Maybe in another timeline, things would be different.”

“MJ weds Kiara.”

Dherya read the name on the invitation card given to her by her sister Kiara. Kiara was very excited and felt blessed to be getting married to MJ, her childhood crush—the boy whom she had hesitated to call brother, whom she refused to tie Rakhi to (an Indian thread tied only to your brother or someone you consider your brother; once tied, the brother has to protect his sister from evil eyes and danger).

“Di, I’m so happy! Finally, MJ and I are getting married. You know how much I’ve been waiting for this day to come… and finally it has come. Di, I never thought MJ would ever love me. It’s a miracle for me, Di.”

“Kiara… I can understand. You got the man you have dreamed of all these years, and I’m so happy for you.”

MJ was standing at the doorframe, his eyes on Dherya—the girl whom he loved from his high school days. Dherya and MJ had totally fallen in love during their school time. No one ever thought both would end up like this… life isn’t a story where every love story ends happily together.

“MJ, let’s go shopping. You know I have many things to buy. Di, are you coming with us?”

“No, I have artwork. You guys go. After all, it’s your marriage, right?”

“Alright, wait MJ, I’m going to change my dress…”

She left for her room to change her clothes.

MJ came near Dherya, his eyes still on her.

“You are a good actor. I thought you would lose control and let all your tears fall. I think I was wrong—you don’t have any tears… you’re so strong, Miss Dherya.”

MJ taunted her, his eyes filled with tears. He didn’t want to marry Kiara; he had always seen Kiara as his little sister. What kind of fate brought things to this path?

“Yes, you’re right. I don’t have any tears in my eyes; they are all dry… why would I cry after all? Were we really that close to each other? MJ, did you think I would cry for a man who is not my type? And Kiara is happy with you what more could I want? My sister’s happiness is much more important than mine.”

“And mine? Did you ever think? How will I live without you?”

“MJ, don’t make a scene here. We already broke up when Kiara came into your life. We broke up not because of Kiara… but because of you. Now get out of my place.”

“Oh, I came to say sorry to you… I did.”

“That’s too late…”

Dherya’s eyes were straight on MJ. She was angry, and MJ was sad.

Kiara’s footsteps came into the room. “MJ, what happened?”

“Nothing, we were just talking about art.”

“Oh, that’s such boring stuff. Let’s go.”

She held MJ’s hand and dragged him towards herself. Both disappeared from the room, leaving Dherya standing alone.

She lost control, and tears fell down from her eyes.

MJ held Kiara’s hand as they roamed from one shop to another in the mall. The mall was huge, filled with bright lights and endless stores where everything was being sold. But Kiara’s shopping still wasn’t over. She had already bought all the wedding stuff—clothes, gifts, shoes, beauty cosmetics—almost everything. MJ was tired, completely drained, but he still kept a big fake smile on his face for Kiara.

Kiara made up her mind to get closer to MJ. It was an arranged marriage, but for her, it was love. She wanted to be close to him. Many times, she had imagined herself with MJ—moments where he gently kissed her lips. But she always woke up in the middle of those dreams, usually when Dherya turned off the fan in her room to wake her up for school.

Suddenly, she dragged him into the changing room. MJ was shocked by her sudden behavior.

“MJ… we are getting married now… shouldn’t we do things like… that?”

Before she could step back, MJ grabbed Kiara by the waist. He couldn’t imagine anyone else in the place of Dherya, but now he had no other choice.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

Kiara turned completely red like a tomato. She hid her face in MJ’s chest, not daring to look into his eyes or say anything clearly.

MJ held her tightly with his soft hands. Both of them hugged each other, but MJ’s eyes were filled with sadness. He was remembering the days when Dherya was so close to him. What if things hadn’t turned out like this? What if they hadn’t gone apart? What if time went back to the moment when they chose to stay away from each other?

MJ was thinking the same, while somewhere else, Dherya was whispering the same wish in her heart.

Kiara remained unaware of what both of them were actually feeling.

...~•~...

...PAST...

Ringggggg… Ringggggg…

The school bell rang, and Dherya woke up from her sleep. For the past half an hour, she had been resting her head on the classroom desk, sleeping peacefully. MJ tapped her head lightly.

