Chapter 4

Chapter 3

Misunderstandings

The Morning After

As the first rays of sunlight painted the sky with hues of gold, Aniruddh was gently woken by the soft chirping of birds. Blinking his eyes open, his gaze landed on Jhanak’s face, her innocent smile gracing her slumber. For a fleeting moment, he thought he was still dreaming. A faint smile spread across his face as he reached out instinctively to brush her hair, only to stop mid-action.

Reality struck him—it wasn’t a dream. Startled, he bolted upright, inadvertently waking Jhanak. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she noticed his puzzled expression.

“When did I fall asleep?” he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

Jhanak smiled gently and signed, “You started dozing off while looking at the photos.”

“And you let me stay on your lap?” he asked, surprised.

She signed again, “You were exhausted. You looked so peaceful, as if you hadn’t slept that well in days.”

Aniruddh paused, her words sinking in. He reflected on the serene sleep he had just experienced and realized she was right—he hadn’t felt such peace in a long time. Something about Jhanak, her quiet presence, stirred feelings he couldn’t quite name.

As he stared into her eyes, his thoughts raced: What is it about her? Why do I feel this pull, this connection?

The moment was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps and an unmistakable clinking of bangles echoed from the hallway. Both of them froze. “Shrabani Mashi!” Jhanak signed frantically, her eyes wide with panic. She grabbed Aniruddh’s hand and gestured toward the window. “Out! Now!”

“But—” Aniruddh protested, but Jhanak shot him a stern look. Her urgency left no room for argument.

In a flash, Jhanak opened the window, and Aniruddh, despite his status as a renowned star, awkwardly climbed out. He barely managed to regain his footing outside when Shrabani Mashi barged into the room.

“Jhanak!” her voice boomed with concern. “Why is your bed such a mess? And why was I hearing noises last night?”

Jhanak shook her head innocently, gesturing that she must have been dreaming. Shrabani Mashi squinted at her suspiciously but let it go. “Well, come down soon. Breakfast won’t cook itself!”

Jhanak nodded, and as Shrabani Mashi left, she quickly turned toward the window. Aniruddh stood there, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed, an amused smirk lighting up his face. “Your Mashi’s quite the lioness,” he teased in a hushed voice.

Jhanak rolled her eyes and signed with quick, sharp movements, “Go before she catches you.”

He hesitated, his hand brushing hers as she tried to close the window. “Wait,” he said softly, his tone unusually serious. “You didn’t tell me your name. And… when will I see you again? Also, about last night—thank you. For everything. You’re… different. In a good way.”

Her hand faltered, and for a moment, she stood frozen, her cheeks warming under his gaze. Finally, with hesitant hands, she signed, “Today is my birthday. Come back this evening. I’ll tell you everything then.”

She shut the window quickly before her resolve could waver, her heart pounding in her chest. Outside, Aniruddh stood for a moment, staring at the closed window with a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Happy birthday, dear fan,” he murmured, shaking his head in quiet amusement as he slipped away into the bright morning.

Aniruddh’s Residence
Disguised in a cap and mask, Aniruddh quietly entered his home. He was careful not to attract attention but tensed when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Whipping around, he sighed in relief to see Ravi Dada, his trusted confidant.

“Sir, where were you last night?” Ravi asked, concern etched on his face. “I searched everywhere for you.”

Aniruddh’s lips curled into a sheepish smile as memories of the previous night flooded his mind. “It was… an adventure. A sweet adventure.”

Ravi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Adventure, eh? You’re smiling—something must’ve happened! Tell me!”

Before Aniruddh could respond, Ravi’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and froze, his face paling.

“What’s wrong, Dada?” Aniruddh asked, noticing the shift in his demeanor. Ravi didn’t answer, his wide eyes glued to the phone screen.

Jhanak’s Home
Dressed elegantly for the day, Jhanak entered the living room where Shrabani Mashi awaited her. “You look radiant today, my girl,” Shrabani said, her voice warm. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Jhanak’s cheeks reddened as memories of Aniruddh surfaced. She quickly changed the subject, signing, “It’s getting late. Shall we go to the temple?”

Before they could leave, a call from a neighbor interrupted them. “Shrabani, turn on the news!” the neighbor urged.

Puzzled, Shrabani switched on the TV. What she saw left her stunned. Images of Aniruddh sleeping on Jhanak’s lap flashed across every news channel. Speculative headlines swirled—claims of a secret relationship, allegations of scandal.

Jhanak’s eyes welled with tears as the world twisted a moment of innocence into a sensational story. “Don’t worry, Jhanak,” Shrabani said, pulling her into a comforting hug. “I know you’ve done nothing wrong. We’ll get through this.”

As reporters swarmed outside, shouting questions and demanding answers, Shrabani stepped out to handle the media. Jhanak, trembling, turned to retreat to her room. That’s when she saw him—Aniruddh, standing at her door.

The Confrontation
Aniruddh’s eyes blazed with anger. Without a word, he grabbed Jhanak’s hand and dragged her into her room, slamming the door shut behind them.

“How dare you use my name like this?” he shouted.

Jhanak shook her head desperately, signing frantically to explain herself, but he wasn’t listening.

“I thought you were different,” he continued bitterly. “I thought you understood pain, loss… but you’re just like the others. You used me to gain fame!”

Tears streamed down Jhanak’s face as she clutched her throat, swearing her innocence. But his words cut deeper than she could bear.

“To hell with everything I felt for you,” he said coldly before storming out.

The Truth Unveiled
As Aniruddh made his way out through the kitchen, his phone buzzed with a call from Arshi Mukherjee.

“How did you like my surprise?” she asked smugly.

“What are you talking about?” he snapped.

“Oh, come on. The photos, the chaos… You didn’t think I’d let you off so easily, did you? I saw you sneaking into that house last night. The rest was easy.”

Realization dawned on Aniruddh. Arshi had orchestrated the entire scandal. His heart sank as he recalled his harsh words to Jhanak.

He turned and ran back inside, but it was too late. In her room, Jhanak lay collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath.

“Jhanak!” Shrabani’s scream echoed from the doorway as she rushed in.

Aniruddh froze, the name ringing in his ears. Jhanak. The name pulled him back to a moment from his past—a moment that changed his life forever.

After all who was Jhanak in Aniruddh's life?

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To be continued.