Anvi

I purse my lips, staring at the piercing eyes glaring back at me. See, I've never been one to disobey the people I love. I didn't defy my father when he told me I must become a lawyer, nor did I defy Shiv or my cousins when they asked me to break up with a certain guy they found not good enough for me.

I've always been a good little girl for my parents, my friends, my former boyfriends, humans in short. But ever since the younger Khurana has worked his magic on me, I can't help but go against every moral that I created for myself. From skipping classes to sneaking behind my closest friends, I've done everything for him, simply because it makes not only me but also him happy.

I didn't realise how bored I had been with my life until Ishaan and I started fooling around. The only time I ever had fun with my life was whenever I secretly snuck love letters into his locker and watched him read them while their send was right in front of him. And although I wouldn't call this fooling around anymore, the man has me at his fingertips and I wouldn't hesitate to do the smallest things to make him happy, I still don't know whether or not I've him to myself or not.

"You can't date him, end of discuss Khan"

I let out an exasperated sigh, my eyes rolling back to Shivyansh with a hint of annoyance. He was always quick to judge anyone I started dating.

'He's smoke' 'He doesn't even take you out or buy you gifts' 'Ek dum chapri hai ye wala toh'

And although I do agree with all those statements now, I can't bring myself to agree with his arguments this time.

"Anvi, he's never serious in a relationship. You know that, you've witnessed a girl storming out that very door crying after he 'broke up' with them."

I scoff at how he curls his fingers into air quotes around the words "break up," another one of his obnoxious habits when he's feeling sarcastic. His tone drips in mockery as if the words themselves couldn't be taken seriously.

"He's not like that with my shiv, you've to know, he's better now, he cares more for me than he did for his so-called girlfriends."

"Anvi just stop. What is wrong with you? You hated Ishaan ever since you were five. What changed so suddenly in the past few months that made you take this stupid step?"

I grip the arm of my chair, trying to refrain from the growing urge to throw hands at him this instant. The past few months changed nothing, only if Shiv knew, it wasn't months which made me fall in love, it was years—six years, ever since that one night.

The one night no one was aware of. One night, the younger one of these two siblings blindly had me falling in love with him.

"It's going to take you more than a few words to make this stop Shiv. Tu pyaar karke dekh, aapne aap samajh aajaega."

I inhale deeply, my gaze shifting from the ground to meet his intense stare. He parts his lips, ready to speak, but before he can utter a word, someone barges in, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"I never expected my brother to say things against me to my girlfriend, then I should be doing the same to yours too brother?"

I whip my head around to stare at Ishaan who was now standing at the open house door at which Shiv had point to a few minutes ago. I follow his gaze, which shifts from his brother Shiv to me. A mischievous grin spreads across his full lips, reminding me of the way they felt against mine just last night in his car before he dropped me home.

The memory floods my senses - the warmth of his breath on my skin, the taste of his lips, the intense connection. I shake myself out of it and focus on the present moment, trying to ignore the tingling sensation that still lingers on my lips.

"Well, I guess you and I both should start expecting the unexpected from each other then, huh?"

Ishaan scoffs at his brother's retort, before stepping inside the house and shutting the huge door to the Khurana mansion.

"Bhai, aapka kuch zyada nhi ho raha hai? Khud ko girlfriend nhi mil rahi hai toh meri wali ke piche paade hue ho."

I shut my eyes before burying my head between my hands with a deep sigh.

I love you, Ishaan. But you could help if you wouldn't always add fuel to the fire.

A low, grumble escapes from Shivyansh's lips and a sudden heaviness settles on my chest

If Ishaan keeps defying his brother, it'll lead them to fight. And when they fight, all sense of right or wrong and family bonds they have is lost, as if they are two strangers locked in battle instead of brothers bound by blood.

That's the thing about the Khuranas. Their temper is like a ticking time bomb, ready to blast at any moment. Whether it's the boys or their dad. Doesn't matter whether it's their closest friend or a stranger on the street. In anger, they see nothing but red, and when the Khuranas see red, disaster is sure to follow.

I feel the couch dip next to me, and a hand comes to rest on my shoulder, radiating warmth through my body. Ishaan gently removes my hands from covering my face with his free hand.

