Aanya walked back toward her friends, her steps slow and heavy.
Tara noticed first. "Aanya… what happened? Are you crying?"
Before Aanya could answer, Devika noticed her from a distance. The redness in Aanya's eyes didn't go unnoticed.
Devika walked toward her quickly.
"Aanya beta, what happened?"
Aanya froze for a second, shocked that Devika had seen her like this.
Devika asked again, concern filling her voice,
"Why are you crying?"
Aanya immediately shook her head. "No, aunty… I'm not crying."
Devika looked at her closely. "Did Aryan say something to you?"
Aanya went still.
"Mr. Aryan?" she repeated, confused and nervous.
"I saw you talking to Aryan a little while ago," Devika said gently.
Aanya didn't know what to say. After a pause, she forced a smile.
"No, aunty. Mr. Aryan didn't scold me. It's just… something went into my eye. And my hands have mehendi, so I couldn't rub it."
Devika looked at her, clearly unconvinced.
Aanya quickly added with a fake smile,
"Now I'm fine, aunty."
Devika nodded slowly. "Oh… okay."
Aanya walked away, and her friends followed her. But Devika remained standing there, her doubt still lingering in her eyes.
Inside Aanya's room, the silence felt heavy.
Nisha broke it first. "Aanya… we all know you lied to aunty. But you can tell us the truth. What really happened?"
Meera nodded. "Yes, Aanya."
Aanya stood near the bed, clenching her mehendi-covered hands.
"What will I even tell you guys?" she said helplessly. "Even I don't know why Mr. Aryan is avoiding me. Sometimes he's so good to me… and sometimes, I don't know what happens. I just can't understand his mood swings."
Tara frowned. "Did you ask him the reason?"
"Yes," Aanya replied softly. "But he didn't say anything. Mr. Aryan always hides things. He never expresses what he feels."
Tara looked at her seriously. "Aanya, before it becomes too late, you have to express your feelings."
Meera agreed immediately. "Yes, Aanya. Like you said, he isn't expressive. You'll have to take the first step."
Aanya shook her head slowly.
"No, Meera… I can't. How can I? He's not even talking to me now. And why should I always be the one to express? He should also show something, right? Only then I'll know if he likes me or not. Only then can I take a step."
Her voice cracked.
"But he's not even caring," Aanya whispered.
Later that night, Devika sat in her room, flipping through Prerna's photo album.
A soft smile appeared on her face as she looked at the pictures.
Just then, Aryan passed by the room. He noticed her and stopped. After a moment, he walked inside.
"Mom, what are you doing?" he asked.
Devika looked up and smiled. "Aryan, come… sit."
Aryan sat beside her. Devika pointed at one of the pictures.
"Look at this."
Aryan glanced at the photo. Prerna was just a little child in it.
"She was so small then," Devika said softly. "And now… tomorrow she's getting married."
Aryan nodded. "Yes, Mom. She's grown up now."
Devika's eyes became moist. "She's getting married… and next, you will too," she teased lightly.
"Mom, please stop," Aryan said.
"What do you mean, stop?" Devika laughed. "You have to get married someday, right?"
"Yes, I know," Aryan replied. "But right now, the topic should be Prerna's marriage."
Devika laughed again. Aryan smiled faintly.
"Okay, Mom. You should take some rest now," he said, getting up.
Just as he was about to leave, Devika called out,
"Aryan."
He stopped. "Yes, Mom?"
Devika looked at him carefully. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, Mom," he replied.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes. Why are you asking like that?" Aryan said, slightly confused.
Devika hesitated, then asked,
"Well… is everything fine between you and Aanya?"
Aryan froze.
"Aanya?" he repeated.
"Yes," Devika said.
"Why are you asking about her?" Aryan asked.
"I saw Aanya crying today," Devika said softly.
Aryan's heart skipped. "What? Aanya cried?"
Devika looked at him doubtfully. "Did you say something to her?"
"Did she tell you anything?" Aryan asked quickly.
"No," Devika said. "She didn't say anything. But I felt something was wrong."
Aryan looked away, guilt filling his chest.
Is she hurt because of me? he wondered.
"Do you know anything about it?" Devika asked gently.
"No, Mom," Aryan replied quietly. "I don't."
Devika hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm…"
Aryan forced a calm tone. "You should rest, Mom," he said and walked out.
As he walked toward his room, he suddenly stopped.
Aanya was standing in the hall.
She looked up and froze.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Aanya remembered his words from earlier. Her expression hardened. She started walking away.
As she crossed him—
"Aanya," Aryan called softly.
She stopped.
Slowly, she turned around.
Aryan looked at her, searching for words.
"I… I—"
"Well?" Aanya said calmly. "Is there something you want to say, Mr. Aryan?
I mean… earlier you said so many things, right? Is there anything left now?"
