*December 1985, Mumbai, India*
Raj drove through Mumbai's glittering streets, the city's pulse a faint echo of his own racing heart as he headed home. The evening with Priya had been a whirlwind of passion, abruptly interrupted by her younger sister Jyoti's unexpected arrival. The image of Jyoti's shocked face lingered in his mind, but so did Priya's warm touch, her teasing smile, and the electric connection that had grown over months of lunches and dinners. As he entered his sprawling villa, the silence of his room felt heavy compared to the charged atmosphere of Priya's flat. He sank onto his bed, replaying the night, a mix of amusement and anticipation settling in. With *Pragarti Venture* launched, *The Bharat Front* thriving, and his 7-crore fortune, Raj's empire was soaring, but Priya was the spark that made his personal world vibrant.
Meanwhile, in Priya's modest flat in Bandra, the air was thick with tension. Jyoti sat on the sofa, her arms crossed, her face a storm of disapproval as she confronted her older sister. "Sister, how could you do something so shameful?" she demanded, her voice sharp with indignation. "Letting that man… touch you like that, before marriage? It's disgraceful!"
Priya, still wrapped in a sheet, her hair slightly disheveled, stood her ground, her eyes flashing with defiance. "There's nothing shameful about it, Jyoti. Raj and I love each other. Yes, we crossed a line tonight, but it's because we're serious. I know Raj will stand by me—he's talked about marriage, about a future together. You don't understand because you've never felt this kind of connection."
Jyoti's jaw dropped, her shock deepening at Priya's stubbornness. She leaned forward, her voice lowering to a hiss. "Love? Sister, that man must have evil intentions. Men like him charm women, use them, and then disappear. He's making a fool of you, and you're too blind to see it!"
Priya's face flushed with anger, her hands clenching the sheet tighter. "You don't know anything about Raj! He's intelligent, charming, handsome, and he cares about me. He believes in my work, in *Love Train*, in a way no one else has. Even his… well, let's just say he's more than enough for me." Her lips curved into a defiant smirk, the memory of Raj's touch still vivid. "His 'little brother'—six inches of perfection—makes me feel alive. If you hadn't barged in, I'd be his woman completely tonight. You're too young to understand, Jyoti. You'll probably end up with some 3–4 inch disappointment, but me? I get to enjoy Raj every day."
Jyoti gasped, her cheeks reddening at her sister's brazen words. "How can you say such shameless things?" she sputtered, her voice trembling with a mix of horror and embarrassment. "I'm telling Dad about this! He needs to know what you're doing!"
Priya's eyes narrowed, her shock giving way to a calculated calm. She stepped closer, her voice low and menacing. "Go ahead, Jyoti. Tell Dad. But if you do, I'll make sure all your friends know you're a lesbian. I have that video we recorded, you know—the one from that night we got carried away. I'll spread it everywhere, and you'll be the one shamed."
Jyoti froze, her eyes wide with panic. The sisters' shared secret hung heavy between them. Both Priya and Jyoti were bisexual, a truth rooted in their childhood. After their mother's death from illness when they were young, their father, consumed by his shoe factory business, left them to fend for themselves. Growing up, they relied on each other for comfort and companionship. One rainy evening, they'd watched an English film with lesbian heroines, its bold scenes sparking curiosity. In their vulnerability, they experimented, a moment that shaped their fluid attractions. Priya had confided this to Raj months ago, and his response had been surprisingly open-minded. "I don't care about your past with women," he'd said, his voice firm yet gentle. "I only care that no other man touches you."
Jyoti's bravado crumbled under Priya's threat. "You wouldn't dare," she whispered, her voice shaking. "That video… it would ruin us both."
"Then we're at an impasse," Priya said, softening slightly. "Let's compromise. You keep quiet about Raj, and I'll keep your secret safe. We're sisters, Jyoti. We protect each other."
Jyoti hesitated, her shoulders slumping. "Fine," she muttered. "I won't tell Dad. But I don't trust that man."
Priya nodded, relieved but still tense. "You'll see who Raj is. He's not what you think."
Before they could say more, the telephone rang, its shrill tone cutting through the charged silence. Priya crossed the room, her bare feet padding softly on the floor, and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
Raj's warm voice came through, a welcome contrast to the argument. "Priya, it's me. Sorry about earlier—Jyoti's timing was… something else." He chuckled, easing the tension. "How about tomorrow? Let's do lunch, the three of us. I'd like to get to know your sister better, smooth things over."
Priya glanced at Jyoti, who was still sulking on the sofa. "Lunch sounds good," she said, a smile creeping into her voice. "Jyoti will come. Tomorrow, 1 PM?"
"Perfect," Raj replied. "I'll pick you both up. Goodnight, Priya."
"Goodnight, Raj." Priya hung up, turning to Jyoti. "He wants to have lunch with us tomorrow. Give him a chance, Jyoti. He's not what you think."
Jyoti huffed but didn't argue, her silence a grudging acceptance. The sisters sat in the dim light of the flat, their bond strained but unbroken, each grappling with their secrets and loyalties. For Priya, Raj was a beacon of love and ambition, a man whose touch and trust made her feel invincible. For Jyoti, he was still a question mark, a threat to her sister's honor. But tomorrow's lunch would be a new chapter, one where Raj's charm and the sisters' fragile truce would face their next test.