"It's a crime to hide such a beautiful face, Anvi," he says with a chuckle, sliding a finger under my chin and lifting my face to meet his gaze. His eyes sparkle with a hint of mischief before softening, causing my heart to flutter in my chest.

"He's going to absolutely murder you, Ishaan"

A low chuckle escaped his lips as I whispered to him, causing him to shake his head and move closer. His dark eyes light up with amusement and mischief.

"Koi nhi jaaneman, tum bhi uska murder kardena. Wese woh murder karne layak nhi hai, dekh toh usko, so fragile-"

"Tum dono ko pata hai na meko sab sun raha hai?"

The laugh I was about to let out gets caught in my throat as I hear Shiv's voice, and I push Ishaan away, before clearing my throat.

"We'll talk about this some other day okay? I don't feel well,"

Lie.

It was a blatant lie, but I couldn't risk Ishaan or myself getting hurt if things escalated. I was fine but now wasn't the time or place for me to try and make Shiv understand. If something happens to either of them in a fight or argument, it'll be because of me, and I can't afford for that to happen.

My hands move quickly, as they pick up the handbag I had set up on the floor. I spring up onto my feet and take a few tense steps towards the door, but my intentions are thwarted when a firm grip wraps around my wrist, yanking me back into a solid mass of muscle.

I look up at Ishaan, his features twisted into a fierce scowl, but he pays no attention to our position right in front of his older brother who glares daggers at us both. The air is thick with tension and I can feel my palms growing clammy against the smooth leather of my bag. He loses the scowl with he is battling Shiv before looking down at me.

"Why aren't you well? What happened?"

His thick, dark eyebrows raise in question, creasing the smooth skin above his piercing gaze. His fingertips gently graze the soft flesh of my cheek, sending shivers down my spine.

"N-Nothing, I just.."

"You just?"

This time it's Shiv who speaks up from his spot on the couch, breaking the tense silence. I try to turn towards him, but Ishaan's hand firmly grips my chin, silently urging me to hold his gaze. The heat of his touch lingers on my skin like a brand, and I can't help but feel a jolt of electricity shoot through me at his touch.

"Kindly ignore my older brother, ab bata mujhe, kya hua?"

I shake my head softly, scolding myself for not coming up with a better response.

"Kuch nhi hua Ishaan, just let me go okay?"

Ishaan

As she speaks those words, her eyes flutter away from mine, revealing a hint of vulnerability.

My initial instinct is to look up and glare at my brother for making the girl I love feel this way, but instead, I move beneath Anvi and gently pull her onto my lap. Behind her, I catch a glimpse of Shiv as he buries his face in his hands, likely exhausted by my behaviour.

Anvi slowly sinks into my embrace, resting her head against my chest with a deep sigh of frustration. I can sense her annoyance at my actions towards her best friend, but I can't help it.

I held onto her tightly, feeling her tremble in my grasp. She was worth more than any anger or wrath, even if it came from my own brother. I refused to leave her behind. This would either end with him coming around and accepting us or with me knocking him senseless.

Which is very much possible. These people underestimate me for no reason.

"You both never fail to get on my nerves,"

Shiv's voice boomed with deadly intensity, causing my lips to curl up in a smug smirk. I cleared my throat, determined to catch his attention and make him see reason.

"Acha bhai.. I heard an employee went missing from the company a few days ago.."

Anvi straightens up, her attention now fully focused on my words. My brother's head slowly rises from his palm and his eyes narrow as he gazes at me in deep questioning.

"What are you talking about?" Anvi asks, her voice laced with a hint of concern.

"I heard that someone got too close to your cousin and the next day he went missing,"

Anvi's eyebrows furrow in confusion and she leans back, her lips twisted in a frown.

"My cousin? Inu?"

I shake my head slightly, shooting a quick look at my older brother who seems to be getting angrier by the passing second.

"No, baby. I meant Mariam. Bhai ki cr-"

"Ishaan,"

Shiv interrupts me sharply, his warning tone echoing through the tense air. A silent chuckle rumbles in my chest at the sight of my brother's obvious irritation.

Oh, big bro, you've no idea what you are in for. Ladki ka chakar bas mera hi nhi chal raha hai.

