The little boy has grown up now. My heart flutters as I watch the group dance performance of Vicky in the university auditorium. Students were cheering excitedly and I, in the corner of the third row, sat quiet, admiring the boy I had raised.

Hm, and let me tell you, he is dancing to the Remo song from the anniyan movie right now and oh, I can smell the burning of girls' hearts for him. He has on a black button-up shirt and white slacks... looking as If 'beautiful' and 'handsome', have shaken hands.

The highlight is, however, his hair! It's silky thick and is bouncing around with him. Eventually, after another ten minutes, their performance reaches the end and I clap merrily.

While I proceed on watching the upcoming performances, Vicky contacts me. I attend his call, and soon his voice seeps into my ear. "Where are you Thikki? Did you really attend the function? I can't find you..." He trails off, listening to the cheers rosing on my side. Now he must be sure that I'm here.

"Thikki... behind the auditorium. Be there in ten minutes," huh? "Ordering me around?" I ask in a stern tone. "Please madam Ji, be there in ten minutes, will you?" His requesting voice bloomed a smile on my face.

"Why should I be there?" He smacks his head, resonating a tiny sound but nevertheless replies. "I told you right that I will be proposing to the girl I like" Oh of course he did. But what is my use there? It should be done privately.

"Er...then do it. Why am I needed there anyway? After the success or rejection of your proposal, just make sure to introduce that girl to me." I mutter and he groans, painfully. "Thikki, I'm nervous. I haven't done this before. I need to acquire your support you know.." I thought for a minute before responding.

"Where are your friends?" He huffs on the other side. "They are busy. And besides that, I would feel more positive in your presence. Lent me some confidence Thikki thus I can let the girl I love know she is loved by this incredible guy that is Vicky!" I chuckle at his words but needless to say, I agree to his pleadings and stroll out of the auditorium.

Few people have occupied the sides and face of the auditorium, and the night has set in, bestowing job to the LED lights. While I start to saunter to the behind of the hall, someone stopped me with their calling. "Akka..(elder sister)!" I twirl around and face Kirti who looks anxious as hell.

"Hey...how are you? And why do you look so damn stressed?" She fidgets her fingers at my query. "Akka, Vicky...I love him" wow, what a surprising news. I guessed it long back! But wait a minute, why is she suddenly informing this to me?

And again wait, is there any chance that the girl Vicky is about to propose is Kirti? Moreover, I remember very well that he had denied my question of the girl being Kirti though.

"Yes?" I drag the word and she sighs. "Shall I propose to him?" Why are you asking me this question girlie? "Ahm. If you want so, you should do.." I say, and she nods.

"I just need your assurance Akka. I know you are the only family important to him so I thought I must have your permission before approaching Vicky. " Oh, that's reasonable.

"Bye, then Akka.." she smiles and skids to the behind of the huge hall and I look at her pathetically. Vicky will surely hurt her heart. Poor thing. Ah Thikshitha, you should not let him humiliate her or something. Though I'm sure he won't do such things.

If he doesn't like her (that I well know is to be true) he should reject her politely.

Apparently, my mind suggested I go and eavesdrop and peek into their interaction which I did with utmost tentativeness cause I know I'm here invading people's privacy.

I'm curious and also, I want to see how Vicky will handle her proposal. God, he should be gentle with his rejection. It also shows the worth of my raising.

Tiptoeing silently, I peek in from the corner, which provided me a wide scenario of Vicky's back and Kirti's downcast face, in apprehension.

"What are you here for?" He asks her rather rudely! How dare him. Can't he be a little delicate? "Um, I want to say something" Vicky looked impatient at her words.

"Say it out" he demands, and again his voice is harsh and curt. Kirti stares at him before exposing her love to him. Vicky stands still for a moment, taking in the three words, and then he starts to shake his head. Obviously, in a negative manner.

Oh god. Kirti appears horrified.

"No Kirti. You are my best friend. Just best friend. I have never seen you on the view of more than that" he speaks calmly. Good.

