Twisted Hearts Chapter 1

In a quiet neighborhood in the city of Chennai, a simple single-storey home buzzed with life as the daughters of the house, Deepika, the elder one and Pallavi, the younger daughter hurried to get ready for college.

Their mother, Brindha, was in the kitchen preparing breakfast, while their father, Dhamodharan, a clerk in a bank was getting ready for office.

Deepika finished braiding her hair and looked around for her dupatta and frowned when she saw Pallavi wearing it.

“Pallavi, that matches my kurti. Give it to me and choose something else,” Deepika said but Pallavi clicked her tongue and admired herself in the mirror with her hands on her hip. She twirled around looking at her reflection with a smile.

More than sisters, they were best friends and Deepika couldn’t help but smile as Pallavi broke into a small dance and swayed her hips playfully.

With a soft sigh, Deepika picked a blue shawl from the cupboard. A gentle smile formed on her lips as she thought of Aditya, their best friend, the guy lived their next door. She had been in love with him for two years and was waiting for the right moment to confess.

” Blue is Aadhi’s favorite color”, she thought and draped it neatly over her shoulder as a blush coated her cheek.

Pallavi, too, glanced at herself in the mirror, her fingers brushed over the yellow dupatta she was wearing. Her cheeks flushed pink as she remembered the day Aaditya had gifted it to her.

” Where are you, Aadhi? I can’t wait to see you”, she thought and twirled happily. She had been in love with Aditya for years.

Both sisters had been in love with their neighbor, Aditya, yet neither had shared their feelings with anyone.

All three studied in the same college. Deepika and Aditya were final-year students but in different courses, while Pallavi was a first-year student in the same course as Aditya. The trio were best friends but Aditya and Pallavi were true partners in crime. He constantly teased her, yet cared for her deeply, more than anyone else in his life.

Yes, even more than Deepika, the girl he was actually in love with.

But Aditya had never confessed his feelings. He wanted to first settle in life, to prove himself worthy of the girl he loved before expressing his heart.

Deepika and Pallavi were ready and just then, the sound of a horn echoed outside. They  grabbed their bags and rushed toward the door.

Before they could escape, their mother, Brindha, stood blocking their way with a ladle in hand and glared at them.

“How many times have I told you not to skip breakfast? Aditya isn’t going anywhere. Go eat, or I will send him away and then you both can take the bus to college ” she warned sternly.

Without another word, both girls rushed to the dining table and quickly served themselves breakfast.

“Pallavi, I think Amma must have been a commander in her previous birth,” Deepika muttered and Pallavi chuckled, casually pushing the vegetables from her plate onto Deepika’s.

Deepika fed Pallavi the egg from her plate and the sisters quickly finished their breakfast before proudly showing their empty plates to their mother.

“Pallavi, did you eat the vegetables from the kurma?” Brindha asked, narrowing her eyes and Pallavi nodded her head quickly.

“And you, Deepika? Did you eat the egg?” she asked again and Deepika bobbed her head and held up her plate as proof.

The sisters exchanged a mischievous giggle and hurried out with their bags. Outside, Aditya was leaning against the car, talking to their father.

“Bye, Appa ” both girls called out together. Aditya opened the front door for Pallavi, as she always preferred sitting beside him. Deepika slipped into the back seat and watched him start the car.

He adjusted the rearview mirror and stole a quick glance at Deepika before driving.

“Aadhi, did you complete my assignment? That professor will throw me out if I don’t submit it today” Pallavi asked, turning toward him completely.

Aditya glanced at Deepika and smiled briefly before picking up a folder from the back seat and placed it on Pallavi’s lap. He gently turned her face forward and helped her put on the seatbelt.

“What would I do without you, Aadhi?” Pallavi said, pinching his cheek and Aditya smiled faintly before he continued driving toward college.

Once they reached, he parked the car and both girls got down.

“Aadhi, come to the canteen during the break,” Deepika said with a smile.

Pallavi hooked her arm around Deepika’s. “Don’t worry, I’ll drag him. Let’s have egg puffs today” she said energetically and both Deepika and Aditya smiled at her enthusiasm.

Deepika walked toward her block while Pallavi paused to talk to one of her classmates. Aditya leaned back against the seat for a moment and watched Deepika walk away.

As if sensing his gaze, Deepika turned toward the parking lot. Aditya raised his hand and waved. She waved back and her heart fluttered at the sight of him.

” God, why does he affect me so much? Once college ends… I’ll tell him everything”, she thought and smiled to herself as she hurried to class.

Aditya got out of the car and Pallavi joined him and grabbed his hand as they walked toward their block. She had chosen this course just to be close to him.

“Aadhi, what will you do after college?” Pallavi asked, offering him a piece of her chocolate.

Aditya took it and casually licked his finger afterward.

