Sam's birthday celebration spilling into the early hours of the night. Adviel's youngest had been insistent on cake, candles, and a tiny whirlwind of mischief, and keilan who is trying to talk to Viara but, viara exhausted yet amused by sudden confession of keilan, she had been swept into the commotion.
She ignore keilan all the time in birthday and quietly goes her guest bedroom, the moonlight spilling silver over the floor. Her dark blue satin nightgown clung softly to her frame, and she lingered by the window. Her mind drifted to earlier moments—the memory of carrying Sam's birthday cake with Keilan, their hands brushing unintentionally, the sudden pause as he had leaned close, his confession and that impulsive peck on her lips. Her heart had stuttered, her chest warmed and yet twisted with guilt.
Elvric. She loved him. Always him. And yet, there was something about Keilan—something unspoken but undeniably pulling at her chest. she remember the moment of her and elvric.
FLASHBACK
"Viara, you look fatty nowadays!" elvric compliment her as they both were walking to beach, there hands tangled. viara push him and stand there folding her both arms "You always make the fun of me, I am not gone talk to you" she said more like a whisper but enough to hear elvric. he stand there controlling his laugh but brust out into laughter, viara glared at him and run after him, they both become child for sometime and he held viara by her waist, cold wind brushing their bodies together, he put his one hand to her cheek, shyness flushing to her cheeks and he pull her closer to him and slowly they kiss each other.
FLASHBACK END
A tears made there way down to her cheeks making them soak in there beautiful moment then she heard a soft knock on the door yanked her back. "Viara! It's me, Anvi! Come on, we're dancing!"
Viara's fingers brushed her eyes immediately to wipe away her stray tears, and she forced a small, hesitant smile. "I… I don't feel like it tonight." you all should carry on without me!
"You'll regret it if you stay in here sulking!" Anvi laughed, tugging at her hand. "Just one dance. Come on!" everyone is asking where is our dance queen and you are here hiding from everyone, come on we are not going anywhere without taking you with us!from behind of Anvi Tara comes and they both get stubborn and sit on her bed.
Reluctantly, Viara changed into a flowing white Anarkali, her long black hair braided loosely down her back. The moment she stepped into the hall, cheers erupted. Liora and Jivika spun her into a playful twirl, while Anaya and Anvi clapped their hands gleefully.
"Viara! You look like a dream!" Anaya cried.
"Of course! who's sister is she!" Nisha added
"Absolutely stunning!" Liora added.
Keilan, leaning casually against the wall, His gaze lingered on her, dark and teasing. "And how could anyone can notice the beauty of moon when the natural beauty is here! ," he murmured, voice low, directed only at her.
Viara's cheeks flamed. She ignored him, weaving into the dance, yet she felt the heat of his gaze burning on her back.
The cousins laughed, spinning and twirling together, until Viara felt the sudden exhaustion of emotions and the pull of her own mind. She excused herself quietly and slipped back to her bedroom. As she lay on her bed, her thoughts replayed the moment with Keilan—his hand brushing hers, the peck on her lips, his whispered words. Elvric filled her heart, steady and warm, yet Keilan's presence lingered like an undeniable current. her conversation in garden with presiel left her tangled in emotions. Sleep eventually claimed her, leaving her tangled in the pull of love and desire.
---
Morning sunlight spilled over the Sharma mansion. Birds chirped, and the cousins' laughter carried across the halls. Viara awoke, she find her both sisters is already awake and down stairs helping there aunt in house chorus, she gets ready choosing a plain blue Georgette saree, its simplicity highlighting her elegance. As she stepped into the dining hall, every cousin and family member turned, voices overlapping with admiration.
"Viara, you look like a goddess!" Anaya exclaimed.
"You're literally glowing," Jivika whispered.
"Absolutely stunning" Liora added.
"yeah, she looks beautiful but only sometimes" Tara teased her
Even Keilan, leaning against the breakfast table, sipping the tea stopped mid-sip.
"And here I thought the sun was the only claim to beauty this morning," he murmured, a teasing glint in his eye.
Viara's cheeks burned, and she shot him a glare, moving toward the table. He smirked knowingly, as though fully aware of the effect of his words.
Breakfast conversation flowed quickly—shopping for decorations, choosing the perfect flowers, arranging the lighting. Anjali Sharma moved through the room issuing crisp instructions.
"Viara, Keilan, I need both of you overseeing the sangeet hall decorations. Make sure nothing is missed ."
"Yes, Aunt Anjali," Viara replied.
she enter flipping open her notebook to outside to take a look of courtyard and look after some decoration. Keilan rolled his sleeves up, adjusting his wine-colored shirt, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Looks like we're being bossed around together," he said.
"Don't get used to it. Or everyone will think you're my servant," Viara shot back, trying to keep her composure.
"Or maybe they will think you as my wife the boss in action," he whispered and her cheeks flamed.
"Just shut up, okay! Everyone knows here that we're cousins so stop dreaming!" she said annoyingly
"I wished that one day my dream should come true if it's possible" he said dramatically and viara rolled her eyes and starts to look at decoration.