“Oye madam, wake up… or are you planning to spend the night here in school?”

“MJ, you came again to disturb me … go away from here, she has a headache, don’t disturb her,” Swati said. She was Dherya’s close friend. She knew that MJ liked Dherya, but both of them hadn’t realized it yet.

Dherya looked tired. She stared at Swati in a way that clearly showed she didn’t want MJ to know about her condition. But her friend betrayed her.

“Dherya, you have a headache? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Wait, I’ll take your bag. Did you take pills? Or is the headache too strong?”

“Relax, MJ, she’s fine after taking a long nap, right Dherya?” Swati said.

“Hm… MJ, give me back my bag.”

“No.”

“MJ… I’m warning you, give it back.”

“Let it stay with me. You’ll fall on the stairs if you carry such a heavy bag.”

“Wowww… lovers,” Swati teased.

Both MJ and Dherya gave her an annoyed look. MJ’s eyes stayed on Dherya, as if he was silently asking her something—did she feel the same for him as he did for her?

Dherya noticed his gaze. For a moment, everything felt weightless.

“Done? Shall we go home now? If we get late, my mom will beat me.”

“Oh yes, your mom will eat me alive too!” MJ said, fear clearly visible on his face.

Mom stood outside the door, a thin wooden stick clenched tightly in her hand, her patience already worn thin. The moment Dherya and MJ stepped inside, their footsteps slowed, and fear crept into their eyes.

“Is this the time to come home, Dherya?” Mom snapped. Her sharp gaze dropped to the stains on the uniform. “And what is this? You’ve messed up your uniform again?”

“Mom… it was MJ. He poured ice cream on it—” Dherya said quickly, trying to explain.

MJ stood there silently, like he was guilty. He didn’t defend himself, didn’t even look up. He surrendered himself.

Mom crossed her arms and glared at both of them with anger. The tension in the air grew heavier with every second. Then, in a strict voice, she said, “Fine. Then neither of you will get food tonight.”

With that, she turned and walked inside.

Dherya’s face turned pale. She looked at the door in disbelief. “This is all because of you, MJ!” she said, her voice filled with frustration. “What was the need to spill ice cream on my uniform? Now Mom is angry.”

MJ tried to calm her down. “It’s nothing. Aunty is just a little upset. Once her anger cools down, she’ll cook hot food for you.”

“Food?” Dherya shook her head. “No. Mom is not going to give me anything today. I’ll have to sleep hungry.”

Without saying anything more, Dherya turned and walked toward her room, her steps slow and upset.

MJ stood there for a moment, realizing his mistake, then quietly walked outside. Instead of using the stairs inside the house, he went toward the outer staircase that led to the terrace. There was a small room on the roof. Dherya’s mom had told him many times to use the inside stairs, but MJ never listened. He always did things his own way.

And honestly, he enjoyed annoying Dherya.

MJ had only been staying at Dherya’s house for a few months, but the two of them had already become very close friends. In the beginning, they used to avoid each other, walking past without even making eye contact.

But everything changed one day.

When Dherya didn’t come home by 8 o’clock at night, her mother called all her friends to ask if she had gone to their houses, but no one knew where she was. She even called the police. Her mother was extremely worried. Seeing her panic, MJ rushed to the school without wasting a second.

He ran through the corridors, calling out Dherya’s name again and again. There wasn’t a single classroom he didn’t check. His heartbeat grew faster with every passing minute.

Finally, he found her.

Dherya was locked inside the bathroom. Someone had shut the door from the outside, leaving her trapped inside. She was scared and trembling, sitting on the floor with her face buried in her knees. She was afraid of the darkness. The bathroom light was not working—she had tried switching it on many times, but it wouldn’t turn on.

The moment the bathroom door opened with a heavy push, Dherya rushed forward and hugged MJ tightly, tears in her eyes. She was crying softly.

MJ held her and gently rubbed her shoulder. “It’s alright… everything is fine now.”

After that small moment, they both came closer. They started talking, greeting each other every morning, and MJ began going to school with her. He became protective toward her.

And slowly, those conversations turned into a strong friendship.