"Wear this while the love of your life announces her wedding to your brother."

That was the note attached to the gift box I had just received.

I crumpled the paper in my fist, gritting my teeth. I need to do something about this stalker-she's seriously getting on my nerves lately.

Then my eyes went to the gift box. Inside it was a black tuxedo.

"If you want, I'll wear this. But too bad-I can never be yours. Never," I muttered to myself, knowing she was probably listening.

Still, I changed into the tuxedo, glancing at myself in the mirror.

Her taste is really good, I thought bitterly.

God, what's wrong with me?

I set my hair and put on my headphones, tuning into one of Vanya's old interviews. I've been doing this for the past seven years. Her voice is the only thing that can calm me down when I'm angry or on the verge of breaking. And I'll need that more than ever today-at the press conference.

She loves getting under my skin for absolutely no reason with these little stunts, knowing I'm already losing my mind,here.

I smirked to myself.

That's why I'm so obsessed with Vanya-it physically hurts. The only kind of pain I've grown to love.

I was halfway down the stairs when I saw her. She was standing near the door with Esha, who was fixing her hair.

God, why does she touch Vanya like she belongs to her and not me?

One day, I swear, I'll lock Esha up somewhere far away from her.

Then our eyes met-and just like always, everything froze.

For a moment, I saw a glimpse of the eighteen-year-old girl I fell in love with all those years ago.

I started descending the stairs, not breaking eye contact-not even for a second.

She didn't blink either.

I was halfway to her when I felt a light pat on my shoulder, and suddenly, her face lost all color. She looked away instantly.

No,No,No...

W-Wait... what just happened?

I turned around to find Raghav behind me. But he wasn't looking at me either.

He was looking past me-at Vanya-with the kind of gaze only a lover has when he's lost someone... through his own mistakes.

"Raghav," I said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He smiled faintly and pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back.

"Missed you, bro," he said, pulling away.

"Are you okay?" I asked, noticing the way his eyes glistened at the corners.

"Ugh-yes, of course. I'm absolutely fine. It's... it's just something got into my eye," he replied, wiping the corner of his eyes.

Third-class excuse. This moron's been watching way too many third-class daily soaps.

"Vihaan? Let's go. We'll be late for the press conference," Vanya said from behind.

I turned to her, confused.

"Ugh, Aarav left early to make some preparations. And Aunty asked me to come with you," she explained.

"Y-Yeah, sure. Let's go, Raghav."

As we reached the car, both Vanya and Raghav instinctively reached for the passenger door.

Vanya gave him a look that clearly said, If you get in, you die. Raghav backed off and slipped into the backseat, while Vanya took the front seat beside me.

I got in and started driving.

Raghav was unusually quiet, but I saw through the rearview mirror-his eyes hadn't left Vanya.

He just kept looking at her... with that same sad, broken gaze.

Meanwhile, she was beside me, busy taking selfies-like she didn't have a care in the world.

When we reached the press conference venue, Brayan opened the door for Vanya and escorted her inside, shielding her from the media's preying eyes.

As I opened my door to get out, my eyes flicked to the rearview mirror again.

Raghav was still sitting in the back, unmoving.

"Raghav?" I said, pulling him out of his daze.

"Huh?" he blinked at me.

"Let's go."

We both got out and walked in.

"Raghav, everything okay? You seem off."

"Yeah, everything's fine. Don't worry," he replied, brushing it off like always.

I didn't push. I needed to keep my focus on Vanya over the next few days. Or I might lose her forever.

Everything was ready. The mics. The table. The cameras.

My Vanya and my brother Aarav were about to sit there... and she was going to announce her marriage.

I let out a bitter chuckle.

"You love her, don't you?" Raghav said suddenly, eyes on Vanya with a soft, sad smile.

"Doesn't matter," I said flatly.

As if I don't spend every second of my life wondering how I'll survive without her.

As if every moment away from her isn't already tearing my soul apart.

The press conference began.

Vanya and Aarav were seated in front of the cameras. Reporters were settling in. I stood in the corner of the hall, Raghav by my side-as if he knew I was only seconds away from breaking down.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned to him.

"Wait here. I'm going to get some water."

"Running away again?" he asked, seeing through me like always.