"Really? After all these years of being together and being friends, have you not for a single instant felt something towards me?" Kirti is angry. Uff, you should respect his decision girlie, hmm, still I can understand her furious behavior.

"No." Vicky finishes in one word. The reaction on Kirti's face is truly painful. The anger and hurt have masked her face, visibly.

"Why not? Why don't you love me? What's the reason? Please don't tell me that it's because I'm your best friend." she questions, tears spilling out her eyes. Yet, her words are clean and clear. She is one courageous girl.

"Because I'm freaking in love with another girl!" Vicky snaps, while Kirti frowns deeply. "Don't lie Vicky. I am well aware that you don't love anyone! There's no girl attached to you as close as me. So stop making up lies and tell me the right reason for refuting my proposal!" Vicky runs his hand through his dense hair in frustration.

I agree with Kirti. Except for me, Kirti, and Nikki, he doesn't really have other girls around him that he would fall for.

"Wrong Kirti. I do have someone who is attached to me more than you do" he steps closer to her, making Kirti look up at him, puzzled.

"Who?" She mumbles and her face goes into thinking mode. "It can't be Nikki. And then, other than her, there's only one woman who is significant to you...no! I'm sorry she is like your sis- shut up!"Vicky yells at her. Kirti flinches in shock, due to his demeanor as well as the factor of something she has persuaded from his current remark...

Even I did. This is too disgusting. I hope it's not what I think it is.

"You don't say, you love her? Like really love her? Thikshitha? In a romantic way? You really do? Isn't she elder than you? She literally raised you, Vicky. I thought she is like your..." Kirti inquires in a tone that denotes disbelief and trails off at last.

Suddenly, my limps become paralyzed and my heart stops circulating blood, I feel sort of like that.

Just say no Vicky. Don't you betray me, idiot! Just mutter no and tell you don't do those things she has asked.

"I do. I love Thikki, in a romantic way indeed. She and I are by no means related by blood, so why should I consider her as my you know what" He shrugs ever so casually meanwhile I am stunned and sickened out of my wits.

I always wondered why he hasn't called me that you know what but I left it to his comfort. More than considering him a brother, like all people around me thinks, I took the position of a mother. And I'm disgusted now.

So much. With myself and him. Has he always stared at me in such thoughts? How in the world did he think that I will ever agree to love a person who is this younger than me? Sure, age isn't a problem but I'm the one who freaking raised him.

I left from there, uncomfortable with other thoughts that are trying to get in the door of my mind. I don't even want to think about those!

Idiot.

Idiot.

How can he love me? How can he dare to look me in that way?

Reaching home by my car, I storm inside. My nose is burning. My eyes are begging me to release the damned tears yet I walk in wrath, to my dad's room in which he rarely prevails. He must be in his office right now. Mom is a fast sleeper.

I never wanted to have drinks. But I heard it soothes your pain.

I took the thing from dad's cupboard and marches up to my room where I open the door, shut it behind me, and gulps the bitter liquid from the bottle down my throat. It is the worst kind of drink I have ever had. I don't care though. Now all I want to do is, not to get vulnerable. I don't want to cry because of his mistake. I don't want to...

And I broke down in tears. Damn this bottle. Deepak, my ex-best friend had once told me drinks help you forget problems but why in the world am I remembering all of them?

I hate him.

Vicky, I hate you too.

I almost completed the bottle and places it on the side table. Carefully, I step to the full-size mirror in my room and sigh when I look at my reflection.

Grey button-up shirt, grey net skirt with black flowers peeping out. My black wavy hair is flowing freely on my sides, reaching down to my waist. My eyes and cheeks are wet from tears. Why am I so beautiful?

Why the hell am I checking myself out? I should be angry. Yeah...angry...and wait why is this mirror shaking? Are we experiencing earthquakes? Where is Vicky? Is he safe?

"Damn...I should be angry" and my mind goes hazy...

.........................

So after a long time guys 😋

How was the chapter guys?❤️

And are you all ready for some actions and steamy scenes?😜