All I Know Of Her

Chapter 10

People say that you always gain by giving love.
Well, people say a lot of things.
Doesn't mean they all apply to you, now do they?

That feeling of despair when you know you are not enough is so agonizingly painful that it feels deathly suffocating.

Being friend-zoned by the one you love is usually a boy's nightmare.
But what if it is a girl.

How will a girl handle if she is treated like a friend, a sibling by the one with whom she wants to share her life with.

Don't mean to say it is less painful for the opposite gender, but hey, to each their own.

Everyone's pain is as important to them as to their own.

It was 16 years ago, that she first saw him. That cute 8-year old boy who bullied her because of her pigtails. Her brother saw this and came to her rescue. Sure, her then 8-year old brother did teach the boy a lesson. The next day, the boy came and apologized. He also confessed that she was very cute with her pigtails and he wanted to be her friend. Thinking about it now, she couldn't help but laugh.

That was also the start of a beautiful friendship between the three of them

That was also the start of her crush on him. Really, it started before she knew what it was. Only God knows how and when her childish crush matured into true deep and intense feelings.

And two years later when her parents passed away, it was he who stood by them and gave them silent support. Helped them grieve. Helped them get over their trauma. Helped them fight their nightmares. 

God only knows how many times he came into her room in the night, when she screamed and cried in her dreams, to console her. 
He held her, whispering encouraging her into her ear. Supported her. Told her that it was alright and he was with her.

He grew up earlier than his age to support her and her brother. He is after all, one of a kind.

His parents were also very supportive. Took them in when there was no one for them. Loved and cared for them. Still treat them as their own. Though they grew up in an orphanage, Arjun's mom made sure that the two kids stayed at their place at least once a week even though they were going through a tough time. They had lost their daughter almost at the same time.

Their love was what gave her the courage to stand where she right now is. One of the most famous feature writers in the country. One of the best.

Though initially wanting to become a investigative journalist like her brother, she later concluded that she won't be able to tolerate gory events of the bad side of the world. And that she was better off writing articles about the better side of the world. Her trauma with their parents' death made her brother more immune to the dangers and devastation of the world while she became more sensitive.

Her career is the second most important thing to her in the world after her family - both of blood and of heart.

Fortunately or unfortunately, she is paired up with him, the one guy she couldn't resist falling in love with, in her assignments or missions as she likes to call. Oblivious to her feelings, he is very happy to be so closely working with her. Apparently to protect her in case something happens. 

Oh, young love.

When she was slowly getting accustomed to this, there comes another woman. The woman that can melt away the ice of her brother's heart. Also the woman with the power to break his heart. Though initially hesitant, slowly everyone warmed up to her. She wormed her way into their hearts. And now became one of them. Their own.

She is a diamond - precious and rare. Although she has her own share of secrets. But hey, so does everyone. She has this aura around her - hard to explain, but that is what makes her all the more ambiguous and, dare I say, attractive.

She filled the gaps in their lives. That of a friend, a sister, a parent and sure as hell her brother fell in love, which unfortunately wasn't reciprocated yet, at least not in words. Though her brother is in a dilemma about the woman's feelings, she knows that the feelings between her brother and her best friend were mutual.

She became dear to everyone in a matter of months. Loved by everyone. Everyone in her family accepted her. They became so close that they shared everything with each other. Only the woman doesn't tell about her past. They respected each other too much to cross that boundary.

But how true is she? We should not conclude unless we know two sides of the story. But the question is, at what cost?

What would it cost for them to unveil her secrets?

What would it cost for them to try to see the story from her point of view? 

What would it cost for them to unlock the mystery that she is? 

And lastly, is it worth it?

Welcome to the life of Sumukhi Reddy, the 'her' and 'she' of the above story.

Arjun being the love of her life
Samanvay, the brother and lastly
Manaswini, the best friend.

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Love
Sanjana ❤