Chapter 11 - The Walls Around Us

Scene 3: An Unexpected Connection

Pranavi sighed as the car stopped outside her house. The rain had slowed down, leaving behind the scent of wet earth and an unsettling silence between her and Vedant. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out, avoiding his gaze.

Just as she turned toward the gate, she saw her elder brother, Aarav, rushing toward her, his face filled with worry.

"Pranavi! Where were you? Everyone has been searching for you since last night! The guards, your friends-everyone was worried!" Aarav's voice was tense as he stopped in front of her, scanning her from head to toe.

Pranavi swallowed hard, exhaustion settling in. "Bhai, it's a long story. I'll explain later."

Before Aarav could reply, a deep voice came from behind her.

"No, Pranavi. You should tell him now. He deserves to know what happened between us last night."

Her entire body stiffened. She turned slowly, only to see Vedant stepping out of the car. His usual smug expression was replaced by something unreadable.

Aarav's posture changed instantly. The concern in his eyes was replaced by something sharper. His jaw tightened as he stared at Vedant.

"Vedant?" Aarav's voice was dangerously low, his eyes narrowing as if recognizing a ghost from the past.

Pranavi's breath hitched. "You two... know each other?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Neither of them answered.

They stood frozen, locked in a silent battle of emotions.

And in that moment, Pranavi realized-whatever past Vedant was hiding, her own family was somehow a part of it.

---

The Tension Deepens

The silence between Aarav and Vedant stretched endlessly. Pranavi could feel the tension crackling in the air, like two predators sizing each other up.

Aarav took a slow step forward, his fists clenched. "Vedant Rathore... what are you doing here?"

Vedant, as always, remained calm. But there was a sharpness in his gaze that wasn't there before. "I was dropping Pranavi home. And you, Aarav Malhotra... how have you been?" His tone was polite, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it.

Pranavi's confusion only grew. They weren't strangers. But they weren't friends either.

"How do you two know each other?" she finally asked, demanding answers.

Aarav didn't look at her. His eyes were still locked on Vedant. "Did you tell her anything?"

Vedant smirked slightly, tilting his head. "Not yet. But it looks like it's time."

"Vedant." Aarav's voice was a warning, but Vedant simply chuckled.

"Relax, Aarav. I'm not doing anything wrong. Just looking after Pranavi." His gaze flickered toward her for a second before returning to Aarav.

Aarav's jaw tightened. "Stay away from her."

Pranavi's heart skipped a beat at the protectiveness in her brother's tone. "Bhai, why are you reacting like this?"

Aarav finally turned to her, his eyes filled with something dangerously close to fear. "You won't understand, Pranavi. Just trust me and stay away from this man."

Pranavi's stomach twisted at his words.

Vedant let out a soft laugh. "When someone gives too many warnings, it only makes people more curious, Pranavi."

Aarav's glare hardened. "Vedant, leave. Now."

Vedant exhaled slowly, his amusement fading. "And if I don't?"

Aarav took another step forward, standing directly in front of Vedant. The air between them was charged with unspoken tension.

Pranavi, caught in the middle, felt like she was drowning in questions.

But before anything could escalate...

... To be Continued