Page 40 of Protect my Heart
I swallow hard, shame crashing over me. He's right. I shouldn't have shouted at her. Not after everything she's been through. Not after everything I've just found out.
Mumma tries to speak, but Aarav interrupts her, his voice low but firm. "No, Aunty. Let her know. She deserves the truth."
I feel like I'm losing my mind. Everything's spinning out of control. "Can someone please explain to me what the hell is going on?" I snap, my voice raw. "Stop talking in riddles."
"It's nothing, Anika," Mumma says quickly, but Aarav cuts in again.
"No, she needs to know."
He turns to me, and for the first time, I see something different in his eyes. Not anger. Not resentment. But something heavier. Sadder. "Your father blackmailed Aunty," Aarav says.
I blink at him, uncomprehending. "Blackmailed? What... what are you talking about?"
He looks at Mumma, silently asking for permission to continue. She nods, wiping at her tears. "Your father found out you were writing to me," Aarav explains quietly. "He told Aunty that if she didn't stop it, he would stop paying for your education."
I stare at him, my mind refusing to believe it.
"He threatened her," Aarav says gently. "She had no choice."
My chest tightens painfully. "But why? Why would he do that?"
Mumma looks at me with such deep sadness it feels like a physical blow. "Because he wanted a son, Anika," she says. "He never wanted a daughter."
I feel the air leave my lungs. Like I’ve been punched all over again and can't catch my breath. Memories flash throughmy mind—all the times my brothers were favored, all the times I was overlooked, all the times I tried a little harder, loved a little more, hoping he would love me back.
I was just too blind to see it then. Too desperate for his approval. I look at Mumma, her tear-streaked face filled with guilt and sorrow. "I'm sorry," I whisper brokenly. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."
Before she can reply, I get up and walk to my room, closing the door behind me. I collapse onto my bed, curling into myself. Sleep. I need sleep. That's the only way I know how to survive this—by pretending this never happened. Sleep comes like a warm hug, but only until my tears run dry.
CHAPTER 24
AARAV
Hi, to the twelve-year-old Anika,
I’m sorry I could never reply to your letters, for whatever reasons, but I do regret it. For starters, I have to say congratulations—you won't change much when you grow up. You’re still just as sassy, still allergic to giving straightforward answers, and of course, you can't resist slipping in your sarcastic comments and that ridiculous attitude. Honestly, it still gives me a tough time, and yeah, I guess I do need someone to humble me every now and then. I really wish you hadn’t been deprived of the art supplies you wanted so badly because I know how much painting meant to you... and everyone was fine when you were gone. Well, except me. But we can't help that now.
If it makes you feel better, I couldn’t really make new friends either, not till college anyway. I met Samarth after that—you know him, you met him briefly during our wedding. But no one could ever replace what we had. So don’t worry, that position is still open, and it can only be filled by you, Anika. And... I can't believe I’m saying this, but I kinda missed your lame jokes too. (They’re still not funny though) I hate that you had to deal with those brothers you mentioned. I never metthem, but trust me, I share a mutual hatred. If I ever come across them, I’ll make sure they pay. No one messes with you and gets away with it. It's still the same, Anu.
I know it’s hard to forget these twelve years—and honestly, I don’t want to—but somewhere, it makes me feel weirdly happy knowing you missed me just as much as I missed you. You were never just a hangout buddy for me. You know that, right? I could never forget you. Or us. You mattered to me in ways you probably still don’t understand. So stop pitying yourself. Stop blaming yourself. Come outside and face me. Don’t be a coward. That’s not the Anika I know. The Anika I knew would have shouted at me, cursed at me, and maybe even hit me with a pillow before she’d lock herself in a room like this.
And even if you’ve changed—even if this is what you’ve become—let me know you. Every version of you. I want to hear everything I missed... your college life, your first job, your relationships (if there were any), all of it. So stop ignoring me, Anika. Come out. We’ll figure this out together. Like we always did.
Yours truly,
29 years old (And yeah, I just realized half of this letter is in present tense and half is in past tense, but what can I say—I’m only good at maths. English was always your department. This letter stuff isn’t my cup of tea, you know that. So ignore the mistakes and please don't start one of your grammar lectures.)
Aarav (or Aaru as you like to say, you can call me that now, you won’t believe it but I missed that nickname)
I fold the paper in half, my fingers lingering on the edges for a second longer than necessary. With a sigh, I slide it through the gap under her door. It's been three hours since Anika lockedherself inside. I thought maybe she needed time to process everything—hell, even I needed a moment after today’s mess—so I gave her space. But when her mom started getting worried, something inside me shifted. It's not really like me to hover or fuss over people... not unless they're important to me. And Anika—she is very important to me. Yes, she might be a stranger in a lot of ways now. But it doesn’t matter. I find myself caring anyway.
I put Aunty to bed and made up some excuse that Anika was tired and just needed to be alone. It wasn’t for Aunty, though. It was for Anika. I don’t want her blaming herself for her mother’s stress. Because she would. That's exactly the kind of girl she is—taking the world's weight on her tiny shoulders.
Now, I sit outside her door, leaning against the wall, listening to nothing but the painfully loud silence coming from her room. My patience is running thin. And worry—it’s like acid in my veins now, eating away at my calm. I knock again, harder this time. "Okay, Anika, that’s enough now," I say, my voice sharp with frustration and something deeper.Fear. "I'm giving you five minutes. You better come out now. Or I swear I’m going to break this door down."
No response. Not even a shuffle inside. I curse under my breath, running a hand through my hair. I’m not used to this—this helpless feeling sitting heavy in my chest. Is this what she felt all those years? Waiting for someone who never answered back? God, if anything's happened to her... I can't even finish the thought.
I step back, rubbing my palms together like I’m about to go in for a goddamn wrestling match. Using the narrow passage as a runway, I gather all the force in my body and charge towards the door.
