Yashika was sitting alone on the bench in their secret hideout — the place she and Chirag had once discovered together. The sun was setting, painting the sky with orange and pink hues, but Yashika barely noticed. She just sat there, staring into space, lost in her thoughts.
That's when she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up and blinked in confusion.
It was Chirag.
Chirag came near her, his face looking hard, his eyes red-rimmed as if he hadn't slept in days.
"So, are you happy now?" Chirag said coldly. "You must be, right? After making Kanika leave me. After getting Milli to slap me. After turning Papa against me."
"What?" Yashika said, her eyes widening. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you're so good at playing dumb, aren't you?" Chirag said, scoffing. "Don't act like you don't know anything."
"Chirag, I really don't know," Yashika said. "Did… did Milli really slap you?"
"Cut that rubbish," Chirag snapped. "You really know how to act innocent, don't you? Fine. Do whatever you want. I don't need any of you. Not you… not Papa. I can live alone my whole life."
Yashika's lip trembled, tears welling up in her eyes. "Chirag… why are you saying all this? What's happening to you?"
"Oh wow, now look at you," Chirag said bitterly. "Crying and acting like you're the one who's been wronged. Playing innocent as always."
"Chirag, please. What happened?" Yashika said, her voice shaking. "I never did anything to hurt you."
"Anyway, I'm fine on my own," Chirag said. "So just get lost. I don't give a damn about you."
He turned to leave. Yashika shot up from the bench and grabbed his wrist.
"Chirag, don't go like this," Yashika said desperately.
But Chirag jerked his arm away so roughly that Yashika lost her balance and fell.
"DON'T STOP ME!" Chirag shouted, his voice echoing in the empty hideout. "I BREAK OUR FRIENDSHIP RIGHT NOW AND HERE. DON'T YOU EVER SHOW ME YOUR FACE AGAIN!"
And then he turned around and stormed off, his footsteps fading fast.
Yashika sat on the ground, trembling, as fat raindrops suddenly began to fall. Within moments, she was drenched, her hair clinging to her face, her tears blending with the rain.
She cried and cried, the sobs ripping out of her chest. For what felt like half an hour or more, she stayed like that, until finally, though her tears had run dry, her body was still shaking.
Then, wiping her wet face, Yashika slowly pushed herself up and started walking away from the hideout.
But instead of going back to the orphanage, she turned her steps toward Kanika's house — the huge, tall mansion she had seen once before.
Yashika hurried through the rain, hair plastered to her cheeks, shivering. She stopped outside the tall black gates of Kanika's mansion. The security guard at the gate looked startled as the drenched girl approached.
"Is… is Kanika home?" Yashika asked, her voice trembling both from cold and nerves.
The guard hesitated. "No, miss. She's not home."
Yashika blinked, water running down her eyelashes. "Oh… okay."
She turned away, hugging her arms to herself. Rain fell harder as she stumbled down the footpath.
By the time Yashika reached the orphanage, her clothes were soaked through. Her hair dripped water onto the marble floor as she stepped inside. Miss Kavita gasped in horror.
"Yashika!" she cried, rushing toward her. "Where have you been? Look at you—dripping wet in this weather, after having a fever! Are you trying to make yourself sicker?"
But Yashika barely seemed to hear. Her eyes were dull, unfocused. She just stood there, breathing hard.
Milli came running from the corridor. "Yashika—where were you? I've been looking for you everywhere!"
Before Yashika could answer, her eyes rolled back. She swayed and collapsedforward.
"Yashika!" Miss Kavita screamed, catching her just in time.
Milli's eyes widened in panic. "Ma'am, I'll call the doctor—fast!"
Milli dashed for the phone as Miss Kavita tried to rouse Yashika.
"Yashika, beta! Wake up! Look at me!"
Within twenty minutes, a woman doctor arrived with her black medical kit. She examined Yashika, who now lay pale and trembling in bed, her hair still damp despite fresh clothes.
"She's severely dehydrated," the doctor said. "And her fever is rising again. I'll need to start saline immediately."
Miss Kavita nodded, voice quivering. "Do whatever is needed, Doctor."
