The Rathore mansion was bustling as usual, with the entire family under one roof. Aarav had always been the life of the house, and his bond with Sia was natural, given their shared interests and easy camaraderie. Yet, for Arjun, that bond felt like a thorn digging deeper into his already confused heart.
The Breaking Point
It was a quiet evening, with the family gathered in the living room. Aarav sat beside Sia on the couch, showing her a funny meme on his phone. Their shared laughter filled the room, catching Arjun's attention from across the space.
Candy lay at Arjun's feet, while Snowy had made herself comfortable near Sia. Arjun's gaze hardened as Aarav leaned closer to Sia to point something out.
"Isn't it hilarious how we thought that prank would work, and it completely backfired?" Aarav laughed.
Sia giggled, shaking her head. "I still can't believe you convinced me to go along with it!"
Arjun stood abruptly, startling Candy. His tone was sharp. "Don't you have anything better to do, Aarav?"
The room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward Arjun.
Aarav frowned, confused. "What's your problem, Bhai?"
"My problem?" Arjun's voice was cold. "Maybe it's that you don't know when to draw boundaries."
Sia's eyes widened. "Arjun, what are you saying?"
"You know exactly what I'm saying, Sia," Arjun snapped. "The two of you are always laughing, talking, and acting like..." He stopped, realizing how childish he sounded.
"Like what?" Aarav's tone was serious now. "Say it, bhai."
Arjun looked away, muttering, "Forget it."
The Confrontation
Later that evening, Sia found Arjun in their room, pacing. Candy sat on the bed, his head tilted in concern as he watched Arjun.
"Arjun," Sia said softly, closing the door behind her.
He didn't stop pacing. "What is it, Sia?"
She took a deep breath. "We need to talk."
"Oh, now you want to talk?" he said bitterly. "After spending the whole day with Aarav?"
Sia's patience snapped. "Arjun, Aarav is your brother! Your family! How can you even think there's something wrong with our bond?"
"Because I see the way he looks at you," Arjun shot back.
Sia stared at him in disbelief. "He looks at me like a brother would look at his sister. Just because you're too caught up in your own insecurities doesn't mean you get to question my intentions or Aarav's!"
Arjun froze, her words hitting him like a slap.
Sia's Calm Explanation
Sia softened her tone, stepping closer to him. Her voice trembled, but her resolve was firm. "Arjun, your family... they're not just yours anymore. They're mine too. Ishika and Aarav feel like the siblings I never had. I've spent enough time in this house to love them as my own. But you..." Her voice broke slightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You don't see me the way I see you. I know I don't hold a place in your heart as your wife. At least, not yet."
Arjun turned away, his fists clenching. He hated seeing her like this, yet the storm inside him wouldn't calm. "Sia, you don't understand. I'm not the one who's pulling away. There are things going on that you don't know aboutâthings I'm trying to figure out. But you... you can't just let yourself be caught in the crossfire."
"I'm not letting anyone control me, Arjun. I just want you to see me, to understand that I'm not some outsider. I'm here. I'm trying. Can't you see that?" Sia's voice cracked as she spoke, her hands trembling slightly.
Arjun ran a hand through his hair, his frustration palpable. "It's not easy for me, Sia. I feel like I'm being pulled in a thousand directions. There's so much going on, and I can't even make sense of it."
"Then stop letting it control you!" Sia said firmly. "You're stronger than this. We're stronger than this. But you have to stop pushing me away."
Candy, sensing the tension, barked softly and nudged Arjun's hand, trying to defuse the moment.
Arjun let out a bitter laugh, kneeling to pat Candy's head. "Even Candy seems to hate me these days."
Sia crouched down beside him, her voice gentle now. "He doesn't hate you. He just doesn't understand why you're being so distant... and honestly, neither do I."
Family Ties and Moments of Clarity
The next morning, Sia walked into the kitchen to find Aarav making coffee.
"Morning," he said, handing her a steaming cup.
"Morning," she replied with a faint smile, wrapping her hands around the mug.
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "Arjun bhai still mad at me?"
Sia sighed, leaning against the counter. "It's not you, Aarav. He's struggling with... everything."
Aarav chuckled lightly, though there was an edge of seriousness in his tone. "Struggling to admit he loves you, you mean."
Sia blushed, looking down at her coffee. "He doesn't love me."
"Oh, he does," Aarav said confidently, grinning. "He's just too stubborn to realize it."
Their conversation was interrupted by Arjun's entrance. His eyes immediately darted between Sia and Aarav, narrowing slightly as he walked to the coffee machine.
"Morning," Arjun muttered, pouring himself a cup.
Candy and Snowy padded into the kitchen, their tails wagging. Snowy went straight to Arjun, licking his hand, while Candy stationed himself protectively near Sia, earning a sharp glare from Arjun.
"You really need to stop acting like her bodyguard," Arjun grumbled at Candy, who barked in response.
Aarav smirked. "Looks like you've got competition, bro."
Arjun shot him a look but didn't respond, focusing instead on Snowy's eager affection.
Later that day, Arjun found himself watching Sia from the balcony. She was in the garden with Ishika, laughing as they played with Candy and Snowy. Despite the weight of the situation, Sia's laughter was light, her face radiant in the golden sunlight. She carried herself with a quiet strength that tugged at his heart in ways he didn't fully understand.
Arjun leaned against the railing, sighing deeply. Why was it that every time he lashed out at her, he felt an unbearable weight of regret afterward?
"She doesn't deserve this," he muttered to himself. "She doesn't deserve my anger, my doubts."
He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts swirling. "Why do I keep doing this? Why can't I just let go of my anger?"
As he turned to leave, his lips curved into a faint, rueful smile. "One day, you're going to be the death of me, Sia."