The days following Rihan’s silent revelation felt like a blur to Rishad. He tried to go about his routine as usual— working at the office, handling the family business, and spending time with Alia whenever possible— but he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something was about to happen. He had spent so long hiding his feelings for her, protecting his secret, but now it seemed like everything was slipping out of his control.
The worst part was Rihan’s strange behavior. His younger brother, once carefree and playful, had become more watchful, as if he were holding onto some dangerous thoughts. Rishad could feel Rihan’s eyes on him during family dinners, during casual conversations, and even in the office. There was something shady about it, something that made Rishad’s heart race with anxiety.
He had always trusted Rihan. They were close as brothers, even though they were different in so many ways. But now Rishad wasn’t sure what to think. Did Rihan know about his love for Alia? And if he did, what was he planning to do with that information?
One afternoon, Rishad found himself in the garden again. It had become his sanctuary, the only place where he could escape the constant tension that now filled the house. He sat on the stone bench near the rose bushes, watching the soft petals sway in the breeze, but his mind was far from peaceful.
Alia’s laugh echoed through the garden, pulling him from his thoughts. She was on the swing again; her face lit up with joy as she pushed herself back and forth. Rishad’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. She was everything he had ever wanted but never believed he could have.
"Hey, Rishad!" Alia called, her voice breaking through his thoughts. "Come push me! It’s more fun with a little help."
Rishad smiled, standing up from the bench and walking over to her. He placed his hands gently on the swing and gave her a small push, watching as she soared higher into the air, her laughter filling the space around them. As she swung back toward him, she looked over her shoulder and smiled.
"You’re too quiet, Rishad. You never say what’s on your mind."
Rishad’s heart thudded in his chest. If only she knew how many things he wanted to say—how many times he had thought about telling her how much he loved her, how much he wanted to be more than just her silent admirer. But the words never came. Instead, he just pushed the swing again, forcing a smile.
"I like listening," he said softly. "You talk enough for both of us."
Alia laughed, throwing her head back as she swung higher. "You’re impossible."
Rishad watched her, his heart heavy with the weight of his unspoken feelings. He loved her but couldn’t tell her. Not now. Not with Rihan lurking in the background, waiting for the perfect moment to ruin everything.
Rishad had learned to live with his quiet agony, carrying his secret love for Alia as if it were part of his daily existence. Days passed in silence—his heart swelling with unspoken desires whenever she smiled, whenever she laughed. Each glance at her felt like a fleeting moment of joy wrapped in unbearable heartache. His only solace came from those small gestures—the anonymous love letters, the hidden gifts—that allowed him to express his love without ever revealing himself.
But one evening, as he sat in the garden, lost in his thoughts, Alia came rushing toward him, her face glowing with excitement. There was a brightness in her eyes that caught his attention instantly, and for a moment, he felt an excited jump in his heart. Maybe, just maybe, she had finally understood that he was the one who loved her all this time.
“Rishad!” Alia called out, her voice filled with joy. She reached him, practically bubbling over with excitement. “I found him! I finally found out who my secret admirer is!”
Rishad’s world is frozen. His heart pounded in his chest, the blood rushing to his ears. She knows. She finally knows it’s me. He tried to keep his voice steady, though his heart felt like it might burst. "Who... who is it?” he asked, his words barely above a whisper.
Alia’s eyes sparkled as she spoke the words that would shatter his world. “It’s Rihan! He’s the one who’s been sending me the letters and gifts all this time!”
For a moment, everything stopped. Rishad stared at her, his mind racing to make sense of what he’d just heard. Rihan? His brother? A thunderbolt hit his heart, leaving him breathless, his whole body going cold. He felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath him, and he was falling into an abyss he couldn’t escape.
Rishad’s throat tightened, but he forced a smile, masking the overwhelming pain that tore through him. “Rihan?” he echoed, barely able to believe it. “Are… are you sure?”
Alia nodded enthusiastically, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside Rishad.
“Yes! He told me everything, Rishad. How he was too shy to confess to me face-to-face, how he wanted to express his feelings through those sweet letters and gifts. I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out sooner! I’m so happy!”
Rishad couldn’t speak. His mind screamed in protest, but no words would come out. Rihan had stolen everything from him. The secret love he had nurtured for so long, the hope he had held onto in silence, had been taken by his own brother.
Alia, unaware of his inner storm, gave him a quick hug before rushing off to find Rihan, leaving Rishad sitting alone in the garden, stunned into silence.
Later that night, Rishad found Rihan in the study, casually leaning against the desk. The moment Rihan saw him, his face changed, guilt flashing in his eyes. But it was too late for apology.
“Rihan,” Rishad began, his voice low and calm, though every word felt like it was dragged out of him. “Alia told me what you said to her.”
Rihan sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He looked away for a moment, as if gathering the courage to face his older brother. Finally, he met Rishad’s gaze. "I... I need to explain.”
“Explain?” Rishad repeated, incredulous. “What is there to explain? You told her you were her secret admirer. Why?”
Rihan took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean for it to happen this way, Rishad. But… I overheard the conversation between you and Alia that day in the garden. You were talking about love, and I figured out that you were in love with her. And it hit me. I’ve always had feelings for her too. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.”
Rishad’s jaw clenched. His hands trembled, but he kept them firmly at his sides. “So, you took advantage of it. You knew how much I cared about her, but you went to her and told her it was you? You made her believe you were the one sending her all those letters, those gifts... ”
Rihan’s face fell, and he took a step closer, his voice filled with regret. “I’m sorry, Rishad. I know what I did was wrong. I shouldn’t have done it. But… I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. I love her too.”
The words sliced through Rishad like a knife. His brother, the one person he trusted more than anyone, had betrayed him. “You love her?” he said, his voice thick with disbelief. “You don’t know what love is. You took what wasn’t yours. You lied to her. To me.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Rihan pleaded, his voice shaking now. “But I couldn’t just let her go. I’ve already told her how I feel, and... and she accepted me, Rishad. She’s with me now.”
Rishad’s heart broke all over again. He had lost her, not because of fate or circumstance, but because his own brother had betrayed him. He turned away, unable to look at Rihan any longer. The pain was too much.
“I’m sorry, Rishad,” Rihan said softly. “I really am. But I can’t let her go. I won’t.”
Rishad stood there, silent, staring at the wall as the weight of his brother’s words pressed down on him. There was nothing left to say. Rihan had taken everything from him. He had lied, manipulated, and stolen the one thing Rishad had cherished most in the world.
Without another word, Rishad left the room, his heart heavy with knowing that his love for Alia would remain forever unspoken. The quiet agony of loving her in secret had been hard enough, but this—this was unbearable.
As he walked down the hallway, his thoughts raced. He had lost. But even in this defeat, Rishad knew one thing: he would never betray Alia the way Rihan had. He would carry this secret love with him, even if it broke him. It was better to suffer in silence than to hurt the one person he loved most.
(Coming next part)
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ns 15.158.61.8da2