"I mean Bhai ki employee hai na,"

Anvi's brow contorts into a slight frown, causing her eyebrows to furrow together in concern. I reach out and gently run my fingertips across her forehead, trying to smooth out the lines of worry etched there.

"Meko toh Mari ne kuch nhi bataya Ishaan, aesa kya ho gaya tha ki employee hi agale din office nhi aaya.."

"That's a question only Shiv can answer, my love,"

Anvi takes a deep breath, ready to ask Shiv questions, but before she can even open her mouth, he rises from his seat. His powerful frame towers over her and his eyes narrow, throwing a deadly glare in my direction.

"Mujhe iss baare me kuch nhi pata hai, so it's better if you ask your cousin only."

She opens her mouth to protest, but Shiv cuts her off with a stern tone.

"There are no buts Anvi."

Anvi withers against my chest again, disappointed by the lack of information from my brother. It's obvious that it was none other than my blood who took care of that guy. Shiv has suddenly been growing an unusual affection for one of the Khans, and fortunately, I am not the only one to notice, since Kyra was the one to give me all this information in the first place.

I look down at Anvi's small face, softly smiling at how a pout forms on her lips when someone refuses to answer her question. Throwing a look in my brother's direction, I lift her face towards mine, so close that our lips are inches apart.

An innocent glint sparkles in her eyes, and she sniffles under her breath. Leaning forward, I place a kiss on her forehead.

"Why are you even friends with this idiot of a guy?" I ask, scrunching up my nose in Shiv's direction, causing her to burst into a slow, melodic laugh.

A wide smile spreads across her rosy lips and her eyes crinkle into crescent moons as she chuckles at my playful gesture towards her friend. Shiv rolls his eyes but can't help his anger from dissipating as he hears Anvi's gentle laughter echoing through the house.

"You both are stupid," she says, her delicate lips grazing my cheek with a gentle peck, sending a shiver down my spine.

In the next instant, my lips find hers and our mouths hungrily devour each other's in a passionate embrace.

A soft gasp escapes Anvi's lips, only to be silenced by the kiss. Her hands weave through my hair, tugging at the strands as if trying to get closer to me.

I steal a quick glance at my brother, silently signalling for him to give us some privacy to which he responds with a knowing shake of his head before making his exit, leaving the two of us alone in our moment of pure bliss.

My hand wraps around Anvi's waist, pulling her closer to me by the nape of her neck. The warmth of her body radiates against mine, and I can feel her heart beating with my own. She leans into me, her lips eagerly meeting mine in a kiss.

As our surroundings fade away, I am lost in the sensation of her soft lips nibbling at mine before she takes my lower lip between hers, gently sucking on it.

It has been years since anyone has kissed me like this. And in this moment, I would give anything to hold onto every part of her - body, soul, and heart.

As our lips part, I trace a trail of kisses along her jawline, revelling in the shudder that ripples through her body. My hand tightens around her waist, pulling her closer as my lips move down to her neck. Tenderly nipping and sucking on the smooth skin, I am lost in the taste and scent of her delicate flesh against my own.

"Ishaan," she breathes out, her hands gently pushing me away from her body. A low growl escapes my lips at the loss of her warmth, and I lean forward to continue our passionate embrace. But she shakes her head with a quiet giggle.

"Hum ab bhi ghar pe hai Ishaan, your brother is fuming in the other room,"

"Hn toh?"

She cups my cheeks in her hand, her touch warm and comforting against my skin. With a playful smile, she places a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.

"Tum sachi me pagal ho," she says with a teasing glint in her eyes.

I roll my eyes at her statement, but I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. Wrapping both arms around her waist, I give her a tight hug, relishing the feeling of being held by her.

Pagal toh hu, bohot pagal, woh bhi pyaar me.

I smile at the little thought in my head, still unable to find the courage to tell her those three little words. Too afraid to reveal that I have been utterly in love with her since that one night we shared, a memory etched into my mind forever.

That one night no one else witnessed.

I wrap my arms tightly around her slender frame, savouring the intoxicating scent of amber that emanates from her skin. She presses her body against mine, fitting perfectly in the curve of my chest as I lean down to kiss the top of her head.

The memory of the words she had said when I stopped her from leaving floods back to me as I hold her body.

"Acha by the way,"

She hums softly against me, waiting for me to continue.

"I'm never letting you go"