Threads of Fate

Chapter 3: Midnight Games

Chapter 3: Midnight Games

That night, after dinner, the parents decided to relax downstairs and suggested the younger ones go upstairs to talk and play games. They settled on a game called "Rating Spin." In this game, the "denner" would think of a number, and the rest had to answer questions based on that number without revealing it. Kunal was the denner and, with a mischievous smile, asked Aryan, "So, who’s the most interesting person you've met this weekend?"

All eyes turned to Aryan, who glanced at Anaya and then blushed slightly, averting his gaze. Anaya, who had been trying to keep her cool, felt the room grow warmer. Aryan stammered, "Uh, well... I guess, um..." He trailed off, clearly embarrassed.

Priya, who was always one for dramatics, smirked and nudged Anaya, whispering, "Looks like you’ve made quite the impression."

At that moment, Ria wanted to go downstairs to ask their mother something, but she was too scared to go alone. Kunal and Priya, sensing an opportunity, offered to accompany her, leaving Aryan and Anaya alone in the room.

As soon as they left, Anaya, feeling uncomfortable with the sudden one-on-one situation, excused herself to the washroom. When she returned, she found Aryan lying on the bed, hands behind his head, gazing at her with an amused expression.

"So, you're into books, huh?" Aryan asked, breaking the silence.

Anaya blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. How did you know?"

"I saw you reading earlier while everyone was talking he said with a smile. "You seemed like you were in your own world"Anaya felt herself relax. The awkwardness melted away as they started talking. They spoke about their interests, dreams, and even their families. Aryan, it turned out, was more than just the quiet guy she had initially taken him for. He had a deep passion for photography, and his dream was to travel the world capturing stories through his lens.

Before they knew it, Priya, Kunal, and Ria returned. The group stayed up talking until nearly 3 AM before finally heading to bed.

Stay tuned for Next episode...