The weekend finally arrived. Morning light filled my room as Roop and I got ready for the party. I could hear her humming happily in her room next door.

Roop stepped out first, looking absolutely radiant in her shimmery silver party dress. The fabric caught the light with every small movement. She had done her makeup with care—glowing skin, perfectly lined eyes, and a confident red lipstick. She looked like a heroine who had stepped out of a dream.

“Di, tell me honestly,” she said, twirling slowly in front of me. “Do I look okay? Not too much?”

“You look beautiful, Roop,” I replied softly, meaning every word. “Like a star.”

She beamed and hugged me quickly. “Thank you! Now let’s find something nice for you too.”

On my side, getting ready took much longer. I stood in front of my cupboard, slowly going through every piece of clothing I owned. Most were simple office kurtis or comfortable home wear. Nothing seemed right for a party. After searching for what felt like ages, I finally pulled out a modest knee-length navy blue dress. It wasn’t flashy, but it felt comfortable and right for me.

I took my time brushing my hair until it fell neatly, applied a little kajal to make my eyes look brighter, and dabbed on some light lipstick. As I looked at myself in the mirror, a quiet determination settled in my heart.

Today, I thought, I will definitely tell Ruhan how I feel. Even if he rejects me, at least I’ll give my heart a real chance. I can’t keep carrying this alone anymore.

When we both finally walked into the hall, the reaction was immediate.

“Roop! Oh my god, look at you!” Arjun bhaiya exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration. “You’re going to be the most beautiful girl at the party.”

Mom clapped her hands together, her face glowing with pride. “Meri jaan, you look like a princess today. So elegant, so perfect. Everyone will notice you.”

Dad looked up from his newspaper and gave a rare smile. “Yes, very nice. Carry yourself well, Roop.”

Ajay grinned and whistled playfully. “Roop di, seriously… you’re looking fire! No one’s going to take their eyes off you.”

I stood quietly beside my sister, offering a small smile. I was used to this. The compliments always flowed toward her like a river. No one commented on my simple dress, but that was okay. I had stopped expecting anything different a long time ago.

Mom turned to both of us. “Enjoy yourselves, but be safe. And remember what your father said — come back before 12, okay?”

“Yes, Maa,” I said softly.

Roop nodded excitedly. “We will!”

The farmhouse looked magical when we reached. Warm string lights hung everywhere, soft music floated in the air, and many people our age were scattered across the lawn — some talking in groups, some enjoying snacks at the food counters, and others dancing freely. The atmosphere felt lively and welcoming.

We stepped inside. My eyes immediately searched for Ruhan. When I spotted him near the main lawn, Roop and I walked toward him together.

Ruhan turned around and his face lit up with a warm smile. “Hey! You both came. Thank you so much for coming. You guys look really good tonight.”

Roop smiled brightly. “Thank you for inviting us! This place is so beautiful.”

“Oh, no problem at all,” Ruhan replied with an easy laugh. “There’s lots of food, drinks, and the music is good. Please enjoy yourselves, okay?”

I gathered my courage and said quietly, “Thank you for inviting us, Ruhan.”

He looked at me with that gentle smile I loved. “Of course, Diya. I’m glad you’re here. Enjoy the party. I’ll have to go greet some other guests for now, but I’ll catch up with you both later.”

We nodded, and he moved away to attend to others.

The party continued at its own relaxed pace. I spoke lightly with a couple of my office colleagues who were also there.

“How’s your weekend going, Diya?” one of them asked.

“It’s nice,” I replied softly. “This party is a good change.”

We chatted for a while about small things — work pressure, weekend plans, and funny office stories. But after some time, I started looking around for Roop. She had told me earlier that she was going to the washroom, but quite a lot of time had passed.

“Where is she?” I whispered to myself, feeling a small knot of worry. I decided to go look for her.

I walked toward the quieter back side of the farmhouse. A small garden lay there, dimly lit by a few lanterns. As I stepped closer, my eyes slowly adjusted to the scene in front of me.

I froze completely.

Roop and Ruhan were standing close together in the shadows, wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing passionately.

It felt as if someone had stabbed a knife straight into my heart. My breath got stuck in my throat. The world around me blurred. A single, painful tear escaped from my eye and rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly with trembling fingers and quietly slipped back toward the main party area, my legs feeling weak and heavy.

Some time later, Roop found me again. She looked a little flushed. “Di, can we leave now? I’m feeling quite tired.”

I looked at her for a long moment, my chest aching. “Okay,” I said softly, my voice barely audible.

When we reached home, our parents were still waiting for us in the hall.

Mom immediately noticed Roop. “Roop, beta, you look so tired. Go freshen up and sleep. You’ve had a long day.”

Roop nodded and headed to her room with a tired smile. Arjun bhaiya and Ajay soon followed. Dad gave us both a nod and retired to his room as well.

I stood at the doorway for a while, watching everyone go. My eyes were still red and swollen from the tears I had fought back. Did Maa not see? I wondered silently. But no one said anything. No one noticed.

I walked quietly to my room, closed the door behind me, and leaned my back against it. Slowly, I slid down until I was sitting on the cold floor. The tears I had been holding finally broke free. I cried quietly, my shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

I didn’t feel anger or hate toward Roop. None of this was her fault. She didn’t know about my feelings. Ruhan didn’t know either. It had always been one-sided. I had foolishly hoped that maybe he could like someone like me.

But I was wrong.

Exhausted and heartbroken, I stayed curled up on the floor, tears still falling softly, until sleep finally claimed me in the middle of my quiet pain.