Chapter 53: Through Thick And Thin

Moments later,

(The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the apartment, tension thick in the air.

Before Aryan could process it, the main door swung open, and his manager stepped in, guiding Purab and Naina inside.

The moment Aryan saw them, relief crashed over him like a tidal wave.

Without hesitation, he crossed the room in quick strides, his heart pounding.

Without a word, he pulled both of them into a tight embrace, holding onto them as though they were his lifeline.

His fingers curled into the fabric of Purab’s hoodie and Naina’s jacket, drawing strength from their presence.

For the first time since the nightmare began, he felt like he could breathe.

The warmth of their reunion softened the sharp edges of panic that had settled in his chest.

He wasn’t alone in this. He never would be.)

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Later…

(Purab sat beside Aryan, his arm slung casually over the back of the couch, though the concern in his eyes betrayed his relaxed posture.

Naina stood nearby, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of determination and quiet reassurance.

Aryan’s parents and Niyati sat at the dining table, watching the interaction with silent gratitude.

The tension in the room was palpable, but their presence brought a flicker of hope.)

Aryan: (shaking his head, still in disbelief) I can’t believe you guys are here!

Naina: (rolling her eyes, patting his back) Aur kahaan hote, yaar?!

Purab: (grinning) Tu tension mat le… sab theek ho jayega!

Aryan: (voice breaking slightly) Nothing is okay, Purab! The news is everywhere! Even my PR team can’t control this anymore. I swear, I wasn’t even out last night! And now they’re calling me a criminal?!

Naina: (firmly) Aryan, listen to me. We know you didn’t do this. Hum sab tere saath hain. Okay?

Purab: (nodding) Exactly. Tu bas sambhal apne aapko. Baaki hum sambhaal lenge.

Aryan: (running a frustrated hand through his hair) The police and my PR team are already on this. But it’s spiraling out of control.

Naina: (thoughtfully) Then I’ll work with them. Shayad kuch aisa mile jo ab tak kisi ne notice nahi kiya ho.

Aryan: (blinking in surprise) Really? You would do that?

Naina: (offering a small, confident smile) Haan, you know my observation skills are amazing! I’ll visit your PR team’s office, go through everything myself. Mujhe location forward kar de.

Aryan: (dismissing her request) Location ki zaroorat nahi. Neeche meri gaadi aur driver hain. He’ll take you wherever you need to go.

Naina: Theek hai.

Aryan: (his voice softer now, full of gratitude) Thank you so much, Naina. Yahaan sab kuch itna twisted hai, I just needed a pair of trustworthy eyes jo sach dhoond sake… and I’m so glad you’re here.

(Naina nodded, giving him an encouraging smile, before turning toward the door.

Just as she was about to leave, Aryan’s mother stood up.)

Lady: Ek minute, puttar!

Naina: (pausing, looking back) Haan ji, aunty?

Lady: Kuch kha ke jao, beta. Mujhe nahi lagta ki tumne subah se kuch khaya bhi hoga.

Naina: (smiling reassuringly) Aunty, waapis aake kha lungi, promise. Par abhi yeh kaam zyada zaroori hai.

(Aryan’s mom frowned but nodded reluctantly.

Naina gave her one last smile before stepping out, her mind already racing with possibilities.)

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(Aryan watched the door shut behind her, his heart swelling with gratitude. He exhaled slowly, shaking his head in disbelief.

Purab, noticing the overwhelmed look on his face, nudged him lightly.)

Aryan: (muttering) Naina kabhi-kabhi kuch zyada hi kar deti hai, apne doston ke liye… I don’t even know what to say.

Purab: (smirking) Kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Bas bharosa rakh, sab theek hoga.

(Aryan ran a hand over his face, exhaustion creeping in.

Then, almost as if a sudden thought struck him, his gaze snapped back to Purab.)

Aryan: Tum dono ko yahaan nahi aana chahiye tha… Kiara ka national championship race aa raha hai, aur tumhe wahaan hona chahiye uske saath.

Purab: (dead serious) Aryan, don’t even think about that. Tujhe hamari zyada zaroorat thi. Aur waise bhi, Kiara ke paas support system hai. But you? You needed us. We couldn’t let you face this alone, bhai.

(Aryan swallowed the lump in his throat, looking at Purab with quiet gratitude.

Then, his eyes flickered toward his parents and Niyati, their reassuring smiles adding a sliver of hope to his otherwise heavy heart.

For the first time in hours, he felt like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay.)

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Later,

In the evening

in Aryan's Living Room,

(The living room was alive with the sound of a heated video game match, the rhythmic clicks of controllers filling the space.

Aryan and Purab sat on the couch, eyes locked on the screen, fingers moving rapidly over the buttons.