---
The courtyard was alive with energy. Viara, notebook in hand, began delegating duties. Arav and Neil adjusted fairy lights, Anvi and Anaya strung marigolds, Rhea checked colors if you want to change something , Dariel and Liora arranged drapes. Keilan climbed the ladder, adjusting heavier garlands, while Viara stand their and her eyes land on keilan who was on the ladder, "how can someone look this good while working" she think while looking at him
"perfect shot" Liora said while clicking their photos.
"Liora, what are you doing? delete that photo" viara try to snatch her phone.
"No way, look at you're self how you was looking at my brother! " Liora show her their photo.
"So that's how you look at me?" keilan said to viara, a smirk on lips.
"huh! No, obviously I am not looking at you and don't be in dreamland everytime, you... you should focus on your work" I'll....I'll look at that side! she said suttering
Keilan's phone ring and he climbed down the ladder and get to pick up his call after his call end he went back and saw viara who was adjusting her Saree loose end of her shoulder bringing it to front and she tucked the loose end of her Saree at her waist , keilan immediately Open the camera of his phone and clicked her photos silently—while she tie her in loose messy bun he captured her candid moments. When he was just clicking her photos, her eyes meet with him and he raised one eyebrow and fold her hands and asked to him "Don't you have work to do? Or enjoying watching that everyone is working here!
"Actually I am enjoying the seen in front of me" he smirked and get backs to his work, viara rolled her eyes on his statement and she also get back to her work.
Later, he showed her the photos he clicked.
"You look breathtaking," he whispered.
"Don't you think you flirt so much! don't flatter yourself and yeah I knew that I look breathtaking! she retorted.
"hey viara, put this rose petal in that cloth" Daniel said showing his one finger to hanging cloth where petals had to put.
"Daniel, you should tell this to keilan he's your brother"Viara replied
"Do you think he will listen to me? and mom called me several time so now I have to go and take the help of him because I knew it he listens to you" Daniel retored teasingly.
viara climbed the ladder, balancing carefully, when her foot slipped slightly. Keilan reacted instantly, catching her in his arms as crimson petals rained down over them. Her hair tumbled across her face, and for a heartbeat, time froze.
"you look good in my arms too,what do you think? keilan teased her in his arms.
"Don't take chances like that!"now you should put me down" she exclaimed one finger pointing towards the ground.
he listen to her and drop her on the ground and keilan take Ella in his arms while everyone laugh at viara's situation, viara stands up and glare at keilan.
"I'll take the revenge of it very properly" she whispered while rubbing the dust of her hand
"I wish there was no one around here. You take revenge every time, with making me breathless " he whispered.
Viara returned to work, her pulse racing, cheeks flushed. Every glance from Keilan made her heart hammer.
---
Evening brought the dance practice. Music filled the hall as cousins paired off. Viara moved with grace, laughter bright and airy, yet every brush of Keilan's hand against hers set her nerves alight. "keilan I am not good at this" viara said while dancing with keilan "you should trust on me viara" keilan murmured making her heart flutter
After some practice, she excused herself, hoping to escape the pull of his attention. He followed, catching her wrist, spinning her into a quiet room and pinning her to the wall.
"Why are you ignoring me, Viara?" he asked, voice deep but low. "Every time I try to get your attention, you're pushing me away everytime ."
"keilan stop it, it's hurting me" she reply slowly trying to free herself from his grip. she pushed him and try to get out of that room but keilan once again held her wrist and pull her to himself making them both fall on the bed, "We have boundaries, keilan" she whispered. "You're my cousin brother. We can't be together."
His eyes softened, searching hers. "And what if I doesn't care about that?" he leaned in their face only inches away, viara shut her eyes and felt something soft on her lips and she was just there laying on the bed all numb tears rolled down to her cheek and keilan immediately stopped kissing her and wipes her tear, he search for her eyes which was shut a few minutes ago, she pushed him and went to window, cool air brushing her tears and her long black silky hair and she spoke.
"I… I love Elvric. why don't you understand keilan! He's only person I truly love, No one can take his place," she replied.
Keilan came to her and his hand brushed hers, firm yet gentle. "It hurts to hear, but I'll make sure you can feel my love. I'll care for you, protect you, I want to be the reason of your happiness but please Don't ignore me again viara." I just can't handle you're ignorance, please viara!
Her eyes welled up, and she fled to her guest bedroom, silent sobs shaking her shoulders.
---
Later that night, she turned the shower to ice-cold and stepped in, fully clothed, to numb herself. The water hit her like a storm, yet it didn't soothe—her body shivered violently. By the time she emerged, pale and fevered, she collapsed onto her bed, exhausted.
From the hallway, Keilan paused, glancing at her closed door. Leaning against the wall, he allowed himself a moment of reflection:
She's so beautiful. So untouchable yet so close. How can't I love her when she's so pure, true about her love? I love her completely. And one day… one day, she'll know it too.
The quiet night of the Sharma mansion swallowed the house in its serene hush, leaving Viara to her thoughts and Keilan to his unspoken promise.
_ _ _ _ _