When I woke up, I was on Manya's room floor. I had stayed there all night to be beside her, but she still hadn't woken up. I stood up, poured a glass of water, and sat next to her on the bed. Her eyes were swollen, her hair messy, and she was hugging her pillow tightly, murmuring through half-asleep sobs — "Jai… Jai… why did you break my heart?"
Each tear that slipped down her cheeks made my heart ache. I had never seen her cry like this — not for anyone. Usually, she'd cry when Sarthak scolded us or if someone said something harsh to her. But this time… this time, Jai had broken her completely. After today, I promised myself — she would never cry for him again. If he dared hurt her once more, I'd make him regret it forever.
She slowly opened her eyes, took the glass from me, and drank quietly. Then, as if realizing it all over again, she began crying once more. My heart was breaking just watching her.
"No one loves me, Sammy," she sobbed. "My parents left me when I was little, my brother hates me, and even Jai doesn't want me. Do you know how painful it is? My heart hurts so much… I shouldn't have come into this world."
Her words were like knives, cutting through me one by one.
"When I proposed to him, do you know what he said?" she cried, her voice trembling. "He said I'm childish, that I don't know what love is — that it's just attraction and I'll grow out of it. He said I'm immature and deserve someone better. But how would he know that? I only deserve him! My heart beats for him, no one else. I'm not immature, I have my own company, I've lived alone for five years, I don't need anyone — but I still love him, Sammy. I still do!"
Her tears were falling endlessly, and my own eyes burned as I tried to hold mine back.
"Baby, don't cry," I whispered, wrapping my arms around her trembling shoulders. "Sometimes, people aren't meant to stay — they're meant to teach us something. If we hold onto them too tightly, they'll only hurt us again, and we'll stop trusting anyone else ever again. Please… stop crying now."
I wiped her tears gently, brushing her hair back. "Come on," I said softly. "Let's go downstairs, okay?"
She nodded weakly, sniffing, and we walked down together.
---
Downstairs, everyone was sitting on the sofa, discussing Anirudh uncle and Anvi's engagement. I sat on the floor and started noting down the names of guests while Manya began calling them one by one. The atmosphere was cheerful, filled with laughter and teasing. For a moment, I thought maybe she'd forget her pain.
Then Grandpa suddenly looked at her and asked, "Manya, do you have a boyfriend? Or should I choose someone for you?"
The question struck like lightning. I could see her eyes glisten again, but she forced a smile. "No, Grandpa," she said, voice tight. "I'll do an arranged marriage."
Everyone was shocked — except the grandparents, who didn't know about Jai.
Grandpa chuckled. "An arranged marriage, huh? Then how about Jai? You know him since childhood — your parents were friends, and he's tall, handsome, mature… what do you think?"
The moment his name left Grandpa's lips, my heart sank. No, Grandpa… no, I thought. I couldn't let her go through more pain.
Before I could speak, Manya suddenly said, "Okay, Grandpa. Talk to Jai's father. I'll marry him if you want."
Her words left me frozen. Grandpa's face lit up with happiness, while mine filled with disbelief. She stood up abruptly and walked away to her room.
Anvi and I followed her.
"What were you thinking, Manya?" I asked.
"I love him," she said fiercely, eyes red. "And it's Grandpa's choice — so he can't refuse this time. This time, he'll feel what rejection feels like. I'll marry him, but only for revenge. It'll be a contract marriage, nothing else. We'll act like a loving couple in front of everyone, and enemies behind their backs."
Anvi sighed, shaking her head. "Okay, just… don't do anything crazy, alright?"
But I knew her too well. She wasn't one to let things go.
---
That evening, when I came back from work, I froze.
Jai was sitting in the living room with his father and our grandparents. Manya was sitting quietly beside them — looking completely pale and lost. Grandpa and Grandma were talking to Jai's father excitedly, while I quickly went to the kitchen and dragged Manya with me.
"What are they doing here, Manya?" I whispered.
"I don't know," she said anxiously. "When I came home from the office, they were already sitting there! This is so embarrassing, Sammy — I don't want to marry him! I hate him now. I was just joking this morning — I didn't think Grandpa would actually call them. Please help me!"
"Okay, okay, calm down," I said, taking a deep breath. "I'll fix it."
But when we returned to the living room — they were gone.
"Grandpa, where did they go?" I asked.
He smiled calmly. "They went home. Manya, your wedding is set with Jai."
"What?" she shouted, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Grandpa, no! I don't want to marry him!"
"The marriage is fixed," he said firmly. "Nothing can be done now." And he left for his room.
Manya ran upstairs and locked her door. I knocked and called her several times, but she didn't open. I sighed, went to shower, and when I came out — Sarthak was already in the room, wearing his night suit.
I sat on his lap and sighed. "I feel bad for Manya. She's been crying for Jai, and now her marriage is set with him… poor baby."
He smiled faintly, brushing his hand through my hair. "Do you know, Sammy… Jai's sister, Alana, died in an accident. He's been investigating her death. And after that, his mother went missing. She was a mafia gang leader — so he's been keeping Manya at a distance to protect her. He loves her, but he can't say it."
My eyes widened. "What? Why do boys always hide everything and push us away? They reject us, act cold, and then say it's for our safety. Ugh! You know what — I'll tell Manya everything. I won't let her forgive him after knowing this."
Sarthak chuckled softly. "You're getting mischievous, Sammy."
He kissed me gently, then lifted me into his arms, placed me on the bed, and covered me with the blanket. "Sleep now, troublemaker," he whispered, kissing my forehead.
I smiled faintly. "Goodnight, bhaiya," I teased, just to see his reaction.
He smirked. "Don't start again, Sammy."
And just like that — we fell asleep, tangled in warmth, as another storm waited for us the next morning.