Behind closed hearts

Chapter2.

The next evening came, Maya was standing by the window, watching cars pass through. Behind her was the apartment filled with noise, her mother behind an overly dramatic mother over the dinner setup, Arjun was on the phone, and the normal quiet sound of expectation that always came with having guests around. Rian and Anika were supposed to arrive any minute, she told herself she was calm, but her palms were saying other wise, they were cold and trembling.

When the doorbell rang, it was as if she held her breath. Rian entered first in a navy-blue suit that made him look older, Anika followed him behind her beauty the kind that demands silence when she steps into a room, her dark hair were packed neatly, her lipstick was giving a perfect shade of calm confidence.

“Maya, Rian greeted her and he said it’s been too long, she looked at him wondering why he said it as if they wasn’t just last night they had a conversation here at her house.

Anika smiled politely. “Hi, Maya. Rian’s told me about you the little sister who used to steal his phone for games.” Maya forced a small smile and responded to her saying “That used to be me years ago.”

“Still,” Anika rolled her eyes and said , “It’s sweet, you must be excited for the wedding.”

They had dinner but it was a blur of conversation and laughter. Maya watched them from across the table, Rian’s hand resting on Anika’s, the way she leaned in on him when he spoke, the quiet comfort between them.

She told herself it didn’t hurt, but truthfully it did.

Halfway through the evening, Arjun pulled Rian aside to discuss something about the catering of the wedding ceremony, leaving Maya briefly alone with Anika. “You’re very quiet Maya,” Anika said gently, “don’t you like all this wedding chaos?”

Maya smiled forcefully, “It’s… nice, she stammered, they’re not my thing, I guess.” Anika studied her for a moment, there was something weird behind her looking at her, something calculative. “You and Rian are close, aren’t you?” She asked.

Maya froze. “He is family.” “Hmm.” Anika’s smile didn’t seem convincing enough, “He has that effect on people, makes them feel seen and special she said to Maya.”

The way she said it made Maya’s stomach turn.

Before she could reply, the men returned, and the conversation died downbut the words kept ringing for long in Maya’s heart even after dinner ended.

Later that night, Maya stood by the kitchen sink, helping her mother clear up, she could hear Rian laughing with Arjun in the next room, the sound almost covered up by the sound of dishes clapping together.

Then she heard her name, “She’s grown up,” Rian said.

“Yeah,” Arjun said. “I still can’t believe it sometimes, but she’s still my kid sister.” There was a pause.

“She dosent behave like a kid anymore,” Rian said. “It just feels like she’s different.”

Maya froze, the plate slipping slightly in her hand.

Arjun laughed again,“You’re just getting sentimental man, getting married’ll do that to you.” Rian was quiet .

Later after everyone had left and the lights went out, Maya lay awake again but this time, her thoughts weren’t only of heartbreak, something about the way Rian looked at her tonight had changed, there had been confusion in his eyes, hesitation, she sensed it, she told herself she was imagining it, but deep down, she knew she wasn’t.

Two days later, Arjun left for a work trip, and Rian came over to drop off some documents he’d promised to deliver for him.

It was late afternoon, the sun was shining so bright making the weather so hot, Maya was alone at home, when she opened the door and saw Rian there, every nerve in her body went still.

“Hey,” he said, whilst still trying to catch his breath. “Sorry Arjun asked me to drop this off before I head out.” “Sure,” she said, come in.

He stepped inside, looking around like he hadn’t been here a thousand times before.

“Are you okay?” he asked, after a moment. “You’ve been distant lately.” She laughed faintly and said . “I’ve just busy with school.”

“You’re lying he said, he said it gently, but it landed like thunder.

“I’ve known you since you were ten, Maya,“You never hide things well, she looked away and said “Maybe I learned.”

Rian smiled, but it was a happy smile. “You didn’t.”

There was a long silence, then softly, she said it:

“You’re getting married, Rian.”

“I know.” He said.

“Then why do you look at me like that?”

He blinked and then became speechless.

The air thickened between them, the sound of the city outside became faint, car horns, a dog barking, life going on, but here, everything had stopped.

“Maya,” he began, his voice rough, “don’t—”

“I’m not asking for anything,” she said, her voice shaking. “I just… needed to know if I was imagining it.”

He moved closer to her and said , You’re not, the words hit her harder than she expected.

He looked at her then really looked at her the way someone looks at something they’re not supposed to want but they can’t stop, and then just as things begin to getting more intense, his phone rang, he moved away from her a bit and answered the call immediately.

“Hey Anika” His tone changed, instantly warm and composed. “Yeah, I’m just heading out now.”

Maya immediately turned her back against him before he could see her tears when he left, silence filled the whole room

That night, Rian couldn’t sleep either, he stared at the mirror all night looking at the face of a man who was supposed to be sure, stable, ready to start a new life. But he wasn’t sure anymore.

Not after the way Maya had looked at him, she didn’t look at him like a child, she didn’t look at him like a sister, she looked at him like someone who saw him when no one else saw him and that scared him more than anything.

Two days later, a rumor began to spread round the whole city, even the midst of their friends and family.

Anika’s family wasn’t what they seemed and Rian was about to find out something that would shatter the perfect illusion of his engagement……and bring him right back to the one person he should have stayed away from all along.