The tension that had gripped Aryan all day had begun to ease, thanks to Purab’s effortless ability to distract him.)

Purab: (grinning) Bhai, tu hamesha haarta hai mujhse! Maan le, main tera guru hoon!

Aryan: (shoots him a glare but smirks) Ek aur game khelte hain… phir dekh, kaun kiska guru hai!

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Just then,

(Niyati walked in with the house help, carrying a tray laden with steaming cups of tea and a plate of snacks.

She placed it on the coffee table, her face lighting up as she caught a rare, fleeting smile from Aryan.)

Niyati: Chalo, tum dono ke liye energy boost aa gaya!

(She started pouring tea into the cups.

Aryan gave her a small nod of thanks but kept his eyes fixed on the screen.

Purab, however, grabbed a samosa without breaking focus, munching away as he continued his winning streak.)

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Suddenly,

(Aryan’s phone vibrated on the table. The sharp sound cut through the relaxed atmosphere, and for a brief second, everyone stilled.

Aryan glanced at the screen—Nunu. His chest tightened.)

Purab: (nudges him) Ghabra mat, bhai… phone uthaa le.

(Aryan exhaled and picked up the call.)

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Aryan: Haan, Naina?

Naina: (voice upbeat, almost excited) Good news hai!!! (exclaims) It’s NOT your car!!!

Aryan: (his breath catches) Kya?! Are you serious?

Naina: Haan haan, bilkul! Pehle toh car ka number clear nahi tha... I could only figure out one thing, that was the model of the car.   It was similar to yours.... But woh tumhaari car nahi thi.

Aryan: (sitting up straighter) Tum sure ho, Nunu?

Naina: Bilkul sure! Ek aur angle se CCTV footage mila, aur asli culprit ki car clearly dikh gayi!

(Aryan could barely believe it. Relief surged through him, making his fingers tremble slightly as he ran a hand through his hair.)

Aryan: Nunu… tumne yeh sab kaise kiya?

Naina: (chuckles) Pura din isi mein laga diya, boss! Sab evidence collect kiya, media ko bheja... aur ab unki correction news tayaar ho rahi hai. And I have even made sure that tha news channels issue an apology for you!! Aur haan, tumhaari PR team bhi press conference organize kar rahi hai.

(Aryan swallowed hard, emotion thickening in his throat. She had done all this… for him.)

Aryan: Nunu… thank you. Tu nahi jaanti, tu ne mere liye kya kiya hai. Poora din footage dekhna, media ko handle karna, PR team ke saath baithna… I don’t know how to repay you.

Naina: (snorts) Oye! Teri yeh senti dialogues sirf teri movies mein achhe lagte hain, woh bhi violin waali background music ke saath.

Aryan: (soft chuckle) Nahin, Nunu. Aaj mujhe senti hone de… yeh jo tu ne mere liye kiya hai, main shayad kabhi repay nahi kar paaunga.

Naina: (mock serious) Tu gaanja phoonk ke baitha hua hai kya??? Tera dimaag toh thik hai? Yeh kya stupid baatein kar raha hai? Repay kaise karunga?

Aryan: (smiling) Tu kabhi serious ho sakti hai, kya?

Naina: (dramatically) Ho sakti hoon, par maza nahi aata! Tum log mujhe emotional bana doge toh mera comic timing kharaab ho jayega! (laughs)

(Aryan shook his head, the tension in his body finally melting.

She had an uncanny way of making even the heaviest moments feel lighter.)

Naina: Accha sun, ab main office se nikal rahi hoon… aur mujhe bahut bhookh lagi hai!  Raat ke liye kuch accha khaane ka intezaam kar. Aur haan, ab toh main bhi daaru bhi pee leti hoon, toh apni best wine nikaal! Let’s treat ourselves tonight!

(Aryan let out a real laugh—one that had been missing all day.)

Aryan: Okay boss! Khaane mein kya khaana hai, woh bhi bata de.

Naina: Lambi list hai, boss!!! Pehli baar Mimbai aayi hoon, I want to try out a lot of things.... (smiles) ek kaam karti hion.... main, tujhe WhatsApp kar deti hoon. Theek hai?

Aryan: (chuckles) haan, haan Theek hai... send me your list. (Smiles) see you soon.

Naina: Bye!

(Aryan ended the call and leaned back on the couch.

He exhaled deeply, his entire body finally relaxing.

The weight of the day’s stress lifted as he processed the news. He was in the clear. Thanks to Naina.)

(Purab, who had been silently watching, smirked.)

Purab: Bhai, tujhe sach mein duniya ki best dost mili hai.

Aryan: (soft smile) Pata hai, Purab… pata hai.

(Niyati placed a cup of tea in front of him, warmth and understanding in her eyes.)