Aryan swallowed. "Aanya… Mom said you were crying. And I know… I shouldn't have talked to you like that."
Aanya's eyes dimmed.
"Oh," she said quietly. "So now you want to talk because aunty told you? Just like yesterday—you came with me only because you thought aunty would feel bad. Not because you wanted to."
Aryan didn't know what to say.
Aanya continued, her voice heavy.
"Then what, Mr. Aryan? Sometimes you're so nice to me… and sometimes I don't even know what happens. You suddenly treat me like a stranger."
Aryan looked at her, guilt clearly visible.
"You say you're very mature," Aanya added softly, "but honestly… I don't think so. You have mood swings. Sometimes even you don't know what you're doing."
Aryan nodded slowly.
"Yes. You're right," he admitted. "Sometimes I really don't know what I'm doing. And I'm… really sorry for that."
Aanya looked at him, surprised.
"I promise," Aryan continued, "I won't be like that again."
"Really, Mr. Aryan?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I really mean it."
Aanya searched his face.
"You're saying this because aunty told you to, right?"
"No, Aanya," Aryan said softly. "Mom didn't tell me to say anything. I wanted to apologize—for what I did."
Aanya felt her heart lighten.
After a pause, Aryan added casually,
"There's a butterscotch cone in the fridge. If you want… you can have it."
Aanya blinked, then smiled cutely.
"But you don't even like ice cream. So who bought it?"
Aryan's voice dropped slightly.
"I bought it. For you."
Aanya's smile widened.
"I know you like it," he added.
She looked at him, happiness shining in her eyes.
Aryan smiled back.
From a distance, Nandini watched them, her expression darkening.
I have to do something to keep them apart, she thought.
I can't let this happen. I will never allow Aanya to be with Aryan.
Nandini quietly walked to Devika's room and knocked softly.
"Devika… are you asleep?"
Devika, who was just about to lie down, turned toward the door.
"Sister-in-law? You?"
Nandini smiled and stepped inside.
"No, I was just about to sleep," Devika said. "Is there something important?"
Nandini sat beside her on the bed. "No… nothing important. I just came to see you."
Devika looked confused. "See me?"
"Well," Nandini continued casually, "tomorrow Prerna is getting married, right?"
Devika smiled warmly. "Yes… tomorrow only."
Nandini paused for a second, then asked slowly,
"And… what about Aryan?"
Devika looked at her doubtfully. "Aryan?"
Meanwhile, in the hall, Aryan suddenly said,
"Oh… I totally forgot."
Aanya looked at him. "What happened, Mr. Aryan?"
"I need to check whether Mom has taken her medicines or not," Aryan replied.
"Oh," Aanya nodded. "Okay. Good night, Mr. Aryan."
"Good night," Aryan said softly and walked away.
---
Back in Devika's room, Devika asked,
"What do you mean about Aryan's marriage, sister-in-law?"
Nandini hesitated, then said,
"Devika… I don't know how to say this, but I think Aryan likes someone."
Devika's eyes widened. Then she laughed lightly.
"What are you saying? Aryan likes someone?"
"Yes," Nandini said seriously.
Devika wiped the corner of her eyes, still smiling.
"Who is it then?"
Nandini leaned closer and said quietly,
"Aanya."
Devika burst out laughing.
"What? Aryan loves Aanya?"
Nandini frowned. "Why are you laughing?"
Devika wiped her eyes, still smiling.
"Then what are you thinking, sister-in-law? That Aryan likes Aanya?"
She continued calmly,
"They both hate each other. They are always fighting. There is absolutely no chance that Aryan likes Aanya."
Nandini froze for a second.
Then Devika added,
"And even Aanya doesn't like Aryan. I know her very well. She only tolerates him because of me. She thinks I'll feel bad if she says anything."
Nandini tried again.
"But Devika… I've seen them together."
Devika interrupted her.
"Sister-in-law, maybe even then they were fighting. That's how they are. They just don't get along."
Nandini nodded slowly. "Okay… now I understand."
She paused, then asked softly,
"But what about others?"
Devika looked at her sharply. "Others?"
"Yes," Nandini said carefully. "I mean… just like I thought this way, others might also think something is going on between Aryan and Aanya."
Devika fell silent.
Nandini continued, her voice low and serious.
"Devika, you only think. From the outside, what will people say? Aanya is so much younger than Aryan. If they see them together, they'll start talking."
She shook her head slightly.
"We know there's nothing between them. But outsiders don't know that. They'll talk badly. They'll question Aanya's character. Just because Aryan is older."
Devika's expression changed, worry slowly creeping in.
Outside the room, Aryan stood frozen.
Every word hit him hard.
Without making a sound, he turned away and walked off—his face unreadable, his heart heavy.
---
End Of Chapter 50.