Twisted Hearts Chapter 2

Three months were left for the final semester exams. Aditya, Pallavi and Deepika were happy in their world. Aditya and Pallavi would always stick together, he helped her with studies, assignments and was protective over her which he did ever since they were child.

It was Valentine’s Day and Deepika, Pallavi stood before their cupboard, pulling out outfits one after another. Pallavi held up a red kurti with blue jeans and admired it, but Deepika stared at her in shock.

“Pallavi… are you in love? Do you know red means you are committed?” Deepika asked and startled, Pallavi immediately dropped the kurti and grabbed a white one instead.

Deepika, too, chose a simple white salwar and both of them got ready quickly. Deepika pulled Pallavi to sit in front of the mirror and carefully braided her hair before getting ready herself.

Pallavi applied a little lip gloss, pouted at her reflection and blew a playful kiss to herself. Deepika chuckled at her antics and pinched her cheek.

” How do I look Deepi ? ” Pallavi asked and Deepika showed a super sign with a wink.

After a quick breakfast, they waited outside for Aditya. A few minutes later, they saw him step out of his house, dressed in a crisp white shirt. Immediately Pallavi rushed toward him and pinched his arm.

“Aadhi, all three of us are wearing white today. You have to buy us chocolates ” she declared before hopping into the passenger seat.

Aditya opened the back door for Deepika and watched her sit gracefully, adjusting her hair. Without thinking, he let out a soft whistle.

Realizing what he had done, he quickly turned away and pretended to whistle casually.

“So, girls… what’s the plan today?” Aditya asked as he started driving and Deepika and Pallavi exchanged a glance.

“Are you planning to propose to any girl today?” Pallavi asked and for a brief moment, Aditya’s eyes flickered to Deepika through the rearview mirror before he shook his head.

“No plans to propose. But I’m pretty sure I will be getting a lot of proposals today. After all, I’m the most handsome final-year student. I have seen plenty of juniors and even final-year girls staring at me,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

Pallavi knocked him on the head lightly with a glare.

” Don’t be full of yourself ” she teased and he laughed.

They reached the college and both girls got down but lingered, waiting for Aditya to join them. Neither of them wanted to leave him alone, especially on the Velanetine’s day.

They walked on either side of him when suddenly a girl stepped in front of Aditya. She stood there shyly, looking down, blushing and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Pallavi scrunched her nose at the sight and immediately hooked her arm through Aditya’s.

“I think she wants to propose to me,” Aditya whispered and without a second thought, both Pallavi and Deepika grabbed him and dragged him away, leaving the girl still standing there, staring at the ground.

“I think she’s blind… or maybe searching for something. She didn’t even realize we walked away,” Deepika said casually and Aditya burst out laughing.

“Are you jealous, Deepika?” he teased and Deepika hit him with her books. “Stop it, idiot. Why would I be jealous?” she said, walking beside him, though her heart told a different story.

Just then, another girl stepped in front of them and held out a rose toward Aditya. Both Deepika and Pallavi gasped, staring at the unexpected scene.

Aditya glanced at them before turning to the girl with a polite smile.

“Hi, senior… I have been noticing you for a while now and I really like you. I’m sorry… I mean… I love you,” the girl confessed in trembling voice.

Before Aditya could respond, Pallavi leaned against his chest with her eyes fixed on the girl.

“Oh no, you are too late, sister. He is already taken. Haven’t you seen us roaming around together?” Pallavi said, blinking innocently to make it look convincing.

The girl frowned slightly. “But… aren’t you three just best friends?”

Before Aditya could react, Deepika stepped closer, hugging him and resting her head on his shoulder. His heart skipped a beat.

“You are mistaken, junior. The three of us are… more than that. We have been in a relationship for years,” Deepika said confidently.

Aditya almost choked but managed to cover it with a cough. Then, slipping into their act, he wrapped an arm around both of them.

“They are right,  love them both.” he added casually and with that, he walked away with Deepika and Pallavi, leaving the girl frozen in shock, still clutching the rose.

Once they were out of her sight, the three burst into laughter.

“Oh my God, did you watcg her face ? She looked like she had seen a ghost. I swear she’ll never propose to anyone again,” Pallavi said between laughs.

Aditya laughed along, but his hand was still holding Deepika’s, his fingers unconsciously interlaced with hers. Deepika slowly stopped laughing and her eyes dropped to their joined hands.

Just then, Pallavi skipped ahead of them and a boy deliberately bumped into her.

