In shadows, truths lie veiled, unseen,
Masks adorn, emotions weave a screen.
Amidst the crowd, whose love sustains?
In life's dance, who truly remains?
"Are you really getting married?" My best friend, Arhaan Chauhan asked for the thousandth time.
"Do I need to shout it from the rooftops?" I snapped, my patience wearing thin."
"Great, then have a baby really quick so that my Agastya can play with him," he remarked casually, oblivious to my irritation.
"What am I to you? A child producing machine. And my child is not going to be a little toy with whom your kid can play." I shot back, my frustration boiling over.
"You sounded like a wife who is tortured by her husband to produce kids. And if my Agastya wants to treat your kid like a little toy then he definitely will. And stop being a snappy bitch," He said in a calm and unemotional tone.
That's why we are best friends, we don't let emotions overpower us. And because of that we always get what we want. My sights are already set on a girl with honey brown eyes. Her face appears in front of me whenever I close my eyes. And the way she ignored me only fueled my desire for her further.
"Find yourself a wife. You're sounding desperate. And have as many kids as you want," I said with a smirk, his jaw clenched.
It's his weak point.
"Dad," a sweet voice interrupted, and Arhaan's expression softened instantly.
We both turned to see Agastya, a spitting image of his father, but only in appearance. It's a relief that he is neither like her father nor like me in emotions.
"Yes, little champ," Arhaan replied warmly, and Agastya beamed as he approached us.
"I'm starving, Dad," Agastya whined, his pout drawing a chuckle from Arhaan.
It's still hard to believe that Arhaan is now a father to a six-year-old.I first met Agastya five months ago when Arhaan returned to India from London, where he had moved after college. Arhaan and I have been best friends since childhood.
"Let's go grab some dinner, buddy," I said, giving Agastya's cheeks a playful squeeze, and he smiled at me.
"Let's go, Chachu." Agastya said while holding my hand.
"Are you going to leave me all alone, my boy?" This little attention seeking bitch asked, and Agastya looked at him.
"No, Dad;" Agastya said while smiling at Arhaan.
"Let's go," Arhaan said, scooping up Agastya in his arms.
As we entered the dining room, I noticed our grandparents and parents were already chatting with each other, but there was a hint of sadness on Arhaan's mother's face. She's still grieving the loss of her youngest son, Aditya, who passed away four years ago.
"Dadi!" Agastya's enthusiastic voice echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention and bringing smiles to their faces. He's the only source of smile for the Chauhan family.
"My baby, come here," Aunty called, and Agastya eagerly darted from Arhaan's arms toward her.
"Dadi, I'm hungry," Agastya pouted.
"Food will be here soon," my dad, Devraj Singh Rathore, reassured with a smile, a rare sight from him.
Everyone was busy talking and laughing. And then I heard an angelic laugh making me look at the person. Siya was laughing at something while entering the dining room with her father and my sister.
"Chachi!" Agastya's excited voice caught everyone's attention, and everyone looked confused.
Chachi? Who's he calling Chachi? I glanced at Arhaan.
"Siya," Arhaan whispered back, his expression clouded with emotions.
How does he know her? And why am I suddenly feeling this surge of punching Arhaan to know Siya's existence before I knew about it?
Agastya ran from Aunty's lap towards Siya, leaving my father-in-law looking bewildered.
Agastya dashed forward and wrapped his arms around Siya's leg, who smiled at him.
I looked at them with curiosity.
My father-in-law's shocked expression mirrored my own confusion as he watched Siya and Agastya.
Siya knelt down and hugged Agastya, closing her eyes as she held him close.
Glancing at Aunty, I noticed tears glistening in her eyes as she looked with a mixture of love and emotion at Agastya and Siya.
"I'm mad at you," Agastya declared as Siya released him from the hug.
"Why, sweetheart?" Siya asked, peppering Agastya's face with kisses, making him giggle.
Siya's mother and my fiance entered the dining room, observing the scene with different expressions. Siya's mother was smiling, while Kavya appeared shocked and curious.
"You promised you'd always be with me, but you broke your promise," Agastya complained, Siya smiled sadly at him.
"I'm sorry, baby. But I promise from now on I'll always stay with you and only you," Siya assured him, and his eyes sparkled.
"Promise?" Agastya asked, extending his pinky finger, and Siya intertwined hers with his.
"Promise," Siya affirmed, sealing it with a kiss on his cheek.
"Siya," Aunty called softly, capturing everyone's attention.
Siya turned to Aunty, guilt evident on her face.
"Mumma," Siya uttered, and Aunty walked toward her.
I glanced at Isha, who also had tears in her eyes.
Siya embraced Aunty, who whispered something to her. My attention was solely on Siya, and it seemed like she would burst into tears any moment, but to my surprise, not a single tear fell from her eyes.
Siya broke the hug. I observed her family members; her father appeared both confused and surprised, her mother looked sad, well, Siya didn't hug her, and Kavya watched everything intently with a puzzled expression.
Kavya glanced at me and settled beside me, offering a smile which I didn't return.
"Are you upset with me, Rajveer?" Kavya asked, and I once again looked at Siya.
"Your existence means nothing to me. So, being upset with you is irrelevant," I replied in a cold tone.
"Raj, we're getting married. Can you at least show some care towards me?" Kavya asked, her voice tinged with desperation.
"Have you forgotten about the agreements you signed?" I reminded her, and her shoulder dropped, and she shook her head.
"Good. Engrave them in your mind. I have no tolerance for your irritating outbursts. And don't call me Raj," I said in an authoritative tone.
"Sorry," Kavya muttered, but my attention remained fixed on Siya, who is engaged in conversation with Aunty.
There's a captivating quality about Siya that draws me in. She's undeniably beautiful, and her honey-brown eyes stir something unfamiliar within me. In all my 32 years, I've never encountered a woman who intrigued me like this.
What's wrong with me? Why am I entertaining these thoughts about my sister-in-law?
"Don't look at her like that," Arhaan warned me, his voice tense. I glanced at him, surprised by his sudden intensity. He's never shown such concern before.
"Who is she to you?" I asked, watching as his gaze remained fixed on Siya.
"My brother's first and last love," Arhaan responded, and I paused.