The doctor set up the IV drip. Yashika moaned softly, not fully conscious.
Miss Kavita stepped out of the room and dialed Raghuveer Chaturvedi. Her voice broke as she spoke.
"Bhaiya… Yashika's very unwell. Please… if you can come…"
"I'll be there," Raghuveer said firmly.
A little while later, Raghuveer arrived with Chirag beside him. As soon as Milli saw Chirag, her face twisted with rage.
Milli huffed but fell silent. All of them moved into Yashika's room.
Yashika lay half-reclined on her bed, a thin blanket pulled over her, her face pale and eyes unfocused. The IV tube ran from her arm, and the rhythmic drip of saline echoed in the room.
Miss Kavita entered first, her eyes welling up at the sight. "Yashika, beta… what have you done to yourself?"
Right behind her, Raghuveer uncle stepped closer, his expression creased with worry. "Bitiya… why were you out in the rain? Why aren't you telling anyone what's wrong?"
Milli came to the door, with Chirag behind her. She abruptly raised her hand, blocking Chirag's path.
"Don't," Milli said coldly, glaring up at him. "Don't you dare say a single word inside. Not. One. Word. Or I swear, I'll kill you."
Chirag clenched his jaw and lowered his eyes. He gave a small nod, then stepped back, folding his arms across his chest.
Milli brushed past him and went to Yashika's side, perching on the edge of the bed.
Miss Kavita repeated softly, "Beta… tell us what happened. Why were you out in the rain again?"
Raghuveer uncle leaned closer. "Bitiya, is someone troubling you? Is there anything you want to tell us?"
Yashika blinked slowly and shifted her gaze toward Chirag. But the moment her eyes met his, her face stiffened. She turned her face sharply away and stared at the wall.
"It's fine, uncle… and Ma'am," Yashika murmured weakly. "It's nothing. I just… I just got caught up in the rain. That's all."
Raghuveer uncle sighed heavily. "If you say so… but here." He opened the tiffin he'd brought. The rich aroma of dal tadka and pulao filled the room. "I brought your favorite. You need to eat something, beta."
Milli wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Uncle… can I feed her?"
"Of course, beta," Raghuveer uncle said, giving her the spoon.
Milli gently scooped up a spoonful of rice and held it out. "Come on, Yashika… please?"
Yashika opened her mouth, eating in tiny, reluctant bites. Her eyes stayed distant, as though her mind was a thousand miles away. She coughed once, and Milli paused in alarm, but Yashika waved her off weakly.
"It's okay… I'm fine," she whispered.
Chirag, meanwhile, sat on the chair in the corner, his jaw set tight, arms folded, staring at the floor. His eyes flickered now and then toward Yashika, but he said nothing.
After a few minutes, Raghuveer uncle stood. "Okay, beta. You need rest now. Get some sleep. We'll leave you to it."
Miss Kavita patted Yashika's hand. "Good night, beta. No more worrying, okay?"
Yashika forced a tiny smile and lifted her hand in a weak wave. "Good night… Ma'am… uncle…"
Milli stayed seated as the others began filing out. When the door closed behind them, Milli turned back to Yashika.
Yashika's eyes immediately filled with tears. She lunged forward and hugged Milli tightly, sobs shaking her small frame.
"Chirag… he broke our friendship…" Yashika choked out, her voice broken. "It's… it's all my fault."
Milli wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. "No. Shh. No, it's not your fault, Yashika. None of this is your fault. Chirag's gone mad, that's all. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I'm here. Okay? I'm not going anywhere."
Yashika buried her face into Milli's shoulder, still crying. Milli kept stroking her hair gently and began humming a soft lullaby under her breath.
Eventually, Yashika's sobs grew quieter. Her eyelids drooped, and she finally drifted into a restless sleep.
Milli carefully laid her down and tucked the blanket around her shoulders. She stood and walked to the door. Pausing, she glanced back at Yashika's sleeping face and whispered:
"Don't worry, Yashika. Everything will be fine… I promise."
She switched off the lights and quietly closed the door.