The cool morning breeze flowed through the open windows of the Khanna mansion, filling the large dining room with a fresh, crisp feeling. Soumita Khanna sat at the head of the table, holding a hot cup of tea. Her eyes were warm as they watched her two sons, Rishad and Rihan, make their way downstairs for breakfast.
Although Soumita loved her sons equally, she often found her heart drawn more to Rishad. There was something about her eldest son that pulled at her maternal instincts. He was quiet, reserved, and always carried a heaviness around him. Unlike his younger brother, Rihan, who was full of life and charm, Rishad preferred silence. But Soumita knew him well enough to see the emotions he kept hidden behind his calm surface.
This morning was no different. Rishad sat down at the table, his face as unreadable as ever, but there was a slight tension in his expression, a small frown on his lips that signaled her something was bothering him.
"Rishad, are you alright?" Soumita asked, her voice gentle but full of concern.
Rishad looked up from his plate, shocked by her question. He quickly offered her a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Yeah, Mom. Just thinking about some work stuff. Nothing to worry about."
Soumita nodded, though she wasn’t fully convinced. She wanted to ask more, to dig a little deeper, but before she could, Rihan came bouncing into the room with his usual burst of energy.
"Hello, everyone! Have a great morning!" Rihan flashed his typical smile as he took a seat next to Rishad... He grabbed a slice of toast and began eating with enthusiasm, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
The atmosphere lightened immediately with Rihan’s arrival. He had that effect on people—he was the life of the party, the one who could always make others laugh. But while Rihan chatted about his plans for the day,
Soumita’s eyes remained on Rishad. She noted how he pulled back into his own mind, looking as if he were lost in thought, even while the conversation unfolded around him.
While she adored Rihan's lively character, Soumita longed for Rishad in her heart. She wished she could reach into his thoughts and pull him out of the quiet world he had built around himself. But she also knew that Rishad wasn’t the type to open up easily, not even to her. He was content keeping his feelings locked away, and that worried her more than she let on.
Later that afternoon, Rishad found himself wandering into the garden. The lush greenery always had a calming effect on him, and today he needed that peace more than ever. His mind was swirling with thoughts of Alia, as it so often did these days.
Alia had been a part of their family since she was eight years old, ever since the tragic accident that had taken her parents’ lives. Vupal Khanna, Rishad’s father, had been her father’s close friend, and after the accident, he took Alia in and made her a part of their family. Over the years, Alia had grown into a beautiful young lady, and though Rishad had always cared for her, something had shifted recently. His feelings had deepened into something more than friendship, something he couldn’t quite control.
But Rishad was naturally reserved, not the type to openly show his emotions or engage in grand displays of affection. Instead, he sent Alia anonymous love letters and small, thoughtful gifts. He watched from a distance as she smiled at each surprise, her face lighting up with curiosity. She had no idea it was him, and Rishad wasn’t sure if he wanted her to know.
As Rishad entered the garden, his eyes immediately found Alia. She was sitting on the swing, a book open in her lap, her hair falling softly around her face. The sight of her made his chest tighten. She was beautiful, inside and out, and Rishad loved her more than he could ever say. But how could he tell her? What if she didn’t feel the same? What if she saw him only as a friend, as part of the family she had grown up with?
He couldn’t risk it. So he remained silent, keeping his feelings to himself.
Alia looked up from her book and smiled when she saw him. "Hey, Rishad! Come join me," she called, her voice full of warmth.
Rishad hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the swing set, sitting down on the bench across from her. "How’s your day going?" he asked, his voice steady but quiet.
"It’s been nice," Alia said, closing her book and looking at him with her bright, curious eyes. "I’ve been thinking, though, about my secret admirer."
Rishad’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression calm. "Oh?" he said, trying to sound casual. "What about him?"
Alia laughed softly, a sound that always made Rishad’s heart flutter. "It’s just… I don’t know who he is. It’s sweet, though, all these letters and gifts. But I wish I could meet him. I wonder why he’s staying hidden."
Rishad felt a lump form in his throat. How could he answer that? He was the one staying hidden, out of fear, out of uncertainty. But hearing Alia talk about it made him want to tell her the truth. Maybe she would understand. Maybe she wouldn’t reject him.
But before he could say anything, Alia spoke again. "Do you think I’ll ever find out who he is?"
Rishad swallowed hard. "I’m sure you will… one day."
Alia smiled at that, her eyes full of hope. "I hope so. Whoever he is, he must care a lot. I just want to thank him, you know."
Rishad nodded, his heart heavy. He wished he could be the one she thanked. He wished he could be the one she turned to, the one she loved. But instead, he remained silent, watching as she continued to search for someone she had already found without even knowing it.
That evening, Rishad sat alone in his room, his thoughts racing. He couldn’t get Alia out of his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her smile, heard her laugh, and felt the warmth of her presence. It was both wonderful and torturous, loving someone so deeply but being unable to tell them.
His feelings were growing stronger and more intense. As he lay in bed, he found himself thinking about what it would be like to hold her, to kiss her, to finally tell her how much he loved her. His thoughts drifted to more intimate moments, the kind he had only ever dreamed about. But as much as he longed for those moments, he knew they might never happen. Not as long as he kept his feelings hidden.
He sighed, trying to push the thoughts away, but they kept coming back, more vivid than before. It was a constant battle between his heart and his mind, between what he wanted and what he was afraid to lose.
The next morning, Rishad was sitting in the living room, lost in thought, when his mother entered. Soumita had always had a way of sensing when something was wrong with him, and today was no different.
"Rishad," she said softly, sitting down beside him, "I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit off lately. Is everything okay?"
Rishad looked at her, his heart aching with the weight of his secret. "I’m fine, Mom. Just… a lot on my mind."
Soumita smiled gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You know you can talk to me, right? Whatever it is, you don’t have to carry it alone."
Rishad nodded, though he wasn’t sure how to explain what he was feeling. How could he tell his mother that he was in love with Alia, the girl who had become part of their family? It felt too complicated, too overwhelming.
"Thanks, Mom," he said quietly. "I’ll be okay."
Soumita gave him a reassuring pat on the back before standing up. "Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here."
As she walked away, Rishad felt a wave of gratitude for his mother’s understanding. But even she couldn’t fix this. This was something he had to figure out on his own.
A few days passed, and Rishad continued to wrestle with his emotions. He spent as much time as he could with Alia, savoring every moment, even though it pained him to keep his feelings hidden. But then something happened that changed everything.
One evening, as the family gathered for dinner, Rishad noticed Rihan watching him closely. There was a strange glint in his brother’s eyes, something mischievous. Rihan had always been playful, but tonight there was something different about him.
And then it hit Rishad—Rihan knew. Somehow, his younger brother had discovered his secret. And from the look on Rihan’s face, Rishad knew that his carefully hidden world was about to be turned upside down.
(Coming next part)
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