowly, almost as if testing the name. "Interesting choice." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—an intensity that made Aditi feel even more uncomfortable. "You don’t have to lie, you know."

Aditi could feel her palms start to sweat, and a knot tightened in her stomach. She didn’t know why she had given him a fake name, but she couldn't bring herself to reveal the truth. Maybe it was her instinct to protect herself from someone who made her feel so uneasy.

Before she could say anything else, Aryan took a small step closer, his presence overwhelming. "You know, there’s no need for games," he continued, his voice still steady and commanding. "You can’t hide forever."

Aditi’s heart pounded as she realized how vulnerable she felt in this moment, caught between the truth and a lie. But before she could respond, Aryan turned, his sharp gaze still lingering on her for a brief moment before he walked away, leaving Aditi standing there, shaken and breathless.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her mind raced, wondering what had just happened. Why had she felt the need to lie? And why did Aryan’s simple question make her feel so nervous, so exposed?

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