Laksh knew he had crossed a line. Grabbing Aarohi's arm like that — in anger — wasn't right. Deep down, he knew it. But what really set him off wasn't just what he'd done… it was Armaan stepping in.
Clenching his jaw, Laksh shot him a glare.
"Armaan, just stay out of it. Whatever's between me and Aarohi, it's none of your business."
Armaan didn't flinch. His voice was steady, his gaze razor-sharp.
"I'm her best friend. And if someone's hurting her — yeah, that makes it my business."
Laksh took a step closer, eyes blazing with frustration.
"You came back after eight years. Eight. While you were gone, I was the one by her side — not you. So don't come flashing your best friend badge like it still means something."
Armaan let out a short, humorless laugh. He didn't look angry — just... sure.
"Maybe I was gone, but for Aarohi… I never really left. I'm still her Armaan. That hasn't changed — and you know it."
Armaan took a slow step forward, lowering his voice just enough to make it hit harder — personal, pointed.
"And as for you," he said quietly, "you're still the same guy... the reason she got distanced from the one person who meant the most to her."
He paused, just for a second, then added with a sharp, knowing smirk—"And you know who that person is, don't you? It's me."
Laksh scoffed and stepped right back into his space, the smirk never leaving his face.
"Maybe you were the most important person in her life once. I won't deny that. But a lot can change in eight years — and it has. Her likes, her dislikes, her habits… even the way she sees the world. And guess what? I'm the one who's been here through all of it. I know who she is now. You only knew the fourteen-year-old Aarohi. But the twenty-two-year-old version? You don't even know her anymore."
Armaan let out a short laugh, calm and steady.
"Really? How long do you think it takes to know someone when your heart's already known them for years?"
He stepped in a little closer, eyes steady.
"I'll figure out the 'new' Aarohi soon enough. But you, Laksh... do you really think you'll ever reach the place in her heart where I've lived since we were kids?"
Laksh's fists clenched at his sides, his glare sharp enough to cut glass.
"You challenging me?" he asked, his voice low and tense.
Armaan didn't flinch. Calm as ever, he looked him dead in the eye.
"No. I'm just telling you the truth. But if you want to take it as a challenge…" —he shrugged slightly— "go ahead. Just don't forget one thing—
you'll lose. Because Aarohi… won't let me lose."
Laksh stepped in even closer, their faces inches apart now. His voice dropped to a cold whisper, laced with quiet threat—
"Alright then… let the war begin."
Meanwhile, Aarohi sat silently in the front passenger seat, fingers lightly tapping on her lap as she waited for Armaan. Moments later, he slipped into the driver's seat beside her. Without a word, he buckled his seatbelt, hands reaching for the ignition.
Just as he was about to start the car—
Click.
The back door swung open.
Aarohi turned her head in surprise.
Laksh slid in casually, like he belonged there, and took the back seat without saying a word.
Both Armaan and Aarohi was looking at him, identical expressions of confusion written across their faces.
Laksh raised his brows and glanced at each of them.
"What?" he asked casually. "Why are you two staring at me like that?"
Aarohi narrowed her eyes.
"What exactly are you doing in this car?" she asked, not bothering to hide her irritation.
Laksh leaned back against the seat and shot her a look.
"And who are you to question me? In case you forgot, this is my elder brother's car."
Armaan gave him a sharp side-eye, his expression screaming 'What the hell is wrong with you?'
Catching the look, Laksh turned to him with a smirk.
"Oh come on, don't give me that face. I know it's only three months, but technically, you are older than me."
Armaan exhaled sharply through his nose, clearly done with the nonsense. His jaw tightened as he said in a firm, clipped tone—
"Laksh, seriously—are you done? Or do you actually plan on telling me what you're doing in my car?"
Laksh, completely unbothered, lifted his bandaged hand with an innocent look that didn't quite suit the usual smugness in his voice.
"I'm injured, remember?" he said sweetly. "Can't drive. And since all three of us are going to the same place, I figured—why not ride together? One's good, two's better, but three?" He flashed a cheeky grin. "Now that's a vibe."
Aarohi didn't even blink.
"Nope," she said flatly. "You're not coming with us. Take a cab."
Laksh's grin vanished. He turned sharply toward her, eyes narrowing.
"You better keep that mouth shut, Aarohi, or—"
She cut him off before he could finish, matching his glare without flinching.
"Or what, Laksh? Come on, say it. What exactly are you going to do?"
Laksh looked like he was just about to snap back when Armaan finally raised his voice, cutting through the tension.
"Okay, enough. Are you two done?" he said, exasperated. "Can we please leave for university now?"
Both Aarohi and Laksh turned toward Armaan.
Aarohi looked visibly disappointed—her brows furrowed, lips pressed tight. Laksh, on the other hand, looked way too satisfied, like he'd just won a round in some invisible game.
Grinning, Laksh leaned forward from the backseat and, without warning, planted a quick kiss on Armaan's cheek.
"Thanks, big bro," he said sweetly, almost too sweetly.
But as he leaned in closer, that innocent smile twisted into a smug little smirk. His voice dropped to a whisper as he murmured near Armaan's ear,
"You're too soft, bro. Way too soft."
He shot him a playful wink and leaned back in his seat, looking all too proud of himself.
Armaan caught his brother's reflection in the rearview mirror. His eyes narrowed just a little, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Alright, Laksh," he thought. "I've been playing too nice. Let's see how you like it when I raise the stakes."
Laksh noticed the slight shift in Armaan's expression and narrowed his own eyes.
"That look… that's not good," he thought, slightly wary. "He's definitely planning something. But what the hell is going on in that head of his?"
Just then, Armaan glanced over at Aarohi and asked calmly,
"Aarohi, is your seatbelt on properly?"
She nodded. "Yeah, all good."
"Great," he said with a faint smile. "Just sit tight… and if you get scared, let me know, alright?"
Aarohi couldn't help but smile back, clutching her seatbelt a little tighter. "Okay," she said, a bit amused by his sudden concern.