Niyati: Ab toh araam se chai pee sakte ho, right?

(Aryan chuckled, nodding as he picked up the cup. Tonight, for the first time in days, things finally felt normal.)

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Then,

(Purab and Niyati exchanged a glance and then walked toward Aryan.

Purab placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, while Niyati knelt down beside him, her soft eyes filled with warmth.

Without a word, both of them wrapped Aryan in a tight hug.)

Purab: (grinning) Bola tha na, yaar? Hum sab tere saath hain. Kuch galat nahi hone denge.

Niyati: (smiles, her arms still around Aryan) Main Papa aur Bebe ko jaake bataati hoon. Unhe bhi tension ho rahi hogi

(Aryan quickly shook his head, stopping her.)

Aryan: (gently) Nahi, Niyati. Mummy-papa rest kar rahe hain. Let them be. Baad mein bata dena.

Niyati: (nodding understandingly) Theek hai, Aryan. (pauses) Waise, Naina aur kya keh rahi thi?

(Aryan chuckled, a genuine laugh breaking through his earlier tension.)

Aryan: Keh rahi thi relax karne ko aur dinner ke liye kuch accha arrange karne ko. Aur haan, she wants good food and some nice wine! (laughs, showing his phone) Dekho, WhatsApp pe poora list bheja hai usne!!

(Purab smirked, leaning over to peek at Aryan's phone.)

Purab: (teasing) Sahi hai, Naina. Pehle PR office mein kaam karwa liya aur ab dinner ka order bhi de diya.

Niyati: (laughing) Haan, theek hai. Aaj ki raat ko special banaate hain. Tumhaare liye bhi zaroori hai thoda chill karna. (stands up) Abhi chalo, pehle chai peete hain. phir dinner, aur baaki sab arrange karte hain.

(Niyati politely signaled the house help to serve tea to everyone present.

One by one, steaming cups were handed out, and they all settled onto the couch. The atmosphere, which had been tense for hours, now carried a sense of calm and relief.)

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Later,

At night:

(The mood in the apartment had lifted considerably.

With the matter finally resolved, everyone was visibly relaxed. Aryan's innocence had been proven, and the rumors had been debunked.

Now, everyone sat around in the living room, drinks in hand, smiles on their faces, enjoying a rare moment of peace after days of tension.

Naina leaned back on the couch, a playful smile on her lips as she looked over at Aryan.)

Naina: Waise, mujhe pehle se hi pata tha ki yeh sab fake news hai. Yeh toh, tu ho hi nahi sakta tha.

Aryan: (raises an eyebrow) Oh, accha? Itna bharosa tha mujh par?

Naina: Tujh pe nahi.... aunty ke rajma- chawal pe poora bharosa tha!!!

Aryan: matlab?

Naina: (gives a cheeky smile) Kal raat ko jab, main tujhse phone pe baat ki thi, tu toone kya bola tha?

Aryan: (confused) kya?

Naina: toone bola tha ki, 'aaj toh Bebe ne Rajma chawal banaaye hain. toh, aaj raat toh main sirf pet bhar ke nahi, mann bhar ke khaaunga.

(Everyone burst into laughter as Kiara continued her 'theory.')

Naina: Aur, hum sab ko pata hai... ki jab tu mann bhar ke, aunty ke haath ka khaana khaata hai... toh uske baad, tu ghode bhechke sota hai!!! Aise sota hai, ki duniya idhar ki udhar ho jaye, tu nahi uthne wala!!!!! Toh zaahir se baat hai, ki you were not the one driving the car, and causing the accident late at night yesterday.

(Aryan laughed, shaking his head at Kiara's playful teasing.)

Aryan: Achha, toh yeh hai tere bharose ki asli wajah? Bebe ke rajma chawal?

(Everyone laughed even harder, the tension of the last few hours, finally melting away completely.)

(Aryan's parents smiled, watching their son surrounded by people who knew him so well, while Niyati slipped her hand into Aryan's, giving him a gentle squeeze.)

Niyati: (raises her glass, looking around) Well, I'd say this deserves a toast-to good friends and family. Aur hamesha saath dene wale logon ke liye!

(They all lifted their glasses, toasting to the bonds that had held them together through thick and thin.

For Aryan, this moment was a reminder of the people who truly mattered-those who believed in him no matter what. And in the warmth of their laughter, he felt truly at peace.)

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Author’s Note

Hey, amazing readers! ❤️

What a rollercoaster, right? 🎢 From tension and drama to heartwarming friendship and a hilarious "Rajma Chawal Theory"—this chapter had it all! 😂 Naina, as always, is a total rockstar, and Aryan is lucky to have a squad that has his back no matter what. ✨

Now, it’s YOUR turn! 💬

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