Forbidden Mania

Basu'

ue over the living room. I sat on the floor by the large bay window, my knees dra

s like this, the city's chaos melting i

f the most renowned surgeons in the city, he rarely came home be

ather and me. We lived in a quiet neighborhood, the kind that felt both comforting and suffocati

ht of him alone brought

d. Growing up, we had spent every moment together-running through th

ugh every laugh and every tear, and I

all day, but that wasn't unusual. Arsh was busy, taking on more responsibilities with h

to call him, my phon

. Come up to

course, he wa

rs to the terrace. Our terrace had become our place, a

e scent of the evening's lingering jasmine. And there he was, leaning

oftly, closing th

smile lighting up his face. "I t

shaking my head. "As i

for a moment, everything felt right. His presence had a way of grounding me,

, resting my head against

d reassuring. "Work's been crazy. Mom's been drivi

y eyes met mine, and I could see the tiredness in them, t

grace and charm. But I knew him better than anyone. I could see the pres

softly, reaching up to smooth a lock of hair

w, Mishka. But I want to make things eas

e picture. I hadn't seen Raghav much growing up. He lived nearby, in a house provided by their father, but he had always been

suddenly, his tone lighter. "I came here to spe

the conversation. "Good. Because I

yebrow. "Oh? A

so boring, and I need a fresh start. I thought mayb

a, I have absolutely no idea how to decorate

sed. "Your opinion is more

worries of the world seemed to fade away, replaced by the warmth of our shared memories. This was what

safe, like nothin

purple, Arsh pulled me to the edge of the terra

over there?" he as

odd

house with a view just like that. Away from

t the thought. "You've got it

had this figured out the day I saw you for the f

h of his body against mine. "I don't

es locking with mine. "You'll alway

, filled with complications and unanswered questions, but here, with Arsh,

f the life we would build together. A life free of expectations, free o

tree that stood tall in the corner of the terrace. The calmness of the evening was hypno

ed brighter tonight, twinkling like promises whispered by the universe. I could feel Arsh's

murmured, breaking th

now?" Arsh replied, hi

see yourself i

tly. "Is this an

ad to look up at him. "I'm serio

ent, he seemed to consider his answer carefully, as if t

m. "Happy. Maybe traveling the world, or maybe settled down in that house with a v

sh better than anyone, and though he tried to hide it, I could sense the weight of his family's expectations pressing

ifting to tuck a stray strand of hair be

ing into his touch. "

future as long as it had him in it. Arsh had always been my everything, the one constant in my life. Losin

ce, pulling me from my thoughts. Arsh glanced ove

d, recognizing the famili

ing," Arsh replied, thoug

ning their hold on his shirt. "You do

softening as he looked down

ut

ng. "She wants me home early tonight

s mother, but there was always this tension, this invisible line he had to toe with her. And as much as I wanted to b

ing back from him. "But you'

led me in for one last hug. "Tomorrow, we

im head toward the door, the evening shadows playing across his figure. Befo

you, M

spoken like a promi

back, the words lingering in t

und me. Arsh was my world, and in moments like these, I felt like the luckiest person alive. But d

is

downstairs only to see him tensed. I imm

ything a

know you are an adult but him coming our home and not

t say anything to my Dad who wa

ut I don't want your heart to get hurt that'

tried to breathe all the