Aditya’s expression changed instantly. He almost yanked his hand from Deepika’s and rushed forward. He grabbed the boy by his collar and punched him without hesitation.

Deepika froze and stood shocked at the sudden rage in his eyes as he pushed the boy to the ground and hit him again.

“How dare you ” Aditya growled, gripping the boy’s collar.

Deepika couldn’t process what was happening but Pallavi hurried forward and pulled Aditya back.

The moment he saw her teary eyes, his anger melted. He pulled her into a tight hug and pointed a warning finger at the boy before turning back to her.

“Hey… stop crying, Pavi,” he said softly, cupping her face and wiped her tears. His other hand was still around her, holding her safe in his embrace.

Deepika walked up quietly, picked up Pallavi’s fallen bag and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Pallavi immediately hugged her.

“Come on, let’s go to the canteen. I will buy you ice cream,” Aditya said gently, holding Pallavi’s hand.

They reached the canteen and he made Pallavi sit beside him while Deepika took the seat opposite them as usual. He ordered their favorite ice creams.

Deepika ate slowly, while Aditya’s gaze shifted between the two and paused for a moment on Deepika, watching her lick her ice cream with quiet grace. Then he turned to Pallavi, who had already finished hers.

He chuckled and handed her a tissue. “You didn’t even wait two minutes.” he said.

“I’ll go wash my hands. It feels sticky,” Pallavi said, getting up and walked toward the wash area.

Aditya’s eyes followed her until she reached safely and his eyes were only on her.

“Do you think she will manage two years without you?” Deepika asked softly and only then Aditya turned to her.

“I’ll make sure she stays safe. I won’t let anyone hurt her. She’s very special to me.” he said from his heart and Deepika nodded, though something in her chest tightened.

“You are special too, Deepa,” he added gently and it was the first time he had called her by a nickname. And for a moment, everything else faded away.

“Really?” she asked softly and Aditya nodded, holding her gaze without wavering. Their eyes locked and for a moment, the world around them faded. The spell broke only when Pallavi returned.

They walked out of the canteen with Aditya and Pallavi holding hands as usual. Deepika followed behind them and after a few steps, Aditya glanced back and reached out, gently taking her hand with his other hand.

Deepika smiled and a warmth bloomed in her chest at the importance he gave her.

“Pallavi, take care. I’ll meet you at the parking after college hours,” Deepika said before heading toward her block.

Aditya and Pallavi walked to their block, with him carrying her bag. When they reached her classroom, Aditya stepped inside with her. The entire class turned to look at him.

Pallavi sat down and Aditya placed her bag on the bench before casually sitting on it, making his presence known.

“Take care, Pavi. And tell me if anyone bothers you,” he said and his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, before he walked out.

The class continued to stare at Pallavi, but she barely noticed. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Aditya, of the way he had fought for her, the way he stood up for her without hesitation and her heart swelled.

“I love you, Aadhi”, she whispered to herself, blushing and letting out a small giggle.

Only then did she realize everyone was watching her. A few classmates leaned forward, curious about Aditya’s sudden appearance.

“He is my best friend. Some guy was teasing me this morning, so he’s just being overprotective,” Pallavi said quickly and opened her book to end the conversation.

She moved to the last bench and quietly took out a diary from her bag, which she kept hidden from everyone, even Deepika. She never opened it at home. Once, she used to write in it during school, but now, college was the only place she allowed herself to pour her heart out.

Every page held her love for Aditya.She began writing, her emotions flowing freely.

“You will always be my forever, Aadhi. I will love you until my last breath. It was always you and it will always be you. You are my everything. I can’t imagine a day without you. I wish you are written in my destiny… my Aadhi.”

She drew a small heart around his name, closed the diary carefully and placed it back in her bag. She never let anyone touch her bag, not even Deepika. It had become a habit, a quiet boundary she never explained.

Deepika, knowing how sensitive Pallavi could be, never questioned it.

Pallavi glanced at the time on her watch. It reminded her of her birthday, the day her father gifted it to her and Aditya had tied it around her wrist. A soft smile spread across her face.

When the bell rang, she grabbed her bag and hurried out of the classroom. Her face lit up instantly when she saw Aditya waiting for her. He took her bag from her hands and they walked together toward the parking.

Deepika watched them from a distance with a smile on her lips but her heart sank slightly as she noticed their interlaced fingers.

” He cares for her only as a best friend,  She is younger… he is just being protective”, she reassured herself.

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