"I-I'm not running," I muttered.

"प्यार करता है तो कह क्यों नहीं देता उसको?"

[If you love her, why don't you tell her?]

"नहीं कह सकता."

[I can't.]

"तो भूल जायेगा उसे?"

[Will you forget her?]

"नहीं."

[No]

Before he could say more, Vanya's voice echoed through the mic, pulling both of our attention to the podium.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen. Since everyone is here, without further delay, let me announce that I, Vanya Singh Rathore, am going to marry Aarav Kapoor."

And just like that... everything in me shattered.

I thought I could handle it.

I couldn't.

She said those words without breaking eye contact. Not even once.

I stumbled back, but Raghav caught me. My vision blurred with tears.

She was still looking at me-no flinch, no blink.

For a second, I saw hurt flicker in her eyes. But it vanished just as quickly.

"R-Raghav... I-I can't breathe," I choked out, eyes still locked on hers.

He took me out of the hall and handed me a bottle of water. I drank it all in one go.

"You want me to take you home?" he asked gently.

I shook my head violently, biting down on my fist to stop the sobs as tears kept streaming down my face.

"Vihaan?" he said, kneeling in front of me, cupping my face.

"Let's go back inside before they start searching for us."

"O-Okay," I replied, wiping my face with the back of my hand.

We reached the door again. The press conference was wrapping up.

I looked at Vanya as she stepped down from the stage.

But then... she froze.

And in the next moment-she collapsed.

Before my brain could register what happened-

"VANYA!" Raghav screamed and ran toward her.

She was unconscious.

I stood frozen at the entrance, watching as my best friend carried the love of my life in his arms.

"Bhai, let's go," Esha said, snapping me out of it.

We followed them.

Raghav sat in the backseat, holding Vanya close.

I sat in the passenger seat. Aarav was driving.

"Aarav, drive fast!" Raghav shouted.

"V-Vanya? B-Baccha, open your eyes please," he whispered to her, voice breaking.

What the hell is going on with him?

What is his relationship with my Vanya?

"Vihaan, pass me the water bottle."

I handed it to him.

He uncapped it and sprinkled water on her face-but she didn't stir.

"Just hold on, okay? We're almost there," he whispered, hugging her tightly, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

And me?

I was barely hanging on.

The car came to a halt.

"We're here," Aarav said, unbuckling his seat belt.

I hadn't even worn my seatbelt-I was too lost observing Raghav.

Before I could move, Raghav was already halfway inside the hospital, talking to the doctors.

They rushed Vanya into the ER.

Raghav paced back and forth.

I just stood there, watching him.

Then the ER doors opened. A doctor stepped out.

Raghav rushed to her immediately.

"D-Doctor, how is she? Why did she faint? She was just fine!" Raghav showered her with questions.

"Don't worry," the doctor said with a polite smile.

"She had a sudden anxiety attack. Looks like she missed her medication today. But she's stable now."

"A-Are you sure?, It's not serious?" Raghav confirmed.

"Yeah, nothing's serious just take care that she takes her medicines on time." The doctor said and left.

And I watched as Raghav exhaled sharply in relief.

___

My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I noticed was the beeping of machines.

After gaining full consciousness, I felt something warm.

I turned my head slightly.

There he was.

Raghav.

Sitting on the chair beside my bed, his forehead resting on the back of my hand.

Rage surged through me. I yanked my hand away.

His head lifted instantly, eyes wide.

“Baccha? You’re awake. You scared the shit out of—”

“Why are you here?” I asked coldly, cutting him off.

“Vanya—”

“Ohh, she might’ve sent you to check if I’m dead or not, right?” I mocked, cutting his words in half again.

“No,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Leave.”

“Listen to me at lea—”

“I said leave.”

And just like that...

He left.

Like he always does.

The doctor came in to check my vitals, and right behind her was Vihaan’s whole family.

“How are you feeling now?” Esha asked, her tone soft and caring.

“Fine. Just a slight headache,” I said, trying to sit up.

Vihaan helped me, arranging the pillows behind my back.

I gave him a small smile in return.

After the doctor left, only Vihaan, his mother, and Esha stayed with me.

“Vihaan, go inform Aarav that Vanya’s awake,” his mother instructed.