Pallavi immediately smacked his head lightly. “Dirty fellow, How many times have I told you not to lick your fingers?” she scolded and wiped his hand with her shawl before handing him a tissue from her bag.

Aditya chuckled mischievously and licked his finger again just to annoy her and ran ahead.

“Aadhi ” Pallavi shouted and chased him until he stopped in front of her classroom. He grabbed her shawl playfully and wiped his hand again before taking the tissue from her with a grin.

“Stop gossiping and pay attention in class. I don’t want any complaints, Pallavi. I will see you during the break,” he said, before walking toward his classroom.

Pallavi stepped inside but quickly peeked out again and smiled as she watched Aditya enter his class just two rooms away.

” My cute Aadhi… I love you so much”, she thought, settling into her seat. She was already waiting impatiently for the break.

Meanwhile, Deepika opened her notebook but instead of studying, she began doodling flowers and hearts, lost in thoughts of Aditya.

” I can’t wait to meet you, Aadhi… I love you so much”, she thought and blushed as she remembered his smile and the way he waved at her.

Both sisters were lost in thoughts of him.

And Aditya, sitting in his classroom, laughed and chatted with his friends. But his eyes drifted to the small flower drawn on his notebook, one Deepika had doodled a few days ago when the three of them had gathered to study but ended up watching a movie instead.

His fingers moved unconsciously and traced the flower.

” I love you, Deepika “, he thought and his eyes drifted to his name written in a beautiful cursive style by Pallavi. His lips curved into a smile and he took a deep breath before forcing his attention back to whatever his friends were saying.

During the break, Aditya rushed out of his classroom and spotted Pallavi waiting for him outside. He took her bag without a word and they walked together toward the canteen.

“Did you listen to the lecture, Pallavi?” he asked and before she could answer, she tripped on the steps and almost fell but Aditya caught her just in time.

His heart slammed against his ribs at the thought of her getting hurt.

“Pavi, are you okay?” he asked quickly and crouched down to check her feet and legs for any injury. Only after making sure she was completely fine did he let out a breath.

“I’m fine, Aadhi. You are reacting as if I met with an accident. I just tripped, it wouldn’t have caused anything serious,” Pallavi said lightly but Aditya immediately covered her mouth with his palm.

“Stop it, idiot. Don’t ever say things like that. And watch where you are walking,” he said and his concern was unmistakable.

Pallavi smiled softly, touched by the worry in his voice. Seeing the fear still lingering in his eyes, she simply nodded her head. Aditya gently tapped her head and took a deep breath to calm himself before they continued toward the canteen.

Deepika was already there, holding three egg puffs. She smiled as she saw them approach.

Aditya sat beside Deepika, while Pallavi sat opposite them but within seconds, Aditya shifted and moved to sit next to Pallavi.

“You will make a mess like a child,” he said and handed her tissues as she took a huge bite of the puff.

He wiped the crumbs from her chin and fingers with another tissue, then passed one to Deepika, who was eating neatly in small bites.

“Look at Deepika and learn to eat slowly,” Aditya said.

Pallavi scoffed. “This is the universal way of eating puffs. She is the alien,” she teased.

Leaning forward, she grabbed Deepika’s hand and took a bite from her puff as well, letting out a satisfied sound at the taste.

Both Aditya and Deepika laughed at her antics and once again, Aditya wiped her mouth and hands.

“Deepika and I are in our final year. You’ll have to manage two years here without us. Make some friends and behave properly.” Aditya said after a moment and Pallavi’s smile faded instantly, her face turned pale.

“Aadhi… shall I quit college and join somewhere as an intern? Or will you find me a job so I can stay with you? What will I do if someone bullies me? Who will write my assignments? Who will clear my doubts?” she asked, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“Drama queen,” Deepika said with a smile.

“No one will bully you. Everyone knows you are Aditya’s best friend. You will see him at home anyway and he will help you. Stop worrying, baby.” Deepika said but Pallavi was still worried that she would be alone without Aditya around her for two years.

Aditya gently squeezed Pallavi’s hand, understanding how sensitive she was.

“Pallavi, don’t be scared of anyone. Be confident. You are my best friend and I’ll make sure no one troubles you. I’ll drop you at college, even if I can’t pick you up in the evening. Now come on… give me that devilish grin and let’s get back to class.” he said with a chuckle.

Pallavi narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you just call me a devil? Then who looks like an angel to you?” she asked and without missing a beat, Aditya pointed straight at Deepika and ran.

“Aadhi ” Pallavi shouted, chasing after him.

Deepika stood there for a moment and her heart skipped a beat at his answer.

As he ran, Aditya turned back briefly and waved at her. She smiled and waved in return. She clutched her books to her chest as she walked back to her classroom, her heart felt light and full reminscing his words.

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