Vihaan hummed in acknowledgment and stepped out.

I was talking to Esha and aunty when I noticed something from the corner of my eye—

Raghav.

Gazing at me from the other side of the glass wall of my ward.

I quickly diverted my eyes, turning back to aunty as she began asking me why I don’t eat properly

—I’ve gotten too thin, she said.

My eyes burned.

With tears I couldn’t let fall.

I had to keep my composure.

So I blinked them away.

My whole life, I begged for a mother’s love.

And now that I’m getting it...

I can't accept it.

“Vanya!”

Grayson rushed in and hugged me tightly.

“I told you to be careful, didn’t I?” he scolded, cupping my cheeks.

I just stared at him blankly.

“You care too much,” I mumbled, brushing off his concern.

His next words made me freeze.

“I have to, because you don’t care enough,” he said, checking my temperature.

“Did you take your medicine?”

I shook my head, looking like a guilty child.

“Very good,” he mocked sarcastically.

Then gave—no—force-fed me my medicine, because let’s face it, I hate taking pills.

Hell, I don’t even like being in the hospital.

But never mind.

“Let’s go home,” Vihaan said, walking in.

“Yeah! Let’s go!” I squealed, already halfway off the bed—

Until Grayson made me sit back down.

“Not you,” he said firmly.

“What? Why?” I asked, sulking like a kicked puppy.

“The doctors are keeping you under observation for a few more hours,” Vihaan replied.

“But I’m fine!”

“No, you’re not,” Grayson snapped.

This bitc—

No, Vanya, don’t take stress.

You’re too pretty for that. Your pretty skin might break out due to too much stress.

So just chill.

I calmed myself.

“Are you going to stay?” I asked Grayson, who was now scrolling through his phone.

“I’m not like others,” he replied without even looking up.

But I knew exactly what he meant.

“Vihaan will come back after dropping his family home. Aarav had to leave for some important work and—”

He paused, taking a deep breath.

“He’ll stay too.”

I followed his gaze.

There stood Raghav, talking to the doctors.

“But don’t worry,” Brayan said, turning back to me and cupping my face, “I’ll never let him hurt you.”

“You must be hungry, hmm? I’ll bring you something.”

He left the room and returned a few minutes later with two veg rolls and cold drinks.

That made me chuckle.

He knows I despise hospital food.

“Here you go,” he said, handing me one of the rolls.

We ate in silence, then started playing games on our phones—

Well, technically, I was winning.

Basically because he was letting me win every. Single. Time.

“Good. Very good. I told you to put her to sleep and here you are increasing her screen time,” came Vihaan’s voice from the doorway.

Ugh... not again.

“I take care of her better than you ever could,” Grayson snapped.

“Ohh, I’m seeing how you ‘take care’ of her,” Vihaan mocked.

“I’ve been taking care of her since you weren’t even in her life.”

I quickly grabbed Grayson’s arm, stopping him before he could say anything more.

I didn’t want these two idiots killing each other over who cares for me more.

I pulled the blanket over my head and forced myself to sleep.

---

[Next Day]

Finally, I got discharged.

Though I had to beg Grayson like my life depended on it. But it’s fine.

As the car pulled up in front of Vihaan’s house, Grayson opened the door for me.

I stepped out, stretching like a lazy cat after a nap.

Breakfast was still an hour away, so I decided to go freshen up before Vihaan and Grayson killed each other just by throwing glares.

इनका enemies-to-lovers कभी नहीं हो पायेगा...

[Their enemies-to-lovers will never happen...]

As I locked my bedroom door and turned around, I saw it.

“You’re mine”

Written on the wall above the headboard.

In what I assume is blood.

I smirked.

Playing with me again...

My phone buzzed.

A text.

“Just because I’ve let you announce your marriage to the media doesn’t mean I’m okay with it.”

“You’re still mine.”

“You’re lucky that I love you too much to hurt you.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

But again—

No stress.

“I don’t care,” I texted back without thinking twice.

Then, I clicked a picture of the bloody writing and sent it to Grayson.

No caption. No explanation.

He’ll get it.

I locked my phone, tossed it on the bed, and walked straight into the bathroom.

Time for a long-ass stress free shower.